MIAMI – Sam Hughes beat Jaqueline Amorim with a unanimous decision Saturday to open up the preliminary card at UFC 287 at Kaseya Center in Miami.
Take a look inside the fight with Hughes, who handed Amorim – who was nearly a 3-1 favorite – the first loss of her career.
Hughes on the fight’s key moment
Apr 8, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Jaqueline Amorim (red gloves) fights Sam Hughes (blue gloves) during UFC 287 at Miami-Dade Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports
“Those chokes were deep. I’m not even going to lie. But coach (Sayif Saud) gives me great advice, as everybody knows here. If I’m in a bad position, fight to get to a good one. I’m not a quitter. I’m going to continue to fight and fight and fight until either the curtains go out or I get out. I’m not going to tap. I’m just going to get out of that position.”
Hughes on her boyfriend’s apparent wager
Apr 8, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Jaqueline Amorim (red gloves) fights Sam Hughes (blue gloves) during UFC 287 at Miami-Dade Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports
“I don’t actually don’t mind being the underdog. I make a lot of people a lot of money, so I’m happy. My boyfriend told me he put a grand on me, which, I wish he wouldn’t have told me that. He owes me a very good dinner, I’ll tell you that. (He bet on me) a couple days ago. I think I was like +400 or something like that. So I was like, ‘I love it. I love it.’”
Hughes on what she wants next
Apr 8, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Jaqueline Amorim (red gloves) fights Sam Hughes (blue gloves) during UFC 287 at Miami-Dade Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports
“It’s up to coach (Saud whom I fight next). I’m always going to say yes, and whatever he says goes. He’s the pilot. I’m the co-pilot, and we’re just running this plane until we can’t anymore – actually, no: until we have that belt strapped around us.
“… Monday, I’m going to go back and work wrestling and wrestling and wrestling and continue to grow and continue to get better. I deserve to be here, and I think I proved that tonight in front of a crowd, in front of everybody. I’m happy to be here. I love to fight. This makes me so happy. I’m going to continue to do what I do.”
To hear more from Hughes, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 287.