"It wasn't what I wanted" - Rising star Victoria Souza on choosing MMA career over accountancy

Victoria Souza has had a very unique journey through her MMA career that has led her to this moment. The Brazilian never intended to become a mixed martial artist after falling in love with this pursuit almost by accident.

She first walked into a Muay Thai session after believing that she was attending a Zumba class to try and stay active. The rest, as they say, is history but things could have been very different for the 26-year-old atomweight MMA competitor.

Ahead of her return at ONE 168, Souza reflected on how her family had laid out a path for her in life where she would have continued a tradition. Accounting is something that runs through generations but she quickly found out that she would be the one to break the streak.

Souza spoke in an interview with ONE Championship about how accounting was calling her name earlier in life:

"I have a degree in accounting, but it's a profession I never liked. It's my father's profession, and it was my grandfather's profession, but right from the beginning, I realized that it wasn't what I wanted. I didn't like it."

Victoria Souza has the opportunity to break new ground in her career

Victoria Souza decided to put all of her eggs into the martial arts basket because that's where her passion had taken her. Whilst she has alternated wins and losses under the ONE Championship banner, the atomweight MMA contender earned a big victory last time out.

She was able to secure a quick submission win over Itsuki Hirata at ONE 167 which showcased her ability to capitalize and finish fights. Souza will now look for back-to-back wins when she takes on Alyse Anderson on her opponent's home soil at ONE 168 in Denver on Sept. 6.

Getting her hand raised at the Ball Arena could be the moment that she needs to really stake her claim in this weight class.

Tickets for ONE 168: Denver are available via Ticketmaster.