Amanda Ribas will finally get to make her UFC debut.
Ribas (6-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) will take on Emily Whitmire (4-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) in a strawweight bout at UFC on ESPN 3, which takes place on Saturday at the Target Center in Minneapolis.
Ribas was flagged by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency for an out-of-competition sample collected one month before her scheduled UFC debut at The Ultimate Fighter 25 Finale vs. Juliana Lima in July 2017. She tested positive for trace levels of Ostarine in her system. Before her suspension was up, though, USADA let her off early after it determined that the failed drug test was likely due to a contaminated supplement.
She served the majority of her two year suspension, and is set to take on Whitmire in the prelims on ESPN.
Ahead of UFC on ESPN 3, get to know more about Brazil’s Ribas below:
Full name: Amanda Limborco Alcantara (Alcântara) Ribas
Nickname: I don’t have a nickname, but my loved ones call me Amandinha (Little Amanda).
DOB: August 26, 1993. I’m 25.
Height: 1.63 m (5’4″)
Weight: 52 kg (115 pounds)
City of birth: I was born in Varginha, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. It’s still where I live.
How did you get into professional MMA?
I grew up on the martial arts mat. My father was a muay Thai and jiu-jitsu instructor, so gloves were my pillow, and gis were my blankets. I also practiced other sports, but fighting has always been my passion. I started out training jiu-jitsu with my father, but I stopped for some time after I was told in school that my body looked ‘ugly’ – I was too muscular. After that, I started taking dancing, and participated in a few recitals. After I noticed several of my friends had gotten into fighting, while I was only dancing, my parents encouraged me to start practicing judo to improve my jiu-jitsu. I became a judo standout.
I went to live in Belo Horizonte, at the Minas Tenis (Tênis) Clube, by age 14. I won Brazilian championships, was part of the Olympic trials, and participated in the European circuit. But I suffered many injuries, so I came back home to resume my studies. When I got home, my friends were training to be amateur MMA fighters, and that’s how I got started. I went to the world’s amateur competition in Las Vegas (IMMAF 2014 World Championships), where I won, and that’s when I decided to become a professional.
You were supposed to face Juliana Lima in the UFC, in 2017, but you failed a drug test. Can you talk about that?
When I first heard about it, I was very sad. It shook me. I was focused on doing everything right for that fight, including diet. I was already in the United States. I was at American Top Team, far from home. When I first heard I failed a test, I couldn’t believe it. My coach Marcos ‘Parrumpinha’ da Matta called me to let me know, just as I was leaving my training session. A couple of minutes later, I received an email about it. I cried a lot. But I kept training there.
We started checking my supplements, but it was too expensive to test them all. I went back home to Brazil. My family and friends were fully supportive. I never stopped training. I competed in events allowed by USADA – jiu-jitsu and no-gi. I stayed busy since there are two or three competitions every month near my home. When I received a call letting me know that the suspension would be shortened, due to contamination, I was very happy. As soon as the suspension was lifted, I was already booked. I couldn’t be happier.
What can say about your next opponent, Emily Whitmire?
I think it’s a good fight for me. She’s on a two-fight win streak in the organization. That’s the kind of opponent I want – someone who’s on an upward trajectory. I’ve watched her fights. She likes to fight on the ground, as do I. I also watched her on ‘The Ultimate Fighter 26.’ My daily breakfast is to watch her fights so I can fashion my training based on her game. I start my camp in my hometown, and then I fly to American Top Team to sharpen things up.
How do you see things playing out in your UFC debut?
I hope it’s an intense fight. I don’t like boring fights. I know she likes to move forward, like I do. So it’s going to be very dynamic. I think we’ll keep scrambling, looking to submissions or knockouts – nonstop. I’ll give everything I have, and so will she. I’m very ready. I’ve been getting ready since I was born, pretty much. We’re going to put on a show.
Last thoughts?
It’s not necessary to look mean to prove that you can fight well. I always have a smile on. With sufficient determination and willpower, anything can be conquered. I did it once before in amateur MMA, and I plan to do it again as a professional. Despite being from a small town, with sufficient willpower, anything can be accomplished.
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