5 days ago
Alice Ardelean went all-in to get first UFC win: 'My face looks terrible'
Alice Ardelean went all-in to get first UFC win: 'My face looks terrible' Ardelean won Fight of the Night for her win over Rayanne Dos Santos to open UFC on ESPN 68
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Alice Ardelean went all-in to get first UFC win at UFC Vegas 107
UFC on ESPN 68 winner Alice Ardelean talks to MMA Junkie and other reporters post-fight after her victory over Rayanne dos Santos in Las Vegas.
LAS VEGAS – Alice Ardelean met the media Saturday after her win over Rayanne Dos Santos at UFC on ESPN 68.
Ardelean (10-7 MMA, 1-2 UFC) upset Dos Santos (14-9 MMA, 0-3 UFC) in their women's strawweight bout to open the event at the UFC Apex. Dos Santos was more than a 2-1 favorite, but Ardelean pulled off the upset for the first win of her UFC career – and walked away with Fight of the Night, too.
"What a battle," Ardelean told MMA Junkie shortly after her win. "I feel amazing. I mean, my face looks terrible, but I feel amazing having my first win in the UFC – everyone's dream, and my dream came true."
Ardelean's UFC tenure started with back-to-back decision losses in 2024. She said that left her with some question about if she had what it takes to fight at the UFC level.
But Saturday may have answered those queries.
"I had a lot of doubts – especially after my last fight. Straight away, after I came back from the cage, I was like, 'I'm done with this. It's too painful.' It's a lot of pain you take (as a fighter). But I said, 'You know what? I have one more chance. One more fight. Let's go. I'll put everything into it.'
"I worked from the smallest thing to the biggest thing and said this is my last chance. If I don't get this, I might not be good enough and that's a thing – I have to accept it and move down and fight in some other events (outside the UFC), because I love fighting. This is my life. That was my thought, and I put everything into it. I'm proud of myself."
Check out Ardelean's post-fight news conference in the video above.
