ONE ON ONE FT. MARCELA VARGAS
The video fades in on the official weigh-ins in the background shot, with Kayla Chapman front and center; to her right, joined by one of her teammates, is Marcela Vargas, a towel around her neck and her hair matted to her head like she’s literally just finished a run. She lets out a breath and shakes her head, taking an extra moment before nodding to Kayla.
KAYLA CHAPMAN: “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome welcome welcome, to another One on One interview, ahead of Union GP 67 this weekend–joining me now, officially on weight for this weekend’s rematch with Trevor Martin, is “The War Goddess,” Marcela Vargas–Marcela, thank you for taking a minute with me.”
The Brazilian just nods a little, a small smile forming on her face.
KAYLA CHAPMAN: “There’s no talking about this fight without talking about the events at UGP 66 last month–the eye poke. An unfortunate accident, obviously, but one that derailed what was an exciting fight up to that point, and ultimately forced a no contest and the immediate rematch.”
Marcela frowns as it’s brought up; obviously, it had to be talked about, but it’s clear The War Goddess isn’t pleased that it happened. She clicks her tongue just once, taking an extra moment before speaking up.
MARCELA VARGAS: “(Yeah. Obviously, it was completely an accident, it was just…bad timing, bad luck, and I sort of knew as soon as I saw his reaction that this wasn’t going to be good. It sucked that it happened, I made sure to apologize to Trevor when we got back to the locker rooms, it’s…it’s not a great feeling, obviously these things happen in a fight, sometimes just…the wrong thing happens at the wrong time, but that fight had been everything I loved about fighting up to that point, so to see it end because of a fluke moment like that…that wasn’t great.)”
Marcela thinks for a second, then continues before Kayla can ask another question.
MARCELA VARGAS: “(Then I heard from Dante–not only about contract negotiations, which we’d needed to do before that fight, but also that Trevor hadn’t suffered any major damage, which was obviously a huge relief. He immediately asked me about this rematch, getting this fight put back together. I was on board immediately. I want to see which one of us can find that finish, which one of us puts the other one down, I don’t want a fight like that to be remembered for a mistake.)”
KAYLA CHAPMAN: “That was the good news, there was no major damage, and the fight got re-booked right away–and in that first round, you had a lot of the highlights, including that big left hand that cut Trevor open, but he also found that takedown to slow that momentum for a second. Was that how you kind of expected that round to go?”
MARCELA VARGAS: “(I had a feeling I’d be able to overwhelm him early on; I’ve seen him fight before, he’s a talented striker, he’s got that composure that lets him stay in fights, but other than the fight with Endo, he doesn’t really start especially hot. I wanted to take him out of the fight before he got into that rhythm that lets him be as dangerous as he is, so…yeah, I guess in a way it’s what I expected? He was a little…slipperier than I expected him to be, I guess? He was able to avoid a lot of what I threw at him, which I didn’t necessarily expect, but I had a feeling I’d be able to control the early part of the fight.)”
KAYLA CHAPMAN: “Was there anything about that first fight that surprised you?”
MARCELA VARGAS: “(Honestly, his toughness was a surprise. I knew he’d be tough, that wasn’t really it, but…a couple of those shots I hit him with, I’ve knocked people out with this, and…yeah, it cut him open, but he didn’t even wobble, let alone go down. It was one of those shock moments, like you start to realize who’s across the cage from you. He took a lot of punishment in that first round, but he kept coming forward, so…I guess now I know I have to be even more effective.)”
KAYLA CHAPMAN: “In most of your fights in Union thus far, you’ve relied pretty heavily on what’s obviously an aggressive striking style, and while it seemed to work pretty well in that first round, with Trevor’s reach advantage, is that still largely the gameplan, or do you want to work in more mat work this time?”
MARCELA VARGAS: “(I want to do what works.)”
Marcela’s answer is short and simple, at first; she even shrugs her shoulders, as if it really is that simple. But eventually, she continues her thought.
MARCELA VARGAS: “(In the first fight, I felt like I had the better of the exchanges. The takedown he hit was impressive, he was able to avoid a shot that I definitely thought would’ve put him down, but I don’t think anyone had any doubts that the round was mine. So I don’t really worry about changing too much, when it worked that well. But, that was the first fight. If those same openings aren’t there this time, who knows how this fight goes? If he’s focused more on pushing forward, or if he’s trained to be more defensive, or if he’s made any of a thousand little adjustments, it changes the look of the fight, and…maybe it changes so I need to take him down, maybe it changes so I get a chance to prove what I can do on the mat. Or maybe he presses forward and I knock him out with that shot he avoided last time, you never know how this plays out.)”
KAYLA CHAPMAN: “Obviously, we only have the one round to go on between you two, and it’s hard to judge a fight based entirely on that, but is that sort of what you expect this weekend, a similar kind of approach?”
MARCELA VARGAS: “(I don’t know how much could’ve changed, when it’s only been a few weeks. I think the first round will be pretty similar to the last fight, but this time I know what I have to do. I know what didn’t do the job the first time, and I’ve been able to study the angles he looks for against people that fight like me, so I think I’ve got a better edge on what I can do to get that finish I almost got last time. I think it’s gonna be a crazy first round, but I did see openings that night that I could’ve taken advantage of, and I expect they’ll still be there, so…I don’t see why I couldn’t get a knockout in the first round, this time.)”
KAYLA CHAPMAN: “As it stands, you’re #3 at Lightweight, and Trevor’s #6; while it seems likely that Jordan Parker’s next defense will be against the former champion, Sadie Williams, an impressive win this weekend could see you jump into title contention in the not-too-distant future. Is that something you’re keeping in mind, considering the rankings, or…?”
MARCELA VARGAS: “(I mean, that’s everyone’s goal eventually, right? Everyone’s trying to reach the title, so I definitely have my eye on what a win this weekend could do for me. I’d like to think a knockout or a submission win this weekend would push me into title contention, but I’m also…not really interested in sitting around and waiting, if I get this win and it’s still gonna be months before I get that shot, I’d rather just take another fight and whatever happens, happens. But, yeah, I definitely think the kind of win I think I can get this weekend will push me up into being the next challenger for…whoever the champion may be, at that point.)”
KAYLA CHAPMAN: “Do you have a preference, whether it’s Jordan or Sadie?”
Both Marcela and her teammate give Kayla a little Look™, each one smirking a little.
MARCELA VARGAS: “(You like stirring the pot, don’t you?)”
Kayla just shrugs, as if it’s just her job to ask that question.
MARCELA VARGAS: “(I don’t really care, one way or the other; both have their own skills and different ways of fighting, I think Sadie’s maybe a little more…interesting, as a fighter, but I’m more worried about the occasion than who it’s against. I want to get to the point of challenging for–and winning–the Lightweight Championship. Who that fight is against, who the champion is when I get to that point…that’s not nearly as important to me.)”
KAYLA CHAPMAN: “Hey, I had to ask! Some people have a preference!”
Kayla laughs a little, holding her hands up like she’s totally innocent in all this.
KAYLA CHAPMAN: “Anyway, we don’t want to take up too much time, I know you need to go relax after getting weighed in. Thank you for joining me.”
MARCELA VARGAS: “(Thank you.)”
Marcela and her friend turn to leave, letting Kayla close things out.
KAYLA CHAPMAN: “Marcela Vargas, folks–you don’t want to miss that fight with Trevor Martin, as well as everything else on an absolutely STACKED UGP 67 card, including 2 title fights at the top of the card! Prelims begin at 6pm Eastern, with the main card kicking off at 10, this is going to be nonstop action here in Mexico City!”
And with that, we close the video on Kayla’s beaming smile.
