[autotag]Loopy Godinez[/autotag] believes a UFC championship fight is coming her way this calendar year.
Quickly cementing herself as a contender in 2023, Godinez (12-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) is confident she can bring her historic momentum into 2024 and get herself a shot at the UFC women’s strawweight title. She knows it won’t come easy, but she has a strong feeling that not only will she fight for the belt, but that she’ll also crown herself champion.
“I have a good feeling it’s going to happen at the end of the year,” Godinez told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “But you never know. Anything can change. It can be before that, or even a little after that, but I see it happening. I see myself becoming champion. I expect an incredible future.”
Godinez’s first order of business for 2024 is this Saturday, as she takes on top title contender Virna Jandiroba (19-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC) at UFC on ESPN 54, which will take place at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J.
The Mexican fighter thinks this is a great opportunity to start setting her up for a title shot. She believes a dominant win would do big things in her campaign to the belt.
“She’s No. 5 right now and winning this one, who knows where I’ll be placed,” Godinez said. “I’m assuming higher up, and then I’ll be in talks of who’s next to then be fighting for the title at the end of the year or maybe even in September – that would be incredible. So we’ll see. I think it all comes down to how I look in this upcoming fight.”
Godinez’s vision for herself is very specific. Not only does she see herself fighting for the belt, but she thinks it will be against current champion Zang Weili. She sees Weili retaining her title next month at UFC 300 when she faces Yan Xiaonan.
If the two meet, Godinez thinks fans are in for a treat.
“I think it will be interesting,” Godinez said when asked about a potential matchup against Weili. “If we fight, I just don’t see a single break. I think it would be an incredible fight, an unforgettable fight, Fight of the Year.”
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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 54.