Bia Mesquita met the media Saturday after her win over Irina Alekseeva at UFC Fight Night 261.
Mesquita (6-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) was the biggest favorite on the card against Alekseeva (5-4 MMA, 1-3 UFC) and came through for her home fans with a second-round submission on the prelims at Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro.
Mesquita is regarded by many as the greatest women’s jiu-jitsu practitioner of all time. She was making her UFC debut after she came over from LFA, where she recently won the women’s flyweight title. Given her credentials in the grappling department, she said there will be very little mistaking what she’ll be trying to do against future opponents.
“I don’t think that’s a surprise for anybody: That’s going to be my game plan any time,” Mesquita told the UFC backstage after her win.
But against Alekseeva, she also showed she can hang in the striking department. Once she took “Russian Ronda” down, she was relentless with the ground strikes until she could find the rear-naked choke.
Mesquita thinks that will have an effect when future opponents look at her.
“I just proved that my standing’s a little bit better. I’m getting more improvements in my striking and my takedowns. I know my jiu-jitsu is my main thing, but I’m proving that I’m going to be a complete athlete. … I came to be one of the best, and that’s what I’m going to do.”
Check out Mesquita’s post-fight interview in the video below.
