Ketlen Souza calls for Jessica Andrade after UFC Vegas 118 KO

LAS VEGAS, June 8, 2026 (Apex Times). Ketlen Souza made a statement at UFC Fight Night 278, better known as UFC Vegas 118, by stopping Ariane Carnelossi in a rematch that played out like a highlight reel. Souza set the tone early with a head kick that snapped Carnelossi’s balance, and after Carnelossi tried to reset, Souza followed with another decisive shot. Referee Chris Tognoni waved the fight off at 1:34 of the first round, giving Souza her first knockout in the UFC and turning the opener into an immediate showcase of her finishing power.

The fight mattered in more ways than just speed. Souza, competing in the women’s strawweight division at the Meta APEX on June 6, came in as a familiar opponent to Carnelossi. Sherdog’s play-by-play noted that the two previously met in 2019, where Carnelossi got the better of Souza with a body kick late in that meeting. This time, Souza flipped the script, using aggression and timing to punish Carnelossi as the Brazilian’s offense kept returning. MMA Fighting described the stop as the work of a patient striker who waited for the right moment, then closed the distance with a head kick and a follow-up punch.

After the win, Souza framed the performance as a return to what she believes is her best version. In post-fight remarks reported by CageSide Press, she said she needed to come back to her “essence” and explained that her aggression is what earned her the nickname “Esquentadinha,” roughly translating to “heated.” She also tied the finish to the emotional arc of the rematch, saying the level of pressure she wanted was the pressure she delivered. In other words, she was not just celebrating a result, she was talking about identity and how the fight should look when she is at her most dangerous.

Souza made the next step clear when she was asked about who she wants next. CageSide Press reported Souza said she hopes to fight again in 2026 and specifically hopes that opponent is Jessica Andrade, a former UFC strawweight champion. In the same remarks, Souza indicated she wanted to challenge herself with someone who would bring out the best in her, describing the Andrade matchup as the type of name that can raise the stakes and sharpen performance rather than merely pad momentum. For fans, it was the most marketable part of the night: the KO was impressive, but the ambition was sharper.

Andrade’s name carries immediate weight in the women’s divisions because she has repeatedly been among the most consequential contenders. Even when she is not holding a belt, her resume and the history of her championship run keep her in conversations for big fights. Bringing Andrade into the picture also adds a meaningful “style versus will” question for the UFC matchmaking team, since Andrade is known for power and aggression of her own. Souza’s performance, with its quick, violent turnarounds, suggests she believes she can force the fight into her rhythm against elite opponents.

What to watch next is whether Souza’s call for Andrade turns into a booking that satisfies both sides: Souza’s stated desire to fight in 2026 and Andrade’s place in the strawweight-flyweight conversation. UFC schedules do not always move in straight lines after a win this emphatic, and rematches do not always produce immediate follow-ups with marquee names. Still, a first-round stoppage at UFC Vegas 118 gives Souza something clear to lean on, and it gives the UFC a straightforward narrative for fans who want to see whether her aggression translates against one of the sport’s more proven former champions.