Vieira willing to fight Nunes at 135 or 145 pounds

Should they both win at UFC 245, Ketlen Vieira wants to be the next to challenge Amanda Nunes - and she doesn't care what weight class it happens at.

Vieira said she would fight Nunes in her own bantamweight division, of course, but would also be willing to move up to featherweight to meet Nunes there. The "Lioness" is the champion in both divisions.

"We’re both big athletes, and I can fight at 135 or 145, which would be even easier since we wouldn’t suffer too much (cutting weight)," Vieira said Tuesday, according to MMA Fighting's Guilherme Cruz. "But I leave that decision with my team."

Vieira, the No. 2-ranked women's bantamweight, is scheduled to face Irene Aldana on the UFC 245 preliminary card Dec. 14 in Las Vegas. A knee injury has sidelined the Brazilian since her March 2018 win over former title challenger Cat Zingano.

Nunes, meanwhile, puts her 135-pound title on the line against Germaine de Randamie on the same card. Nunes became a two-division champion late last year with a stunning victory over Cris Cyborg, but she has yet to defend her featherweight belt. Nunes is coming off a knockout of Holly Holm at 135 pounds.

Nunes said last month that she had originally wanted the fight with de Randamie to be at 145 pounds, but the challenger was adamant that it take place at the lower weight class.

For Vieira, it doesn't matter, so long as she gets Nunes next.

"I’m the No. 2 in the rankings and Amanda will fight the No. 1 on the same night," she said. "I don’t see anyone else after I win this fight. I’ll automatically become the No. 1."