UFC Vegas 62 Preview
The UFC is heading back to the Apex in Las Vegas for UFC Vegas 62. The main event will be in the women’s flyweight division between #5 Alexa Grasso vs #6 Viviane Araujo. The winner could be next in line to challenge Valentina Shevchenko for the flyweight title.
Grasso (14-3) is riding three straight victories into the fight having most recently defeated Joanne Wood by first round submission. Her last loss was by majority decision to current strawweight champion Carla Esparza. She made her flyweight debut after the loss and has looked much more comfortable at 125 pounds.
Grasso responded to the thought of a title shot with a win on Saturday. “Maybe. Could be. I don’t know. I have no idea what the matchmakers are planning, but they are doing a great job. This was not the main option for the main event – they trusted in us. They are allowing us to do a preview of what could be a title fight because it’s 25 minutes,” Grasso said.
The Mexican fighter went on to say, “There’s another important fight next weekend with Fiorot vs. Chookagian. I think we’re kind of in the semifinals. We’re the four, and the one who makes the best performance I think the champion is going to look at the one who does the best.”
Grasso commented on her opponent, “I think this is a fight that had to happen,” Grasso said. “We are similar in the rankings – like one spot. Sometimes she was up, right now I am up. We are pretty similar in stats, we are super close in every area. It’s a nice matchup for both of us.
“She’s the toughest opponent I’ve trained for. She moves a lot, she has strong hands and her strongest weapon is her jiu-jitsu. She’s a black belt and I think this is a great challenge for me. I’ve been improving a lot my jiu-jitsu game.”
Araujo is coming off a unanimous decision win over Andrea Lee in May. She is 5-2 in the UFC and her two losses have come at the hands of title challengers Katlyn Chookagian and Jessica Eye. The Brazilian fighter also commented on the idea of fighting for the title with a win over Grasso.
“I know that a win will get me closer to a title fight. It’s five rounds, so I’ll try to control the fight, and I feel like I’m ready and prepared, both mentally and physically.
“I had a great camp, I feel stronger than ever, and healthy,” said Araujo.
The 35-year-old went on to say, “I think so, but I don’t know, “she said. “The Top 5 is pretty closed, and you have really good girls that I could still face like Taila (Santos), Jessica (Andrade), Lauren (Murphy), so I believe two more wins and I will get a title shot.”
Araujo knows she is up against a great challenge in Grasso. “Alexa is a great athlete. We studied her game a lot and I know she’s very dangerous and aggressive with her striking, and she also has a good ground game, so I’m prepared for that.
“It’s five rounds, so I need to dominate and put the pressure on her,” she added. “I’m coming in with my wrestling on point, and I’m focused and ready to beat her.”
The rest of the main card on ESPN+:
Bantamweight- Cub Swanson vs. Jonathan Martinez
Flyweight - #5 Brandon Royval vs. #4 Askar Askarov
Middleweight - Duško Todorović vs. Jordan Wright
Light Heavyweight - Misha Cirkunov vs. Alonzo Menifield
The Prelims on ESPN+:
Bantamweight - Brandon Davis vs. Leomana Martinez
Bantamweight - Raphael Assunção vs. Victor Henry
Middleweight - Nick Maximov vs. Jacob Malkoun
Featherweight - Joanderson Brito vs. Lucas Alexander
Women's Strawweight - Sam Hughes vs. Piera Rodríguez
Flyweight - Tatsuro Taira vs. C.J. Vergara
Welterweight Mike Jackson vs. Pete Rodriguez
