Vieira hopes to fight Holly Holm for an interim title

#2 ranked women’s bantamweight Ketlen Vieira, 26, fights former Invicta FC champion Tonya Evinger at UFC Fight Night 137, on September 22, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Division champion Amanda Nunes called out Vieira at one point, but ‘The Lioness’ has now pivoted towards a superfight vs. featherweight champ Cris Cyborg.

During a recent media day in Rio, Viera expressed hope that the fight vs. Evinger could end up leading to an interim belt fight vs. Holly Holm, and also talked about losing the title shot vs. fellow Brazilian Nunes.

I think we do get a little upset, said Vieira, as transcribed by Fernanda Prates for MMAjunkie. The dream of any fighter who gets in the UFC is to fight for a belt. I think I’ve earned this right. The UFC didn’t give it to me, I earned it with all the hard work, mine and my team’s.

If Vieira does get past Evinger, she hopes for a fight vs. Holly Holm, for an interim belt.

I think winning this fight [vs . Evinger] I will credential myself to fight for the title once and for all. I don’t see anyone else. The only thing I see is, if the superfight happens, an interim title bout with Holly Holm. I believe that, one way or another, winning this fight I see myself fighting for a belt. I think it was Holly Holm who posted on her Instagram that the two of us should fight. And I agree with her, I think winning this fight we should fight. I think, if the superfight happens, that would be the fairest thing to be done.

Vieira speculated that the fight with Holm could even be on the same day as Nunes vs. Cyborg.

I think it would be good for MMA, said Vieira. It would be good for women. it would be very cool.

Every fight is a fight, and we know some games don’t go together. I see Holm as trickier, because she doesn’t stop. She’s a southpaw. You can’t make mistakes, because she has a very powerful kick. So I see Holm as a little harder than Amanda, because Amanda fights more planted. We know her strongest strike. She throws a lot of straight rights. She’s not as physically conditioned as Holm, because we know she fights three, five rounds, and ends with the same stamina.

Adding a wrinkle to the plan, Cyborg might not re-sign with the UFC. Viera described that as “even better.”

I don’t like to fight Brazilians,” she explains. “I want to fight Amanda not because I want to fight Amanda, but because she holds the belt. If she didn’t, that’d be even better for me. So I just see the belt. I don’t see Amanda. I don’t see Cris Cyborg.

I have a lot of respect and admiration for Cyborg. I hope to one day accomplish even half of what she has in her career. I root for her; she’s a blessed woman. I’d be happy if, when I move up, she isn’t there anymore. For me, if Brazilian held every belt, it would be the biggest joy in the world.

Viera was asked if she sees a contradiction between wanting to fight the best, and not fighting Brazilians.

For sure, she replied. But it’s up to God. Whatever will be, will be. Hopefully, Cyborg will be retired. The sun shines for everyone, and it will shine for me at some point.