From roommates to opponents: Alexia Thainara, Rose Conceicao battle for UFC dream at DWCS

Alexia Thainara and Rose Conceicao were training partners and roommates not that long ago. Now, they fight each other for a UFC contract at Dana White’s Contender Series.

The strawweight prospects previously shared a place in Varginha, Brazil, training alongside UFC star Amanda Ribas at the local gym. They even fought on the same card that year, with Thainara dismantling her opponent in just eight seconds to move to 6-1 as a professional, and Conceicao improving to 5-0 with a second-round submission.

Conceicao left the team months after that, eventually moving to Pitbull Brothers’ team in Natal, and destiny brings them face to face at Tuesday night’s DWCS card in Las Vegas after their original opponents Alice Ardelean and Fatima Kline signed straight deals with the UFC as replacements.

“We spent three months training together,” Conceicao said in an interview with MMA Fighting. “To think we know each other because we trained together could be a trap, because it depends on the mindset of each athlete. They might think they know my game, and end up surprised by a completely new game, so I tried not to worry about it. In the end, I don’t think the fact that we lived together and know each other makes any difference.”

Thainara told MMA Fighting they had no contact since Conceicao left Ribas Family to join another camp, and “a lot has changed” since their training sessions back in 2022.

“It’s completely different,” Thainara said. “We always have new knowledge that makes a big difference, but there are always some triggers. A lot has changed since then. My fighting style is completely different, and I’m sure it’s going to be a war. She’s not here anymore, and we’re both chasing our dreams. There can only be one champion and there’s no second place. She left, I stayed, and we’re both after our dreams. so let’s brawl in there.”

“We had a pleasant time living together but after that, each one followed their own path,” Conceicao said. “I don’t look at people as possible opponents, it’s all natural. I always say we show in the fight who we are outside of it. I respect her as I would respect any other person, but there was no friendship. But we know how competitive the world can be, right? There could be a friendship, but when we have to defend what’s ours, it all changes. I’m cool about it. I’m focused on those around me, spending my time with my family and friends instead of worrying about that.”

Thainara believes Conceicao’s striking has changed a little bit over the past few years “but nothing that scares me.” On the other hand, Conceicao said she hasn’t watched any of Thainara’s recent fights, and plans on showing the division she has the striking and grappling to go to war against the best.

“I see this fight ending by knockout or also by submission, and not because of holes I’ve seen in her game, but because I’ve trained hard for both scenarios,” Conceicao said. “We have a gameplan but when we’re talking about [DWCS], we’re talking about winning impressively. Maybe a boring strategy doesn’t convince [White], and I think that makes this fight easier because you’re there to be signed for your skills.”

Thainara said her gameplan to win Tuesday night — and be offered a deal the CEO of the UFC — is to “brawl and be versatile”.

“The show begins from the weigh-ins, with your style, your look, your hair, and your joy to fight,” Thainara said. “When you don’t do what you love with joy, you won’t put on a show even if you’re the world’s best. There is pressure every time you’re fighting, because you’re not fighting a dummy, but a person who worked hard to be there. Things go right when you’re well-trained and focused on the goal.”

Conceicao, a former LFA interim strawweight champion who’s unbeaten in seven professional bouts, said this match “will put me among the best in the world” in the UFC.

“I don’t wanna just get in the UFC to be part of it and then leave, I want to make a run there,” Conceicao said. “I want to get in and stay there for good. Being in the UFC will change my life completely — and quickly. And I don’t say financially, or because of the attention and things like that, I mean hard work. I’ll have to focus more, change my habits, and completely re-shape my entire life so I can go there and make history because it’s the world’s biggest event with the world’s best athletes.”