Jasmine Jasudavicius, a 35-year-old representative of Niagara Top Team and Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS) graduate, is ready to bring her vibrant energy to the UFC Octagon once again. Known for her lively demeanor and boundless energy, Jasudavicius is set to face newcomer Fatima Kline this Saturday at UFC Denver.
In a recent interview, Jasudavicius shared her excitement and pre-fight rituals, revealing her unique approach to managing energy and nerves. “I get a little bit of an edge, and I know this,” she said, referencing a playful video on her Instagram where she jokes about needing to be kept in her cage as training camp progresses. “I try to stay to myself a lot, that way there is no one to snap on or anything.”
Reflecting on her UFC 297 victory against veteran Priscila Cachoeira, Jasudavicius described the intensity of the moment. Cachoeira's failure to make the flyweight limit added tension to the bout, which shifted to bantamweight. Jasudavicius channeled her energy into a dominant performance, ultimately submitting Cachoeira in the third round after delivering significant punishment.
“My team always teases me, like, ‘Okay Jas — enjoy it, but we’re here for business,’” she recounted. “But it gets to a point where I’m like, ‘I’m done enjoying this; now it’s time for serious business.’”
This weekend, Jasudavicius was originally scheduled to fight veteran Viviane Araujo. However, plans changed when Araujo withdrew, and Jasudavicius was informed mid-afternoon of the switch to Kline.
“He said, ‘We lost Viviane,’ and at first, I said, ‘Well go find her; we’re a week away,’” she laughed. “We were already down in Denver, staying at this really cool Airbnb, so I showed the guys and said, ‘You guys deal with this; I’m gonna go take a nap.’”
Despite the opponent change, Jasudavicius and her team focus on her overall preparation rather than tailoring it specifically to each opponent. “Yes, I’m preparing for an opponent, but, at the same time, I'm preparing to be the best version of myself,” she explained.
Jasudavicius acknowledges the advantage of her experience over Kline, who is set to make her UFC debut. “I think that’s a huge benefit I have,” she said. “I remember my debut like it was yesterday, and I’m thankful that I was able to go through Contender Series first, and then have the debut.”
Looking forward to Saturday night, Jasudavicius summed up her mindset: “I’m not here for a long time, I’m here for a good time. So I'm trying to fight often, get that experience in, and ideally, keep making my way up to get that belt.” For her, a successful night means one thing: “Getting my hand raised.”
Don’t miss UFC Fight Night: Namajunas vs. Cortez, live from Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, on July 13, 2024. Prelims start at 7pm ET/4pm PT, with the main card kicking off at 10pm ET/7pm PT.