Mayra Bueno Silva: Manon Fiorot ‘hasn’t fought anyone with my level of striking’ so I’m happy to ‘end that hype’ at UFC Vegas 40

Manon Fiorot will go for her third victory inside the octagon at UFC Vegas 40, which takes place Saturday night in Las Vegas, but Mayra Bueno Silva has other plans.

Fiorot, the 2017 IMMAF bantamweight champion and former UAE Warriors flyweight titleholder, knocked out Victoria Leonardo and Tabatha Ricci in the UFC this year to improve her winning streak to seven since a split decision defeat in her pro MMA debut.

Silva, meanwhile, is 2-1-1 in the UFC since winning on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2018, and has been very complimentary of Fiorot’s fighting skills — even if she questions Fiorot’s level of opposition thus far.

“I think she’s very dangerous and has great striking,” Silva told MMA Fighting. “She also has good jiu-jitsu. She’s a tough opponent, but she hasn’t fought anyone with my level of striking. This fight has everything to steal the show.”

That said, Silva agrees “The Beast” is deserving of all the hype and attention she’s been getting so early in her UFC career.

“Who am I to say otherwise? She’s showing it in her fights, knocking everybody out, so I think she deserves it,” Silva said. “She’s on a nice path. It’s hard for athletes to be valued, it’s complicated. If she’s getting all that hype, I’m happy for her, and even happier because I’ll end that hype. But she deserves it. She’s been knocking people out and doing her thing regardless of the opponents she’s matched up with. She gets the job done.”

Silva will be having her first fight since leaving her Chute Boxe Diego Lima gym prior to this training camp and working full-time with coach Fabi Belai. Belai has been her Muay Thai coach for the past four years and also coaches Silva’s girlfriend and UFC fighter Gloria de Paula, and opened her own MMA gym with a “fantastic structure” in Sao Paulo.

The matchup beteen Silva and Fiorot was originally booked for UFC 266, but was pushed back a few weeks due to COVID-19 protocols. Excited for the new era in her career, Silva is confident going into UFC Vegas 40 after tapping her opponent inside one round in all three of her Zuffa wins, including a 62-second ninja choke finish at DWCS.

“I lay down in my bed and visualize the fight and see myself winning in many different ways, but I really want the knockout,” she said. “I’m going for the knockout, but I also believe she will want to take me down if she feels my hands, and I have what it takes to submit her too. But I’m counting on the knockout.”