ONE ON ONE FT. RACHEL PARSONS

We open to a hallway in the Kaseya Center, following the official weigh-ins for this weekend’s UGP 65, to find Isaac Cohen standing beside the former Everest Strawweight Champion, Rachel Parsons. The two have clearly been talking for a few minutes before the camera ever started recording, as Isaac’s got a smile on his face while Rachel’s laughing a little bit. Isaac straightens up a little bit when the light on the camera comes on, giving Rachel a chance to roll her neck out and stuff her hands in her hoodie pockets.

ISAAC COHEN: “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to another edition of Union Grand Prix One on One, ahead of this weekend’s UGP 65. We’ve got a massive lineup this weekend, headlined by a Bantamweight clash between the number one contender, Serenity Holmes, and the Bantamweight Champion of the World, Victoria Marshall–but, joining me at this time, the number 3 ranked Featherweight in Union Grand Prix, Rachel Parsons! Thank you so much for joining me, Rachel.”

RACHEL PARSONS: “Yeah, absolutely, thank you for having me.”

ISAAC COHEN: “So, it’s been quite a while since we’ve had a chance to talk, and in that time, you’ve had a…tumultuous run in your career, is that fair to say?”

Rachel frowns, but she can’t help but laugh a little bit.

RACHEL PARSONS: “It hasn’t been my dream run, lately, no. It seems like every step forward I take, I’m hit with…something that sends everything a little sideways. And, to be completely honest about it, Isaac? I can’t shake that feeling that, like…I should be better than this. I don’t feel like I’m fighting anyone that’s so far beyond me that I should be struggling like this–so it’s been frustrating, to say the least. But…if I’ve learned anything in my career, it’s that you gotta be able to dust yourself off and come back better.”

ISAAC COHEN: “This is your first fight since the Featherweight Grand Prix, which…obviously, didn’t go your way, up against an opponent who’s riding a 3 fight win streak in Union GP, in Verona Jimenez; what’s your take on her as an opponent?”

RACHEL PARSONS: “Yeah…I mean, Verona’s been impressive up to this point, 3 fights, 3 wins, 3 finishes. You can’t ask for a whole lot more than that, but I think it’s important to consider the context of who she’s fought up to this point. I know you can only fight who’s put in front of you, I don’t necessarily hold this against her, but her three wins are against people who have, I’m pretty sure, no wins in Union between the 3 of them? So, I mean, I dunno, these aren’t exactly competitive matchups we’ve watched her in, but…she’s been impressive, no doubt about that.”

ISAAC COHEN: “That was something I wanted to ask about, because of how quickly Verona’s dispatched her first three opponents, it doesn’t seem like there’s a whole lot to gameplan on, but is there anything you have picked up on, in those fights?”

RACHEL PARSONS: “Yeah, there is one thing, actually–she barely lifts her leg. I’m pretty sure I can count on one hand how many kicks she’s thrown in a fight, and I don’t think I need fingers to count the takedowns. She’s a pretty classic boxer, which has obviously served her well up to this point, but that’s…a really limited skill set, in an MMA fight. I’m sure she’s working on other aspects of the game, but it’s one of those things that, like…if she’s never had to use it in competition, then she’s going to fall back on what’s worked up to this point, and I think that limitation is going to leave a lot of openings for someone like me, who’s a little more well-rounded than the people she’s fought up to this point.”

Rachel pauses for a fraction of a second, but picks up her thought before Isaac can ask another question, starting to talk with her hands as she does.

RACHEL PARSONS: “And that’s really the bigger thing for me, I think just…the gulf in quality between the people she’s fought in her career, and the people I’ve fought in mine. I can look at my record and be unhappy with it, but I can also do it knowing that everyone I’ve fought has either been a champion, or challenged for the title. She’s got the momentum, for sure, but I think it’s safe to say I’m a jump in competition to who she’s been fighting, so…it’ll be interesting to see if she can keep that momentum going.”

ISAAC COHEN: “You mentioned seeing her as a boxer, this fight does seem like a pretty obvious case of striker vs. striker, but you two approach fights with a pretty significantly different methodology. How do you see this fight playing out, beyond just being a standup battle? Is there something in particular you see that could influence the fight, one way or the other?”

RACHEL PARSONS: “Well, like I said, unless she’s rounded out her kickboxing a lot in the last couple months, I think it’s going to look a lot like a boxing match from her end of things. I think she’s going to come in with the same gameplan, try to walk me down with that same style that’s worked for her up to this point, because…why would she change things that have worked up to this point? But, I think she’s going to leave a lot of openings for me that she hasn’t had to defend before. She’s been able to force people to fight her fight, so she has the openings she needs when she throws those big punches–I’m not that kind of fighter, she’s not gonna dictate the pace of this fight, like she has the others. I think I’ll be faster than her, I’ll be able to cut her off, so for me? It’s really a matter of how she adapts to fighting someone who understands what she’s bringing. But I see a lot of chances that, if she doesn’t shore them up, I can take advantage of.”

ISAAC COHEN: “One last question, then I’ll let you finish getting ready: you’re ranked #3, depending on the result between Jalen Briggs and Cole Carter, a big win this weekend could launch you into title contention against Isabel Azevedo–now, obviously, you two have fought before, but that was a while ago. Is that the goal, with a win this weekend, that rematch with Izzi?”

RACHEL PARSONS: “Yeah, 100%. Obviously I can’t control what anyone else does, I can’t worry myself about any other fight, I have to focus on mine. But that’s the goal, right? That’s what everyone wants, to be at the top. A win this weekend puts me in a good position, and…yeah, I desperately want to make up for my performance in the Grand Prix, I want to be the one to take that title off Izzi. Right now, Verona’s in my way to getting there, so I gotta navigate that first, but…for sure, Izzi’s the goal.”

ISAAC COHEN: “Can’t blame you, there. Thank you so much for the time, best of luck this weekend!”

RACHEL PARSONS: “Thank you.”

Rachel smiles and gives a little wave to the camera, before the video cuts.