UGP 33 PRESS CONFERENCE
EVENT: UGP 33 Press Conference
VENUE: Orpheum Theatre
LOCATION: Boston, Massachusetts
DATE: April 8, 2022
[The feed gradually fades into a panoramic view inside the prestigious Orpheum Theatre. Spotlights sweep the room in a multitude of colors, allowing shadows to dance around and take shape of the sold out crowd. The historic facility is decorated with golden trim representing a completely different time.
[On the main stage, there’s a black glossy podium in the center with the trademark Octagon Star logo engraved and flanked on both sides are a long table draped with black felt with the Union GP word mark embroidered in the center. In the background is a giant big screen, displaying highlight reels of all of the scheduled fighters.]
[The boisterous crowd begins to dissipate and out walks Dante Reed. He b-lines to the podium and with a wide grin, adjusts the microphone stand to his liking. Just a few seconds later, all of the scheduled fighters begin to make their way on stage. The crowd is roaring at a deafening volume and shows no signs of slowing down. Dante then takes the opportunity and draws in a deep breath before lowering himself closer to the mic.]
DANT REED: “Thank you all for coming out here tonight. It’s great to be back here in Beantown, UGP 33 marks the fourth time here. Sunday night we have a big card scheduled for you all, with two title fights headlining the night. So let’s open it up, who’s got the first question?”
[One of the reporters stands before Dante has even stopped speaking.]
RACHELLE BUCKNER: “Rachelle Buckner from Bloody Elbow for Travis Decker. Travis, you and Robert have been at the same training camp for a long time now, and have narrowly missed each other in the octagon for quite a while. How does it feel to not only finally get your fight against him, but also being on the opposite sides to how it began: you being the champion, and him being the challenger?”
[Travis takes a second, thinking about his response before he leans forward to the mic.]
TRAVIS DECKER: “I wish I could say what I would have said back then, Rachelle. That this fight is a dream come true, that I am truly looking forward to going up against the best middleweight fighter in the world. But much has changed since then. Even when I first won this championship, I was still of the opinion that even though I beat the best fighter in Delaney, I still hadn’t beaten the best middleweight, which I believed to be Robert. But from that fight on he showed me that the fighter I once admired may not be there anymore. Not that he’s lacking in skill, but the drive to succeed, the hunger that won him the championship was gone. He has his championship fight now, but only because fighters that are his betters in Nigel Musgrove and yes, even Zion Momo’a stepped up and got beaten. So to answer how I feel about it, I feel like that this fight could be a waste of my time. I really hope I’m wrong.”
RACHELLE BUCKNER: “That’s a bold claim we aren’t used to from you, Travis. Aren’t you at all worried about the possible consequences of taking him lightly?”
[She looks like she may have continued on that line of questioning, but Travis cuts in immediately.]
TRAVIS DECKER: “I’m going to stop you right there, Rachelle. Nowhere did I say I was taking him lightly. I have never taken a single opponent lightly in my career and I’m not starting now. My point is that Robert is only getting this fight right now by default. His last fight was a loss against the last person I beat. Zion earned his shot, Nigel earned his shot. Robert was just the guy that was next. I know that may sound harsh, but I’m not here to sugarcoat, and I’m not here to waste my time fighting anyone but the best. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: This championship means I am the best middleweight fighter in this promotion, possibly in the world. And it’s my job as champion to put that to the test against those who have earned themselves the right to claim the same. Robert once had that claim, but in my opinion that time has passed.
I hope I’m wrong. I hope that he comes out with the same fire and drive that won him the middleweight championship. I hope he comes at me the best he has ever been, because then when I beat him I know I beat the man I respected.”
[He turns to address Robert directly now.]
TRAVIS DECKER: “I’m not here to beat a washed up fighter past his prime, Rob. I’m here to fight the best. So bring your best. I demand it.”
[With that Travis sits back as the reporter sits down. Meanwhile, in spite of the fact that she’s at her first press conference with the Bantamweight Championship, Gianna Howard seems to be taking the event no more seriously than she took anything else, at any other point in her career–in fact, the newly minted title holder seems to have made herself pretty comfortable while Dante and Travis were speaking, her feet kicked up on the table, and rather than displaying the title in front of her, she has it held in her lap. It’s only when Travis finishes speaking and a reporter steps up to flag Gianna’s attention down that she’s forced to at least straighten up.]
???: “Gianna, Nick Evans from FIGHT! Magazine; there’s no sugar-coating the way your first fight with Dallas went, it was a nearly flawless performance on your part, that obviously ended in a spectacular knockout to win you the Bantamweight Championship…”
[The Ghost is fully aware that most of her victories to date have been TKOs, so the reminder of the full-blown knockout visibly lights Gianna up a little more; the smile on her face twists into more of a smirk, and she patting the belt in her lap without bothering to interrupt Nick’s question yet.]
NICK EVANS: “With Dallas getting an immediate rematch, how are you feeling going into a second fight, which…if I’m not mistaken, this is the first rematch of your career?”
[Howard nods a little bit, still grinning as she lifts her mic up.]
GIANNA HOWARD: “Yeah, man, I’m feeling great. It’s always nice to shut up the doubters, I know there were a lot of people that didn’t think I stood a chance against Dallas, and…yanno, I did exactly what I said I was gonna do, he fought my fight pretty much the whole time, until I found an opening and put him down. It doesn’t get much more satisfying than that.”
NICK EVANS: “Obviously, a rematch carries different obstacles–namely, you’re now the one being chased, and it’s hard to overlook the last time you came into a show under the Union umbrella as champion, and took the only loss in your Everest career to Elliot McMillan…”
[Gianna’s mood flips on a dime, that arrogant smirk twisting into a sneer–the emotional Ghost huffs a little, just loud enough that the mic picks it up, but relaxes her jaw and lets the sneer fade while Nick continues to speak.]
NICK EVANS: “You’ve mentioned in the past that you don’t like to have months between fights–obviously, it’s been several months since your fight in Washington, do you feel any added pressure going into this fight, that you maybe didn’t in the first fight?
GIANNA HOWARD: “Honestly? If anything, I feel less; I gave myself a goal, I was going to be Bantamweight Champion before the year ended. If I didn’t get the job done in Washington, it doesn’t get done, either Dallas doesn’t fight again until 2022, or they move on to someone else. I did that for a reason, because I knew I could do it, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that I put more pressure on myself than anyone else possibly could. As far as this fight goes? I mean, yeah, I hate these long layoffs…”
[The Ghost mulls over her thoughts for just a moment, before turning to look at Dante.]
GIANNA HOWARD: “Hey, can I make a request, boss man? After I keep hold of this belt, get me back in there ASAP, 6 months with my feet kicked up is too damn long.”
[She can’t help but chuckle to herself a little bit, before turning back to Nick.]
GIANNA HOWARD: “But, to answer your question…honestly, I don’t feel like this fight is much different than the last one. You said yourself, I had a damn near perfect fight, the only thing I could possibly do any better is prevent that one takedown, and…if the worst thing I can say about the first fight is he got a takedown and couldn’t do anything with it, I’m pretty happy with the way that turned out. So…yeah, I don’t see anything different happening this time; unless Dallas got infinitely stronger and can hold me down this time, he threw everything at me in that first round, and…I don’t know how the judges scored it, but I’ve watched it back multiple times and I feel totally confident I won it. So…yeah, no, I’m not feeling any added pressure because I became champion–I told y’all that was gonna happen. I told y’all it was only a matter of time before it was me and whoever had the belt, and I’d take it from them. It’s not really pressure when it’s what you expect.”
[Nick starts to speak up again, but a different reporter stands up and flags Gianna’s attention down: this time, it’s a familiar face under the Union umbrella, Everest’s Kayla Chapman, and the Bantamweight Champion glances over at the woman who’s now got her attention.]
KAYLA CHAPMAN: “Gianna, it’s…not really a big secret, you’ve never lacked confidence in yourself or your performances, and it certainly seems like you’ve found the right weight for yourself at Bantamweight; do you agree, do you think 135 pounds is the right weight class for you, because we’ve seen you move up and down seemingly every other fight…”
[Gianna groans a little bit, and nods–more frantically than probably necessary, but as ever, this particular Ghost is an animated one.]
GIANNA HOWARD: “Oh my god, yes. Trying to make 115 was…phew, hell, frankly; even 125 in AWC wasn’t just the most fun thing I’ve ever done. I definitely feel like I’m at my best at 135 pounds, and I think what I’ve done in Union reflects that–I know, everyone says it, but I’ve gotten better with every single fight, and now…maybe it’s for the best that AWC’s not running shows lately, because it means I can focus on being the best Bantamweight in the world.
[The Ghost holds up a finger–the index finger, people, relax–as she grabs her water bottle and takes a swig from it, before continuing her thought.]
GIANNA HOWARD: “I said going into the last fight, I think I’m the most dangerous fighter in this weight class–and I don’t think it’s close. I don’t think there’s anybody in this division whose style I can’t handle, I don’t think there’s a single Bantamweight I can’t beat. Dallas had a chokehold on this title, and…yanno, when people describe your performance as ‘flawless’ against a guy like that, it sends a message. So, yeah, I’m definitely…definitely at the right weight now, and now the focus turns to keeping this belt for as long as it takes for me to be satisfied with what I’ve done with it.“
KAYLA CHAPMAN: “There’s a laundry-list of contenders seemingly chomping at the bit for a shot at the winner of this fight–I know it’s not really the champion’s job to go find a fight, but is there anyone in particular that stands out to you, if you come out of this weekend still the champion?”
GIANNA HOWARD: “Honestly? Whoever. I’ll fight any of them–I imagine it’s going to be whoever wins the fight between Lena and Isabel, but…throw anyone in the cage with me, it really doesn’t matter to me who it is, as long as it’s not six months before I’m fighting again.”
[She really, really wants to hammer that point home, giving an expecting glance over her shoulder at Dante Reed just one more time before turning back to Kayla–who seems satisfied with The Ghost’s time, giving Gianna a chance to settle back in her seat and resume her comfortable nonchalance. There’s no time to actually settle, though, as a man stands up and turns his attention to one of the women mentioned by the Bantamweight Champion just a moment ago, in Isabel Azevedo. The Brazilian smiles a wide smile, nodding toward the man and moving the mic closer to herself.]
???: “(Isabel, Danilo Camara, BJJOnline.com–you managed to avenge your only loss as a professional in your last fight, and got your first win by knockout in the process; after coming up short against him the first time, the unexpected finish must have been satisfying.)”
[The feed helpfully displays subtitles for the benefit of those who don’t speak Portuguese, but Isabel barely lets them finish displaying the question before she’s answering.]
ISABEL AZEVEDO: “(Yeah, definitely. I said before that fight, Tim is a fantastic fighter. It wasn’t something simple to be able to come back and beat him the second time. And, honestly, I’m not…especially happy with that performance, he was exceptionally talented, and I never really felt like I could get anything locked in like I wanted to. The kneebar was close, but…I felt like I should’ve finished it, if I got that far, and he was able to get out. I have nothing but respect for Tim…but you’re not wrong that getting the win was very satisfying.)”
DANILO CAMARA: “(It wasn’t a big stretch to imagine you would be next in line for the Bantamweight Championship after that win, but not only are you in another fight that seems like a title eliminator, but you were actually jumped in the rankings by Lena Lyons; does that add any…motivation to the fight, perhaps?)”
[The feed helpfully displays subtitles for the benefit of those who don’t speak Portuguese, but Isabel barely lets them finish displaying the question before she’s answering.]
ISABEL AZEVEDO: “(I don’t know about that, I think most people expected Gianna would have her first defense against Dallas, so we were fighting to get to be next in line; I’m not sure how much difference being number 3 and being number 2 really makes, when we’re fighting each other anyway, so really the rankings…don’t really phase me, honestly. I look at this fight as a chance to re-establish myself as the deserving contender, just as I’m sure Lena looks at it as a chance to get back into the title picture. The number by my name…)”
[“A Maravilha” just shrugs, very much nonplussed about the thought. Danilo nods in response and takes his seat, before another man stands up.]
???: “Jamie Carr, MMAWorld.com–you’re stepping up against a more talented striker than you’ve faced before, in what feels like a very dangerous matchup, is that how you feel about it?”
[This time, a translator takes a moment to repeat the question to the Brazilian; Isabel nods, not seeming too particularly worried about admitting to that.]
ISABEL AZEVEDO: “(I think that’s fair; nobody should doubt Lena’s skills, she’s fought a who’s who of MMA for several years. Win or lose, she’s proven she’s extremely tough, she’s nobody to take lightly, and just recently she had a fantastic performance against Yasmine, so, yes, I’m very aware of how dangerous this fight could be. I know I have to be at my best if I want to get my hand raised, but…that’s what we’re here for, right? To fight the best, to beat the best. Lena’s a fantastic striker, no question about that, which makes the chance to fight her more interesting to me. I want to be up there with the great strikers, I want to be up there with the great Jiu Jitsu players, I want to be up there with the best fighters. This is a chance to compete with one of the best in the division and see where I measure.)”
JAMIE CARR: “We’ve watched you improve as a competitor over time, it feels like you’ve become a more complete MMA fighter, in particular in the fights with Tim, but you’re still mostly known as a grappler, and rightly so. I have to assume that’s not going to be the priority in this fight?”
ISABEL AZEVEDO: “(I think that might be the worst kept secret, yes; I don’t think I’ll surprise anyone by saying I have the advantage on the mat, so that’s definitely where I want the fight to get to. Lena’s a great striker, she obviously has more experience than I do, I won’t make that up in a single training camp, but I think most people would’ve said Tim had an advantage over me on the feet as well, and…that didn’t really go the way people expected, either. If you’re asking how I expect this fight to go, though? I definitely think she’s going to be doing everything she can to stay on her feet, she’s been incredible with her striking lately, and it would be hard to bet against her in a kickboxing match right now. But, I’m not afraid to fight with Lena on the feet. Every fight, always going to start on the feet. I can’t worry about trying to match her skill level in striking, I just have to do what I can to get her respect, do what I need to do to get the fight where I want it. If and when I get the fight to the mat, I think it’s just a matter of time before I put her away.)”
JAMIE CARR: “One more question: with this being the second time you’ve fought what looks to be a contender’s fight, if you win, you’ll know who your likely opponent will be by the end of the night. Do you have a preference, whether it ends up being Dallas or Gianna?”
[Izzi shrugs her shoulders, keeping the bright smile on her face even as she’s indifferent to the question.]
ISABEL AZEVEDO: “(Both pose their own challenges, Dallas is probably the better all-around fighter, he’s shown to be dangerous on the ground and on his feet, but Gianna’s been almost unstoppable since the moment she started fighting. I’m excited to see that fight, and…you know, hopefully, get a shot at the winner, but no, I don’t really have a preference one way or the other.)”
[Jamie nods and sits back down, leaving Izzi to look out into the crowd. Once she’s content that she’s answered all the questions for her, she lays the mic back on the table and settles back into her seat.]
[After scanning the audience for a brief moment, Dante Reed chimes back in.]
DANT REED:“Is that it? Anybody else have anything? … No? Alright folks, thank you all for coming out, we’ll see you all this weekend!”
