LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 28: (R-L) Gina Mazany punches Rachael Ostovich in their women's flyweight bout during the UFC Fight Night at UFC APEX on November 28, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Gina Mazany “blessed” to be in UFC after holiday victory
Gina Mazany is coming off one the most impressive victories in her MMA career. After a rough start in the UFC, Mazany took a new approach and new weight class continuing her journey in the UFC. After her victory against Rachael Ostovich at UFC on ESPN 18, Mazany discussed her victory and what this victory has meant to her.
While fight week can always be stressful to fighters, Mazany spoke on how she stayed calm and what kept her focus during the holiday week.
“I would talk to Tim (Elliot) or talk to James (Krause), Mazany stated.
“I’d talk to Tim by choice but if it was too deep I’d talk to James. But with that when I would talk to them they’d just kind of point out the obvious, ‘Gina you put in a 15 week fight camp. Gina you gotten so much better.’ Kind of remind myself all the work and everything I’ve put into this sport and into myself and given me all the reasons why I should be performing well. I have a great support system,” she continued.
While a loss over the weekend could’ve been devastating for Mazany, she didn’t feel a lot of pressure to win. She was able to stay positive and upbeat during the time with a worldwide pandemic affecting the world.
“Everybody is going through this year,” Mazany claimed.
“2020 has been rough on a lot of people and a lot of people have lost their jobs. A lot of people can’t even work right now. And I’m so dang blessed that I’m able to work and I get to cut weight on Thanksgiving,” she explained.
During our discussion, Mazany talked about her victory over Ostovich and what she saw in the Octagon during the course of the fight.
“The liver shot is a pretty effective one,” Mazany insisted.
“But I saw it there. It was actually the first round I hit her in the body and I saw her kind of wince a little bit and back up. So I knew it was there. I knew it was an option. My coach, James Krause, didn’t want me to throw that kick right away at the beginning of it. Wanted me to wait later rounds to do it,” she continued.
So with her first UFC finish, Mazany is hungry to get back into the Octagon soon. But getting her first victory has given Mazany a renewed sense of spirit.
“The weight is off my shoulders,” she exclaimed.
“I can stand taller now. I want to keep this momentum going. I feel accomplished. I feel like I did well. I’m going to enjoy it. But I still feel like there is so much more to be completed. Like I have more work to do.”
INTERVIEW WITH GINA MAZANY BELOW:
Photo in above interview by James Lynch for Pub Sports Radio
