In less than a week, Norwegian UFC fighter Ivana Petrovic (7-1) will be back in the octagon for her third fight in the promotion.
The opponent, Canadian flyweight Jamey-Lyn Horth (6-1), is in many ways in the same position as the Norwegian prospect. Both fighters have similar records, are 1-1 in the UFC and are coming from important wins.
“I know Jamey Lyn is a tough opponent,” Petrovic tells Frontkick in an exclusive interview. “I expect her to come in hungry for a win just like I am. I think this fight is going to have a lot of action, and I’m really looking forward to showing the improvements I’ve made since my last fight.”
Since the fight will go down in Edmonton, Horth will have her Canadian fans behind her. However, it doesn’t seem like Petrovic has any problems fighting in front of a big crowd supporting her opponent.
“Fighting in a big arena like Rogers Place is exciting for me. It’s not my first time in a big venue, and I love the energy that comes with a packed crowd. I can’t wait to feel that atmosphere and feed off the audience’s energy. For me, it’s still business as usual when I step into the cage, but I really do enjoy that extra adrenaline boost that comes from a live crowd.”
Ivana Petrovic is getting comfortable in the UFC
Ivana Petrovic made her UFC debut in July 2023 as an undefeated Ares FC flyweight champion. She faced the seasoned Luana Carolina in a tough fight and fell short by unanimous decision after three rounds of action.
In April, the Norwegian returned to the octagon, and this time she looked way more comfortable as she pulled off a third-round submission against the heavy-hitting Na Liang.
“My second fight felt a lot smoother compared to my debut. I had arrived earlier to Vegas and was able to train with some great fighters at Xtreme Couture and Syndicate. I also felt more comfortable because I knew how things worked going into that fight at the Apex, and having that experience made a big difference. Everything felt familiar this time, and I was able to focus fully on my performance.”
Ivana Petrovic. Photo: Stefan Romare
“I’ve always admired Rose”
The card on November 2 features a bunch of bangers and is headlined by a high-profile men’s flyweight bout between ex-champion Brandon Moreno and contender Amir Albazi.
Just as interesting is the five round co-main event, where former strawweight champion Rose Namajunas takes on top fighter Erin Blanchfield in a potential women’s flyweight title contender bout.
“It feels amazing to be on the same card as fighters like Namajunas and Blanchfield. I’ve always admired Rose, both as a person and as a fighter, so it’s an honor to share a card with her. I can’t wait to watch her fight Erin, who’s also incredibly talented. The whole card is stacked with exciting matchups, and I’m just thrilled to be a part of it.”