Ericka Almeida anxious to beat up Conor McGregor’s ‘little friend’ in Dublin

Four Irish fighters will enter the Octagon at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 76 in Dublin, and Ericka Almeida wants to ruin their party at the 3Arena.

Looking for her first UFC win after taking a fight no short notice, and losing to Juliana Lima in her promotional debut in May, Almeida returns against SBG Ireland strawweight Aisling Daly in Dublin, and can’t wait to silence the crowd.

"That really motivates me," Almeida told MMAFighting.com. "I’m new in the UFC, so being the only Brazilian on the card also motivates me to go there and win. I’m more than ready to do my best in there."

Before flying to Dublin, Almeida met UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo, who knows a thing or two about the Dublin crowd, to get some advice.

"My coach Pedro Rizzo took me to Nova Uniao to meet Jose Aldo," she said. "We trained and talked. He said that the Irish people are really loud and like to tease you, but that I did a good job and am ready for it. He told me to stay calm and get the win."

With Aldo booked to face Irish superstar Conor McGregor on Dec. 12, Almeida wants to open the score for Brazil against Ireland.

"The girl I’m fighting is Irish, and she’s McGregor’s little friend, from his gym, so I will have this opportunity," she said. "I’ve fought in enemy territory before, so that’s not a problem. Maybe that becomes an issue for her because she never fought in Dublin for the UFC, and that’s another pressure over her shoulders."

Holding a 7-1 record with six first-round finishes, Almeida plans to tap Daly, and has a couple different predictions for Aldo vs. McGregor.

"I want to go there, put some pressure, and submit her," Almeida said. "And I see two scenarios for (Aldo-McGregor). The first one is Aldo finishing him quickly, and the other one is Aldo beating him up badly for five rounds."