Moving to the standard fights with no extra stipulations beyond win
and move up/lose and move down, Silva (18-5, 4-1 UFC) learned last
November about the latter when she lost her nine-fight win streak.
Barbosa (8-3, 2-1 UFC) too had a good stretch halted last year,
although she turned things around by throttling Diana Belbita. The
flyweights will be joined in the cage by referee Rob Madrigal, who
observes the countrywomen meeting in the middle without sharing a
fist bump. Silva takes to the center of the cage, and within 15 seconds of
inactivity, the crowd is already fussing at the two athletes.
Barbosa tosses out a half-hearted low kick to quell the woo birds,
and Silva comes back with one-two out of range. Barbosa flicks out
a few jabs and parries a front kick, and she comes back to aim a
straight shot to the torso. They do not do much other than potshot
one another for a good minute until Barbosa steels herself and
fires off two heavy punches. The inactivity generally continues for both ladies, other than the
occasional shot from either side as if they are taking turns.
Barbosa scores well with body shots, staying just busy enough while
Silva is stuck in first gear whiffing. Silva does reach one or two
of her strikes, and she fails on a takedown shot and stands back up
to get caught with a right hand. Barbosa sneaks in an elbow, and
she digs kicks to the body. Silva responds with her own jab to
knock her back, and she backpedals but is in a bad spot almost
immediately. Barbosa hits a beautiful trip to hurl her countrywoman
to the floor, and she zips down to secure the back, get both hooks
in and fish for a rear-naked choke. The forearm gets beneath the
chin for a moment, but Barbosa bails on it to transition into an
armbar. She rolls with the armbar at the last second, and Silva is
saved by the bell. Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Barbosa Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Barbosa Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Barbosa

The Brazilians rush out to meet one another to start the second
round, and Silva wants to keep Barbosa away from her early by
throwing high kicks in bunches. Silva mixes in a body shot, and she
swats down a one-two aimed at her. Barbosa pecks and pokes with her
jab, beating Silva to the punch most of the time and keeping her
guard up to block the worst of a punch combo. Barbosa uses a knee
shield to block body kicks, and she wraps her foot up and around
Silva’s head. Silva catches the kick and tackles Barbosa to the
floor, with Barbosa not too upset about this decision. Barbosa
decides that she does not want to be on her back, so she explodes
back up but is still grabbed by Silva. Barbosa turns her foe around
and starts kneeing her to the body, grinding out “Killer” on the
cage wall. Barbosa gets off a knee to the body or two before Silva spins her
around, and when she gives a knee back, Barbosa spins her about
once more. Silva tries to hit a takedown, and Barbosa falls on top
of her. Silva lifts her legs up to set up a high guard, and Barbosa
stays tightly pressed to her opponent to not give up anything.
Silva hunts for a triangle choke and grabs hold of both arms as
well, and she starts hacking with elbows while Barbosa is trapped
with her arms in. Barbosa stacks Silva up and keeps taking elbows
on the top of her head, and she lands a few punches to end the
round. Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Silva Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Silva Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Silva

Silva walks her adversary down to open the last round, and Barbosa
backs off and probes her with jabs. The jabs continue to score as
one of the few effective weapons on either side, and when Silva
considers bending over for a takedown, Barbosa knees her in the gut
a few times. Silva lets go with a big right hand, and she hurls a
left after it to get Barbosa’s attention. Another two punches land
for Silva, only to take a right hand on the chin in a counter. They
tie up, and Barbosa shoulder-throws her foe flat to her back. Silva
hits her back and employs rubber guard to wrap her right leg around
the back of the neck, and Barbosa lifts her up to slam her out of
it. With Silva attempting a surprise Gogoplata as she was slipping
her shin around to get under the neck, Barbosa has to scramble
suddenly, and she turns to her knees. “Killer” attacks with a killer power guillotine choke, using it to
push Barbosa over in an attempt to get to mount. Barbosa fights out
of the submission but is still stuck on her knees, and she elects
to roll to her back so she can spin around and find top position.
All the while, Silva slashes with elbows until she is placed on her
back again. Of the two, Silva is the more active member striking,
with Barbosa getting off little more than a couple hammerfists.
Barbosa is warned for putting her fingers in the eyes while she
smothers Silva’s mouth, and she drops 12-to-6 elbows to the body
and chest. Fans are not amused as Barbosa smothers out the rest of
the fight, but it is in the books and the lingering question may be
how the judges score the second stanza. It could be a close
one. Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Barbosa (29-28 Barbosa) Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Barbosa (29-28 Barbosa) Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Barbosa (29-28 Barbosa)

Of all the fights tonight, this one will see the widest betting
line between favorite and underdog. Having won just twice in seven
UFC offerings, it makes some sense that Belbita (15-9, 2-5 UFC)
should serve with plus money, but +625 is where she stands. About
to close as one of the most heavily favored UFC fighters this year,
Barbosa (7-3, 1-1 UFC) is expected to power through while
accompanied by -1000 odds. Never tell “Warrior Princess” the odds.
Referee Keith Peterson will be the overseer for this flyweight
contest, one that opens up with a respectful clap of hands and no
nonsense in sight. They both lob low kicks at one another and pull
them back. Barbosa strikes first with a jab, and she skirts away
from the counter. The Brazilian scores an overhand right, and
Belbita is there to pay her back this time with a long left and a
ripping left to the body. She goes for the body shot a few more
times, ignoring what Barbosa puts on her to connect cleanly. The
face of “Warrior Princess” ducks into punches and throws back in
hopes of clipping Barbosa with a counter. Barbosa parries a head
kick, and she races back to avoid several punches chained into a
head kick. Barbosa flashes her jab, and she stays in the pocket too
long and gets popped with an overhand right. Belbita attacks the
body again, making sure to fighting in flurries, and she times
another big right hand up top. Belbita ends a combo with a low
kick, and she absorbs anything the Brazilian hurls at her without
batting an eye. Belbita goes to the body, opening up an overhand
right to the head. She jams the ball of her foot on Barbosa’s
stomach, and dings her with a few right hands. Barbosa pressures
her against the fencing and spins with an elbow that clips her.
When Belbita leans over to try to shake it off, Barbosa hits the
level change she suddenly wants and lands practically in full
mount. Barbosa leans her weight down, and she locks up an arm-triangle
choke before long. Belbita pumps her hips back and forth, but she
cannot buck the Brazilian off of her. As Barbosa presses down with
all she has, Belbita has no choice but to surrender. Just like that, Barbosa lifts her submission rate as a pro to 50%,
while landing the first arm-triangle of her career.

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Maverick Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Maverick Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Maverick

The women try to clap hands to begin the second round and miss, and
say heck with it and start swinging at one another. Maverick picks
and pokes with low kicks before mixing it up with a head kick, and
when that nearly gets through, she tries another seconds later.
Barbosa defends a low single and tosses Maverick aside to kick her
in the cheek, and she rushes forward to press the Missouri native
against the fencing. Barbosa succeeds in hitting a throw to chuck
Maverick to the floor, and Maverick is quick to climb back to her
feet despite the head lock toss. Maverick breaks away from the
clinch and eats a sudden spinning elbow, and she reaches out with a
kick and is countered with one from the Brazilian. Maverick jabs to
the head and body, keeping her hands up to block a head kick and
crashing forward at the same time as her opponent to hit a
takedown. Barbosa defends with a takedown, and Maverick pushes her
against the wall, unconcerned by the choke, to trip “The Witch” to
the canvas. Barbosa is stuck on her back absorbing sporadic
punches, and Maverick stays tightly pressed to not let Barbosa
sneak anything up on her. Barbosa turns to set up an armbar, and
Maverick tosses Barbosa to the side and gets back on top. Barbosa
uses the butterfly hooks from allowing Maverick to get her flat,
but Maverick keeps to this position while kneeing Barbosa in the
backside once. Maverick drops down short right hands as she assumes
half guard, and she elbows Barbosa and smacks her with her shoulder
before the round ends. Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Maverick Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Maverick Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Maverick

They do touch gloves to open up the last stanza, and fists are soon
to fly. Maverick sits down on three punches, and she leans back as
a head kick buzzes her hair. Barbosa works her way forward and
reaches out with a right hand after taking a low kick, and she
connects with two more before Maverick’s back hits the wall.
Barbosa tries to change levels, but Maverick’s takedown defends
keeps her upright. As Maverick breaks off, she lands another calf
kick and a right hand behind it, and Barbosa walks her down ready
to throw leather. Maverick shoots in for a single, and Barbosa
scrambles effectively to flip Maverick over and even set up a
kneebar. Maverick fights through it and winds up on top, moving
into the butterfly guard of her opponent. Maverick keeps tight and
composed from above to put Barbosa flat on her back, and she grinds
with an elbow to irritate the Brazilian. Maverick gets bucked off
briefly, and she remains on top while getting in elbows until
Barbosa turns for an armbar. Maverick no-sells it and pulls out of
it, and she relocates herself in Barbosa’s guard. Maverick lands a
shoulder strike, and it appears she may have headbutted Barbosa in
the chest as well, but nothing comes of it. Maverick’s
125-pound-plus frame feels like 500 pounds as Barbosa cannot get
enough space, try as she might. Maverick retains control and fully
embraces the grind, sliding over to half guard and using her elbow
to frame up and land shots. Maverick remains active from this
position, doing so until time expires. Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Maverick (30-27 Maverick) Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Maverick (30-27 Maverick) Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Maverick (30-27 Maverick)

In the next matchup on the early prelims, a classic battle of
Brazil vs. Lithuania plays out in the women’s flyweight category.
Two women signed on the 2023 season of Dana White’s Contender
Series will test their mettle against one another, as “The Witch”
Barbosa (6-2, 0-0 UFC) looks to bewitch the heavy-handed Kareckaite
(5-0-1, 0-0 UFC). Striker faces grappler, while referee Fernando
Portella watches on. The ladies share a cordial tap of the gloves
before getting after it. They both try to find their range with
jabs early, and Barbosa strikes first with a sweeping low kick.
Kareckaite reaches out with a right hand, and she comes up short
and hops away from another leg kick. The two whiff on their strikes
until Barbosa connects with a loud body kick, and she slides out of
the way of the long punches of the Lithuanian. Barbosa jabs the
body and sticks Kareckaite with a straight right hand, and
Kareckaite is surprised and needs a moment to blink it out.
Kareckaite gets off a right hand around the guard, and they both
land sing leg kicks. Barbosa tosses out a one-two and shoots in for
takedown, and she rushes Kareckaite to the fence and looks for a
trip and throw. The Brazilian easily slings her to the mat despite
Kareckaite grabbing the cage, and she slips around to take
Kareckaite’s back in a hurry. Before Kareckaite knows what is going
on, Barbosa sneaks an arm under the chin, and Kareckaite has to
fight it off while a body triangle cinches around her waist.
Kareckaite sits up to break up the body lock, and Barbosa floats
along and lands a number of short right hands before hunting for
another choke. When Kareckaite defends, she leans over and tries to
slide Barbosa out the back door. Barbosa hunts for a rear-naked
choke and softens Kareckaite up with punches, and she keeps hooks
in to thwart the turning Kareckaite from bucking her off. The
Brazilian keeps smacking Kareckaite with short but effective right
hands, and she turns over willingly to snatch up an armbar.
Kareckaite keeps her stacked up and rides out the round in the
position. Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Barbosa Christian Stein scores the round: 10-9 Barbosa Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Barbosa

The ladies quickly bump fists before getting back to it, and
Kareckaite lunges forward almost immediately with long punches.
Barbosa strings together a short combination to wobble the long
legs of her opponent, and she spins with a back elbow that hurts
Kareckaite and drops her down to both hands. Kareckaite pushes off
the mat, and Barbosa pushes forward to take her down. Kareckaite
grabs the fence to stay upright, and Portella warns her for the
foul. Kareckaite manages to break out of the position, and Barbosa
rushes forward to strike the body and fake a spinning strike.
Barbosa does a delayed step forward and surprises Kareckaite with a
takedown effort, successfully grounding the Lithuanian. Kareckaite
turns the corner and reverses the position, and she stands back up
and starts smacking Barbosa’s legs with kicks. This exchange
continues for quite some time, as Portella stands there instead of
forcing Barbosa to stand up. Kareckaite keeps kicking until
Portella finally gets between them. Barbosa stands up, and
Kareckaite catches her with a clean one-two. Kareckaite looks for a
right hand over the top, and she gets popped with another spinning
back elbow. Kareckaite uses the momentum of her opponent to bowl
her over to the ground, and Barbosa hits her back and snags hold of
a heel hook. Kareckaite lowers herself down and turns the right way
to get away from the leglock, but Barbosa speedily takes her back.
Kareckaite attempts to turn through it, and Barbosa lines up an
armbar setup. Kareckaite maintains heavy top pressure to disallow
Barbosa from locking the armbar down, and she shucks the arms and
legs out of the way to move into the guard. The horn sounds with
them in this place. Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Kareckaite Christian Stein scores the round: 10-9 Barbosa Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Barbosa

The women go strike-for-strike when the round begins, with one
landing and the other responding. As Kareckaite gets off a solid
right hand, Barbosa shoots for a telegraphed takedown. Kareckaite
is able to sprawl effectively to shut it down, and she stands up
and allows Barbosa to do so and flicks a head kick at her. Barbosa
gets her guard up in time, but she gets backed up by the striking
of her opponent. Kareckaite stings the Brazilian with a one-two,
and Barbosa shoots in again. The takedown shot fails, and
Kareckaite backs away and lands a few more times. A failed level
change from Barbosa makes her just stumble, but she regains her
footing and spins with a back kick that lands square on the
ribcage. Kareckaite ignores it and slings a head kick at her and a
series of long, rangy punches. Kareckaite shuts down another
takedown, lets Barbosa up and rings her up with a hard one-two.
Four quick punches land flush from the Lithuanian, and Barbosa is
showing serious signs of fatigue. Kareckaite marches her down,
tagging her with crisp punches and stopping Barbosa in her tracks
from attempting takedowns. Kareckaite pushes Barbosa away after
another takedown try, and she puts fists to face as Barbosa swings
back. Barbosa comes up short on another takedown, but a second
effort puts them down on the mat. Kareckaite turns through and
winds up on top, where Barbosa hunts for a leglock almost
immediately. Kareckaite holds onto the fence while turning herself
through it, and she stands up and steps around to lower down two
heavy punches on the jaw. Barbosa goes for another submission, but
Kareckaite backs off and motions for her to stand up. Kareckaite
walks face-first into a right hand, and she wings a right hand back
that grazes the cheek. Kareckaite loads up on a right hand and
forces Barbosa to dip down into a head kick. The Brazilian shoots
desperately for a takedown at the 10-second slapper, and Kareckaite
stifles her until the final horn blares. This could be a close
one. Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Kareckaite (29-28 Kareckaite) Christian Stein scores the round: 10-9 Kareckaite (29-28
Barbosa) Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Kareckaite (29-28
Barbosa)

Dione Barbosa

Fight History

Fighter Skills Radar

Key Insights

Striking Profile

Key Insights

Grappling Profile

Key Insights

Conclusions Summary