MIAMI – [autotag]Mayra Bueno Silva[/autotag] always envisioned herself holding UFC gold in the women’s flyweight division, but now that dream is dead.
After starting her UFC tenure at 125 pounds, Silva (10-5-1 MMA, 5-5-1 UFC) moved up to women’s bantamweight and made a run to the point of a vacant title bout with Raquel Pennington in January 2024, which she lost. She was defeated again after that, then decided it was time to go back down a weight class.
That didn’t work out great for the Brazilian. She was beaten by Jasmine Jasudavicius at UFC Fight Night 250 in February. She suddenly finds herself on a four-fight winless skid, and thinks the answer is fully committing to the higher weight.
“My last time in the octagon, I think everyone saw flyweight is difficult to me,” Silva told MMA Junkie. “I fought in flyweight when I started in the UFC, but all time in flyweight not so good. I have a dream to fight in flyweight for belt, but it’s not for me.
“I’m going back for my weight class because I am better at bantamweight. I need to focus at bantamweight now. In my home, I’m more happy (at bantamweight). Everyone in my life is more happy. Flyweight is hard because I cut a lot of weight. I feel more weak. I have a dream of flyweight, but it’s not for me.”
With an eye on the future and getting back in the win column for the first time since February 2023, the 33-year-old Silva is looking for a big fight.
Silva, No. 9 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie women’s bantamweight rankings, sees former title challenger and No. 6-ranked Irene Aldana (15-8 MMA, 8-6 UFC) as the ideal opponent, and suggested the timeline of the annual Noche UFC event celebrating Mexican Independence Day in September.
“In September, I asked for Irene Aldana,” Silva said. “It’s a very fun fight. For me, it’s very dangerous because she is a good boxer, but she is hurt now. I think I am waiting for her, because if UFC gives me this chance to fight with this girl, because it’s a big pleasure for me, I’m waiting for her. I think maybe September or November.”
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