“It comes down to my desire to want to have a better life for myself, want to give my family a better life, want to build a legacy and leave an example for kids coming up,” she said in response to my question about her joyous nature. “I’m just happy and thankful, and I always say, ‘If you wake up and you’re breathing, just be thankful.’ That’s what makes me happy.”
So too does the opportunity to step in with a ranked opponent in her second UFC appearance.
The 29-year-old Lookboonmee has quietly put together a strong resume through her first nine Octagon appearances, amassing a 7-2 record and a four-fight winning streak heading into this one, good enough to claim a spot in the Top 15 in the 115-pound weight class. Few competitors get the chance to potentially punch their ticket to the rankings this quickly, and while Thainara certainly doesn’t take it for granted, she’s also intent on making the most of it.
“Obviously, it means a lot for my career,” she said of facing Lookboonmee, who sits at No. 14 in the rankings. “I just have to go in there and be myself, be Alexia, and take this opportunity with everything.
