Alexa Grasso and Viviane Araujo collide in a must-win flyweight encounter tonight at UFC Fight Night 212. Grasso is ranked No5 at 125lb and Araujo is placed at No6. Between them, they have 16 UFC fights but neither has ever fought for a world title.
Now, both women are roughly two fights away from a shot at the coveted 125lb strap held by Valentina Schevchenko – who has beaten every woman ahead of them in the rankings. With the Kyrgyzstani looking virtually untouchable outside of a shakier display against Talia Santos in her last outing, the division is yearning for a new contender and this fight could be the one to serve her up.
Ahead of the fight, here, Express Sport gives you everything you need to know about the crunch tie.
Date and venue
Grasso vs Araujo goes down on October 15 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Fight times and TV channel/live stream
The main card is set to get underway at 12am UK time with the main event expected at 3am. All timings are dependent on the length of the undercard fights.
The fight is being broadcasted on BT Sport 1 with all of the action able to be live streamed via their app.
Full card
Main card
Alexa Grasso vs Viviane Araujo; Women’s flyweight
Cub Swanson vs Jonathan Martinez; Bantamweight
Brandon Royval vs Askar Askarov; Flyweight
Dusko Todorovic vs Jordan Wright; Middleweight
Prelims
Misha Cirkunov vs Alonzo Menifield; Light heavyweight
Brandon Davis vs Leomana Martinez; Bantamweight
Nick Maximov vs Jacob Malkoun; Middleweight
Raphael Assuncao vs Victor Henry; Bantamweight
Sam Hughes vs Piera Rodriguez; Women’s strawweight
Tatsuro Taira vs C.J. Vergara; Flyweight
Mike Jackson vs Pete Rodriguez; Welterweight
*Running order subject to change
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Odds
Grasso win 4/9
Araujo win 13/8
Draw 50/1
*Odds courtesy of Betfair are correct at the time of publication
Quotes
Grasso said: “I think we’re kind of in the semi-finals. We’re the four, and the one who gives the best performance [will be the best positioned]. I think [Shevchenko and UFC management] will look at that person.”
Araujo said: “I’m pretty sure that whoever wins this fight is going to be in a really good position and a really good spot to be in the top of the division. But to be honest, I see other opponents in a better spot, maybe in a better situation than me, like Taila Santos, Lauren Murphy, Jessica Andrade and Katlyn Chookagian… So yeah, I don’t think my next fight will be a title shot.”