Jasmine Jasudavicius (6-1) is poised to finally step into the Octagon for her promotional debut.
The 32-year-old St. Catharines, Ontario native is booked to open her UFC career against Kay Hansen (7-4), who is shifting down to flyweight for the contest.
Originally slated for January 15, the matchup got pushed a week forward to UFC 270 so Hansen could headline in her home city of Anaheim, California. That scheduling shift is equally thrilling for Jasudavicius, who is eager to perform in front of a live audience once more.
"I was absolutely thrilled," Jasudavicius told MMA Empire. "Competing at the Apex during Contender Series is fantastic, but in the UFC you dream about making your entrance in front of all the fans under the spotlight."
"This feels like the real deal, so I was pumped when they moved the fight to UFC 270."
While Jasudavicius loves the prospect of a crowd, she admitted she wasn't expecting the Hansen bout offer.
With both fighters viewed as top prospects in the division, she figured the organization might prefer keeping them apart early on.
"I'll be honest—I was a bit taken aback because this is my first fight and she carries some buzz," Jasudavicius shared.
"But looking at it now, it makes sense to pit two rising talents together and figure out who's worthy of a bigger name next. We've both competed at 115 before so I'm familiar with her work, and I'm glad with this matchup for my debut because I see an opportunity to take some of her momentum."
After breaking down Hansen's game, Jasudavicius felt growing confidence in the pairing. She sees herself as a more polished version of Hansen and believes a stand-up battle plays directly into her strengths.
If the fight stays on the feet, Jasudavicius is convinced she possesses every weapon needed to secure a finish and deliver on her UFC debut promise.
"She's incredibly skilled—a complete fighter with a well-rounded toolkit. I believe I'm the more complete version of Kay, and I think it's going to be a competitive affair. She's going to be undersized compared to me. I'm aware of her grappling pedigree, but after a year away from competition, I expect her striking to have sharpened," Jasudavicius noted.
"I anticipate a clash that blends striking and grappling. I'd love to finish her, but I won't force a finish that isn't there. If the opening presents itself, I'll go for it—though I can easily see this going the distance."
Should Jasudavicius pull off the victory, she describes the moment her hand gets lifted as pure joy.
"It'll feel unbelievable. All I keep picturing is the referee raising my arm and Bruce Buffer calling my name as the victor," she wrapped up.
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