Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Livinha Souza
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Withdraws with injury
Souza was forced to withdraw from her scheduled match against Virna Jandiroba on Dec. 7 due to a back injury, MMAFighting.com reports.
ANALYSIS
The exact nature of the injury and the amount of time Souza is expected to miss are not yet clear. Mallory Martin will step in to face Jandiroba.
The exact nature of the injury and the amount of time Souza is expected to miss are not yet clear. Mallory Martin will step in to face Jandiroba.
Steps in for UFC Washington DC
Souza will face Virna Jandiroba in a strawweight bout at UFC Washington DC on Dec. 7, Guilherme Cruz of MMAFighting.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Jandiroba's original opponent, Cortney Casey, was forced to withdraw from the card for undisclosed reasons, so Souza will replace her on short notice. Souza is coming off a loss to Brianna Van Buren at UFC Sacramento in July, which brought her professional record to 13-2. Jandiroba carries a record of 14-1 as a professional fighter after losing her UFC debut to Carla Esparza in April. The two former Invicta fighters will both look to get back into the win column, with Souza carrying a slight height advantage, but Jandiroba with a slight advantage in reach.
Jandiroba's original opponent, Cortney Casey, was forced to withdraw from the card for undisclosed reasons, so Souza will replace her on short notice. Souza is coming off a loss to Brianna Van Buren at UFC Sacramento in July, which brought her professional record to 13-2. Jandiroba carries a record of 14-1 as a professional fighter after losing her UFC debut to Carla Esparza in April. The two former Invicta fighters will both look to get back into the win column, with Souza carrying a slight height advantage, but Jandiroba with a slight advantage in reach.
UFC struggles continue
Souza lost to Brianna Van Buren via unanimous decision (27-30, 27-30, 27-30) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Sacramento.
ANALYSIS
A former Invicta Strawweight Champion, Souza has found her time with the UFC considerably more difficult than her previous employer. The Brazilian was impressive in her debut -- a submission win over Alex Chambers last September -- but she has since responded with a lackluster split-decision win over Sarah Frota in February and Saturday's no-show effort. Souza is a solid submission specialist, but her striking is poor and her takedown defense is abysmal. Fringe talents like Souza can succeed in a lesser organization like Invicta, but one-dimensional fighters will always struggle when the competition rises.
A former Invicta Strawweight Champion, Souza has found her time with the UFC considerably more difficult than her previous employer. The Brazilian was impressive in her debut -- a submission win over Alex Chambers last September -- but she has since responded with a lackluster split-decision win over Sarah Frota in February and Saturday's no-show effort. Souza is a solid submission specialist, but her striking is poor and her takedown defense is abysmal. Fringe talents like Souza can succeed in a lesser organization like Invicta, but one-dimensional fighters will always struggle when the competition rises.
New opponent in Sacramento
Souza will now take on Brianna Van Buren at UFC Sacramento on July 13 following the withdrawal of her original opponent Cynthia Calvillo, Rafael Oreiro of MMABrasil.com reports.
ANALYSIS
It was reported earlier in the week by MMAJunkie that Calvillo had suffered a broken foot and would be forced to withdraw, needing roughly six weeks for the injury to heal. Rather than wait it out and reschedule, it appears Souza will accept a different fight and stay on the card. Drawing Van Buren isn't less challenging of a task, however, as she's the current Invicta FC Strawweight Champion on a five-fight winning streak.Three of those wins came on a single night in Invicta's Phoenix Rising event, where Van Buren defeated former UFC fighters Juliana Lima and Kailin Curran to become champion.
It was reported earlier in the week by MMAJunkie that Calvillo had suffered a broken foot and would be forced to withdraw, needing roughly six weeks for the injury to heal. Rather than wait it out and reschedule, it appears Souza will accept a different fight and stay on the card. Drawing Van Buren isn't less challenging of a task, however, as she's the current Invicta FC Strawweight Champion on a five-fight winning streak.Three of those wins came on a single night in Invicta's Phoenix Rising event, where Van Buren defeated former UFC fighters Juliana Lima and Kailin Curran to become champion.
Next fight in Sacramento
Souza (ankle) will take on Cynthia Calvillo in a strawweight matchup at UFC Sacramento on July 13, Guilherme Cruz of MMAFighting.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Souza got off to a 2-0 start to her professional career, though she escaped with a split decision over a heavy Sarah Frota last February, despite entering as a (-240) betting favorite. The Brazilian was set to see a step up in competition in April, but had to withdraw from a scheduled bout against Carla Esparza due to a foot injury. That appears to have cleared up in time to begin a camp for a July bout against possibly her toughest opponent to date. The former Invicta FC champion will head into hostile territory, as Sacramento is only a two hour drive from where Calvillo trains. Souza is known as a submission specialist, and will likely attack the 69 percent takedown defense of Calvillo, though it's worth noting Calvillo has yet to be submitted in her pro career.
Souza got off to a 2-0 start to her professional career, though she escaped with a split decision over a heavy Sarah Frota last February, despite entering as a (-240) betting favorite. The Brazilian was set to see a step up in competition in April, but had to withdraw from a scheduled bout against Carla Esparza due to a foot injury. That appears to have cleared up in time to begin a camp for a July bout against possibly her toughest opponent to date. The former Invicta FC champion will head into hostile territory, as Sacramento is only a two hour drive from where Calvillo trains. Souza is known as a submission specialist, and will likely attack the 69 percent takedown defense of Calvillo, though it's worth noting Calvillo has yet to be submitted in her pro career.