Mayra Bueno Silva was devastated when her scrap with former UFC bantamweight champion Miesha Tate was scrapped, but her frown quickly turned upside down when the promotion offered her a main event spot six weeks later against another former UFC champion, Holly Holm.
On July 15, the streaking bantamweight standout will step into the main event spotlight as she looks to score the biggest win of her mixed martial arts career. Standing in her way of becoming a legitimate title contender will be Holly Holm, the former bantamweight queen that famously handed women’s MMA pioneer Ronda Rousey her first career loss. Ahead of the high-stakes 135-pound clash, Silva spoke with James Lynch in a MiddleEasy exclusive, sharing her excitement over the opportunity to share the Octagon with one of the best female fighters in the world.
“I’m not surprised because I worked hard for seven years,” Silva replied when asked if she was surprised by the opportunity to face Holm in a main event matchup. “Now I’m top ten, she’s top three, but I’m not surprised. I worked hard and now the UFC looked at that.”
Mayra Bueno Silva Predicts a Third-Round Knockout Against Holly Holm
Silva understands and respects the danger that Holly Holm brings to the Octagon, but she also believes that now is her time and she will prove it by finishing ‘The Preacher’s Daughter’ in highlight-reel-worthy fashion.
“Holly is a great fighter. She’s a former champion, but if you have one person who can stop any girls in the division, this girl is Holly Holm, but now is my time,” Silva continued. “Now is my moment and I will knock her out.”
Silva reaffirmed her prediction, believing that she will put Holm out of commission by the third round, though she was hesitant to give a guarantee. A wise decision considering how durable and dangerous Holly Holm is despite being 41 years old.
“I think the third round,” Silva said when asked for her prediction. “I think. I don’t know, but I trained for this. I trained for a big show on July 15.”
Silva will also go into the bout with a brand new five-fight contract that she recently signed with the promotion. Currently, ‘Sheetara’ is 5-2-1 inside the Octagon, holding wins over Gillian Robertson, Mara Borella, Yanan Wu, Stephanie Egger, and Lina Lansberg. If she can score a win over Holly Holm next month, Silva will likely find herself thrust into the division’s top five and well en route to her own UFC title opportunity.
