Perth, Western Australia – The dawn broke over the RAC Arena, but for fight fans, the real light show began at an unholy hour. Long before most of the city had their first cup of coffee, the preliminary card of UFC Perth ignited with a performance that promised to reverberate far beyond the early morning local time slot. Brazilian dynamo Alexia Thainara stepped into the octagon and delivered a stark message to the women`s strawweight division: a new, incredibly dominant force has arrived.
A Prospect No More: Thainara`s Clinical Disassembly of a Ranked Contender
Entering only her second UFC bout, Thainara faced a significant challenge in Loma Lookboonmee, the #14 ranked women`s strawweight contender. Lookboonmee was no stranger to the octagon, boasting a four-fight win streak and a reputation for gritty performances. This was precisely the kind of test a genuine prospect needed, and Thainara met it not with a handshake, but with an iron fist wrapped around Lookboonmee’s composure.
From the opening bell, Thainara’s strategy was clear and devastatingly effective: suffocate, control, and dismantle. Her wrestling, a facet of her game already highlighted in her impressive debut submission victory over Molly McCann, was on full display. Across three rounds, Thainara executed five decisive takedowns, establishing a staggering ten minutes of control time. This wasn`t merely holding position; it was active, punishing control, punctuated by ground and pound, debilitating 12-6 elbows, and even an audacious can opener submission attempt in the first round that, while unsuccessful, demonstrated her varied and aggressive approach.
The fight was a masterclass in tactical pressure. Thainara transformed the octagon into her personal grappling clinic, turning what many expected to be a competitive clash into a one-sided exhibition of superior strength, technique, and fight IQ. Lookboonmee, despite her toughness, was simply overwhelmed, her offensive opportunities stifled at every turn. By the final horn, all three judges saw the clear picture, rendering a unanimous decision in favor of Alexia Thainara, thus snapping Lookboonmee’s hard-earned win streak.
The Ultimate Endorsement: Champion Merab Dvalishvili Takes Notice
While the judges` scorecards cemented Thainara`s victory, arguably an even more significant validation came from one of the sport`s elite: UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili. The #3 pound-for-pound fighter in the world, renowned for his relentless wrestling and cardio, took to social media to commend Thainara`s performance.
“I am very impressed how @Alle_Thainara using her wrestling and fight IQ against [experienced] fighter Loma,” Dvalishvili wrote on X.
Coming from a fighter of Dvalishvili’s caliber, this isn`t just a compliment; it’s a stamp of approval from the highest echelon of the sport. It signals that Thainara possesses not only the physical tools but also the mental acuity to ascend to championship levels. For a fighter just two bouts into her UFC career, such recognition is invaluable, broadcasting her potential to the wider MMA world and putting a very bright spotlight on her next move.
What`s Next for the Undeniable Force?
With an unbroken 11-fight win streak now firmly under her belt, Alexia Thainara is no longer just a “prospect” – she is a legitimate contender on the cusp of the rankings. Her dominant victory over a seasoned, ranked opponent, particularly in such a comprehensive fashion, all but guarantees a number next to her name in the coming days. The women`s strawweight division is notoriously competitive, but Thainara`s relentless, wrestling-heavy style presents a unique challenge that few opponents can easily solve.
The question isn`t whether Thainara will be ranked, but how high, and who she will face next. Her ascent is rapid, her style is excitingly brutal, and her potential seems limitless. As the UFC continues to unearth global talent, Alexia Thainara at UFC Perth demonstrated that some stars shine brightest even before sunrise. The strawweight division, it seems, just got a whole lot more interesting.
