“I WAS EXPECTING it to be colder actually!” smiles Brazilian MMA fighter Ericka Almeida.
“The weather has been nice and I’m really liking the town.”
Not only is it the 26-year-old’s first visit to Ireland, it is in fact her first time to travel outside her homeland.
After suffering defeat to Juliana de Lima Carniero by decision in her UFC debut, Almeida (7-1-0) is hoping to claim a win inside the Octagon when she takes on Ireland’s Aisling Daly in a strawweight bout at the 3Arena on Saturday night.
The more experienced fighter of the two and one of SBG’s longest-serving members, Daly (15-6-0) will also be looking to put the recent loss to Randa Markos, at UFC 186, behind her.
When the franchise made its long-awaited return to Dublin in July 2014, Daly had to watch team-mates Conor McGregor, Paddy Holohan, Cathal Pendred and Gunnar Nelson take centre stage from Las Vegas as she was competing in TUF 20.
Jiu-jitsu specialist Almeida, who trains with Herman Gutierrez Team in Sao Paolo, has watched the series back and feels she is as ready as ever.
“My preparations were great and I’ve just had my best camp,” she said.
“I watched her in the TUF house and I know she’s a popular fighter. She likes to box and is a brown belt in jiu-jitsu like me, and she likes the ground game too. I’m also like that so I’m looking forward to the fight.”
The last Brazilian UFC fighter to face the Dublin crowd was at the Aldo v McGregor World Tour back in March, when the featherweight champion was berated by fans at the Convention Centre.
Almeida, who received advice from her compatriot, insists she is prepared for a frosty reception but adds that Daly will be the one feeling the heat.
“I know she is team-mates with Conor McGregor, who is an idol, but I don’t feel pressure from the Irish crowd,” she said.
She is in her hometown in front of her team-mates, friends and the whole country, so she is the one who should be feeling pressure.
“I met Jose Aldo and he said the crowd are really supporting (of local fighters) but he told me not to worry as I am prepared to go there and do my job.”
Agree with his comments in that regard but a bit rich coming from him as La Liga chief where Barca and Real carve up the TV rights with their own TV deals which dwarf the alms handed out to the rest. Could do with sorting his own shop too..
@alternativefacter: your right about the TV rights there has been slight improvement but still nowhere near enough in Spanish football
PSG and City just copying the financial doping model invented by the Spanish and Catalan governments.
@Stanley Baggins: that’s just plain ignorance. The Spanish government lost true control years ago over the sport . It wasn’t a plan it was just ineptitude . The Catalan government is a regional government and have nothing to do with it . Still you’ll get more likes cos people love to believe s#it€
He wasnt saying anything when Real were winning. How much debt has the goverment wiped clean for them?
@Kingshu: used to be the king, is the government at it now?
@Kingshu: he is the League President , he has two many enemies , the Spanish FA and UEFA/CL
@Dave O Keeffe: the King ??? Haha haha deluded ! That’s like saying it was Franco cos he was top dog in Europe .
The rest of the football world should seize & allow Real & Barca to dominate
Javier has made some excellent points.
It was okay when their lads were the biggest fish in the pond. I agree with him but its hypocritical on his part. The two he mentions can’t get within an ass’s roar of a final no matter how much they bend the rules.
@Hardly Normal: Wait
…at one point they were going to wind up Real Madrid. It would have taken the main Spanish banks down with them. State support???
@Tom McHugh: what point was that ? A date maybe ?
City’s record signing is £60 million, what is Barcelona’s or Real’s. And they apparently wanted this idiot to be chief executive of the Premier League.
@William Boland: city just buy buy buy and consistently price other teams out of signings. I think your forgetting PSG though. Remember the whole Neymar+Mbappe double transfer? That was beyond farcical
@William Boland: it’s not what they pay it’s who they pay it for ? Real and Barca also sell their players for often more than when signed , even Ronaldo’s fee for Juventus was technically more . Who do City sell for more than they paid for ??
@Limón Madrugada: in the last 5 years, who have City overpaid for? They got out of the race for Sanchez because they didn’t want to overpay for him, same as DeJong. You can say PSG City in no way created the market the way it is now.
@William Boland: I haven’t said they’ve overpaid for anyone . I’m saying if you spend 12 x50M that’s 600M whereas if you’re an extremely rich club like Real Madrid or Barca you spend 200M -300M because you’ve just sold Neymar , Ronaldo or even Morata for 70-100-250M , and you’ve picked up 100m for winning the CL .. or should I say 400M for winning it 4 times in 5 years . It’s the total spend that’s high not the price for the player .And how you generated the money to pay for him . Madrid generates 120M a year from Adidas alone . 120M from ticket sales . Barca even more . City don’t generate that income , but they can spend better than the best .
He’s right too..
But its ok for Barcelona and Real to buy La Liga every year
@Brysonpieters: Barca didn’t buy it this year . Nor last year . Madrid’s last League win included the European double and they made no significant additions to that years squad that made the difference . Madrid has spent its money recently on future players some of whom have just started to play a bit ( Vinicius Jr) or Rodrygo , yet to arrive . Their impact on Madrid’s league position is minimal