Sports
Canadian Fighter Jasmine Jasudavicius Aims for Fourth Straight Win in Historic UFC Bout in Saudi Arabia
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Canadian flyweight Jasmine Jasudavicius will make history this Saturday as she steps into the Octagon against Brazil’s Mayra Bueno Silva in the first-ever UFC women’s bout in Saudi Arabia. The 35-year-old from St. Catharines, Ontario, is riding a three-fight winning streak and hopes to solidify her position in the UFC flyweight rankings with a victory.
Jasudavicius (12-3-0) enters the fight ranked 12th in the 125-pound division, while Bueno Silva (10-4-1), a former bantamweight title challenger, is moving back down to flyweight after a winless streak. The bout, part of a UFC Fight Night event at ANB Arena, marks a significant milestone for women’s MMA in the region.
“Once I heard about that, I was so inspired,” Jasudavicius said. “To be able to represent women’s martial arts in another country like that, it’s such an honor. I don’t take it lightly. I really want to make sure I put on a good show and represent women’s martial arts to the Saudi Arabian people.”
Jasudavicius, who earned her UFC contract in 2021, has been on a steady rise in the promotion. She has won six of her eight UFC fights, including three consecutive victories in 2024. Her relentless style and ability to finish fights in the later rounds have made her a fan favorite.
“I feel like I’m a rookie and a vet all at the same time, somehow,” Jasudavicius said. “I’m still hungry for the knowledge, I’m excited for practice, I genuinely enjoy it every single day. There is nothing that I love to do more.”
Bueno Silva, ranked seventh among bantamweights, is no stranger to high-stakes fights. She challenged for the vacant bantamweight title in January 2024 but lost to Raquel Pennington. The Brazilian, known for her submission skills, has seven of her 10 wins coming by submission.
“She’s obviously talented, and I’ve got to be careful,” Jasudavicius said. “She’s fought for the title before, so it would be a big step to showing where my skills are at and what I’m capable of. But I want to get to that belt myself.”
The fight holds personal significance for Jasudavicius, who trained with Bueno Silva three years ago at American Top Team in Florida. “We became friends,” she said. “I really like her. It’s kind of sucky that I have to fight one of my friends, but it’s business, and we’re both professionals.”
Jasudavicius prepared for the fight with a training camp in Thailand, where she honed her skills at Bangtao Muay Thai and MMA. Her tenacity and grit, traits she attributes to her upbringing, have been key to her success. “I think it’s been a forever thing,” she said, recalling a childhood story about her determination to turn a radio dial despite her father’s attempts to stop her.
The Canadian fighter, who started her MMA journey at 26, is determined to make the most of her time in the sport. “I’m not here for a long time; I’m here for a good time,” she said. “I want to fight often. I understand that the window is short.”
Saturday’s event also features a main event between former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and France’s Nassourdine Imavov. The UFC’s second card in Saudi Arabia follows a successful debut in June 2024, when Robert Whittaker knocked out Ikram Aliskerov.
For Jasudavicius, the fight represents another opportunity to climb the rankings and inch closer to her ultimate goal: a UFC title. “We just keep it going,” she said. “There’s nothing to it but to do it.”