congratulations on your Victory uh under a minute I can’t imagine that you’ve got much criticism but I guess how do you
feel about your performance this evening I feel really good um I had a really
good preparation I for sure visualize the fight going through rounds I was ready for every
scenario I had my coach Trevor Cooper helped me a lot on Jiu Jitsu so my grappling my
timing was on point in case it touched the ground I knew I was going to find the submission right away because we put
in a lot of work a lot of hours of grappling with my close Trevor Cooper my striking coach Raul Rosa so
um I was I was just blessed to show everything I’ve evolved from the last fight on my improvements and I was able
to do it tonight in complete control once you drop them of course but you talk about your Jiu Jitsu was there any
part of you that thought about looking for a submission while you’re on top or did you want to finish that with the strikes
like I said I was ready for anything so whatever he gave me I was gonna take it
um so when I dropped them I I knew I knew I had to go for the Finish but I I
was also relaxed in case you survived I was ready to just keep putting out a beating and you know just keep showing
my skills I know you’re used to a lot of attention but there was a pretty special environment in there tonight uh can you
talk about I guess how that impacted you positively or negatively what what that whole you know Noche UFC environment
meant to you it was a really special night for me the fans the people
um Mexican Independence Day you know so it was a really special night for all of us tonight I know you said nothing
changed after the loss last time right the goal was still the same that said how important was it how relieved are
you now to get a win tonight and to put that behind you yeah like I said nothing’s changed
nothing’s never going to change we’re never gonna break all the corrections were made y’all saw the corrections
um I got a team right here with me that tells me all the truth whether I win or lose they’re going to tell me how bad I
start all the mistakes I did so this time we made sure we did everything right and I’m just going to keep
improving showing up and changing my dream nice last thing for me I mean you had this fast track going right you had
to set back now that you’re back in the winter column I mean do you want to Let’s rush to the top as quick as possible do you want to develop a little
bit like how do you see your path going from here yeah like I said um I heard this quote from uh Kobe
um I don’t care how fast they want to take me um like if my manager tells me he wants me to return as soon as possible I will
because whether I’m ready or not if I’m ready I’m ready and I see how I can keep
getting even more ready and if I have a fire I’m not ready I see how I can be ready for the fight so I’m always gonna
be ready um this time what did you do different
were you focusing more on striking obviously got the knockout um I did a lot of things different but I
was focused on it being like I said I I hit a lot of grappling hours with Microsoft recruiter a lot of people
don’t know him but he’s a beast um so my timing was there my timing was there I knew if we touched the floor is
the most company I’ve ever been going into a fight in my grappling it really evolves I didn’t get to show it tonight
but man my timing was there so anywhere the fight went I was ready and I knew I
also had to let them hands play and I did so after the fight you went over and you gave your mom a huge hug seemed like
very emotional moment you also had the Mexican flag all around you how do those two things motivate you
and motivates me a lot I want to give everything to my mom I want to give her the best life ever thanks to her my dad
my brother I’m here I wouldn’t be here without them so now it’s just a way of me giving back we’ve been through a lot
and now we’re blessed with this life and this opportunities one last one for me
uh you’re the youngest uh fighter in the UFC right now and you’re Mexican for all the young Mexican kids that you inspire
what do you want to tell them I just want to tell them to keep working hard you know it doesn’t matter what
people say chase your dreams you believe in yourself and that’s the most most important thing believe in yourself see
have a Clear Vision on what you want to do and go out there and do it thank you
over here um I know you’re a very confident guy but after that first loss did you ever
have any doubts like oh man did I get into UFC too early uh my body more than I can chew did you ever have any doubts
at some point never had any doubts never had any doubts on my skills
um the only thing that lost changed was my record and tonight I showed that nothing has changed
and how special was it to fight on not sure where to say this event that uh
it’s celebrating the Independence Day for Mexico um how was the atmosphere how did you
feel out there having the Mexican support it was a blessing a blessing to be able
to have my comeback be on this special day like I said it’s a really special day for all of us so man it felt really
great all the support from the Latinos and the UFC got to see how much we support
how much uh support we get from the Mexicans and how much the sport has
involved now do you think this is a thing UFC should do annually should do every September 16th yeah for sure and for sure tonight
it’s gonna go down in the history books and I just want them to look back at this night and remember my fight
thank you we’re all over here now your three fights into your UFC career do you
still feel the pressure of the huge storyline being you’re the youngest fighter on the roster or was it never really a factor for you
it’s never really been a factor for me um I just got to go out there and fight perform the same thing that I did to get
here and I noticed you switched up the walkout today from Mariachi Loco what went on behind with that decision
just wanted to give a different show tonight um that song is really traditional so
you know I like the vibe so I chose it and uh being Noche if I say I have one in Spanish for the Hispanic community
security
thank you we’re over here um there was some big names that tweeted
about you and posted about Rey Mysterio shared a photo of you Connor tweeted Viva Mako after your performance so how
big of a superstar do you think you could be moving forward in the UFC
I’m different so I have a potential to be a superstar um break all these records so I’m
blessed with I’m just being myself and I’m blessed that I am the way I am and I
know I have potential to become one of the biggest superstars of the company when you say you want to break all these records are there any specific that you
have like in your site that you really do want to break I just gotta live day by day Focus one
goal and then go after another right now it’s just come back have another amazing performance climb up the ladder and go
from there uh Raul back here
uh Raul we saw your mother very emotional with your Victory and obviously Embrace her just can you talk
about what words were exchanged obviously talk about you know how much you want to give her and how much you do
this for her and to give her a better life yeah she told me she’s really proud of me um she knows how the word got me and
my brother he’s trying to come up all the work we’ve put in how dedicated
we’ve been like my dad always told us be the best at whatever you choose we chose
this career so we’re on our way to become the best what music does she put on when she’s
driving you and your brother to practice now man she’s always there there for us I’m
blessed to have a mother like her always supporting us always looking out for us making food for us anything we need
she’s always there she’s always going to be there no matter what no matter who we are in life no matter I’m a superstar
I’m nobody I’m she’s always going to be there for me so I’m just really blessed congratulations
foreign
critical
importance Louisiana
[Music]
mismo [Music]
Goldberg it is
[Music]
foreign
foreign
foreign
together
Jack do you split decisions I just kind of like to keep everybody on the edge of their seat make it exciting for everybody until the end yeah another
close one yeah I want to go back watch it and then assess but my team are pretty confident I want every round but
yeah there was a tight one no it absolutely was a win is a win right but
I mean I’m just curious as you feel right now team says you feel good but personally how do you feel about the way things played out versus your
expectations tonight um yeah I was like he’s a he’s hard to read and I didn’t know what to expect
going in there so I just wanted to be defensively sound and land shots I yeah I was expecting I wanted to try and take
him out in the last round but yeah just it was hard to read
obviously you know I mean he’s going to have length he’s he’s you know he had volume as well I mean was that what you’re expecting to see out of him
tonight or was it was it even different than maybe what you had trained for what you thought you’d see no it was I feel
like it was much of what I thought I would see from him and yeah he sort of delivered obviously if we’re going in there
thinking it’s hard to know what to expect I didn’t want to get get into like the talking exchanges with him but
I just did I thought I did but I was gonna ask you about that right like because it seemed like not necessarily
you played into it it’s he like mostly was it like the end of rounds and stuff like that but you did kind of have some smiles and some banter in those things
right yeah yeah I didn’t want to get involved but it was hard not to it was an injury I’ve never fought
someone that does that sort of thing before so it was interesting why is it so hard to resist is because he’s trash
talking to you or because it’s funny and like you want to have fun like what is it I feel like he’s a he’s a likable guy
you know I like to go in there and have a bit of a Killer Instinct but he’s was talking he was just kind of a likable
guy that’s funny uh how confident were you you had one because I think a lot of us
weren’t really sure where the score was going to be at what did you think at the end of three rounds you know I thought I was winning I feel like I was pushing
the pack like Landing their heaviest shots but as soon as I heard sweet decision I thought you know you never
know do you unfortunately it’s uh yeah you never know the judges and like
after a fight like that it’s hard to tell nice last thing for me I guess I mean that’s two as you said razor thin
tough fights in relatively short ordered what’s the plan for here I mean you need some time off do you want to get booked again right away I feel good I want to
fight before probably get one more in before the end of the year but yeah I’ll just go back home and make the long
journey home and get back into training and then yeah look try and book the next fight
Jack do you remember some of the things he was saying to you
he said things like yeah
yeah whenever you’re next in America and I thought I was just like we’re we’re fighting like let’s go
is it when you’re dealing with someone like that is it almost like you said you want to have a Killer Instinct yeah when he’s talking and being so like light
hide does it kind of take you out of fight mode into sparring mode does it take you like what does it do to you mentally does it kind of just chill
everything out it’s interesting it’s weird I’ve never failed it before I knew it was coming and it’s still sort of flung me off a bit but yeah it was weird
it sort of makes it a bit more uh a bit more yeah a bit more friendly which I wasn’t I wanted to yeah I want
to take them take my opponent out but I tried when you when you look at Kevin you know he’s a long long range you guys
he one of the guys that potentially stylistically might be your trickiest challenge in this division you know those longer guys might be able to hold
you off in a way of course you know I want to try I plan on getting to the inside and doing my best work on the
inside so always when someone’s got the range it’s a tricky game to try and get to the inside and
I feel like it did pretty good can you ask me yeah go over here obviously with Kevin Holland we never
know if he’s being serious or not but if that proposal to train with him when you’re in America next uh Israel would
you accept it yeah maybe I feel like I just come to America to fight so maybe
not come to train but maybe yeah I wouldn’t say no to having another throw some punches at Kevin Holland fair
enough and obviously he’s not the fight maybe the fans expected and perhaps more of a technical performance from both of
you was there any part of you that felt frustration in their knowing Kevin wouldn’t go away or just the way he fought tonight I mean I was trying you
know it’s like yeah I’ve got to be defensively sad I gotta try and not get my head splattered across the cage so I
wanted to be defensively sound and pick my shots so I was trying and uh the last two
fights weren’t your typical JDM fights where you go out and get your opponent out of there inside the distance but do
you think you needed to go through fights like your last two in order to continue to develop yeah far you can pick things away and
especially when you get three rounds in there’s a lot more film to study and a lot more like technical aspect you can
work on and just good experience and obviously you finally got your fight
at the T-Mobile Arena that you’ve been asking for how was this fight week for you yeah it was yeah it was awesome it was awesome for just to run smoothly get
to the fight and fight and then yeah it was the first time I’ve ever been in there and it’s a pretty impressive Arena
and just being at the top there and looking down it’s school like thing to take off the the
list of things I’ve done and uh any names now that come to mind for your next outing nah not real I’m just
whoever I want to fight before the end of the year and fight whoever awesome thank you hey Jack
uh there are there’s a couple names that people have been throwing out you know there’s the rebook you know Sean Brady
obviously people are throwing out Vicente Luce maybe a child call rachmanov any of those names kind of
stick out even honestly I’m not going to call one of them out but like any one of them if they if I
got offered the first one they offered me I’ll probably just jump on it and say let’s go all those they’re challenging fights
and exciting matchups now that you got your co-main out of the way are you ready to go five rounds and Main Event a
card yeah I feel like I could have put another two rounds in then with Kevin if need be and obviously
um the fans were talking after your last fight do you think that you did enough to shut people up probably not I
don’t think you never shout everyone up so yeah but I’m sure they’ll keep talking
congrats yeah yay
now that it’s over do you wish that you had gotten the fight last week or you
know what were you good with the Bible I mean everything happens for a reason and it was an awesome experience and just
didn’t work out last week but I loved it yeah and then can you explain how satisfied
were you with the adjustments you were making throughout the fight to deal with his radiation everything else
yeah I felt like I was making good adjustments I feel like I was pretty defensively sound I think I saw a lot of
the shots he was throwing and I feel like I had yeah defended a lot of them so but obviously yeah look go back look
back and suss it out a final question your country woman
Casey said in an interview recently that sometimes with Australians there’s the tall poppy syndrome that there’s not
always that support from your countrymen when one of you guys is doing
realtor do you feel like it’s maybe more complicated I don’t know I feel like I get yeah everyone that I care about
gives me close support so I’m happy with the sport I got
oh you can celebrate this one this is gonna go back and yeah just
chill out relax with the team the team obviously come a long way with me so just celebrate with them
let’s do it uh just real quick you had to mentioned how fighting here at the T-Mobile uh was like a thing you wanted
to do is there any other things that you have in your bucket list as far as fighting
yeah I want to fight all over the place in New York I would love to fight in New York would be a pretty cool
place to fight and to visit thank you
well I’m sure you’re still processing everything a little bit but I guess what is the emotions right now right I mean
it’s not a loss but you also didn’t get your title back tonight so what are your feelings right now
it’s kind of like um Crossing feelings from one side I proud
of myself because I fought I Fought the Battle till from the first second to the
very end of the fight I fought with all my heart with all my soul and from the
other side it’s like frustration because I think three rounds I won two rounds it
maybe was her but I feel that 10 8 in the fifth round it’s completely unfair
it was some illegal shots like nice in the first round unfortunately it was
like nothing to do with it but I feel that it’s not it’s against my like
personal rules that stop and complain right it’s kind of like I every time was
feeling hard um position situation I tried to find the way to succeed and
that’s why I didn’t stop I broke my thumb in the first round and it’s like fractured now
I felt it’s kind of like affecting my striking but in the same time I felt if
I would stop it’s going to be very frustrating for the whole fans who was this night
because they was waiting these fights they want to see the fight and if I stop in the first round they say cannot
continue I felt like it’s gonna be um again against my own personal personal
rules that’s why I continue I continue fight with my old heart I think I did
everything to secure the Victory and unfortunately I think because this event
it’s like Mexican Independence Day that’s why it’s affected their decision of the judge to get to give 10 8 in the
fifth round and for my experience 10 8 it’s when one fighter completely cannot
do nothing it’s like running around waiting there looking for escape from the Octagon is like miserable but in the
fifth round it was like four minutes or how many minutes stand up and she didn’t
let one punch and she only could take the back position on their like what it
was last minute minute and a half I’d I don’t remember now but even there it was
not damage it wasn’t too much damage to succeed this 10-8 that’s why kind of
like I’m saying it’s double feeling one side are proud of myself and one side uh
I frustrated from the judge decision it just asks you to clarify that on the Mexican Independence Day thing are you
saying that you think the judges factor that in or do you mean because it was a pro-mexican crowd the volume was so loud
the cheering was so loud that maybe the judge thinks it’s more dominant than it really is really I don’t know what it
was a big decision from that but 10 8 is 10 8 and 10 8 it’s kind of like
um not there what it was in the fifth round Denise uh how much did they affect you
said you didn’t want to stop and complain or I mean how much did that moment concern you or affect you oh it’s kind of like affected
because it was nice to the Head it’s it was not cut luckily for me but I
was grounded opponent I had my finger on the on the mat and it’s this is what you
cannot do with a ground opponent but it’s kind of like again I say and it’s not
um my personal rules it’s gonna go against it if I stop and say oh my God I cannot
continue because I’m the warrior I have to continue I have to find the way to succeed
anything in there that she did you talk about the battles that you had to get through was there anything that she did that surprised you obviously you’ve got
a lot of experience with her in very close fights at this point was there anything new tonight that you weren’t expecting not this fight I expected it’s
gonna be more I expected it’s gonna be battle and we’ve entered on a battle we
went like uh like best flyweights in the world we were there and I think I did
enough to secure the victory but because of
this 10-8 it was a draw draw it’s not a loss but in my case it’s not a victory
last thing for me I mean obviously you’ve got to clear up your hand and all that but I’m just curious kind of as you sit there your motivation is it like we
got to do this again because I got to get my belt back or is it like well maybe I’ll go to 35 maybe there’s other
things out there I mean as you sit there right now I know you can’t say for sure but what sounds most appealing to you
um first of all I don’t want to rush I don’t want to say something that tomorrow I will change my mind first of
all I want to see how long it’s gonna heal because this is the most important if I my next fight when it’s gonna
happen I wanna perform the best way what I can I gonna I don’t wanna like perform
a 50 percent I wanna I wanna do 100 that’s why right now
um I don’t know what it’s gonna be next uh who is going to be next but I am here
and this per this performance tonight I show that I have much more forward to go
this is this is kind of like no stop no less power what I have no less
motivation it’s kind of like no matter how old I am I am feeling great and I’m
happy that martial arts it’s my lifestyle I happy that martial arts is the way what I am living my life and I
want to do that before I feel this motivation and hopefully I’m gonna feel that for a long time so Valentina just
we’re on the knees do you think Alexa knew they were illegal do you think Just In the Heat of the fight she just threw them and it was up to the referee to say
hey you’re fouling right now right now it’s very hard for me to say I have to re-watch that I have to exactly see the
moment but I remember my fingers was on the um mats I remember that it was on the
floor and I was kind of like um and that time I I in that minute in the fight I
didn’t think to stop I didn’t think but I was kind of like looking to the
referee and waiting to I asked something but he said continue and I continue when
you found out that the fifth round was scored a 10-8 by one judge what was your immediate reaction
because it’s one it’s one thing for them to say oh there was a round that’s 10 8 but to know it was the fifth round which I think not many people in here was
would say that’s a 10-8 what was your reaction to that um I couldn’t believe
Wellington over here you mentioned your frustration with that 10 8 given to Lex in the fifth and we all know judges are
subject to criticism often in this game from a Fighter’s perspective is there something you’d like to see changing the
way judging works with these fights [Music] um I feel that to give at 10 8
you have to be very sure that is it is 10 8 and but it was not our case it’s
kind of like was not even close to 10 8. and yeah I I hope it’s gonna change but
I know many fighters go through the same frustration uh when it’s kind of like
that way but you cannot do nothing the official decision it’s official decision
as I mentioned it’s a draw it’s not a loss but in my case it’s not a victory
and you also stated the crowd affecting that result maybe that 10-8 if the trilogy is next and it were up to you
where would you want that fight to take place and under which circumstances um I’m the fighter who never choose
opponents never choose place never choose the moment I just go there and I
prepare myself for the full battle this is what I was the way what I was growing
up because I feel this is my characters this is representing me as a fighter
because I don’t want to be the picky one like oh my God I don’t like this I will
do that I not go there I just like do what I love I love to fight I love to
perform ill I love to get ready for the fight and although the energy was not
for you necessarily did you did you enjoy seeing all those fans come out and support both of you guys yes definitely
it was every time the fans are supporting like Fighters it’s something that’s very motivational and definitely
but um I can say in this fight I didn’t feel um like I mean already in the fight I
didn’t I didn’t hear the crowd how they like was cheering my opponent or what
because I was so focused in on winning I was so focusing to go there you get my belt back that’s why I kind of like was
feeling I have a block I have a Blog from the whole crowds and it didn’t
affect me anyhow thank you Valentina one question over
here in the back uh you’ve been obviously dominant for so long when you went out to the cage this
time emotionally as the Challenger how did it feel different if at all to your previous fights
um first of all it felt um amazing because I go there for a
battle I go there for a war and I went there and for me
um like Champion Challenger inside of the Octagon you do the same you fight the
same and if you are not fighting fighting the same like no matter what corner you are what color of corner you
are it’s kind of like um I cannot say that it’s like pure like
feeling of the fighter but I every time performs the best but I can can no
matter if I am Champion or if I am a challenger thank you
Valentina how did you feel about the fourth round and what was going through your mind heading into the fifth round
um no time to stop this is the last five minutes and I have to do everything I
don’t have right to like feel that I stop for a little bit I just like not
continue to move not continue to strike and this is what I felt like it’s like five minutes more and I have to go till
the end thank you Valentina in Spanish
um uh my question is just for uh for
Valentina very quickly do you think you won the fight how did you how did you justify
um
foreign
I think it was a 3-2 that was that’s what I feel will be the most Fair result as I said there’s a 10 in the fifth
round a 10-8 in and of itself and attending in the fifth round it’s impossible I just don’t think that
that’s a place for that is
and Mike Bell actually had a 10-8 that’s his name that’s who who uh who scored a 10-8 do you think that he needs to come
out and publicly explain what happened because a lot of people were confused noise
um [Music]
because actually we as Fighters I mean we we fight we fight and all of you see
it is an open to the public thing here it’s there for for everybody to see now as far as the scoring that’s they scored
and you don’t you know you don’t see it it’s not it’s a private thing so yeah I would I would actually like that to
happen some sort of explanation
man do you want a Trilogy with Alexa after this result is that what you’re looking for um results
[Music]
epiler
as I said I am a fighter I’m a fighter that keeps moving on I’m moving forward yes I just want to see how my fractured
thumb is it how long does it take to recover I want to be 100 coming back but
I said I’m here for a long time um I don’t feel less strong less motivated I don’t feel I don’t feel less of anything
quite the contrary I actually feel even more so and even I mean in comparison like a couple of years ago uh as I said
I want to be here for a long time and and I went to fight that’s what I want to do you know
and any point of your group would you like to actually be in a in a um event of the UFC in Peru Casino
[Music] Thailand is
uh
and we actually love to be the main event in Peru and that’s also in my home country of Kyrgyzstan and also in
Thailand I mean as you know my campus entire Muay Thai and uh MMA is really strong there people really want to see
it so I actually have three countries that I would like to to be a main event in yes yes Valentina you did an
interview before this fight and you kind of teased that you would have an announcement maybe after a win and I’m
curious I was related to bantamweight if you would have won the fight were you gonna move back up to Banner white try
and get the belt there [Music] um I’m sorry
um it would be like first of all depends of the result right and right now I feel
it’s kind of like um I cannot say what it’s going to be right now the next move because of the
uh fracture I have to make sure that it’s kind of like taken care and it’s
kind of like healed I don’t wanna um someone to like wait on me for a long
time because they kind of like also I feel the Bantam bites they was um like already how many like few months
like waiting for the um title and to wait like six months more I think it’s
impossible it’s unfair and the same like um but I’m still here and whatever
happened while I’m healing I will be right on the top for the next one
have the weight Cuts gotten harder at all at flyweight for you just you know as time goes on people say that the older you get maybe wake us get a little
bit harder how has it been for you oh my God this time it was so easy it was I
think it’s um for the people who are saying it’s getting harder it’s because they are
getting lazier and it’s kind of like visit time with the um like live
lifestyle it’s getting like oh my God I maybe I
one do diet for like months or two and do easy cut like for the last in the
last week but it’s um discipline that you have to follow no matter what and I
feel if you have this discipline it’s no matter how old are you older or younger it’s
going to be the same easy and I think the discipline is rule number one
thanks Valentina Valentina um
foreign
we wanted to know what what happened for you to recover what was the process of recovering what was said uh between
rounds that led you to actually have such a recovery from what happened [Music] um
is
um
Seger
um the basically in between rounds the the the the the instruction was the
proof push forward just keep on regardless of what was happening as far as the recovery is concerned it’s
concerned it wasn’t a problem for me because my goal my personal goal is to keep going uh hey uh yeah I didn’t feel
lost at any time um in any moment I have a hard head I mean she can hit it doesn’t matter I
mean I felt I did I didn’t feel lost or or the the strike itself it didn’t it
didn’t have the effect my mind was to keep pushing forward keep going regardless
and as I said again this was a this is a great fight it was a classic war
um and again thank you for it um how does it feel to actually be in another amazing fight one that all the fans I
mean if you go on the internet regardless of the decision or anything that happened they keep supporting you and they keep saying this was an amazing
fight so another fight for your legacy
historia
um at the end of the day that’s what matters the most of course I would like to be here with you with a belt in front
of me but um it the most important thing is giving this memory to people
um it it was it was a fight that people will remember uh uh I left everything I
Left My Heart in the antagon and um this would it matters a lot is actually being a part of History he’s a great historic
fight uh that people will remember
I have two questions for you one of them what can you what do you recall about the fight about your your performance
tonight and also uh second question what did you feel about the Mexican crowd tonight in such a special name
um por primero
um excellent training camp uh in Thailand
training Partners excellentes is
[Music]
um foreign I felt very first of all I felt strong I
feel I feel really strong as I said I had an amazing camp for Tiger Minecraft in Thailand I had training Partners
excellent training partners that kept pushing me to my limit that’s why it allows me to be so fresh and that’s how fresh I felt during the fight
um as far as the crowd I expected it that’s what I expected them to be like that I expect that’s normal I would
expect that to happen if it was my people um but as I said uh when that happened everything that was happening outside
the Octagon I blocked that out that didn’t never that didn’t let me in that didn’t I didn’t let that in that didn’t
they never got inside um and that allowed me to actually keep a cool head all throughout
thank you
hello
it looks kind of a unique situation here right I mean you do still have your title but you didn’t get a victory
tonight I guess you’re still kind of processing a little but what’s what’s the emotion for you right now uh well
I’m happy with my performance you know I think I did um for me it was true too the second fourth and fifth were were
for me but I’m not the judge so um yeah I’m not the judge
the feeling coming I mean everybody says oh it’s just the same it’s another fight but this was your first title defense
and it was this crazy Noche UFC night so I mean what were the feelings the
emotions everything was it was it different tonight than it is in your other fights well yeah it was different
you know it was my first main main main event you know in a such amazing date
um in Las Vegas I I always wanted to fight him in this this beautiful date so it was really cool I just I’m just happy
I’m truly happy with my performance did it add any more nerves or pressure or just different than it normally feels
when you get in there no I felt in home you know I knew that a lot of people from Mexico were were here you know I I
felt the love and the the power of all the cheering and all the energy and I
was I was happy yeah your last fight was a battle with her this fight was a battle with her
um was there anything in there that was different this time around anything you didn’t expect that surprised you
no I expected like everything you know she’s very competitive I’m super competitive and I was expecting this
like a war yeah did you I mean as you guys were scoring you said is you’re not a judge it’s not your job but what did you think
going into the fifth round did you think you’re ahead I needed this what was the feeling um well my coaches said hey let’s do
this you know this fifth round we’re gonna make a statement and that’s what I did how close do you think you were to
finishing it there I was pretty close and now I did an amazing knock down I was closing a few positions you know to
finish the fat in a grand pound and um I think I did a a good good fight yeah she was frustrated because there
was a 10-8 that made it a draw are you frustrated because round four right
didn’t go your way with two of the judges you thought that was yours so are you frustrated with the scoring now I’m
not frustrated you know I did an amazing job and that’s what I’m taking now uh last thing for me I mean she did have
an injured hand that she said she hurt in the first round so she doesn’t know when she’s gonna fight um but what do you think I mean does the
trilogy need to happen whether it be next or some point down the road or do you care if this gets resolved
um you know it’s an interesting question um I wouldn’t like to stop the division you know there’s a lot of girl fighting
a lot you know to to have this opportunity like I did so I wouldn’t like to stop it but whatever the UFC says I’m I’m in I mean
Alexa over here other side oh Alexa you said that in the or just
before the fifth year coach it said hey let’s do this the way that they was there a sense of
urgency I mean obviously if they’re telling you let’s do this let’s finish it did you feel that there was a sense of urgency to finish it and and try to
get the win outside of a decision uh not like an urgency but yeah we
wanted to be clear like the fifth round was was for us you know the championship rounds are amazing and and that’s why I
trained so hard you know for the fourth and the fifth to be my best rounds always thank you Alexa over here
um Valentina a lot in the lead up she kept bringing up you know seven-time Muay Thai Champion I want to remind everyone but she was she shot for a lot
of takedowns in there were you surprised that she wasn’t as willing to stand with you and tried to make this a wrestling
match
um so yeah I was I was prepared after you dropped her in the first round or first or second round did you get a
sense of like her game plan might have changed because she did feel your power and it seems like after that she started
to shoot for takedowns a lot more yes of course you know when you have a good punch and you of course you have to
change your strategy and then and I knew that she she changed for that did you think any of those submissions that you
were throwing up there were any of them tight and were you surprised that she survived them uh well we’re super competitive you know
we are in the tub of the division for one reason and so yeah I trained very hard and I know she did too so I’m just
happy that we both give you guys an amazing fight Lex over here going into this fight you received a lot of support
from the fans here in town the ceremonial wins and obviously at Fight Night itself how do I feel to be the
star of the show this week oh it’s amazing you know it’s my first main main
event you know not too FSA in such a an amazing date and um I love all the challenges that UFC
are giving to me and I I just train so hard for giving you know good results
and uh after seeing this electric atmosphere inside the T-Mobile Arena what’s your message to Dana and the team
if you were to try and convince them to make nocho if I say an annual occasion I hope I hope this could happen every
year and uh being nocho if I say I have one in Spanish for the Hispanic Community
what is your message to all the fans that came to Las Vegas to see you fight
for the time
is
I want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart I understand that takes time it takes money they have to travel uh I
know that it is just that gives me so much support so much energy and when I get into the Octagon I pray for them and
just uh it’s so awesome that they continue to support so thank you thank you Alexa over here
in the back uh Alexa obviously in March you’re going out there to score a big
upset over a dominant Champion tonight you get to go out there you’re the favorite to a lot of people obviously
the fans can you talk about emotionally and mentally what it was like to make the walk second as the champion tonight
it was amazing I remember when I’m when I did my UFC debut it was kind of pretty similar you know a lot of people sharing
my name you know sending me their Vibes when I was walking you know like was like taking their energy touching their
hands so it was it was amazing you know I love that a lot of people came to support all the Mexicans
and then obviously you’re in the back getting ready but you know Tracy loopy Daniel a lot of the Mexicans did well
tonight you’re obviously aware probably who’s winning and losing did that give you more energy or more anxiety before
your fight no just excitement you know when I saw my teammate Lupi she did amazing you know she’s evolving so much
I saw her um we were together in the training camp so it was really really have I was really really happy when I saw her
winning and all the Mexicans you know Tracy did well to a lot of people you
know I’m just happy to see how Mexico is evolving and how the athletes are are
getting better and better and we had a date in a car special for us so this
means a lot you know about Mexico so I’m just happy for for my country in the sport
when you tell the story about Noche UFC number one years from now maybe your
career is over what is the first thing you’re going to talk about for tonight well it’s a
to be great memories and that’s the goal you know to get old and just remember like oh I remember when I was doing this
so it just good memories thank you Alexa um it was announced on the broadcast
that the UFC is going to Mexico next year are you trying to fight on that on that card
hopefully I would love to fight in Mexico again and obviously Aaron blanchfield Monon
Ferreira are the two contenders um would you like to fight them next or
would you like them to fight each other so that you get the winner of that or like and if you if you do want to fight
them who’s the one that you would like to fight well I’m really happy they’re both doing amazing
um you know I have to talk with my with my coaches my manager and also with the UFC but definitely I would like to fight
with a new Contender if if that’s the the next step and yeah it’s gonna be an
amazing fight thank you Alexa hello
to all the kids that you inspire what do you say to them as a champion they want
to be they want to be like you um Let’s Escape
foreign
intender I would say that the discipline the hard
work and training is very hard and not to let yourself astray for small
Pleasures um because that’s a that that’s just short-term uh satisfaction I mean you do
do everything the few things the the things that few people will do
um it will get you great things and um continuing to work on on everything
and just it it’s so rewarding when you get there finally I did it because I wore so hard at it and I I I I refer
myself from doing other things that everyone does to get things that they won’t ever get so that’s very important
casano
um right now you look really happy when you get into the article and it’s just you’re a different person it looks like
you’re a tiger hunting well yeah that’s um
we’re outside but once you get in the octagon and I when I was because
once once that door closes you’re in a war uh it’s amazing but I’m glad that
I’m able to actually uh enjoy both of these things in my life foreign
how are you going to celebrate now um eating pizza is
yeah get some pizza pack our bags because we have to go to well 100 tomorrow and that’s what I like to do I
like to be with people that that are next in there with me and supporting and that’s it Alexa
a couple in English here and then do you think this is the last you see of Valentino or do you feel like you’re
gonna come across her at some point in the future again well I don’t know you know it all depends of the UFC if they
want a Trilogy let’s do this if not I would like to give an opportunity for another girl I know how it is how it is
to be fighting all the time you know to to wait for your sport and I wouldn’t like to stop just the division but
whatever the UFC says yeah but if it was up to you do you prefer a
fresh matchup or a Trilogy with Valentina [Laughter]
I thought I don’t wanna I right now but but um I don’t know whatever the UFC says I’m always up
forever in any challenge they put on me the UFC did a great job in celebrating
Mexican Independence and its Mexican talent but Dana White hasn’t said that this is going to be a recurring thing an
annual thing um would you like for this to be an annual thing given the success of the event and a date that you would like to
fight in in the future as well honestly yes I would like to I would love to I mean I hope this could motivate a lot of
Mexican athletes to do their best you know to to win a spot in in this date
every year and I just hope that the UFC lied with all the Mexicans did tonight
and you know we really felt the Mexican
presence there um wondering did you feel it and did you feel like um your performance was enhanced by the
crowd of course you know you like I said it’s a it’s a big energy that when you’re
listening like the cheering and every people because it might sound crazy but
they they send you the energy and you can feel it so it’s amazing to have a lot of support in here
and how did you score the fight did you feel comfortable did you feel that you were going to actually get the win see
yes I knew it was going to be a tough fight but uh I said three two
years
and after the first fight she actually said she made a mistake and that’s what happened in that fight after this fight
winning again uh you would say I am the bet you feel comfortable saying yes I am the best and I do what I need to do is
[Music]
okay so let’s let’s go with it uh congratulations on the win uh one of the
things that happened was from the start of the fight you were really aggressive all both of you going at it uh did you
really feel that you were there were times that you were going together like you really had her and of course please
just elicit to everybody
[Music] um
yeah I did I did feel that I that I that I had moments that and I I feel very comfortable about everything that I did
I think I did really well and see Alexa is foreign
to pick up on that
um we are Fighters we are going to uh always keep going no matter what I I once in a fight actually got injured and
I don’t think anybody uh never noticed um so we’re warriors
and a second what are you most proud of tonight
the proudest is what I I said everything that I promised I was able to deliver I
said I was going to deliver a war and and that’s what I was able to do and I hope you enjoyed our fight
Alexa over here uh I’m just curious like when you got her on the ground and got on her back again we’re working for the
choke were you having flashbacks to the first fight yeah I had flashbacks but um like I said
we are super competitive she did her job and it was it was hard to to repeat it
again you know one of the best attributes you have of course is your boxing phenomenal
stuff but throughout your career you’ve kind of I’ve noticed fans maybe criticize you know lack of power and you
know these things like that despite you having such great boxing but you got the knockdown in this fight and I’m just curious like does it feel really good to
maybe shut people up and show you have enough power to be able to knock down you know one of the greatest fighters of all time who never really gets hurt
striking just is it feel good to uh you know showcase that a little bit yeah you know the plan was to finish the fight
you know but I showed my power I’ve been showing like every single fight my Evolution um everything I’ve been working and
I’m just you know I’m just happy with everything I did in that fight congrats champ
just one quick follow the knees in the fourth round I know it’s happening like really fast but do you remember processing like I could tell she’s not
down she doesn’t have her hand down or do what did you see because it it happened fast I was worried they were illegal what what did you remember no no
I was pulling her up you know and the referee was was super great we had an amazing referee in the fight so no no I
I was pulling her up
[Music]
and what did you talk to your coaches about after the fight history
have anybody speak to anyone I’m still working but as soon as I get out of here I’ll speak to my family
gracias
