Photo courtesy of Samad's Instagram account.
Roberta Samad looks to upset Sarah Kaufman at PFL 4 on July 11
After almost four years away from the cage to start a family, Roberta Samad faced Moriel Charneski in the first of the Professional Fighters League (PFL) season 2. It looked as if she didn’t miss a beat as she controlled Charneski for the whole fight and earned a unanimous decision victory.
“For a long time I don’t feel the burn, I feel nervous and anxious at the same time I feel everything, what you are working for, what is my goal right now, then judging my technique, then keeping concentrating and don’t think “oh my G-d long time I didn’t fight”. I just remember myself.”
That win has her in third place in the PFL’s women’s lightweight division behind Kayla Harrison and Sarah Kaufman. Speaking of Kaufman, Samad will face the veteran fighter at PFL 4 on July 11. Though Kaufman is a natural bantamweight, she has 19 more professional fights than Samand and has wins over the likes of UFC fighters Jesica-Rose Clark, Liz Carmouche and former UFC champion Miesha Tate. Samad knows Kaufman will be tough but believes she is better everywhere.
“Definitely she has a lot of experience, she is going to be tough.”
“At the same time, it’s still possible cause I’m better than her in the stand up, better than her on the ground, in jiu jitsu and I’m more strong. So I just need to be more smart, try and finish it in the first round of course but don’t go straight crazy and don’t lose my cardio. I respect her but I know I’m the best and can be the champ.”
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Though she is a jiu jitsu black belt, Samad is content to let the fight play out on the feet for a while.
“I’m going to start with the stand up and will see what happens. I’m not going to go straight for a take down, I want to make sure she feels my hands and we’ll see what happens. I’m ready for anything.”
She also very strongly believes that her stand up is better than Kaufman’s.
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“My stand up right now is very good, very good stand up. I’m 100 percent sure my stand up is better than hers.”
She thinks her improvements in her game will lead her to a finish and will prove to everyone not to underestimate her.
“I’m going to go for the first round, everything I can. “
“Everyone think I’m underdog, I’m going to show everyone on July 11 it’s not that easy.”
