Going in search of her first victory in the UFC, Amazonian Ketlen Souza ‘Esquentadinha’ faces American Marnic Mann, this Saturday (27), at the organization’s event center (UFC Apex), in the fourth fight of the preliminary card of UFC Vegas 91 , in a clash that will be valid for strawweight (52.1kg) and which will feature Matheus Nicolau and Alex Perez in a fight between fighters from the top 10 flyweight (56.7kg). UFC Fight Pass broadcasts all fights from 4pm (Manaus time).
Unlike her debut, when she fought in the flyweight category and ended up suffering a setback to compatriot Karine Silva ‘Killer’, for the fight against Marnic Mann the former Invicta FC champion will move down to strawweight. In an exclusive interview with A Crítica, the Amazon native spoke about this return to her roots in her career.
“When the opportunity arose, it was like an emergency to fight at 57kg, which was to face Karine. And we need to embrace these opportunities because they are unique. In the flyweight division here in the UFC, the girls are very big, both in terms of size and muscle. That was when I decided to go down to 52kg, which is my category. This is a category in which I am very strong and, God willing, victory will come”, highlighted Ketlen.
In the defeat to Karine, the submission that Ketlen suffered ended up causing him an anterior cruciate ligament injury. The recovery time added with the preparation period for this Saturday’s fight was a little over 10 months. About this turbulent period in her career, the Carioca Academy fighter highlighted.
“We don’t expect an injury as serious as it was. I tore the ligament in my knee. I was sad like any other athlete would be, because we live off training and that’s what we do. I arrived in Manaus, had surgery a week later and in less than 24 hours I was already in physiotherapy. I am fortunate to have great professionals in this process”, Esquentadinha elaborated.
Returning to his old division, Ketlen says that the weight cut was not a problem, but highlighted the importance of diet and the difficulty it brings to high-performance athletes. “Thank God this camp was wonderful for me. Both in Manaus and here in Las Vegas. My weight cut went very smoothly, because I always focused on my diet to have a good balance, because that’s where athletes suffer the most and it’s an area where we need to pay a lot of attention. With my team we did a great job in this department.”
Of all the Amazonian fighters currently on the UFC roster, the only one who trains in Manaus is Ketlen Esquentadinha. In his training routines at the Carioca Academy, Souza makes it clear that he does not need to look for anything outside the state and that the important thing is to stay focused and strive to pursue his goals.
“It’s wonderful to be in Manaus. Many people tell me why I don’t go out and I say that what I’m going to find outside, I already have inside. My category are small people, so I have the necessary staff to help me, this shows that no matter where you are, what is necessary is for you to try hard enough, whether in Manaus or anywhere else in the world. world,” said Ketlen.
With 13 victories in her career, eight of which came via knockout, Ketlen expects her opponent to try to take the fight to the ground. Marnic is also coming off a defeat in his UFC debut and, in his record, has three wins by KO, one by submission and two by decision.
“Whether she likes it or not, she’s a grappling player and she’s going to have to use that against me. And whether they like it or not, everyone has the opinion that I don’t have jiu-jitsu. I don’t care if they keep thinking like that. I believe she will try to impose her game, but I will be well prepared and calm. She won’t have the spirit that I have inside.
