Zarah Fairn ‘will be ready to take on Amanda Nunes’ for title with UFC on ESPN+ 27 win

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Zarah Fairn ‘will be ready to take on Amanda Nunes’ for title with UFC on ESPN+ 27 win

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Zarah Fairn sees UFC on ESPN+ 27 as a four-person audition for who gets to challenge Amanda Nunes for the featherweight title, and she intends to come out ahead.

Although Fairn (6-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) can’t control what happens in the other matchup between Megan Anderson and Norma Dumont, she does have power over her own performance in Saturday’s co-headliner against Felicia Spencer (7-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC).

If Fairn can match her own expectations, she said she will put herself at the forefront of the conversation to fight dual-champ Nunes (19-4 MMA, 12-1 UFC) for 145-pound gold.

“I believe strategically the UFC put all the girls on the same card to see what’s at stake and make a decision based on the results that are going to happen,” Fairn told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at today’s UFC on ESPN+ 27 media day. “But there could be another girl jumping in as well, so I’m going to have to perform.”

Should Fairn deliver, she would be fighting for a UFC title in just her third octagon appearance. He debut went terribly, with  a first-round submission against Anderson at UFC 243 in October.

The loss was a blemish in Fairn’s career, but she said it shouldn’t serve as an indictment of her abilities. Nunes has been on a serious run of success across two divisions, but Fairn sees herself as a threat.

“I will be ready to take on Amanda Nunes,” Fairn said. “Obviously there’s going to be some adjustments to make and some serious training to put in, but I feel like I signed with UFC with that goal in mind and obviously I will definitely be ready.”

First things first, though, Farin must net her first UFC win. It will be an uphill climb, because Spencer is the biggest betting favorite on the card at as high as -900. Farin, however, is eager for the challenge.

“I want to display my standup skills,” Farin said. “What’s interesting about this fight is there’s many different styles. Felicia is a wrestler, I’m a striker, so that’s what MMA is about. People from two different styles and I’me excited to display all those skills.”

Zarah Fairn 'will be ready to take on Amanda Nunes' for title with UFC on ESPN+ 27 win