Viviane Araujo has faced some of the best around in the UFC flyweight division, from contenders to prospects, and once again finds herself taking on an up-and-comer.

Days before he turns 38, Araujo fights Karine Silva at Saturday night’s UFC 309 in New York, hoping to send a message to the division.

Araujo has won six of 11 fights since joining the promotion in 2019, beating the likes of Jennifer Maia, Roxanne Modafferi and Alexis Davis, but stumbled – but never finished – against future champion Alexa Grasso and younger prospects in Natalia Silva and Amanda Ribas.

Facing his fourth Brazilian opponent in a row, a sign that “Brazilian women are doing well in MMA,” Araujo sees “great potential” in 30-year-old “Killer” Silva. At UFC 309, however, she wants to ensure that the experience factor is too much for the talent of the Gile Ribeiro Team.

“It’s not that simple,” Araujo laughed during an interview with MMA Fighting. “I was already in the top 10 after I made my UFC debut in 2019, and I’m still here, and there’s a reason for that. I do my job, and I don’t joke. I don’t choose opponents, and they keep bringing stronger and stronger high-level girls. I keep proving that I deserve to be here.

“My goal is to continue climbing and not let these young girls come here. My goal is to fight for the title and reach the top. I will fight a girl who is hyped and show my potential, show that it is not that easy. I am also ready to go one step further.”

Araujo’s past ten UFC fights have ended via decision, with her only result being a close bantamweight victory over Talita Bernardo, and she will miss a shorter night in the cage.

“We train to put on a show for the MMA fans,” Araujo said. “We know fans go crazy when a fight ends by knockout or submission, so we’re always looking for that. I train to make sure I don’t leave it to the judges because someone makes mistakes. My goal is to feel that emotion again, the knockout or the submission.”

“I have watched and studied her fights a lot. She is coming up in the division and has a lot of weapons, so we have to stay alert,” she continued. “I’ve seen some gaps in her fights, so I know it’s going to be an interesting fight for the fans. I expect everything, and so does she. I’m a black belt in jiu-jitsu, so I don’t know if she wants to go to the ground with me. I have never been subjugated in my career. I know she has weapons she can fight or fight me with, but I’m ready.”