Alexia Thainara is determined to disrupt the local favorite`s momentum and make a statement in her UFC debut by defeating Molly McCann at UFC London this Saturday night.
Nicknamed “Burguesinha,” Thainara was finishing up a training session in Varginha, Brazil, last Friday when an unexpected call came. Her manager contacted Marcelo Ribas, her team leader, to see if the Contender Series veteran was prepared to step in for a fight on short notice.
Ribas`s response was immediate: “Of course, she`s ready.”
Just minutes later, her manager called again to confirm the fight was set. Thainara had a mere two days to travel from Varginha to Sao Paulo and then embark on a lengthy journey to London, all while needing to cut seven pounds within a week.
“We anticipated a significant fight soon, given it had been seven months since the Contender Series,” Thainara explained to MMA Fighting. “This is a great and challenging matchup, which indicates they recognize my toughness as a fighter. I`m a versatile and complete athlete, and they wouldn`t offer me a mediocre fight. This is an opportunity for us to deliver an exciting show.”
Thainara secured her UFC contract by defeating former teammate Rose Conceicao on the Contender Series, boosting her professional record to 11-1.
Conversely, UFC London will mark McCann’s 14th appearance in the octagon, with seven victories under her belt. While “Meatball” holds the advantage in experience, Thainara believes she has the upper hand in other facets of mixed martial arts.
“[I will beat her] with my utmost effort, my heart, by pressing forward with aggression and adaptability,” Thainara asserted. “I won`t let her utilize her boxing, which is her primary strength. That`s essentially all she demonstrates in her fights.”
“And we have a strong jiu-jitsu background, right? Five consecutive submissions. It’s either tap or sleep.”
Thainara built a solid reputation on the Brazilian circuit before signing with the UFC. Her streak of five submissions occurred between 2021 and 2023, featuring two rapid eight-second finishes. Although her opponents at that time were less experienced — both were 0-1 as professionals —, “Burguesinha” views UFC London as her grand entrance onto the global stage.
“I’m still relatively unknown in the UFC,” Thainara admitted. “But I’m confident this opportunity will introduce me to the world because not everyone accepts a fight with only seven days` notice. This clearly demonstrates that our team is always prepared.”
