Eduarda Moura reveals tension with Casey O'Neill ahead of UFC 331

Eduarda Moura wanted to face Casey O'Neill. The Brazilian flyweight revealed that she initially requested the matchup after analyzing the fighters who were available, but her request was turned down because O'Neill was coming off two consecutive victories while Moura had just suffered a loss. However, the fight was booked one month later for UFC 331, and their interactions on social media have since made the matchup personal.

Eduarda Moura Originally Requested Casey O'Neill

Moura revealed that she first contacted O'Neill on Instagram before taking her request to UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard. According to the Brazilian, O'Neill joked that she was not responsible for booking fights, prompting Moura to speak directly with Maynard.

The matchmaker initially said the matchup wasn't viable because the two fighters were coming off different results. Moura had suffered a unanimous decision loss to Cong Wang in February, while O'Neill was riding a two-fight winning streak after defeating Luana Santos and Gabriella Fernandes.

"I asked for Casey O'Neill as my opponent," Moura told Ag Fight. "Actually, I talked to her on Instagram and she made some jokes, saying that she doesn't make the fights. So I went to Mick (Maynard). But Mick said they couldn't make this fight at the time, that it wouldn't be viable because she was coming off two consecutive wins and I was coming off a loss. So it wouldn't be a good matchup. But God is so good that one month later, the news came that I was fighting Casey."

Eduarda Moura Says the Fight is Now Personal

Moura explained that O'Neill was initially just one of the available opponents she considered. However, their interaction on social media changed her feelings about the matchup, with the Brazilian saying O'Neill's attitude gave her an additional reason to want the fight.

"I analyzed who had just fought around me," Moura said. "It wasn't a choice like, 'I want to fight her for some special reason.' Now there is a reason (laughs). Now there is a personal reason! I took it personally. I had to give her an answer. I didn't even reply to her on Instagram. I intend to give the answer after the fight. I asked for her because I knew she was available. Then, talking to her, I made such a 'friendship' with her that it made me really want to fight her. We had some banter. She's quite ironic."

Moura will look to settle things with O'Neill when they face each other at UFC 331 in Los Angeles on Saturday.