Ultimate Fighting Championship women’s bantamweight powerhouse
Mayra
Bueno Silva rose through the ranks of the 135-pound weight
class by virtue of her impressive displays and resolute spirit. She
occupies the No. 3 spot in the rankings and now has the opportunity
to lay hands on promotional gold when she faces
Raquel
Pennington for the vacant women’s bantamweight championship in
the
UFC 297 co-main event on Saturday at Scotiabank Arena in
Toronto.
Hailing from Uberlandia, Brazil, and training extensively in gyms
in Campinas and Sao Paulo since January 2015, Silva’s journey has
been defined by crucial turning points. Ahead of her upcoming
high-stake clash with Pennington, a look at a few of the
transformative rivalries that have contributed to the Brazilian’s
evolution into a championship-caliber fighter:
Silva burst onto the mixed martial arts scene by breaking Santos’
five-fight winning streak in the second fight of her career.
“Sheetara” defeated her opponent via first-round technical knockout
(retirement) at
Sidney
Simbaba Fight 4 back in April 2016. The victory showcased
Silva’s ability to face an experienced fighter with momentum.
In a career-defining moment on
Dana White’s Contender Series, Silva faced dos Santos, once
again breaking her opponent’s solid winning streak with a technical
submission via ninja choke in the first round. Prior to that loss,
Santos was on a brilliant seven-fight winning streak with four
finishes. The victory earned Silva a spot on the UFC roster and
highlighted her potential for success on the grand stage of the
world’s premier MMA organization.
Silva made a stunning UFC debut against Robertson at
UFC Fight Night 137. Once again, she showcased her submission
skills, this time with an armbar that secured the win in the first
round. Interestingly, Robertson was also on a three-fight winning
streak, further establishing Silva’s status as a
streak-breaker.
In a gritty battle at
UFC on ESPN 34 on April. 16, 2022, Silva faced Wu in a
thrilling contest that went the distance. She won the fight by
unanimous decision. The fight earned the coveted “Fight of the
Night” accolade, underlining Silva’s ability to deliver
entertaining and competitive performances.
Silva’s performance against Lansberg at
UFC Fight Night 219 on Feb. 18, 2023 was nothing short of
spectacular. She secured a submission victory with a kneebar in the
second round, earning the “ “Performance of the Night” bonus. Silva
compiled her best run in the UFC with that victory, sealing a
three-fight winning streak.