Alexa Grasso, Viviane Araujo set to battle for positioning in crowded flyweight class

Alexa Grasso and Viviane Araujo have more than nine years between them of fighting in the UFC. There is, as Grasso points out, a lot in common between them. Grasso is ranked fifth at flyweight and Araujo is sixth, and each woman has only three losses. Araujo is 11-3 overall and 5-2 in the UFC. Grasso is 14-3 overall and 6-3 in the UFC.

Both women also readily admit that a shot at the division's dominant champion, Valentina Shevchenko, probably isn't in the offing regardless of the outcome of their fight in the main event of UFC Fight Night on Saturday at Apex in Las Vegas.

"I'm pretty sure that whoever wins this fight is going to be in a really good position and a really good spot to be in the top of the division,” Araujo said. “But to be honest, I see other opponents in a better spot, maybe in a better situation than me, like Taila Santos, Lauren Murphy, Jessica Andrade and Katlyn Chookagian. ... So yeah, I don’t think my next fight will be a title shot.”

That doesn't mean there is any less significance on their bout, however. Given the number of potential contenders, it only increases the significance of the stakes in the bout. The loser will have a much more difficult climb back up the rankings.

And so while this isn't a No. 1 contender's fight, have no doubt that it means everything to the women involved. Their careers in many ways will hang in the balance.

In some ways, it could be seen as a battle of Grasso's excellent striking versus Araujo's high-end jiu-jitsu, but Araujo doesn't see it that way, necessarily. Araujo, who has a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, said she wanted to compete in something other than just grappling tournaments, so she first turned to Muay Thai kickboxing.

That was the beginning of her transition to MMA.

"That was at a time when Ronda [Rousey, the ex-UFC women's bantamweight champion] was becoming a star," Araujo said. "I couldn't support myself just doing jiu-jitsu and grappling tournaments and I wanted to be able to compete in all combat sports."

UFC fighters, Araujo said, are unique. She found as she's climbed the ranks that it's not right to segment fighters. There is no such thing at the highest levels of MMA, she said, as a one-trick pony. The fighters are skilled in all areas and that's what makes them dangerous.

It's also what makes the sport exciting, because having to defend so many techniques opens up offensive opportunities.

"The athletes in the UFC are on a different level," Araujo said. "They're just so well-rounded. You look at my fight with Andrea Lee, and my striking was very important in that fight. You can't survive at this level if you are one-dimensional and so the fighters are so skilled in all areas of combat."

Grasso agreed with Araujo's assessment, which she said makes it important to be on point from the beginning of the fight. Given the quality and depth in their division, the onus will be on them, Grasso said, to make matchmakers Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby advocate for them.

She pointed out that the result of the fight between Manon Fiorot and Katlyn Chookagian, which will happen at UFC 280 on Oct. 22 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, will also have a say in who gets the next crack at Shevchenko. Taila Santos, who lost a competitive fight with Shevchenko earlier in the year, is also in the mix.

Grasso sees the two bouts as an unofficial tournament to earn the spot versus Shevchenko.

"I think we’re kind of in the semifinals," she said. "We’re the four, and the one who gives the best performance [will be the best positioned]. I think [Shevchenko and UFC management] will look at that person."

It will come down to performance, as well as things like health and timing. So Araujo knows it's best not to think too much about it even though it's difficult not to.

She's approaching the fight like she's approached all of her bouts and isn't looking to put any unnecessary pressure on herself.

"The best women in the world are fighting in the UFC, so every time you fight in the UFC, it's important and there is pressure," Araujo said. "That's just the way it is. One of the things you need to prove is that you can handle the pressure and still do your job. I have trained really hard for this fight but I always feel the next fight is the most important. So this is my most important fight until my next one, then that one will be."