Viviane Araujo walks to the octagon Saturday for the primary time as a mom, and that has modified her perspective and starvation as knowledgeable fighter.
Araujo’s spouse Catarina Lo Turco gave beginning to their daughter Lua in January, two months after “Vivi” received a call over Karine Silva at UFC 309 at Madison Sq. Backyard. Araujo now returns to motion at UFC 317 for a flyweight showdown with Tracy Cortez on Saturday at T-Cell Area in Las Vegas, searching for extra success.
The Brazilian fighter discovered it arduous to juggle coaching and parenting at first, however Lua “could be very calm and sleeps nicely,” permitting Araujo to enter one other coaching camp for a pay-per-view bout.
“I’ll inform you this, it’s further motivation,” Araujo instructed MMA Combating. “Having Lua as a daughter, being her mom, motherhood form of adjustments lots of issues. You turn out to be extra mature, you could have extra obligations, and I believe that motivation involves have you ever develop extra within the group, to make more cash, and go chase the belt and make her proud sooner or later. That’s undoubtedly extra motivation.”
Araujo has received two of her previous three octagon appearances to spice up her total UFC document to 7-5. She sees in Cortez an important alternative to make a reputation for herself within the flyweight division. Cortez received 11 in a row within the sport, going 5-0 within the UFC, together with a 2023 resolution over Jasmine Jasudavicius, earlier than dropping to former strawweight champion Rose Namajunas in her most up-to-date bout.
“She’s an athlete with an enormous title, particularly in america, so it’s going to attract extra eyeballs [after the win],” Araujo mentioned. “I’m very centered on bringing this victory. I do know she’s a troublesome athlete and was on an important run earlier than stumbling in opposition to Namajunas. We’ve studied her recreation and we all know she’s an aggressive fighter who comes ahead on a regular basis. She is going to attempt to commerce with me, I don’t know she she’ll solely attempt to take me down, however I’m prepared. My coaches ready a method so we come out victorious.”
Cortez has solely been completed as soon as in MMA, tapping to Cheri Muraski in her professional debut again in 2017 beneath the Invicta FC banner, and she or he has scored two finishes in 11 MMA wins. As an undefeated novice, Cortez stopped 4 opponents in six victories.
“We’re seeing some holes in her recreation,” Araujo mentioned. “I can’t disclose my recreation right here however we’re going nicely in coaching. I’m in my finest form ever and I can’t wait to indicate that on the twenty eighth. … It’s an important card, a pay-per-view, and that received’t have an effect on me mentally as a result of I’ve been in large occasions earlier than. I received’t fell that strain. And I’m going after the highest 5, to develop within the division. This win will put me nearer to my aim.
“We all know she’s going to attempt to dominate within the grappling space, one thing she’s performed in her final fights, however she doesn’t have such an unlimited arsenal of submissions. She has good placing, however not a lot of a punching energy both. The aim is to make use of my weapons, my velocity, my explosiveness and aggressiveness, as a result of I need to go there to knock her out or submit her. I’m doing nice in each areas and I’m prepared, and I’ll go for that. I received’t let it go to the judges.”
Araujo has confronted fellow Brazilians in her previous 4 UFC fights, going 2-2 with wins over Karine Silva and Jennifer Maia, and losses to Natalia Silva and Amanda Ribas. Lastly paired up in opposition to a non-Brazilian for the primary time since late 2022, she feels extra looking forward to violence.
“It provides you one thing further, proper? To essentially damage her, to essentially knock her out, to placed on an important struggle,” Araujo mentioned. “It’s extra particular in opposition to a gringa. We would like that extra.”
Araujo is ranked No. 13 at 125 kilos within the MMA Fighting Global Rankings and hopes {that a} win on the Worldwide Struggle Week extravaganza units up an enormous struggle subsequent.
“We’ve thought quite a bit and a powerful title we predict for our subsequent step is Rose,” Araujo mentioned. “Rose beat Tracy, so I believe it is smart for me and for Rose. After this, I’ll ask for a high 5. That’s what makes essentially the most sense. I’ll name her out after the struggle.”
