Jennifer Maia: Viviane Araujo ‘a hard opponent, but I think I’m better’
LAS VEGAS – Jennifer Maia expects to have the advantage over Viviane Araujo.
Maia (21-9-1 MMA, 6-5 UFC) takes on Araujo (11-5 MMA, 5-4 UFC) in a flyweight bout in Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 230 co-main event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The event streams on ESPN+.
“I’m happy with this fight,” Maia told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a pre-fight news conference Wednesday. “She is a hard opponent, but I think I’m better.”
If Maia can make it three straight wins vs. Araujo, that would mark her longest winning streak in the UFC. The former title challenger hopes she can return to fighting the upper echelon of the division.
“I’m excited for this fight because if I win, I want to fight against the top five,” Maia said.
Maia gave former champion Valentina Shevchenko a tough outing when she challenged her for the title in November 2020. She looks forward to competing for the title again in the near future.
“I’m prepared to fight with the champion soon,” Maia said.
Watch Maia’s full pre-fight interview in the video above.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 230.
Casey O'Neill
Casey O'Neill
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Jennifer Maia
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Casey O'Neill
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Jennifer Maia
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Casey O'Neill
Casey O'Neill UFC 286 Ceremonial Weigh-ins
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Jennifer Maia
Jennifer Maia UFC 286 Ceremonial Weigh-ins
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Jennifer Maia vs. Casey O'Neill
Jennifer Maia vs Casey O'Neill UFC 286 Ceremonial Weigh-ins
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MMA: UFC 286 - Maia vs O’Neill
Mar 18, 2023; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Jennifer Maia (red gloves) prepares to fight Casey O’Neill (not…
Mar 18, 2023; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Jennifer Maia (red gloves) prepares to fight Casey O’Neill (not pictured) during UFC 286 at O2 Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 286 - Maia vs O’Neill
Mar 18, 2023; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Casey O’Neill (blue gloves) prepares to fight Jennifer Maia (not…
Mar 18, 2023; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Casey O’Neill (blue gloves) prepares to fight Jennifer Maia (not pictured) during UFC 286 at O2 Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 286 - Maia vs O’Neill
Mar 18, 2023; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Jennifer Maia (red gloves) fights Casey O’Neill (blue gloves) during…
Mar 18, 2023; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Jennifer Maia (red gloves) fights Casey O’Neill (blue gloves) during UFC 286 at O2 Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 286 - Maia vs O’Neill
Mar 18, 2023; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Jennifer Maia (red gloves) fights Casey O’Neill (blue gloves) during…
Mar 18, 2023; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Jennifer Maia (red gloves) fights Casey O’Neill (blue gloves) during UFC 286 at O2 Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 286 - Maia vs O’Neill
Mar 18, 2023; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Jennifer Maia (red gloves) fights Casey O’Neill (blue gloves) during…
Mar 18, 2023; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Jennifer Maia (red gloves) fights Casey O’Neill (blue gloves) during UFC 286 at O2 Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 286 - Maia vs O’Neill
Mar 18, 2023; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Jennifer Maia (red gloves) fights Casey O’Neill (blue gloves) during…
Mar 18, 2023; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Jennifer Maia (red gloves) fights Casey O’Neill (blue gloves) during UFC 286 at O2 Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 286 - Maia vs O’Neill
Mar 18, 2023; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Jennifer Maia (red gloves) fights Casey O’Neill (blue gloves) during…
Mar 18, 2023; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Jennifer Maia (red gloves) fights Casey O’Neill (blue gloves) during UFC 286 at O2 Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 286 - Maia vs O’Neill
Mar 18, 2023; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Jennifer Maia (red gloves) fights Casey O’Neill (blue gloves) during…
Mar 18, 2023; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Jennifer Maia (red gloves) fights Casey O’Neill (blue gloves) during UFC 286 at O2 Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 286 - Maia vs O’Neill
Mar 18, 2023; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Jennifer Maia (red gloves) fights Casey O’Neill (blue gloves) during…
Mar 18, 2023; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Jennifer Maia (red gloves) fights Casey O’Neill (blue gloves) during UFC 286 at O2 Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 286 - Maia vs O’Neill
Mar 18, 2023; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Jennifer Maia (red gloves) fights Casey O’Neill (blue gloves) during…
Mar 18, 2023; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Jennifer Maia (red gloves) fights Casey O’Neill (blue gloves) during UFC 286 at O2 Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 286 - Maia vs O’Neill
Mar 18, 2023; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Jennifer Maia (red gloves) fights Casey O’Neill (blue gloves) during…
Mar 18, 2023; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Jennifer Maia (red gloves) fights Casey O’Neill (blue gloves) during UFC 286 at O2 Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 286 - Maia vs O’Neill
Mar 18, 2023; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Jennifer Maia (red gloves) fights Casey O’Neill (blue gloves) during…
Mar 18, 2023; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Jennifer Maia (red gloves) fights Casey O’Neill (blue gloves) during UFC 286 at O2 Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 286 - Maia vs O’Neill
Mar 18, 2023; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Jennifer Maia (red gloves) fights Casey O’Neill (blue gloves) during…
Mar 18, 2023; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Jennifer Maia (red gloves) fights Casey O’Neill (blue gloves) during UFC 286 at O2 Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 286 - Maia vs O’Neill
Mar 18, 2023; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Jennifer Maia (red gloves) fights Casey O’Neill (blue gloves) during…
Mar 18, 2023; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Jennifer Maia (red gloves) fights Casey O’Neill (blue gloves) during UFC 286 at O2 Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 286 - Maia vs O’Neill
Mar 18, 2023; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Jennifer Maia (red gloves) fights Casey O’Neill (blue gloves) during…
Mar 18, 2023; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Jennifer Maia (red gloves) fights Casey O’Neill (blue gloves) during UFC 286 at O2 Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 286 - Maia vs O’Neill
Mar 18, 2023; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Jennifer Maia (red gloves) fights Casey O’Neill (blue gloves) during…
Mar 18, 2023; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Jennifer Maia (red gloves) fights Casey O’Neill (blue gloves) during UFC 286 at O2 Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 286 - Maia vs O’Neill
Mar 18, 2023; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Jennifer Maia (red gloves) fights Casey O’Neill (blue gloves) during…
Mar 18, 2023; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Jennifer Maia (red gloves) fights Casey O’Neill (blue gloves) during UFC 286 at O2 Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 286 - Maia vs O’Neill
Mar 18, 2023; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Jennifer Maia (red gloves) fights Casey O’Neill (blue gloves) during…
Mar 18, 2023; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Jennifer Maia (red gloves) fights Casey O’Neill (blue gloves) during UFC 286 at O2 Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports
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MMA: UFC 286 - Maia vs O’Neill
Mar 18, 2023; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Jennifer Maia (red gloves) fights Casey O’Neill (blue gloves) during…
Mar 18, 2023; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Jennifer Maia (red gloves) fights Casey O’Neill (blue gloves) during UFC 286 at O2 Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports
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Jennifer Maia (21-9-1 MMA, 6-5 UFC) def. Casey O'Neill (9-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) via unanimous decision
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