Mizuki Inoue met the media Saturday after her win over Jaqueline Amorim at UFC 321.
Inoue (16-6 MMA, 3-1 UFC) outworked Amorim (10-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) for a unanimous decision upset to open up the prelims at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Inoue won the fight with a pair of 30-27 scores from the judges, plus a 29-28.
Inoue had been out for around two years, but showed no signs of cage rust when she stepped back in against Amorim, who came into the fight on a four-fight winning streak – and as a huge 5-1 betting favorite.
Inoue said hearing the fans after two years away helped motivate her down the stretch after such a lengthy stretch outside the cage.
“When I first faced her, I felt she was very strong,” Inoue told the UFC after the fight. “But no matter if it was two years, I was ready to knock her off with my striking. At the end of the first round, I felt one of my punches nearly knocked her down. That gave me confidence in my striking in the second and third round.
“Every punch I threw, I heard the crowd. That made me more excited and made it more fun, made me punch her more and more confidence. I don’t want to praise myself – she was a tough fighter. But after that, I’ll go back to the gym and prepare for the next one.”
Check out Inoue’s post-fight interview in the video below.
