Natália Silva sees other contenders ahead of Jasudavicius and leaves the call to the UFC
The UFC flyweight champion said Alexa Grasso and others also deserve a shot and left the decision on her first title defence to the organisation.
Full text available in Portuguese only. Read the Portuguese version
Nem a vitória sobre Erin Blanchfield no último sábado (17/10) convenceu Natália Silva de que Jasmine Jasudavicius é a desafiante mais indicada ao seu cinturão. Campeã peso-mosca (57 kg) do UFC desde o início deste mês, a brasileira ainda não tem data nem adversária para a primeira defesa e avalia que outras atletas merecem prioridade na fila.
Em entrevista exclusiva, a mineira reconheceu o peso do triunfo da canadense, mas colocou Alexa Grasso, ex-campeã e número 2 do ranking, na mesma conversa.
Olha, ela venceu a Erin, mas eu acho que tem meninas que estão melhores. Inclusive, eu já lutei com a Jasmine, já venci… Ela é merecedora, vem de uma boa vitória... só que tem meninas também como a Alexa Grasso, que está vindo de vitórias bem dominantes. O que o UFC decidir para mim, eu estou aqui para lutar.
Uma revanche contra Jasudavicius não está descartada — Natália já venceu a canadense no passado —, mas a campeã evita transformar a preferência em exigência. O discurso é de disponibilidade: quer atuar o máximo possível e defender o título sempre que for chamada, seja quem for o nome do outro lado do cage.
Eu quero lutar com meninas que estejam vindo de vitória, claro. O que o UFC decidir, eu estou aqui para isso. Estou aqui para lutar e defender meu título.
Com a posição da brasileira, a definição fica com a organização, presidida por Dana White. Jasudavicius ganhou força ao superar Blanchfield; Grasso, em boa fase e com peso comercial para o Ultimate, segue no radar.
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