Issue 165
March 2018
KSW's Brazilian 'violence queen' has found a home in Poland's entertaining organisation and has become the most exciting attraction at 125lb.
It’s easy to recall MMA’s other brawling greats from Curitiba, Brazil when you watch Ariane Lipski. Echoes of Wanderlei Silva, Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua and Cris ‘Cyborg’ Santos emerge as the KSW champion finishes her opponents in flurries of punches, kicks, knees and elbows, on the feet or on the mat. She’s pretty handy with submissions, too.
Her fighting style, allied with her Polish roots, have made her a hit in Europe. The fact she doesn’t speak the language doesn’t matter. The fact she lives up to her moniker is more than enough for fans, to demand to see more from her.
Ahead of her return as one of the main attractions at KSW 42 on March 3rd, Lipski explains how she ended up making her fighting home halfway around the world from her native land, how she plans to become the world’s best flyweight and how she earned her awesome nickname...
Q. Do your performances in KSW make you the best flyweight in the world?
I’m living a great moment, but it’s not the moment to say I’m the best. I still have a lot of good and experienced opponents to fight and defeat to become the number one. But I’m working hard every day to get there.
Q. Which other flyweights do you admire?
I admire a lot of athletes in my weight class. There are a lot of great fighters in the rankings, but I heard Valentina Shevchenko will drop to flyweight and she is an athlete I really admire.
Q. How would you match up against her?
I think it would be a really good fight. We’re both strikers, so I think it would be a great war that could end at any moment.
Q. After a tough start to your MMA career, you have won eight fights in a row. How did you turn things around?
It was a very tough moment. I even thought about giving up. But I had to be strong, go back to the gym, get better and turn things around. I think my losses were a part of my growing up and now I feel I’m ready to fight anyone.
Q. How did you, a Brazilian, end up as the star of a Polish Promotion?
After I defeated Katarzyna Lubonska, people in Poland were surprised by my fighting style. Also, after this fight I revealed I’m of Polish descent and that made everyone take to me as a Polish representative inside the cage.
Q. Do you feel loved by the Polish fans?
Yes, very. I get a lot of messages every day from Polish fans, they really support me. It’s funny that one day after I fight they already want to know when my next fight will be. I’m very happy with all the love I get from my Polish fans.
Q. Are you learning Polish?
It’s very hard to find a Polish teacher in Brazil, but we are trying to find someone to help us with this.
Q. Are you as well-known to Brazilians too?
I’m more famous in Poland and Europe but my name is also rising in Brazil. Last Year, I was awarded Fighter of the Year, Knockout of The Year and Fight of The Year (for her fight with Juliana Werner at Imortal FC) in the Osvaldo Paqueta Prize, which is like the Oscar of Brazilian MMA. I still think there is a lot more for KSW and me to grow in Brazil, but I’m very happy that everyone is following my progress inside KSW.
Q. Who gave you your nickname, and why?
KSW gave the nickname to me, I think during the broadcast of my fight against Sheila Ga . I’m very happy with my nickname; it’s perfect because it matches exactly with my fighting style.
Q. What do you think of the comparisons between you and Cris Cyborg?
I’m very happy, because Cyborg is one of my idols. She is very aggressive inside the cage, has a great heart and she is a great person. I admire everything she has done in her career and to be compared to her is a real honor.
Q. Why do you think so many gifted fighters have come from Curitiba?
It’s in the DNA of Curitiba. We have lots of teams, athletes and trainers. So many champions were born here, that it’s now become cultural. I hope to keep representing my city with honor and great wins.
Q. How would you feel about fighting Jennifer Maia to try and take her spot as world number one?
I know her, she also lives in Curitiba! It’s funny because I always want her to win her fights. If someday we have to fight with each other, I hope it’s for the title of a big promotion and we can show how strong our MMA is. Until then, I will continue hoping for her to win her fights.
Would you have considered fighting for the UFC belt on The Ultimate Fighter? At the same moment TUF was happening, I won the KSW belt and defended it and I’m very happy about it. It was a great honor to become KSW champion and I’m very focused on defending it.
Q. Did you think it was strange you were not asked to compete?
After my fight against Sheila Ga , my manager had a lot of offers from promotions all over the world. We chose to renew our contract with KSW and become champion. We are very happy with our choice and with everything that’s happening. I still have two more fights in my contract and I’m 100% focused.
What do you want to achieve in your career in the next few years?
My goal now is to defend my KSW title, but my big dream is to be the best fighter in the world in my weight class. I want to be the number one in the world rankings.
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