Bantamweight star Ailin Perez picked up the biggest win of her career on Saturday night.
The Argentine fighter has earned a legion of fans for twerking throughout her ongoing win streak.
However, many people expected her to fall short against top contender Karol Rosa at UFC 311.
Against the odds, she got her hand raised and did her signature dance move during Dana White‘s first pay-per-view card of 2025.
The story of Ailin Perez vs Karol Rosa
Perez was aggressive from the very first bell. ‘Fiona’ charged in with an early takedown attempt, which didn’t work, but she followed up with another that earned her top position.
Not much damage was done on the floor and Rosa eventually worked her way back to her feet, but she ate a spinning back fist as her underdog opponent capped off a strong first round in style.
Rosa’s lack of urgency in the second stanza frustrated UFC commentators Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier. It was a largely uneventful stand-up fight, with Perez occasionally landing with eye-catching spin attacks before she secured another takedown.
Perez landed enough ground and pound to seemingly win the round and establish a commanding lead heading into the final frame of her biggest fight to date.
A much better round for Rosa in the third. The Brazilian almost dropped her rival with a hard leg kick before leaving her with a big bump on her forehead.
It wasn’t enough to sway the judges in her favor as Perez earned a 29-28, 29-28, and 30-27 scorecards.
What’s next for Ailin Perez?
Perez should enter the bantamweight top 10 when the UFC rankings are updated next week.
A title shot is likely just a couple more wins away, especially as she’s becoming a WMMA superstar.
Julianna Pena is the current queen at 135lbs after outpointing Raquel Pennington at UFC 307 in September.
Kayla Harrison appears to be next in line, but Perez thinks the champion is trying to duck that fight.
“I’m going to ask for a title fight, preferably against Kayla Harrison for the interim title since Julianna Peña doesn’t want to defend her beat against Kayla Harrison,” Perez told Hablemos MMA ahead of UFC 311.
“That gives me a little, I don’t know, like, ‘Come on woman, defend your title. Who are you, Julianna Peña?’ I feel she’s scared sh*tless of Kayla Harrison, and I want to show that I also want the belt.
“So why not an interim title fight vs. Kayla Harrison to see who’a the next one for the title? Julianna is turning down fights and not taking advantage of the opportunity the UFC is giving her.”
“Obviously Kayla,” Perez added when asked to predict Pena vs Harrison. “That’s why I want to fight Kayla.
“Just like I think Kayla beats Julianna, I also don’t think Kayla has what’s needed to go five rounds with me. That’s why I want to fight for an interim belt. That’s where we’ll see all of Kayla’s weaknesses.”