She was UFC’s rookie of the year but ‘wasn’t ready’. Now Casey O’Neill says ‘stars are aligning for me to have my moment’

Five years after being named UFC Rookie of the Year, Australia’s Casey O’Neill is finally readying for her hyped championship run, revealing: “The stars are aligning for me to have my moment”.

The declaration comes as O’Neill – who faces Eduarda Moura in this Sunday’s UFC 331 event – has also spoken of the concern that comes with facing a Brazilian flyweight who has previously missed weight three times.

Long considered Australia’s most promising female fighter, O’Neill can take her latest UFC streak to three straight when she throws down against Moura in Los Angeles, California.

After four years strained by two major knee injuries, the popular Gold Coaster is now finally back to full health, and training under several new systems.

UFC 331: Van v Pantoja 2 | SUN 20 SEPTEMBER 11AM AEST | The UFC returns to Los Angeles for a blockbuster title showdown, as Joshua Van defends his crown against former champion Alexandre Pantoja in a rematch for the ages. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.

Importantly, the 28-year-old is also readying to come good on the promise that previously saw her named MMA Fighting’s 2021 Rookie of the Year.

Speaking with Fox Sports Australia this week, O’Neill also had a warning for Moura, who has missed weight three times previously in the UFC – including twice at strawweight and once at flyweight.

“So we definitely have looked at that,” the Queenslander said this week. “And obviously it’s not an ideal thing.

“But most of her misses were at strawweight. And then the flyweight one, that was maybe a pound.

“And you aren’t going to beat me by being a pound heavier.

“So I’ll take your money [in fines] if you miss, and you’re also going to have a miserable night. I’m not.

“At the end of the day, her weight isn’t something I can control. So if a little extra money comes into my pocket, so be it.”

Importantly, Sunday’s fight will also be the first time in almost five years that O’Neill has strung two fights together in the space of six months.

After initially suffering an ACL injury in her left knee during a 2022 training session, O’Neill then battled her way back only to suffer a worse injury in training two years later – this time completely blowing out her right knee.

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However, now on the cusp of UFC 331, the fighter who was born in Scotland, raised Down Under and now lives and trains Stateside insists the setbacks have only better prepared her for a run at UFC gold.

“When I first got into the UFC, I was really young,” O’Neill recounts of a 2021 debut that came amid an undefeated career start of nine straight, including four inside the Octagon.

“And with all of that comes cockiness, arrogance, some ego. And now when I do step back and look at myself then, I wasn’t ready for this.

“I wasn’t settled with my life, didn’t know myself that well.

“Now though, everything outside of fighting is so good.

“I not only understand myself, I understand how to train, how to eat, how to lift, I have a good relationship with all my coaches, everything really is falling into place.

“Now, I do feel ready. I feel like I’m ready to have my run …”

Soon after, O’Neill continued of her extended breaks: “When you’re forced to be on the sidelines, you develop a greater appreciation for things you maybe took for granted previously.

“So strength of schedule is a big thing for me.

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“I didn’t want to just come back. I want to fight multiple times.

“I’ve been watching a lot of people in my division be great, watching people become breakout stars.

“And I haven’t had my moment yet.

“But I’ve been through my hardships, now I get to go out there and have fun.

“I feel like the stars are aligning right now for me to have my moment.”

O’Neill has also made some significant changes following consecutive major knee surgeries.

“Look, some of it was bad luck,” she said. “But I do think one problem was overtraining.

“I was a bit naïve at the start.

“I little immature and going a bit too hard.

“But I just love this sport so much. I mean, I fight so that I can train – not the other way around – and so I want to be in the gym all the time.

UFC 331: Van v Pantoja 2 | SUN 20 SEPTEMBER 11AM AEST | The UFC returns to Los Angeles for a blockbuster title showdown, as Joshua Van defends his crown against former champion Alexandre Pantoja in a rematch for the ages. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.

“So for me, it’s about dealing with some of the demons [that come with that]. It’s why now, I can go home after two sessions knowing I don’t need to do a third.

“I’ve also changed my camps, changed a few things.

“Maybe I was going a little too hard in training.

“Maybe I was training with people who felt they had something to prove. Maybe I had something to prove.

“Maybe I was just making mistakes.

“But certainly as you get older, you get wiser and I realise now that doing seven training sessions in a day isn’t the best method.”

And as for her Brazilian rival?

“It’s an interesting fight because I do think she’s an all-round MMA fighter,” O’Neill said. “And I haven’t fought a lot of those, most of my opponents have been specialists.

“Maybe the last one was Roxanne Modafferi [in 2022].

“But this girl fights everywhere and I’m super excited for wherever it goes.

“Because I also look at myself as a mixed martial artist and I want to prove myself better wherever this goes.

“Show that my game has evolved and I can do anything.”