Ketlen Souza, they dub her “Esquentadinha.” It’s Portuguese for “Little Hothead.” A nickname that sticks like gum on a hot sidewalk, it tells you a bit about her fire.
The story behind it? Quite the tale. “One time while weighing in, this photographer kept bothering me, and I ended up being rude back at him,” Souza shared with Sherdog.com. He called her hotheaded. And just like that, a nickname was born.
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Her journey in the fight world kicked off at 16. “Nothing has been easy in my chosen profession,” she admits. Yet, she’s grateful, ready to face it all over again if she had to. That’s grit, right there.
Now, onto her next big challenge. Souza’s stepping into the UFC women’s strawweight division ring. She’s up against Marnic Mann this Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. It’s a crucial moment, especially after her last fight ended in a submission loss.
No pressure, though. Souza’s confidence is sky-high. “I feel she’s inferior in several areas,” she says about Mann. Despite a knee injury in her last fight, she’s ready to bounce back, stronger.
Her encounter with Karine Silva? Not the outcome she wanted. But Souza’s not one to dwell on the past. She’s focused, eyeing a quick victory over Mann. “This fight is mine,” she declares with confidence.
Training in Manaus, Brazil, Souza hones her skills at the Carioca Academy. There, alongside coach Cristian Bezerra Carioca and fellow fighters, she prepares. No shortcuts, just hard work and quality sparring partners.
A win against Mann isn’t just another victory. It’s a step closer to her ultimate goal – the championship belt. Souza’s eyes are on the prize, ready to make her mark in the UFC.