UFC: Cynthia Calvillo plans to showcase ‘ninja moves’ vs Jessica Andrade – ‘pick my shots, go in for the kill’
- Mexican-American flyweight star promises she won’t ‘go reckless’ against Andrade at UFC 266
- Calvillo believes ‘100 per cent’ she could beat Valentina Shevchenko, but thinks flyweight champ will be ‘a different level’ for Lauren Murphy
Cynthia Calvillo said all she needed to on social media to set up her next opponent in the Octagon.
“Closed mouths don’t get fed,” wrote the Mexican-American star, who opportunistically ran into No 1-ranked flyweight Jessica Andrade (21-9) at an Invicta FC event in May. She took a photo of them facing off, sent it to UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard, and the rest is history.
Now they are set to clash on September 25 inside the T-Mobile Arena at UFC 266, which is headlined by a featherweight title fight between champion Alex Volkanovski and Brian Ortega.
Coming off shoulder surgery after dropping a decision to Katlyn Chookagian last November, the 34-year-old Calvillo (9-2-1) clearly kept a close eye on the division while recovering in Las Vegas, and former strawweight champ Andrade is one of the most dangerous individuals across the board.
“Watching her against Valentina [Shevchenko] showed me a lot as far as how we should go in there and beat her,” Calvillo told SCMP MMA. “If we’re smart and we don’t go reckless and play her game, which I think it’s a game of just racquetball … You know, just like rack ‘em and throw ‘em out there. Which is what I’m not gonna try to do with her.
“Whether it’s with ground and pound or get her in a crucifix or submission. I’m very confident. I’ve been working a lot, especially being out here at 10th Planet. Now I get to do No-Gi every day. I get to practise my strength every day.
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“So it makes me super excited, way more confident to really showcase more of my ninja moves. I really feel like I’ve only shown people maybe 50 per cent of what I can do, honestly. That’s where my victory is going to be. Have good defence, pick my shots, and go in there for the kill. When I get the takedown, do as I please.”
Immediately after Calvillo battles Andrade, Shevchenko (21-3) will defend her flyweight crown against Lauren Murphy. The No 3-ranked American (15-4) has earned the spot with five straight wins, but will enter as a massive underdog.
“I just don’t see Lauren winning that fight,” Calvillo said. “It’s just [on] a different level. I think it’s really hard to see Valentina lose against anybody. I don’t think they’re really giving any of us a shot. The most important thing is we believe and we keep winning these fights.
“I believe I can beat Valentina for sure, 100 per cent. I really truly believe it. And I’m sure Lauren believes the same thing too. But for me from the outside perspective, I don’t see that for her.”
