Brazilian Bantamweight Reflects on Her Five-Year UFC Journey, Anticipates Clash With Irene Aldana Ahead of Her 2024 Debut This Saturday
When Karol Rosa steps into the Octagon to battle Pannie Kianzad on the preliminary card of Saturday’s Fight Night event at the UFC APEX, she will be three weeks shy of the five-year anniversary of her UFC debut.
The 29-year-old bantamweight made her first appearance in Shenzhen, China, on the same card as her teammate, then-strawweight champion Jessica Andrade. She earned a split decision win over fellow Brazilian newcomer Lara Procopio. Three more victories followed, establishing Rosa as an emerging name in the 135-pound weight class. However, recent results haven’t been as consistent.
“I’ve said since Day One that the goal is to get to a title fight, and I believe that every fight that I’ve had, I improved a little bit,” Rosa said on Wednesday morning, speaking through her translator, Tiago Okamura. “Every fight, every camp, I improve a little and hopefully that is gonna get me to a position where by the time I get my title fight — when that comes — I’m gonna be the best version of myself and with the best chances of taking the belt.”
Over her last five outings, Rosa has alternated outcomes, with each contest going to the scorecards, as all of her UFC appearances have thus far. Each battle has come against ranked opponents, including former title challengers Sara McMann, Yana Santos, and Irene Aldana. While those matchups didn’t go her way, Rosa believes they have all contributed to her steady improvement.
“I’m improving and you’re always gonna see a better Karol Rosa than you saw last time,” she said, offering a tease of what to expect when she faces off with Kianzad this weekend in Las Vegas. “I think I’ll be able to show that not only am I a complete MMA fighter, but I did tweak quite a bit of my striking as well, so I think you’re going to see a little bit of everything in this fight.
Much of that confidence stems from her battle with Aldana last time out at UFC 296.
Paired off with the Mexican contender in her first appearance since challenging for the bantamweight title last summer, Rosa took the fight to Aldana, battering her lead leg and opening an early lead. But Aldana steeled herself and continued to march forward, landing fewer but more impactful shots than Rosa in each of the final two rounds to secure a come-from-behind unanimous decision win.
Some may argue that Rosa is simply trying to find a silver lining in a fight that didn’t go her way, but her assessment aligns with how we often discuss the different challenges competitors need to face to claim a spot in the upper tier of their respective divisions.
Results are certainly important, but so too is finding out that you belong; that you’re capable of going 15 hard minutes with a recent title challenger that has gone 8-3 over her last 11 fights and only been beaten by women who have held championship gold.
Those things can often be more beneficial than a clear win over someone you’re “supposed to beat,” and that’s precisely why Rosa’s confidence is at an all-time high entering this weekend’s matchup with Kianzad.
Given their similar trajectories over the last handful of years, it’s surprising that the women haven’t crossed paths inside the Octagon before, as Kianzad has just eclipsed the five-year anniversary of her return to the promotion following her time on The Ultimate Fighter, and charted a similar course to being a fixture in the rankings.
Entering with plans to halt her two-fight skid and propel herself forward in the wide-open bantamweight ranks, Rosa knows she’ll be facing a tough, motivated foe this weekend, and sees Saturday’s contest as another test she needs to take and pass to keep progressing towards her ultimate goal.
It’s also an opportunity for Rosa to shine opposite another pair of ranked bantamweights looking to work forward in the division.
While Rosa and Kianzad are stationed on the prelims, tenured vet Yana Santos and Stockton’s Chelsea Chandler occupy one of the six main card slots this weekend, giving Saturday a little bit of a showcase feel for those angling to make waves in the 135-pound ranks.
Asked how she intends to ensure that she’s the one everyone is talking about when the dust settles and the action is over this weekend, the Brazilian smiled and laughed.
“Not trying to put anybody down, but watch my last fight, and you can expect more of that,” she said confidently. “If you want to watch a fun fight, tune into mine — you’re not gonna regret it.”
Don’t miss a moment of UFC Fight Night: Tybura vs Spivac 2 live from UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada on August 10, 2024. Prelims start at 4pm ET/1pm PT, while the main card kicks off live on ESPN & ESPN+ at 7pm ET/4pm PT.