Following her decision victory over Lauren Murphy at UFC Nashville this past Saturday in Tennessee, Eduarda Moura was promptly summoned to Dana White`s room at the Bridgestone Arena. With two consecutive decision wins in the flyweight division against Murphy and Veronica Hardy, Moura now believes she is recognized as a promising talent within the promotion.
“I was quite surprised,” Moura recounted. “Immediately after my fight, I was informed that Dana White wished to speak with me. My initial thought was, ‘Oh my God, he’s going to release me!’ [laughs]. It came out of nowhere. But then I was reassured, ‘No, when he summons a fighter, it’s usually for something positive.’ And indeed, I exited that room in tears, like a baby.” [laughs]
According to Moura, the UFC CEO`s primary aim was to affirm that despite Lauren Murphy not being officially ranked among the top 15 flyweights before the event, the organization considered her to be among the elite.
Murphy previously secured five consecutive victories between 2019 and 2021, which led to a championship bout against Valentina Shevchenko, ultimately lost in the fourth round. The seasoned fighter also defeated Miesha Tate by decision in 2022 but had been inactive since her decision loss to Jessica Andrade in January 2023 in Brazil.
“White looked at me and stated that Murphy was effectively the number five fighter,” Moura explained. “He clarified that her unranked status was solely due to her impending retirement, implying that I had essentially fought a top-five contender. He also mentioned that he doesn`t formulate the rankings; journalists do. He was essentially explaining why I wasn`t yet ranked, but honestly, I couldn`t care less about rankings.” [laughs]
Coincidentally, Moura made her debut in the official rankings this past Tuesday, securing the No. 15 position.
“I’ve only been competing in MMA for three and a half years,” Moura reflected. “I’m still young, and I’m fully aware of my shortcomings and how much more I need to develop and showcase. I’m not in any hurry; I’m taking it one step at a time. Thankfully, things are working out now, and I couldn’t be more content.”
During the meeting, Moura presented Dana White with a singular request: to be featured on the upcoming UFC Fight Night event scheduled for October 11 in Rio de Janeiro. She even had a potential opponent in mind: Jamey-Lyn Horth.
“I’m not necessarily expecting my next opponent to be highly ranked, but I’m prepared to fight whomever they assign,” Moura stated. “We specifically requested Jamey-Lyn Horth, as she competed last month and is currently available. However, I reiterate, I will face anyone the UFC puts in front of me.”
Moura plans to enjoy a day of celebration with her family in Brazil before returning to training on Wednesday.
Reflecting on her victory over Murphy, Moura commented, “I anticipated it would be a tough battle. I admit I was somewhat overly nervous, as it was the most significant fight of my career. While I know I could have performed better, I opted for a slightly safer approach. Given Murphy`s known danger and resilience, I stuck to my strategy. She applied a strong guillotine in the third round, but I was determined not to tap out – I would have rather been choked unconscious!” [laughs]
“I was genuinely pleased when Lauren messaged me on Instagram [on Sunday], expressing gratitude for the fight and affirming that she gave her absolute best. She also mentioned she’s now a fan and will support me going forward. Honestly, I’m her fan! I have immense respect for her journey and story.”
