UFC bantamweight Ketlen Vieira once promised that she’d become the “female version of Jose Aldo”. Now, with Vieira poised to be the next one to challenge Amanda Nunes for the UFC women’s bantamweight title, she has reiterated that promise on Trocação Franca, pointing out exactly why she should be the next one to take on The Lioness.
“[Nunes] made history and won against the best, a champion in two divisions. So, for sure, if I can win a title fight against Amanda Nunes, I’ll be turning a dream into reality and becoming the female version of Jose Aldo. My dream is to become champion, no matter how. I wanna be the female version of Jose Aldo and become the first Amazonas-born UFC champion.”
Ketlen Vieira Clames She Will Become “female version of Jose Aldo” With Nunes Win
Vieira doesn’t want to see another fight for Amanda Nunes against either Julianna Pena – who she just defeated to reclaim the bantamweight strap – or a third fight against flyweight champ Valentina Shevchenko, because “Amanda beat [Shevchenko] two times already, so it doesn’t make sense.”
Vieira boasts back-to-back victories over legends in Holly Holm and Miesha Tate. She also defeated former title contenders in Cat Zingano and Sara McMann. Even her staunch Brazilian pride won’t keep Ketlen Vieira away from Amanda Nunes’ throne.
“I never wanted to fight Brazilians, because there aren’t many of us in the UFC, especially in the bantamweight division. Only if it was for the belt.
But there’s no other way, my dream and goal will always speak louder than that. I want to make it clear that I don’t want to fight Amanda, I want to fight for the belt, and currently she’s the champion. I’m not asking for anything absurd here, I’ve earned it. I won against two former champions. The only woman to do that was Amanda Nunes, so I truly believe I’m next.”
Vieira also believes that her style is the perfect foil to Nunes’.
“I’m big, just like her. [Nunes] was twice as big as Julianna Peña, who didn’t have physical strength to grapple with her. She was also lost when Nunes switched stances. She didn’t expect that. We can’t be surprised in a fight, we have to be prepared for everything.
[Peña] said in her interviews before the fight she was ready for everything, but got so frustrated with Amanda switching stances, she couldn’t even attack. Every time she attacked — and did it recklessly because she wasn’t used to a southpaw stance — Amanda just took a step back and threw the hand, knocking her down every single time. My team and I have been thinking about it for a long time.”
Will Ketlen Vieira be the next one to dethrone the Lioness? Let us know what you think in the comments.
