The “Queen of Violence” has laid down her gloves.
Longtime Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) veteran Ariane Lipski da Silva competed in the final fight of her mixed martial arts (MMA) career this past weekend at PFL San Diego, where she suffered a first-round submission loss to grappling ace Jena Bishop inside Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California (watch highlights).
Shortly after the defeat, da Silva officially announced her retirement from the sport in an emotional social media post.
“Officially
retired from MMA. Everything has a beginning, a middle, and an end. Yesterday was the last time I stepped into the cage, bringing to a close a journey of nearly 13 years as a professional MMA fighter, with the privilege of competing in the biggest organizations in the world. I’m grateful for everything this sport has given me; for every opportunity, every lesson, and every door it opened along the way. I gave my best to help women’s MMA grow, even knowing that, at times, my best may not have been enough. My hope is that I played a small part in creating more opportunities for the next generation. More importantly, I hope the young women who are just beginning understand that they don’t have to compromise their values to become champions. Honor should never be sacrificed, because the people we choose to honor are often the ones who help us go the farthest. I’ve learned that defeat is painful. It’s bitter, but it shapes our character and prepares us for real life. I’ve also learned that victory is sweet and filled with joy, but it can deceive the heart of anyone who isn’t grounded in something greater. To everyone who stood by me throughout this journey, supporting me, believing in me, and cheering for me regardless of the outcome. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. The Queen of Violence is done. Now, Ariane is ready for a new season of life. My prayer is that, in every step ahead, the Lord Jesus Christ will be glorified.”
Da Silva (18-12) arrived in UFC with considerable hype following a successful run in KSW that included four finishes, but she stumbled out of the gate with back-to-back losses to Joanne Wood and Molly McCann.
She eventually found her footing, earning memorable wins, including a devastating “Submission of the Year” contender over Luana Carolina (watch it). In 2023, she put together the best stretch of her UFC career, winning three straight fights and climbing into the Top 15 after stopping Casey O’Neill at UFC 296 (watch highlights).
Her momentum, however, was short-lived. Consecutive losses to Karine Silva and Jasmine Jasudavicius knocked her out of contention, and in her final UFC appearance at UFC 316, she missed weight by six pounds after revealing she was dealing with a small benign pituitary gland tumor before dropping a unanimous decision to Wang Cong.
The Brazilian was released soon afterward and signed with PFL, where she went 1-1, defeating former Bellator standout Sumiko Inaba before ending her career with the loss to Bishop.
While da Silva never captured UFC gold, she carved out a respected 15-fight Octagon career and spent years competing against many of the best Flyweights in the world.
Now, after nearly 13 years as a professional fighter, the “Queen of Violence” begins the next chapter of her life.
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