Jessica-Rose Clark vs. Tainara Lisboa: UFC Charlotte Fight Preview

Two of the four women’s divisions are on show at UFC on ABC 4 this weekend. The first is the Bantamweight division as UFC veteran Jessica-Rose Clark (11-8) takes on the debuting Tainara Lisboa (5-2).

Clark is a striker who instantly pressures opponents into the cage to force a clinch and a potential takedown.

The Australian is 4-4 in the UFC looking to end a two-fight losing streak, both to first-round armbars from Julia Stoliarenko and Stephanie Egger.

Her opponent, Lisboa, makes her octagon debut this weekend and is a two-time Muay Thai World Champion.

Making her transition to MMA in 2016, Lisboa lost her debut to Norma Dumont but went on to win five of her next six bouts. Lisboa enters the UFC after scoring three first-round stoppages in the Brazilian circuit since 2021.

She’s shown huge improvements in her jiu-jitsu as well across her seven career fights, winning two of her bouts by arm triangle.

Despite this, there is a huge discrepancy in the level of competition she has faced in comparison to Clark. The combined record for all of Lisboa’s opponents at the time she’s faced them is 3-6, so this fight will be a huge jump in quality for the Brazilian.

Clark is likely to use her experience to wisely pressure her opponent back towards the cage and test her defensive wrestling. Clark showed her top control quality in her last win over Joselyne Edwards where the Panamanian struggled to escape from bottom position any time she was taken down.

It will be an interesting watch to see how the MMA experience of Clark matches with the MMA youth of Lisboa to open the card.