Beatriz Mesquita explains callout of Ailin Perez

Undefeated Beatriz Mesquita called out No. 5-ranked Ailin Perez following a dominant submission win at UFC Fight Night 279 on Saturday in Las Vegas, aiming to inject the historic Brazil-Argentina soccer rivalry into the women's bantamweight division. Mesquita (8-0) faced Melissa Mullins (7-3) and navigated early adversity when Mullins rocked her in the opening round. Surprisingly, Mullins chose to take the fight to the canvas rather than press her advantage, allowing Mesquita to lock an armbar for a quick submission.

In her post-fight callout, Mesquita explained her interest in facing Perez (13-2), who is currently on a six-fight winning streak in the UFC. Beyond the ranking advantage—Perez's No. 5 standing would catapult Mesquita toward her goal of cracking the top five by year's end—the Brazilian cited stylistic appeal and personal motivation. "I really think it's a good match for me," Mesquita said. "She can grapple too, so I think it's gonna be a really interesting fight." She also took issue with Perez's celebration style. "I don't like her attitude in the cage," Mesquita added, referencing Perez's post-fight twerking celebrations.

Messquita brings an impressive finishing record into a potential matchup with Perez, having never gone the distance through eight professional wins and submitting six of her opponents. Her undefeated record and grappling prowess position her as a legitimate threat to the Argentinian's current run, while the Brazil-Argentina narrative adds commercial appeal to the proposed showdown.