Ketlen Vieira sees herself on title path after beating idol Miesha Tate at UFC Fight Night 198

LAS VEGAS – Ketlen Vieira envisions a championship run after beating Miesha Tate in the main event of UFC Fight Night 198.

After a rough path where she lost two of three fights and took loads of time off due to injuries, Vieira (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) got back in stride Saturday when she outworked former champ Tate (19-8 MMA, 6-5 UFC) to a unanimous decision in the headliner at the UFC Apex.

It was a big moment for Vieira, who knew she needed to perform on this stage in order to propel her career to the next level. Tate is someone she had watched and idolized for years, and to share the octagon and win against someone like “Cupcake,” is validation for the Brazilian.

“I respect Miesha a lot, but I fought a great fight I believe,” Vieira told MMA Junkie and other reporters through an interpreter at the UFC Fight Night 198 post-fight news conference. “I fought a great fight. I’m happy with my performance. Miesha was already a champion before I could even get my hands in MMA, so I look up to her. Fighting a legend like that makes me really believe in my skills.”

Vieira has shown a tendency to keep humble and not overstep her bounds when speaking about her career ambitions. The win over Tate puts her in the upper tier of the women’s bantamweight division, especially because she’s one of few contenders who has yet to share the octagon with dominant titleholder Amanda Nunes.

Nunes (21-4 MMA, 14-1 UFC) is currently booked to defend against Julianna Pena (10-4 MMA, 6-2 UFC) at UFC 269 on Dec. 11. Vieira will have to be in the running to fight the winner, and she said she’ll be prepared for whatever the UFC offers next.

“This victory puts me right where I want to be,” Vieira said. “Back at the top. Top five. There will be a championship fight coming up soon, so I’m right back to where I want to be again. I’m back active, I’m ready to go and I look forward to working my way back toward the belt.”