Rising strawweight prospect Amanda Ribas has built a reputation off of always being happy and smiling, but that positivity was put to the test this past Saturday when she was TKO’d (twice) at UFC 257 by Marina Rodriguez (watch the highlights here).
We’re happy to report that Ribas is still smiling.
“It happened,” Ribas said in a video statement provided to MMA Fighting. “I thought I fought well in the first round and took it in the second, but it’s a fight. I think she found the right timing, and she deserved it. I’ll be back (to the gym) on Monday and get better on what I have to get better at. Let’s go.”
“I can stay in the room and cry, or go out and enjoy the sun in Abu Dhabi,” she added. “What do you think I’m going to do? [laughs] Let’s go.”
Amanda’s father and coach Marcelo Ribas also provided a statement to MMA Fighting regarding the loss.
“No excuses, and congratulate our opponent that landed a very efficient strike that left Amanda knocked out on her feet and won the fight,” he wrote. “We prepared for Carla Esparza for months, and then Michelle [Waterson] and then Marina. We did everything right and professional, and the strategy worked well in the first round, which we won, and we were going to follow the same strategy in the other rounds. However, unfortunately, she landed a strike early in round two that nullified Amanda. That’s the sport.”
“Amanda has no scratch and is ready for the next one already,” he finished. “We’ll go back to our hometown now and train hard because we’ll ask for a fight in April in Las Vegas or May in Abu Dhabi.”
The loss to Rodriguez is Ribas’s second, putting her at 10-2 MMA (4-1 UFC). She was knocked out by Polyana Viana at Jungle Fights 83 in 2015. The win puts Marina Rodriguez at 13-1-2 MMA (3-1-2 UFC) and is her first finish since a Contenders Series knockout win in 2018.