Jessica Aguilar Waiting for Maryna Moroz to Sign for UFC 211
Jessica Aguilar Waiting for Maryna Moroz to Sign for UFC 211
Former WSOF champion Jessica Aguilar is fighting at UFC 211 and wants to face Maryna Moroz.
A former WSOF champion, Jessica Aguilar was hired by the UFC in early 2015 and quickly became one of the big names in the then newly-established strawweight division. However, a series of unforeseen events have left the veteran with only one fight so far, a decision loss to Claudia Gadelha at UFC 190.
With an injured knee ligament, Aguilar needed six months to get back to training. Now, fully back to the gym grind, the 34-year-old says she's in shape not only to return to competition but to re-enter the race for the UFC belt. The Mexican-American in fact already has a date and place in mind.
"I have an agreement with the UFC to fight at UFC 211", Aguilar told FloCombat via AG. Fight in an exclusive interview. "I have not signed yet, but it will be Maryna Moroz. We had a brief disagreement on social media and agreed to fight, it just needs to be signed. But if it's not going to be her, it will be another opponent at UFC 211."
During the online exchange with her potential opponent, Aguilar was called 'auntie', alluding not only to her age but also to her status as a veteran of the sport. That verbal jab coming from a member of the sport's next generation doesn't seem to bother the former WSOF champion, though.
"I think she's the best opponent for me", Aguilar claimed. "But I'm coming back and I'll fight with anyone. I have a team and we have to work right. I heard she wanted to fight in May, I asked (for the fight) and she called me an aunt. I think she wants this fight, too. But I do not feel anything about it. Nothing personal, and I don't want it to be (that)."
Now back in action, Aguilar's goal is still the belt. The one catch with this goal, though, is that the strawweight strap is currently held by Joanna Jedrzejczyk. Training partners at American Top Team in Florida, Aguilar and Jedrzejczyk, as well as Nina Ansaroff and Tecia Torres, have an agreement in place to only face each other in the Octagon if a title is on the line. Otherwise, friendship and respect for the team come first.
"The only way would be to compete for the title", Aguilar insisted. "Except for that, Joanna is a teammate. We are the largest MMA academy in the world for women and men. We trained together and we have a good relationship."
The way things are looking, Aguilar and Jedrzejczyk might both make an appearance at UFC 211 in Dallas, Texas, as the champion is set to defend her title against Jessica Andrade on that card. As much meaning as that fight might end up having for Aguilar's own career down the line, she doesn't want to focus on that bout just yet.
"So, I do not really focus on opponents or potential opponents. My goal has always been to be the best in the world and be the best athlete I can be. Always training, wanting to learn and evolve, so I can not watch this fight thinking about how it will affect me."
With an injured knee ligament, Aguilar needed six months to get back to training. Now, fully back to the gym grind, the 34-year-old says she's in shape not only to return to competition but to re-enter the race for the UFC belt. The Mexican-American in fact already has a date and place in mind.
"I have an agreement with the UFC to fight at UFC 211", Aguilar told FloCombat via AG. Fight in an exclusive interview. "I have not signed yet, but it will be Maryna Moroz. We had a brief disagreement on social media and agreed to fight, it just needs to be signed. But if it's not going to be her, it will be another opponent at UFC 211."
During the online exchange with her potential opponent, Aguilar was called 'auntie', alluding not only to her age but also to her status as a veteran of the sport. That verbal jab coming from a member of the sport's next generation doesn't seem to bother the former WSOF champion, though.
"I think she's the best opponent for me", Aguilar claimed. "But I'm coming back and I'll fight with anyone. I have a team and we have to work right. I heard she wanted to fight in May, I asked (for the fight) and she called me an aunt. I think she wants this fight, too. But I do not feel anything about it. Nothing personal, and I don't want it to be (that)."
Now back in action, Aguilar's goal is still the belt. The one catch with this goal, though, is that the strawweight strap is currently held by Joanna Jedrzejczyk. Training partners at American Top Team in Florida, Aguilar and Jedrzejczyk, as well as Nina Ansaroff and Tecia Torres, have an agreement in place to only face each other in the Octagon if a title is on the line. Otherwise, friendship and respect for the team come first.
"The only way would be to compete for the title", Aguilar insisted. "Except for that, Joanna is a teammate. We are the largest MMA academy in the world for women and men. We trained together and we have a good relationship."
The way things are looking, Aguilar and Jedrzejczyk might both make an appearance at UFC 211 in Dallas, Texas, as the champion is set to defend her title against Jessica Andrade on that card. As much meaning as that fight might end up having for Aguilar's own career down the line, she doesn't want to focus on that bout just yet.
"So, I do not really focus on opponents or potential opponents. My goal has always been to be the best in the world and be the best athlete I can be. Always training, wanting to learn and evolve, so I can not watch this fight thinking about how it will affect me."