Alice Ardelean Prepares Mentally for Crucial UFC Fight Night Showdown

Las Vegas, Nevada – Romanian fighter Alice Ardelean is gearing up for her third appearance in the UFC this weekend against Rayanne Dos Santos at UFC Fight Night: Blanchfield vs. Barber. After facing setbacks in her previous two bouts, Ardelean believes she is mentally stronger and ready to make a mark in the strawweight division.

Ardelean, who has 3.8 million followers on TikTok, faced tough defeats against Shauna Bannon and Melissa Martinez in 2024. Both fights left her with lingering disappointment. “It sucks to lose, it sucks to lose two times in a row in the UFC,” Ardelean said. The first fight ended in a split decision, while the latter, despite what the judges recorded, was much closer, according to her.

After suffering from feelings of depression following her losses, Ardelean reached out for help from the UFC, speaking with a psychologist to work on her mental health. “I was super sad. I took it really hard,” she admitted. However, through determination and training at Fusion Xcel in Florida, she has found renewed hope.

Reflecting on her journey, Ardelean acknowledged her previous mindset, saying, “I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m fine, whatever.’ But I’ve been working on it since the last fight.” Now, she feels ready to seize her next opportunity. “I’ve been training for the past three months, I’ll do what I have to do, and I’ll do my best.”

Ardelean continues to balance her passion for fighting with her social media presence but insists that fighting is her priority. “Fighting, it’s my life. I would be sad not to be in fight camp,” she said. With a move to managing her stress levels, she has noted a significant improvement in her mental state, feeling more focused now as the fight approaches.

The bout against Dos Santos is crucial for both fighters, who both have two losses on their records. “It’s going to be a life and death fight; we’re both fighting for the same place,” Ardelean said, emphasizing the importance of this match.

As UFC Fight Night: Blanchfield vs. Barber approaches, fans can catch the prelims starting at 6 PM ET, followed by the main card at 9 PM ET on May 31. Ardelean looks to take the next step in her career, bringing her best self to the Octagon.