Stråviktaren Cynthia Calvillo (6-0) gjorde tidigare i år sin UFC debut på UFC 209 mot Amanda Cooper (3-3), i helgen möter hon den 9 rankade Carla Esparza (13-4) och är idag själv rankad som nummer 6 i viktklassen. Calvillo har än så länge endast gått matcher i UFCs stråvikt men berättar i en intervju med MMAFighting att hon har planer på att flytta upp till flugvikt och därmed tävla i båda viktklasserna.
Absolutely, (I’ve wanted to move up) as soon as I heard the division was opening, because most of my fights have all been at 125 before 115, this is my fourth fight at 115. But all of my amateur fights and all of that, and even my pro debut, were at 125, and then my other fight was at 120. I open to either [division], and I feel like I’m strong enough to compete at 125. I even competed at 135 when I first started. I just worked with my nutrition, but I feel like I have the same strength. Like I went and did the punching power (test) when I’m heavier and then when I’m (at the weight I am) now, and I still produce the same power. So I’m open to it. I feel like it’s all about skill and willpower and mentality, and I feel like it’s definitely something doable, and I really am going to give it everything. I’m going to try my hardest and hopefully go down as one of the greatest ever.
Calvillo berättar även i samma intervju om en tidigare konfrontation med Carla Esparza.
A little run-in. Just a little run-in, it was okay. It was just a little confrontation, no big deal. At that time I was ranked No. 8, she was ranked No. 7, Michelle Waterson was ranked No. 6, and they asked me who I wanted to fight. It made total sense — of course I want to go up for the two girls who are right above me. But at that time, when she heard it, she took it for a sign of disrespect for whatever reason. She was at my teammate’s afterparty and she wasn’t too happy with me.
Calvillo väljer dock att inte gå in på för mycket detalj kring händelsen.
We’ll just go ahead and, out of the person that I am, we’re just going to leave it right there, and then on Saturday we’re going to know what’s up.
