“I felt those challenges, but I was patient and kept focused on the win.”
The victory pushed Araújo’s record to 11-3 overall and 5-2 since joining the UFC, while giving her some much needed stability in the ever-shifting flyweight rankings.
Losing to Chookagian isn’t the type of setback that would traditionally send a fighter tumbling down the divisional ladder, but the Top 15 in the flyweight division has seen a great deal of change over the last year, and halting Lee’s ascent allowed the 35-year-old Brazilian to cement her standing as a contender in the 125-pound weight class.
Order UFC 280: Oliveira vs Makhachev
It also set up this weekend’s pairing with Grasso, one of the fighters that has made a great deal of headway in the hierarchy since touching down in the flyweight division at the end of August 2020.
The talented Mexican fighter was forecasted to be a strawweight contender after arriving from Invicta FC, but struggled with injuries, weight and visa issues, and inconsistent results. After missing the mark on the scales ahead of a scheduled meeting with Claudia Gadelha at the start of 2020, Grasso opted to change divisions.
Wins over Ji Yeon Kim and Maycee Barber elevated Grasso into the Top 15 and her first pairing with Araújo at UFC 270, which was scrapped when the Brazilian was forced to withdraw. A quick first-round submission win over Joanne Wood kept Grasso moving forward, and coupled with Araújo’s win over Lee, made the fight an obvious matchup to re-book.
