Mayra Bueno Silva is aiming to return to the UFC octagon in September and has offered to fight on enemy territory.
The former UFC title challenger told MMA Fighting that she has asked the UFC to arrange a bantamweight fight against Irene Aldana at UFC 320, the Noche UFC event in Guadalajara, Mexico, scheduled for September 13.
“Our plan is to compete at the Noche UFC event, and we are waiting for the UFC`s decision,” Silva stated. “If everything works out, we will fight at Noche UFC. We are pushing for this fight, we are really keen on this idea, so we will see. It`s the UFC`s call.”
“Sheetara” will be moving back to bantamweight after her recent loss to flyweight Jasmine Jasudavicius. Silva has lost her last three fights in the UFC since defeating Holly Holm, including a title fight against Raquel Pennington.
Aldana, meanwhile, has a record of 1-1 since her loss to then-champion Amanda Nunes in June 2023. The 37-year-old veteran earned a Fight of the Night bonus for her victory over Karol Rosa in late 2023, but lost a decision to Norma Dumont last September.
“I believe we would push each other to the limit in a fight,” Silva said about potentially fighting Aldana. “I think it would be a brutal, bloody fight, just like Irene’s fights usually are. I think we would deliver an exciting show for the fans in Guadalajara, if the UFC agrees.”
Silva has relocated to Sao Paulo and joined Fighting Nerds to plan the pregnancy of her wife, UFC veteran Gloria de Paula. She sees the September date as perfect to avoid competing during the first trimester of the planned pregnancy.
“It’s a good date for me,” Silva mentioned. “Irene is not in her best form, she has had some losses, and I’ve also had some bad results. This matchup would be a fantastic show. Irene always delivers exciting fights for the UFC, and so do I, so it’s a good fight for both of us and the fans.”
