Ariane Lipski rips late-notice opponent Isabela de Padua for ‘swindling’ the UFC

Ariane Lipski (right) defeated Isabela de Padua (left) via unanimous decision at UFC Sao Paulo. | Jason Da Silva-USA TODAY Sports

SAO PAULO — Ariane Lipski is not happy with her UFC Sao Paulo opponent Isabela de Padua.

The former KSW flyweight champion had a full camp for Priscila Cachoeira, but Veronica Macedo stepped in on 10 days’ notice to save the fight after “Pedrita” failed a drug test. Then the night before official weigh-ins, Isabela de Padua was signed by the promotion to replace Macedo, who was suffering from severe headaches.

“I was on weight on Thursday night and didn’t know if I would have a fight or not because Veronica had concussion-like symptoms,” Lipski told the media after the decision victory, her first win under the UFC banner. “They gave me a few names, but I didn’t know any of them.”

De Padua was selected by the UFC to compete 48 hours later, but missed weight by 4.5 pounds on Friday morning. According to Lipski, the UFC gave her two options: decline the fight and get paid her purse, or take 30 percent of de Padua’s money and compete.

“After the weigh-ins, I thought (about not taking the fight) because she was 4.5 pounds heavier,” Lipski said. “What I was waiting for was if the UFC would give me a fight in December. If they did I wouldn’t fight (in Sao Paulo), but since there was no fight in December I said I would fight right now.

“Isabela lied about her weight. She said she would make weight and took the spot from another athlete that was willing to make weight.”

For Lipski, de Padua was just “swindling” her and the UFC to get the opportunity and have an advantage on Saturday night.

“Unprofessional,” Lipski said. “The first obligation of a fighter is to make weight. She tried to get an advantage to win the fight, saying she would make weight but then be heavier and have an advantage.

“That did not piss me off, but wasn’t the right thing. She doesn’t have my respect… It pissed me off a little bit, but I was focused from start to finish.”