Ahead of their bouts at UFC 297 this weekend, several fighters sat down for an interview with Nina-Marie Daniele, revealing their wildest DM requests. Polyana Viana, who will take on Gillian Robertson, shared that a fan once asked her to kick him, saying, “I get some very good ones. Like someone said to kick his b*lls and, ‘let me lick your armpit.’ ” UFC welterweight Mike Mallot, who will go up against Neil Magny, revealed that a fan once trolled him by sending a voice note saying, “Joking, you’re a bag of sh*t.”
Mayra Bueno Silva also chimed in about a bizarre DM request she received from a fan. She explained, “One guy asked me to show my feet.” These stories showcase the interesting and sometimes strange interactions fighters have with their fans on social media.
Polyana Viana is a die-hard anime fan and loves dressing up as her favorite characters. Despite her love for manga enactment and cosplay, she has never been able to sport an anime-cosplay look in the UFC. During the UFC Vegas 78 pre-fight press conference last year, Viana opened up about this, expressing her admiration for Uzui from Demon Slayer.
She further explained why she doesn’t play dress-up at official UFC events or fights, stating, “I’ve tried so many times. I’ve actually asked to come in with a bandana. They’ve never allowed it… I’ve even tried [asking] to wear a Naruto bandana, but I can’t. Apparently, Naruto is a brand that does not allow it. I’ve tried so many times, but they never let me do it. If I could, I definitely would.” This reveals the limitations on self-expression that fighters may experience in the sport.
