LAS VEGAS – For [autotag]Melissa Gatto[/autotag], the forced time off was more of a mental battle.
Gatto (8-1-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) will return from a more than year-long layoff to face Ariane Lipski (15-8 MMA, 4-5 UFC) on Saturday at UFC on ESPN 47 from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.
After suffering her first-career loss to Tracy Cortez last May at UFC 274, an injury forced Gatto out of action.
“I’m so happy,” Gatto told MMA Junkie and other reporters through an interpreter at Wednesday’s UFC on ESPN 47 media day. “So excited to be back. Of course, it’s been a year with the surgery and the medical leave that comes after that. I’m happy to be back. I’ll be able to show how much I evolved, that I took that time to actually become better and to become a better fighter.”
Gatto explains that, while she’s made improvements in her skills, being out of action made her grow even more on the mental side.
“Anytime you have a high-performance athlete that’s removed from the daily routine, training, being there on the mat frequently, just getting better physically, it’s always challenging,” Gatto said. “It’s always tough being removed from that and not being able to do what you do for a living. It does teach you lessons, especially on the mental side. I do feel that I had to get stronger and prepare myself mentally. I feel more ready than I’ve ever been, especially on the mental side.”
Gatto will take on fellow Brazilian Lipski, who comes from the same state of Parana.
“When the UFC called, obviously happy to get the call to be able to match with her,” Gatto said. “She is a tough opponent. She’s an experienced opponent. I think she’s got 10 fights in the UFC. I do respect her a lot in the striking, which is her forte. I do feel like it’s gonna be a good matchup also because of the fact that she is from the same state as I am, and it’s going to be important for a lot of us, especially the Brazilian fans.”
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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 47.