Loopy Godinez (12-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) made history when she beat Tabatha Ricci at UFC 295 on Saturday night: She became the first woman in UFC history with four wins in a calendar year. And she didn’t even mean to do it.
“It’s always cool when you’re breaking records. But it was an accident because I’m just fighting,” Godinez told MMASucka. “I’m just doing what I love. I keep breaking these records. I do all of this because I love it so much.”
Since April, Godinez defeated Cynthia Calvillo via split decision; Emily Ducote via unanimous decision; Elise Reed via rear naked choke; and Ricci via split decision.
While judges Derek Cleary and Sal D’Amato scored the fight 29-28 for Godinez, Bryan Miner scored it 30-27 for Ricci, going against the grain of public opinion.
Godinez said she was confused after the fight and has since watched her contest with Ricci.
“Now that I watched it, I do think maybe [Miner] went to the bathroom or something or went for lunch, because that was weird scoring for sure,” she said.
Godinez said she followed the game plan and did what her coaches told her to do, which was box Ricci and then stuff her takedown attempts. If it went to the ground, then get up and keep striking.
“That’s how we envision it, and that’s exactly how we fought,” she said.
Godinez, on most scorecards, won rounds 1 and 3 convincingly. Round 2 was Ricci’s best when she knocked Godinez over at the end of it.
“Yeah, it looked like I got hurt or something like that,” Godinez said. “But I crossed my feet when it was a hook – something I am not supposed to be doing – and she kind of punched me or chopped me with the shoulder, I’m not sure what happened, but I got knocked down. Knocked over, I fall. But then it was fine. I just got up.”
Godinez said she liked her performance despite her being critical of herself most of the time.
“I always want to do better. But at the same time, when you get closer to this level, everyone is amazing. Everyone has great hands, great wrestling, great jiu-jitsu, so I’m going to keep working hard.”
Godinez finds herself the No. 11-ranked strawweight now after fighting up against Ricci, bumping her from No. 10 to 12.
She feels the win over Ricci was the biggest of her career so far.
“She was ranked, and I got the win, and I believe so, yeah.”
Godinez said she wants to return to the Octagon by February and said it would be great to go for five wins in 2024.
“Somebody asked me how many fights I think I can do, and I think I can do like, about 10,” she said.
For her next opponent, Godinez is ready for whoever the UFC gives her, she said.
“If we look at all the girls above me, they’re all so good and so talented. They’re going to make me a better athlete and a better fighter.”
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