ONE ON ONE FT. SYN SAETANG

[The scene opens up inside of a rather lavish conference room. The illustrious Kayla Chapman sits poised in an amber pants suit. By comparison, her guest for the evening is dressed super causally: a black Nike fleece set and a pair of Free Metcon 6s. However, this doesn’t seem to bother Kayla in the slightest. She takes a moment to ready herself as she’s given the okay by her producers.]

Kayla Chapman: “Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome, welcome, welcome, to another One on One interview ahead of this weekend’s absolutely stacked Title Wave card from Riyadh in Saudi Arabia! My guest at this time looks to make her way back to the top of the Bantamweight division, as she takes on a returning C.C. Flynn this weekend; please help me welcome, Syn Saetang, ladies and gentlemen!”

Syn Saetang: “It’s always a pleasure, Kayla. Thank you for taking the time to speak with me today.”

Kayla Chapman: “So, obviously, there’s no nice way to address this: after a 6-1 comeback run that got you up to a title shot against Victoria Marshall, you’ve hit a two-fight skid. And now, you’ve got a fight that, just a couple weeks ago, we definitely didn’t think was a possibility–talk me thru this kind of quick turn around, especially refocusing after a couple tough losses. Did you already know you were going to be part of this show, and just waiting to hear an opponent? Or was the fight announcement made pretty much when they let you know about it?”

Syn Saetang: “I guess I’ll split this question into two parts, if that’s alright.”

[Kayla nods her head as she carries on.]

Syn Saetang: “I’m a competitive person. It doesn’t matter if it’s mixed martial arts, wind sprints, for Uno with the family. I want to win. So, while I try not to dwell on the last two fights, I’d be lying if I said they didn’t sting a little. If I were someone who didn’t put in the time or the effort? Then I probably wouldn’t give a shit―excuse my language.”

[Kayla laughs a little, holding a hand up, trying to reassure Syn that it’s no problem.]

Syn Saetang: “I don’t fall into that category. I’ve done my best to improve after every single fight I’ve ever had. I can’t begin to count the hours that I’ve spent studying film and laboring in the gym. So to still lose, after all that effort and sacrifice?”

[A grunt of frustration escapes Syn’s lips.]

Syn Saetang: “But hey, that’s the nature of this right, yeah? Someone has got to win; someone has to lose. The circle of life, I guess.”

[She shakes her head.]

Syn Saetang: “To answer the back half of your question, I had an inkling that I’d be on the card. As far as the opponent? I had no clue, which is fine. I’m down to fight pretty much anyone, so, yeah.”

Kayla Chapman: “You’re certainly diving back in head-first, against a former Bantamweight Champion no less; me and Isaac talk about this a lot, momentum is a crazy force–was there any…hesitation, I guess, in terms of taking a fight against someone like C.C., especially on a major card like this? Or was it just a chance to get back in there and refocus?”

Syn Saetang: “Hesitation? Not at all.”

[Syn leans back in her seat.]

Syn Saetang: “Everyone knows C.C. and her accolades; there’s no need to list them. But honestly, Kayla, what do I really have to lose right about now? My ranking? That shifts every month anyway. The only thing that’s required of me is to go out there and do what I do best. If anything, I’d say the pressure is really on C.C., given her last departure and all the shit going on with Serenity.”

Kayla Chapman: “Certainly no lack of animosity there–but that’s an interesting mentality, I feel like I don’t hear that from a lot of fighters. Not to say you’re not affected by a loss, but I feel like I’ve heard a lot of people suddenly ratchet up the intensity when they’re on a skid, looking for some big message to the division; does this kind of opportunity, against a former champion that could really be that statement win if you do get your hand raised, does that give you extra motivation to get going?”

[A brief moment passes.]

Syn Saetang: “To be perfectly honest, I think my perspective on the matter would be a lot different if my record were different. I’ve lost eleven professional fights; there are only a few other people who can match my energy, in that regard. Losing that much? It’s painful, so much more so than anyone watching can imagine. But life lessons are often taught in the midst of adversity. Those fights instilled determination and perseverance into my being.”

[She quickly crosses her right leg over her left one.]

Syn Saetang: “However, I do plan on coming into this fight with a different intensity. Like I said, this is the largest fight that I’ve ever had; C.C. is the strongest opponent that I’ve fought to date. Because of that, it would be foolish to roll into this fight by being too lax or by having bad energy. It’s a hype fight, so why wouldn’t I be stoked, you know?”

[Syn lets out a sigh.]

Syn Saetang: “As far as sending a message to the division―

[There’s a pause.]

Syn Saetang: “I feel like this match is less about sending a message to everyone else. If anything, I think this fight is more about proving something to myself. I know how good I am, however, I haven’t done the best job of showing it. But in this fight? With this opponent? I’ve got the perfect opportunity to do so.”

Kayla Chapman: “Every fight’s an opportunity to refocus and retool, yeah–which actually leads me to one more question, before we get to the fight itself: other than the brief foray with SCARLET Fighting, we haven’t seen C.C. in the cage in the best part of a year. Especially since you prepared so recently for a five round fight, do you think that’s going to be a difference maker in this fight? Or do you believe in ring rust at all?”

[Another pause.]

Syn Saetang: “Ring rust is certainly a thing. So are nerves. However, you don’t get to the position that C.C. is currently in by succumbing to such things. Given everything that happened, she’ll view this as her reclamation tour. And me? Well, I’m going to try and stop that tour on night one.”

[Kayla gives her nod of the head.]

Kayla Chapman: “Thank you very much for your time, and good luck in your fight.”

Syn Saetang: “Thank you.”