Maira Bueno Silva narrowly missed out on winning the UFC bantamweight title at UFC 297, blaming an ear injury sustained during the fight for impacting her performance.
Silva told MMA Fighting that she had a strong first round, even coming close to a rear-naked choke against Pennington, but was unable to maintain that level after suffering an early second-round injury.
“I sustained a minor ear injury, but aside from that, I feel good and ready for a comeback,” Silva stated. “Raquel hit me so hard on the ear that it tore part of my eardrum and threw off my balance. However, that’s part of the game.”
‘Seetara’ faced her first UFC loss as a bantamweight at UFC 297 after moving up from flyweight in 2022, expressing regret at not being able to execute ‘anything I had planned for this fight.’
“I couldn’t anticipate how the fight would unfold and was unable to determine what happened after the strike that caused the injury,” Silva explained. She added, “Credit to her for landing an incredible strike that saved her in the fight.”
“I’m still recovering and haven’t had the opportunity to review the match and identify what went wrong. We’re still a bit groggy,” she said.
She noted that she would consult with a specialist to establish a timeline for her return to training and suggested that Pennington might defend her belt successfully against Juliana Peña next. For her next fight, Silva has a few potential opponents in mind under the right circumstances.
“There are two fighters whose matchups are not confirmed, which I think would make sense for me,” Silva commented. “Firstly, Irene Aldana. I believe it’s a fight we can make, but we must first await medical advice. I don’t want to be out for too long; I want to return soon.”
“I also considered Miesha [Tate], but let’s see what the UFC has to offer. Maybe Miesha’s name would be more suitable,” she added.
The UFC women’s bantamweight division recently gained a new addition with the signing of two-time PFL lightweight champion Kayla Harrison, who will make her promotional debut against Holly Holm at UFC 300 on April 13th after dropping to 135 pounds.
“I believe she will perform excellently,” Silva expressed her confidence in Harrison, her American Top Team teammate in Florida. “She is highly professional and wouldn’t attempt it if she didn’t believe she could succeed. Therefore, I think she will deliver outstanding results.” [at bantamweight]
Silva, who trained with Harrison and defeated Holm in the Octagon, anticipates that the former PFL star will eventually vie for the title.
“We have competition close to home right now,” Silva remarked humorously. “But it’s all good. Kayla is a sweetheart. This is business, and she’s pursuing her dreams, just like me, so there’s nothing wrong with that.”
