Sarah Moras is one of the four women who will make history at UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi at The Arena on Yas Island.
She is in one of two female fights on the card, the first time female UFC events have been held in the UAE.
The Canadian goes up against Liana Jojua in a bantamweight clash on the card headlined by the UFC Lightweight title unification bout between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Dustin Poirier on Saturday.
The other female fight is a flyweight encounter between Joanne Calderwood and Andrea Lee.
Moras, 31, took time out to talk to The National about her preparations for Abu Dhabi and the impact she hopes UFC 242 can have on the women's divisions.
What was your reaction when you found out you were facing Liana Jojua in Abu Dhabi?
"I was just so excited when I was told. It's a great chance and I am looking to make the most of it. It's going to be a tough fight but I am training hard and putting a lot of work into making sure I am ready and at my best on the night."
How does it feel to be part of history as one of the first female UFC fights in Abu Dhabi?
"I didn't know that but knowing that now makes it even more exciting. It will be great to be part of history and hopefully what we do in Abu Dhabi can help spark interest for people, not just women, and get involved in the sport."
How did you initially get into MMA?
"I went to a [Brazilian jiu-jitsu] class when I was looking to be a firefighter as a career. I went to the class and knew then I would be doing this for the rest of my life. I had a job at the time and I told my boss straight away I couldn't work three nights a week because it clashed with the gym classes. That was how important it was to me and it really went from there and I have never looked back."
Do you have any set career goals?
"I obviously want to be successful and win titles but I want to improve myself as an athlete as I go along. I have switched gyms last year and am working on new techniques and am always looking for new ways to make myself better."
Can you envision the UFC having an all-female card one day?
"That would be great one day to have an all-women event. There are more and more women getting involved and it is definitely something that I could see happening if the division keeps growing as it is. For now if we can just get more matches at events then that will help grow interest and hopefully we can show on Saturday that there should be more women’s events taking place.”
What can fans new to the UFC expect on September 7 at The Arena?
"It is going to be fun. That is the best word I think of. You will see lots of action and seeing technically skilled athletes doing what they do best. It is going to be a good night and I am just glad that I am going to be a part of it and show Abu Dhabi what UFC is all about."
UFC 242 marks the promotion's return to the UAE capital for the first time since 2014, and is the first event in a five-year partnership signed earlier this year with the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi.
It brings to a close the inaugural Abu Dhabi Showdown Week, which runs September 1-7.
