Bia Mesquita called out Ailin Perez after her latest UFC tapout win at UFC Fight Night 279. According to the report, Mesquita spoke to the media on Saturday in Las Vegas and said she wanted a matchup with Perez because of the disrespect she feels from the Argentine fighter. The callout matters because Mesquita is still building momentum in the UFC and a high-profile grudge match could quickly raise her standing in the women’s division. The next step will depend on whether Perez and the UFC are interested in making the fight.
Bia Mesquita used her post-fight media session in Las Vegas on Saturday to call out Ailin Perez, demanding the matchup after submitting her opponent at UFC Fight Night 279 and citing what she described as disrespect from the Argentine fighter.
Mesquita, 35, remains undefeated at 8-0 and is quickly establishing herself as a genuine threat in the women's bantamweight division. Fighting out of an orthodox stance, she stands five-foot-four with a 67-inch reach and is one of the more submission-heavy fighters on the roster, averaging 3.6 submission attempts per 15 minutes. She also generates significant volume on the feet, landing 4.52 significant strikes per minute at a 57 percent accuracy rate.
Perez, nicknamed Fiona, enters the picture as the division's eighth-ranked contender and brings a 13-2 record into any potential negotiation. The 31-year-old Argentine, who trains out of The Goat Shed Academy, fights out of a switch stance and stands five-foot-five with a 66-inch reach. She is a particularly dangerous grappler in the takedown department, averaging 4.9 takedowns per 15 minutes, and connects at a 56 percent striking accuracy rate while landing 2.88 significant strikes per minute.
Why it matters
- Mesquita's unbeaten record and submission-heavy style make her a credible threat to any ranked bantamweight, and a win over Perez would vault her into the rankings conversation.
- Perez's current number-eight ranking means a matchup carries genuine divisional stakes for both fighters.
- The stylistic contrast is compelling, with Mesquita's submission volume against Perez's takedown aggression setting up a potentially decisive grappling battle.
- Whether the UFC moves forward will depend on Perez's camp responding to the callout.
