Ketlen Vieira has a degree to show at UFC 307.
The UFC veteran as soon as once more enters a struggle seeking to earn a shot on the bantamweight title with a victory, and feels it could lastly come if she beats two-time Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison this Saturday in Salt Lake Metropolis, particularly with all of the hype surrounding the previous PFL champion.
“I believe she underestimates me,” Vieira stated in an interview with MMA Combating. “When she says she’s higher than me in all areas, she’s underestimating me. She’s an excellent athlete, she’s a Olympic medalist for a cause, however she’s not higher than me in every part as a result of she’s fully depending on taking the struggle to the bottom. We haven’t seen her commerce on the ft for 3 rounds. Possibly she will be able to try this sooner or later, however I don’t see that proper now.”
Harrison stated in the course of the UFC 307 media day on Wednesday she believes she “can beat all three ladies in the identical evening,” referring to her upcoming opponent and each UFC 307 co-headliners, Raquel Pennington and Julianna Peña.
Harrison has solely fought as soon as contained in the octagon, dominating and ending Holm with a rear-naked choke. Vieira additionally holds a win over Holm, in addition to Miesha Tate, Cat Zingano and Sara McMann.
“I’m used to this already,” Vieira stated. “Individuals all the time say I’m the underdog and I’m nonetheless right here, beating the very best. I’ve been right here many occasions earlier than. Once I fought McMann the winner would struggle for the belt, and I received. Once I fought Cat Zingano, who was the one lady to beat Amanda [Nunes in the UFC], the winner would go for the belt, and I received. I beat two different ex-champions, Miesha and Holly. I’m used to large fights. Individuals have brief reminiscence and proceed to underestimate me.”
Vieira sees the Harrison conflict as a “semifinal” to find out the following contender within the 135-pound division, and expects Pennington to efficiently defend her throne Saturday towards Peña.
“It’s an excellent struggle for me,” Vieira stated of Harrison. “I’m extra full than Kayla, I’ve extra instruments. I’ve good floor sport and good judo as effectively. You may’t study to defend judo takedowns in judo, however that’s one thing I’ve executed my complete life. And I’m additionally evolving on the ft. I’m getting extra full each day. If I’ve to grapple together with her, I’ll. If I’ve to commerce together with her, I’ll. She will’t do the identical as a result of she fully depending on her floor sport.”
