Arr! Have ye heard the tale of Tainara Lisboa? This fierce two-time Muay Thai champion is set to make her octagon debut in the great battle of UFC Charlotte. But that’s not the only battle she’s fought in her storied career. Nay, she once shared the ring with none other than the greatest UFC women’s flyweight champion in history, Valentina Shevchenko.
In a recent interview on the Trocação Franca podcast, Lisboa reflected on her 2010 Muay Thai clash with Shevchenko in Peru. A fight she still feels was robbed from her. “The fight was very controversial,” said Lisboa, who was but 19 years old at the time. “We appealed the result because she did some throws in the fight that were illegal. It was Sanda throws, not Muay Thai. There was a lot of buzz at the time.”
Despite the controversy, Shevchenko went on to amass an impressive record in the MMA world, including becoming the UFC flyweight queen. “She’s the best flyweight of all-time,” Lisboa said. “Valentina was able to create a solid game in MMA. I think she will be champion again [when we meet in the future].”
But Lisboa is not easily intimidated. She enters the octagon on Saturday for her first UFC appearance, boasting a record of 5-2 in the Brazilian MMA scene. Her Muay Thai past may have made it hard to find fights early on, but she’s been training in MMA for six years and has plenty of experience under her belt.
Her opponent, Jessica-Rose Clark, may have an advantage as a longtime UFC veteran, but Lisboa thinks that not having much tape available of her own skills could level the playing field. “She’s probably found more Muay Thai stuff online, but not much of what I’ve created in MMA,” Lisboa said. “I’m an athlete for 17 years and I’ve been training MMA for six years now, so it’s a lot of experience, even though I wasn’t fighting.”
Ye may be wondering, “But how did Lisboa get to this point in her career?” Well, me hearties, it’s a tale worth tellin’.
Lisboa began her journey as a young girl in Brazil, dreaming of one day becoming a champion fighter. She started training in Muay Thai at just 12 years old and quickly rose through the ranks, winning championship after championship.
But it wasn’t always easy. As a young woman in a male-dominated field, Lisboa faced her fair share of challenges. “It was hard at first because Muay Thai was a sport that women didn’t do,” she said. “So when I started at 12 years old, people were like, ‘Oh, she’s crazy. What is she doing?’ But it was something that I loved, and I wanted to do it.”
And do it, she did. Lisboa’s talent and dedication soon caught the eye of the MMA world, and she began to make a name for herself in the Brazilian MMA scene. She may have faced some setbacks along the way, but she never gave up on her dream of becoming a champion.
Now, with the greatest battle of her career on the horizon, all eyes are on Lisboa. Will she emerge victorious and continue on her path to greatness? Only time will tell, me hearties. But one thing is for sure: Tainara Lisboa is a force to be reckoned with, and she’s not going down without a fight.
And there ye have it, me hearties! A tale of adventure on the high seas of MMA and a fighter who won’t be stopped by any foe. Her opponent may have years of experience in the UFC, but Lisboa is no stranger to battle. With her skills and determination, she may just become the next great champion of the octagon. So raise yer anchor, hoist the colors, and set sail for UFC Charlotte, where Tainara Lisboa and Jessica-Rose Clark will go head to head in a battle for the ages. Arrrr!
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UFC Charlotte newcomer Tainara Lisboa looks back at ‘very controversial’ Muay Thai loss to Valentina Shevchenko
