LAS VEGAS – Mayra Bueno Silva believes that, if all goes right, she could soon find herself in a UFC title fight.
This Saturday, Silva (10-2-1 MMA, 5-2-1 UFC) returns to the octagon in the main event of UFC on ESPN 49 at the UFC Apex. She takes on former champion Holly Holm (15-6 MMA, 8-6 UFC) in a pivotal women’s bantamweight bout.
Silva is not only determined to add a win over a former champ to her resume but also a finish.
“I want to hurt her,” Silva said at Wednesday’s media day. “I want to hurt her for four rounds and then in the fifth round, I knock out Holly.”
The bout against Holm recently took on even more relevance given that Amanda Nunes retired last month and vacated the belt, leaving a pending vacant title bout that will require two contenders.
Silva, who’s on a three-fight winning streak, believes she’ll get the shot if she puts on an impressive display Saturday.
“I need to knock her out, and she needs to knock me out, too,” Silva said. “When someone wins a good fight, I think they’re next, because nobody wants to watch Julianna Peña vs. Raquel Pennington, sorry.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 49.
Mayra Bueno Silva plans to KO Holly Holm, then fight for vacant UFC women’s bantamweight title