ONE ON ONE FT. GIANNA HOWARD

[The video starts playing, and anyone who remembers what Gianna was like at the press conferences and such might feel a sense of deja vu when we fade in, and the UGP Bantamweight Champion has her feet kicked up on the table in front of her, dressed more like she just got done with her weight cut than preparing for an interview; on the opposite side of the desk, sits Everest MMA’s Kayla Chapman, who’s at least more professional than The Ghost at the moment–a low bar, admittedly; Kayla smiles to the camera and greets everyone.]

KAYLA CHAPMAN: “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome, welcome! to UGP One on One this weekend, ahead of an absolutely jam-packed Union GP 42 this weekend! And with me at this time, of course, the reigning Union Bantamweight Champion, who gears up for another defense of her title this weekend against a relative newcomer in Redd Lennox as one of the semifinals of the 135 pound Grand Prix–ladies and gentlemen, Gianna Howard!”

[Gianna waves with a couple fingers as she’s introduced.]

KAYLA CHAPMAN: “Gianna, thank you so much for joining us, in the middle of what I’m sure has been a hectic couple months for you.”

GIANNA HOWARD: “Yeah, for sure; it’s been, uh, it’s been a little busy you could say, yeah…”

[The Ghost just takes a second to get a laugh out.]

GIANNA HOWARD: “But I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

KAYLA CHAPMAN: “You’ve been very, very public in the past about wanting to stay busy, even going as far as to fight for multiple companies a couple years ago for the sake of not having any downtime, but this Grand Prix has been coming hard and fast it feels like; has it given you any trouble, preparing for so many different opponents, in such a short span of time?”

GIANNA HOWARD: “I’ve talked about this in the past, but I basically prepare for everyone the same way; obviously, everyone has their own focuses, but like…I don’t change up my whole camp just because Lauren rolled up last round or whatever. I’ve been able to shut everyone down by just fighting my fight–some nights it goes easier than others, but Union hasn’t been able to send me anyone I haven’t been able to handle yet, and that’s just by fighting the way I fight, no big overhaul or whatever, so…nah, if anything, this tournament has just given me everything I’ve wanted in my career. A chance to be on every major card, to make statement after statement after statement–and to prove, without question, who the best Bantamweight in the world is.”

KAYLA CHAPMAN: “Speaking of that fight, you came out of the fight against Lauren Moore…relatively unscathed, which isn’t something people can often say when the fight hits the ground; has putting on that kind of performance motivated you any?”

GIANNA HOWARD: “I didn’t need any extra motivation; this tournament is enough, being the Bantamweight Champion is enough. I went into that fight with Lauren with one thing on my mind, that was getting my hand raised, setting another record in this division, and moving on in this tournament.”

KAYLA CHAPMAN: “Well, you certainly did that, and set up a semifinal matchup with Redd Lennox who’s been…pretty openly calling for ‘the upset of the century,’ ahead of this fight; I’m curious what you make of this matchup?”

[Gianna rocks her head back and can’t fight back a little bit of a laugh, shaking her head negatively.]

GIANNA HOWARD: “I mean, if she wasn’t confident, I’d tell her not to even bother coming to the cage this weekend, cuz it would just end badly for her–if you ask me, it’s going to end badly for her either way, but if she wasn’t confident, there wouldn’t even be a reason to waste everyone’s time. What do I think of this matchup? I think she’s talented at what she does…she’s just one-dimensional. She throws a lot, with power, and that’s apparently something I’ve never seen before, which is…certainly an opinion, I guess.”

[Gianna chuckles to herself, taking just a second for herself.]

KAYLA CHAPMAN: “It’s hard to argue with results, though–in two fights in Union, she’s got two finishes, including one over a former champion, so…”

GIANNA HOWARD: “Oh, don’t get me wrong: she’s been good at what she’s done. She walked down people who aren’t used to getting walked down and threw big punches; people like Dallas, people like Mags, people like that, who push forward? They aren’t used to getting walked down, so…yeah, it was a good plan, clever of her to find a way to surprise them. And, if I were a gambling woman, my money would be on she’ll do the same thing in this fight–but, bluntly? That’s not exactly a difficult thing to prepare for, that’s every fight I fight. Everyone thinks they can walk me down, everyone thinks they’ll surprise me, until…they have to do it, and find out how much higher my level is than they were ready for. In this case, she’s already daydreaming about lifting up my belt–and if she thinks that’s gonna happen, she’s gotta find a way to take that one dimension of hers, and turn it into something I actually haven’t seen before, cuz a hard hitting boxer, that’s…I’ve fought a bunch of them in my career, you better be something really special if that’s all you got.”

GIANNA HOWARD: “I’ve said over and over, I’m a better fighter than everyone at 135 lbs right now; she’s been good in the two fights she’s had in Union, but she hasn’t fought someone like me. Dallas is a great fighter, but if the two fights we had proved anything, it’s that I’m on another level than he is. Those are just the facts, and…that’s pretty much why I don’t see anyone stopping me in this tournament; I have no reason to think I won’t walk out this weekend with my hand raised–then I’m gonna go on and finish this tournament off, and solidify my place as the best 135er in the world.”

KAYLA CHAPMAN: “That actually does raise the question: there are obvious a couple routes you could take, if you manage to win the Grand Prix–including moving up to 155 and challenging what’s, potentially, a teammate of yours, in Paige Holloway, or going out to Ryujin and challenging for the title there; does either of those interest you more than the other, if you get there?”

[While not exactly unexpected, the question does make Gianna pause for a second; she clicks her tongue just once, a smirk forming on her face as she forms an answer in her head first.]

GIANNA HOWARD: “I think, right now, the most interesting thing for me is making sure I put Redd down, then finishing off this tournament with whoever makes it to the final. The Bantamweight Championship is all I’m focused on right now–everything else, we can figure out in the future.”

KAYLA CHAPMAN: “Fair enough, but you can’t blame me for asking.”

[The Ghost cracks a grin.]

GIANNA HOWARD: “Not at all.”

KAYLA CHAPMAN: “Well, I think I’ve taken up enough of your time. Good luck this weekend, and if you get your hand raised, in the final as well! The Bantamweight Champion of the World, Gianna Howard, ladies and gentlemen!

[Gianna smiles at the camera and flashes a peace sign before the video stops playing.]