Lupita Godinez (7-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) will look for her second straight win when she meets Ariane Carnelossi (14-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) at UFC 274 on Saturday, May 7.
“Loopy” said she likes the match-up that Carnelossi presents, as she expects the Brazilian to bring her aggression to the Octagon.
“She’s not scared to get in there,” Godinez told MMASucka. “Obviously I see myself winning and dominating. You guys are going to see a different version of myself. I think the six months that I’ve been off, I’ve been improving a lot. I’m real excited.”
It has been nearly six months since Godinez last competed; a long layoff for her since she’s been in the UFC. Godinez took on Luana Carolina up a weight class just one week after submitting Silvana Gomez Juarez for her first UFC victory. “Loopy” followed up the Carolina fight with a win over Loma Lookboonmee just over one month later.
The strawweight action fighter has found the six months off beneficial, even though she said she would like to fight every weekend if she could.
“Of course, I need time to develop, add to my skills, to let my body heal and feel fresh in my head,” Godinez said. “That’s why I think you guys are going to see a different monster, just because I feel way more confident. I can see and feel that I’ve improved so much, so yeah, I’m excited.”
Godinez feels she has made improvements in her aggression and seeing things more clearly when in the gym.
“Every mistake that [Carnelossi will] make, I’ll capitalize on it. I’m just more focused, I guess.”
Godinez said her advantages lie in her boxing being “crisper” than Carnelossi’s, as well as her wrestling and top control.
She predicts those factors will end with her getting her hand raised.
“I see [the finish] happening with an armbar or a choke, but course, it’s an MMA fight, so anything can happen,” Godinez said.
Godinez, ahead of her first fight of 2022, said she wants to go undefeated this year while remaining active.
“The more fights they give me, the better for me. If I’m healthy, and I can do it, why not? Fight as much as I can. Hopefully, the next opponent will be top-15, and from there, going up the rankings.”
Godinez said her focus is on Carnelossi and has not thought about who her next opponent may be, but she believes a win will get her a crack at a top-15 foe next.
“We’ve got to go through this one first and go from there,” she said.
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