UFC 302 is going to smash all the records with Islam Makhachev taking on Dustin Poirier for his third title defense in the lightweight division. The event will also feature Ailin Perez, who is going up against Joselyne Edwards. Perez is currently on a two-fight win streak in the UFC, with the last win against Lucie Pudilova, by unanimous decision at UFC Apex. However, Edwards might not be that easy to defeat. 

Surprisingly, UFC 302 won’t be the first time for Edwards and Perez exchanged blows. At UFC Vegas 82, the duo found themselves in an altercation, wherein, Edwards supposedly hit Perez with a sucker punch. Although Perez did not reveal the attacker’s identity despite being pushed at the event’s post-match interview, fans and professionals pointed their fingers towards Edwards. Nevertheless, with history boiling their blood, Perez and Edwards would in fact provide the fans with a pretty exciting match. But have you wondered about Perez’s background and history? Let’s have a look.

All about Ailin Perez’s background and family

Although she trains at MMA Masters, Miami, Perez hails from Argentina. Born on 5th December 1994, in the beautiful city of Hurlingham, in Buenos Aires, the mixed martial artist claimed that she usually travels to Miami whenever she is booked for a fight. But now, in order to move higher in the sport, she moved to the United States back in December 2023.

The Argentinian bantamweight contender has kept the details of her family a secret. However, the kind of relationship she has with her 6-year-old boy is not unknown. Moving to the States, and leaving behind her son back in Argentina was hard indeed. Nevertheless, the fighter has plans to bring her son to US soil after earning enough to send him to a kindergarten. 

Even though not much is known about her father, ‘Fiona’ once revealed that she often talked to her father whenever she needed moral support. The list also included her psychiatrist, son, and girlfriend from Buenos Aires. But what did she do before joining the Ultimate Fighting Championship back in 2022?

Life before joining the UFC  

Before the UFC, Perez had a pretty tough life. In an interview with Sherdog.com, prior to her UFC Apex fight against Hailey Cowan, the Argentinian talked about the life she led before the birth of her son. Although she was already practicing her art in boxing and jiu-jitsu, she wasn’t yet a professional fighter. She worked at the reception desk of the martial arts academy, while simultaneously teaching and cleaning at the academy. Soon after the birth of her son, reality hit hard after she had to separate from her partner. However, coming to the UFC has given her some solace. She doesn’t have to work like she once did, anymore.

But did you know that ‘Fiona’ was also a dancer? Talking to MMA Junkie, a couple of years ago, the bantamweight contender revealed that apart from practicing martial arts, she also enjoyed dancing. She danced reggaeton, salsa, and bachata. “That’s in my blood”, she had once claimed. 

Dancing has indeed played a great role in her transition to becoming a mixed martial artist. Converting footwork from the dancing stages to that in the fighting arena came easy to her. Nevertheless, she is yet to make a stand for herself in the UFC. 

What are your predictions for Perez’s fight against Joselyne Edwards? Do you think the Argentinian will claim her third win in a row? Or will she face defeat and lose the winning streak? Drop down to the comments section below and let us know what you think.