Recently, I’ve been watching how the Argentine presence in mixed martial arts is growing internationally, and honestly, there’s something worth sharing. Argentina already has six fighters under contract with the UFC, the world’s largest MMA organization, and the interesting part is that two of those six people are women. That might seem like a small number, but for our country, it represents an important milestone.

The history of women in mixed martial arts in Argentina is not new. Silvana Gómez Juárez was the one who opened the way back in 2018, the first Argentine to reach the elite. But now the movement is gaining traction in a different way. Sofía Montenegro and Ailín Pérez are the two who are carrying the banner right now, and their stories are quite different, but equally inspiring.

Sofía, the woman from Córdoba nicknamed “La Bruja,” went through being overweight, insecurities—everything that nobody talks about. But she herself summed it up in a phrase that stayed with me: that earlier version of herself, with all her fears, was what brought her to where she is today. That is real strength. She sees every fight as an opportunity to leave something legendary in the octagon.

Then there’s Ailín, the one everyone knows as Fiona. This girl is different—she has a charisma that fills the room. She comes from a humble neighborhood, and she says it without any problem; she carries it like a banner. Her world ranking in the women’s bantamweight division puts her among the best, but her vision is even bigger: she wants to put together a team of champion women, not just fight for herself.

What caught my attention is how both of them talk about MMA beyond victories. For them, mixed martial arts are a tool for transformation. Ailín started at age 11 because her dad took her, and that changed everything in her life. Now she wants other people to see what she saw: that it’s possible, and that you can go far if you set your mind to it.

Both of them agree on something crucial: the economic investment is what hurts the most. Sofía says it without beating around the bush: it’s expensive, there’s no security, but the energy and time they put in are what are truly valuable. Ailín was even more direct: she would spend everything she has just to be a champion, because that would stay in her soul forever.

What’s happening in Argentina with MMA is interesting because it’s not only a sport that’s growing—it’s a movement. More and more girls are daring to train, and that creates a ripple effect. When you see someone like Ailín or Sofía fighting at the highest level, something changes in your head. You stop seeing it as something distant.

Ailín’s recommendation for any girl who’s hesitating is simple: train mixed martial arts without thinking twice. It’s not just a sport; it’s a way to get to know yourself, to discover what you’re made of. And if Argentina keeps sending more fighters to the elite, there will be more stories like these to tell.