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VANCOUVER – Jasmine Jasudavicius is well aware of the golden opportunity that’s right in front of her.
Jasudavicius, the No. 5 women’s flyweight in the official UFC rankings, takes on No. 2 and former title challenger Manon Fiorot this Saturday on the main card of UFC Fight Night 262 at Rogers Arena. Jasudavicius, 36, has climbed the rankings on the strength of a five-fight winning streak and looks to make it six in a row while asserting herself as a worthy title challenger.
“This is such a crazy ride that I’m on. It’s so amazing,” Jasudavicius told MMA Junkie and other reporters during Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 262 media day. “She fought for the title before, and so I feel like a win over her puts me right there to be able to fight for the title next.”
After a loss to Tracy Cortez in September 2023, Jasudavicius (14-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) went 3-0 in 2024 and would repeat that mark in 2025 if she gets past Fiorot. Jasudavicius is coming off a rear-naked choke submission win over former strawweight champion Jessica Andrade in May at UFC 315.
Given how many consecutive wins Jasudavicius has racked up, who she’s beaten and who she has a chance to beat this Saturday, she admits her mindset on becoming UFC champion has shifted since she joined the promotion off of Dana White’s Contender Series in 2021.
“Getting into the UFC, the dream (is) become a world champion,” Jasudavicius said. “But it’s like, ‘Oh, I would love to be a world champion,’ you know what I mean? A little bit of a pipe dream. But the more steps that you make, then it’s like this is actually a reality now. And now it is.”
Certainly a win over Fiorot (12-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC), especially an impressive one, would be a big statement. With Fiorot coming off a title-fight loss to champion Valentina Shevchenko also at UFC 315, Jasudavicius expects a dangerous opponent standing across from her.
“I think she’s gonna be super motivated,” Jasudavicius said. “Nothing gets you more motivated than coming off of a loss. I know she’ll be motivated, she’ll want to get it back, but I’m there to stop that.”
