Exactly one year ago today, Alexia Thainara scored a unanimous decision win over Rose Conceicao on Season 8, Week 7 of Dana White’s Contender Series, impressing the eponymous UFC President and earning a contract to compete on the biggest stage in the sport. A year later, the ebullient Brazilian with colorful braids and a megawatt smile is stationed in Perth, Australia, waiting to make the second start of her rookie campaign against Loma Lookboonmee at RAC Arena this weekend.
“It’s been a year of a lot of learning experiences,” Thainara said when asked to reflect on her past year.