It’s been over 3 years since the UFC took there phenomenal roster to Canada for UFC Fight Night 158, and is set to return to the same Vancouver venue on July 10th for the unmissable UFC 289 card.
Many are excited for the return, but for Jasmine jasudavicius in particular, this is a night she has been waiting for for a very long time when she takes on Miranda Maverick in a Flyweight war for the ages.
I had the great opportunity to speak with Jasmine as she prepares for her work on home turf.
Jasmine Jasudavicius (8-2-0) is a Canadian professional Mixed Martial Artist currently competing in the Flyweight division of the UFC, representing Niagara Top Team. Jasmine has competed for World Fighting Championships, Cage Titans FC, BTC Fight Promotions, Cage Fury FC, Dana White’s Contender Series and the UFC.
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for taking the time to speak with me today Jasmine, and also to congratulate you on your upcoming inclusion to the UFC 289 card.
“Thank you very much, I’m looking forward to it.”
My pleasure Jasmine.
I hope preparations have been going well in the build-up to your scheduled return to the Octagon?
“Yeah, they’ve been going great. In the past I’ve gone to other gyms, I’ve been to American Top Team and Syndicate MMA in Vegas to kind of help with camp. But this time because I’m fighting Miranda Maverickz she’s a switch-stance southpaw, heavy wrestling, heavy grappling, she’s well rounded, I have ton of partners that are a similar style to her here. Which is great for me, so I’m looking forward to actually being at home for this camp.”
It takes out all of the travelling, the Jet lag etc out of the equation doesn’t it. And 100 percent more confident going into the fight I can imagine.
“Exactly, that’s exactly it.”
Your 2nd walk to the cage this year and in your home country, no doubt you’re absolutely buzzing for June.
Last in action back in February with victory at UFC Fight Night: Muniz vs Allen over Gabriella Fernandes, you wasted no time in breaking back out there once again. Is activity your goal for 2023?
“Yeah, activity is the focus. Before that last fight I took a bunch of time off unintentionally, with getting a flight etc, as I thought UFC was coming to Canada and all that. I don’t Wanna be off the show for long this year, i wanna just be jumping into fight after fight you know. I’m older, I’m 34 years old so I’m not here for a long time, I’m here for a good time and I wanna be active. I wanna keep working my way up the rankings, to eventually be able to fight for a title.”
And the UFC Flyweight division is absolutely explosive at the moment. Should victory come your way in June, would you be looking to call out anyone in that top 15?
“Yeah, absolutely. But I’m not looking past this fight, I’m laser focused on this fight at the moment. I’m not even looking at the girl’s past. She’s ranked 15th right now, so after this win then yeah, I’ll start looking at the girls in the top 15 to see who will be next and what my next opportunity will be.”
A great mindset to have indeed.
As fight night edge’s closer, and the moment being extra meaningful due to the location, no doubt you’re aiming to put on a career defining performance. What can the Canadian fans come to expect from you once that cage door closes?
“Being able to have the opportunity to fight at home, it’s unbelievable. It’s Vancouver, so it’s pretty far from my home. I think that a lot of other cards in the states are closer geographically, but being able to represent Canada and have the support of my country on my back going into this fight, I can’t wait and I think it’s gonna be fireworks. I’m training, I’m really ready to step in and take what I’ve earned, I’ve been in this sport for a long time. One of my old coaches would always say “the hard days of training, the getting up early, doing your row work, all of that. You’ve already earned it, now it’s time to go get it.” The hard part is going to get it and getting in there and doing the fight, but I truly believe with the preparation by the time it is fight night I will have earned it. I plan on going out there and having the best performance of my life.”
Very wise words.
There’s a huge female inclusion to UFC 289, the ladies of MMA really do go out there and put on an explosive show.
“Yeah. I think it’s different for females, you gotta be a little bit of a different breed to get into fighting and I think the girls skill-set’s have grown exponentially over the years. Like look at the last Joanna vs Weili fight a couple of years ago now, how unbelievably and technically it was. I really see the woman in MMA, we really have to pull up our socks and be entertaining and make those crazy exciting fights.”
You guys really are incredible out there.
“Thank you, thank you.”
You’re very welcome Jasmine.
Looking forward, a date, a location and most importantly an opponent has been set in stone for the evenings violent festivities in Vancouver in Miranda Maverick.
What do you make of Miranda in the build-up to your highly anticipated collision?
“Miranda is a tough cookie, you know. She’s been in this sport her whole life, she’s a vet even though she’s still young she is a vet in the sport. She’s come up and had hard fights, she’s no joke. But at the end of the day it’s still a fight, I’m really looking forward to getting in the cage with her, testing myself against her and seeing what happens.”
As a huge fan of you both, it’s gonna be a hard one to call. A draw would make me happy but i don’t think either of you would be happy with that, hahaha.
“Hahahaha definitely not, neither of us have that personally that we’d be ok with it hahahaha.”
Hahaha, no doubt.
Not many have been confirmed as of yet, but are there any confirmed matchups or fighters in particular that you’re looking forward to witnessing on the card?
“I know Kyle ‘The Monster’ Nelson, he’s on the card, I’m pretty sure Diana Belbiţă’s on it. I know Mike Malott, he’s a teammate of mine, he’s been really trying to get a match. So anyone at his weight class call him out, because they wanna put him on the card but all the guys in his weight class are matched up already. And who wants to fight that guy, he’s getting 1st round finishes hahaha, so I don’t blame people for not wanting to fight him, he’s a nightmare. But I’m hoping he gets on the card with me, it was great to have him last time, doing the fight trip together. I hope for another one that we can be on it together.”
I don’t blame them either, it makes me safe to say I’m on this side of the MMA world, hahaha.
“Hahahahaha.”
It’s been an absolute pleasure speaking with you today Jasmine, I wish you all the best for your preparations for June and I look forward to witnessing you out there once again.
“Awesome, thank you so much for having me. It’s been Awesome chatting with you, I really appreciate it and I look forward to getting in there.”
My pleasure Jasmine.
Last but not least do you have a message for the fans that will be in attendance and anybody you’d like to give a shout-out to?
“Shout-out to my team, Niagara Top Team, my training partners and my coaches and shout-out to all the Canadian’s. I’m looking forward to representing Canada and showing what we have to offer. The UFC hasn’t been to Canada in over 3 years now, to be on this card is the biggest blessing in the world, I can’t wait to show Canada what I’ve been working on.”
Catch Jasmine, and many more phenomenal athletes take centre stage in what’s shaping up to be an incredible night in Vancouver on July 10th Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. You’ll definitely not be disappointed, that’s for certain.
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