ONE ON ONE FT. SADIE WILLIAMS

[We open backstage at the Rogers Centre, to find Kayla Chapman standing beside Sadie Williams, who’s finished up a relatively easy weigh-in in comparison to some of her compatriots. Despite being in her home country, Sadie obviously felt like being a little bit provocative, and showed up wearing a Vancouver Canucks jersey, which got her a few reactionary jeers, but otherwise it was business as usual for the beaming Canadian, while Kayla’s her usual happy-go-lucky self as she gets ready for the interview.]

KAYLA CHAPMAN: “Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Kayla Chapman, I’m joined by one of several Canadian fighters on this weekend’s UGP 49 card, one-half of our co-main event that could very well see the next challenger for the title crowned; please help me welcome, Sadie Williams!”

[Her previous interviews all done by Isaac, Sadie laughs at Kayla’s more flamboyant style, and opts to play along, taking a bow as she’s introduced which gets a grin from Kayla as well.]

KAYLA CHAPMAN: “Sadie, obviously I always like to talk to the Everest alumni, but we haven’t actually had a chance to talk since you made your way up to the Union roster, so I wanted to go back in time a little bit before we get to this weekend; after your first season in Everest was an up-and-down affair, you found your footing in Season 3, and earned 3 submission wins and a draw en route to the Featherweight Championship, and that momentum’s carried over to the Union GP side of our company; three fights in, and coming up on the end of your first Union GP contract, how are you feeling about your career at 155 so far?”

SADIE WILLIAMS: “Yeah, I mean, it’s hard to be upset about 3 wins in a row, right? Obviously, I woulda liked to have been more convincing; I probably shoulda found a way to get Osvaldo outta there, I won’t mince words and say I felt pretty lucky to get out of that fight with Maddox with my hand raised, those were both fights that…I woulda liked to have been more decisive, but that fight with Erick Costa…that was more what I expect outta myself, that was more of a showing of the fighter I think I am, so…happy with the results, but I’m looking to make more of a statement now.”

KAYLA CHAPMAN: “You mentioned feeling lucky to get by Maddox Moon with the win, that’s been the only other time we’ve really seen you come up against a submission fighter on a scale similar to yourself–now, you’ve got Ray Rogers, who’s certainly no slouch on the ground either, have you been doing anything…differently, maybe, to prepare for Ray that maybe you hadn’t done to prepare for Maddox?”

SADIE WILLIAMS: “I mean, listen, I’m not gonna pretend that was the most convincing performance in the world–I’m happy to have got the result, and I’ll be the first to give him credit, I haven’t met many grapplers that can keep up with me, so…yeah, I’ve worked a lot harder since that fight, to make a point to be more decisive. And Ray…honestly, Ray’s got a great style to test that work against. He’s a slick grappler, when he’s on, he’s on, but I don’t think there’s anyone in Union that I can’t compete with, especially when the fight hits the mat–as it will, in this one.”

[Sadie takes a moment to take a sip of water, clicking her tongue just once.]

SADIE WILLIAMS: “To answer your question, though, I haven’t really been doing anything significantly differently, I’ve just been focusing even more on making sure I’m ready for anything that can be thrown my way. I’ve been working harder, focusing more, but…in terms of, like, am I looking for one specific thing, or am I practicing one counter in hopes that he does something? Not really, it’s more about…just making sure I’m ready to do what I gotta do to get the win this weekend. With both of us in the top 5, obviously this is a big fight for whoever wins, so…I’m just worried about making sure that’s me.”

KAYLA CHAPMAN: “Speaking of the rankings at Lightweight, while it hasn’t been specifically announced as such, it’s hard to imagine this fight isn’t a title eliminator bout–with yourself at #2, and Ray at #5, do you think a win this weekend earns you a title shot?”

SADIE WILLIAMS: “I mean…that’s obviously the goal, right?”

[Sadie grins a little, nodding as she takes another sip of water.]

SADIE WILLIAMS: “And I think, if I beat Ray, it’s hard to argue anyone else should be ahead of me–regardless of how the main event plays out. Union doesn’t really pass out automatic rematches too often, so even if Paige wins, I think 2Face is gonna have to get at least one win before he gets a shot, and…if I win this weekend, I’m pretty much guaranteed to be #1, right? So yeah, I mean, I think logically it should get me a title shot, but…truth is, I don’t control what’s next. Dante’s gonna send me a contract to fight whoever he wants me to fight, and I’m probably gonna take it cuz I’d rather be in the cage than watching. It’s up to me to make sure I put myself in the best position possible–and that means not just beating Ray, but finding a way to finish him, to really take the uncertainty out of the equation.”

KAYLA CHAPMAN: “Can’t blame you for that; obviously we don’t want to take up too much of your time ahead of a big fight. Good luck this weekend!”

SADIE WILLIAMS: “Thank you.”

[Sadie flashes a peace sign to the camera, before the feed cuts out.]