Araujo targets PFL flyweight title shot against champion Carmouche in San Diego

Viviane Araujo steps into the biggest fight of her PFL career on June 27 in San Diego, squaring off against Liz Carmouche — the promotion’s most recent flyweight tournament champion — in a contenders’ bout that could propel the Brazilian straight into title contention.

Carmouche arrives as a formidable obstacle. The 16-year veteran has compiled a remarkable 12-1 record since 2020, with notable victories over Jessica Andrade and Valentina Shevchenko among her career highlights. No belt is on the line this weekend, but an emphatic performance from Araujo would almost certainly earn her a shot at the flyweight crown.

Araujo made a successful PFL debut in April and is under no illusions about the scale of the challenge ahead. Speaking in Portuguese, she offered genuine praise for her opponent while making her intentions clear. “I have a lot of respect for her. She’s a very experienced athlete. She’s proven repeatedly that she belongs at the top. She’s a complete fighter. She’s strong and has a ton of experience in the cage,” Araujo said.

That respect, however, stops well short of deference. “This will be another great challenge in my career. This is why I fight. I expect to beat her by imposing my rhythm and having an intelligent fight. My biggest objective for San Diego is to have my hand raised at the end, no matter how. It can be a knockout, submission, or decision. I’ll show once more that I belong at the highest level.”

Araujo spent six years in the UFC, where she remained a consistent top-10 flyweight. She looks back on that chapter with pride. “The most important moment in my career was my arrival to the UFC,” she said. “It was confirmation of all the hard work I put in over the years, to be among the best in the world. It proved the consistency of my work. I was able to show my work to the entire world.”

Preparation for San Diego took place at the Cerrado MMA academy in Brasília, a gym that has also shaped the careers of Vicente Luque, Gilbert Burns, and the Bonfim brothers, Ismael and Gabriel. Araujo’s camp covered striking, Muay Thai, wrestling, no-gi jiu-jitsu, luta livre, and boxing, with a particular focus on physical conditioning and opponent-specific strategy.

“For this fight, I’ll arrive very strong,” she said. “I’ll also be very technical, especially regarding strategy. We’re studying my opponent extensively, in all her areas of strength.”

Approaching her forties, Araujo shows no sign of winding down — and a win over Carmouche would make that case louder than any words could.