For her first eight fights in the UFC, Randa Markos alternated wins and losses. After amassing a 4-4 record, Markos looked to secure her first ever win streak in Brazil vs. local fight Marina Rodriguez. Unfortunately for Markos, the fight would go to the judges’ scorecards where they would rule the fight a somewhat perplexing draw.

Although Markos notes that it’s been hard gaining momentum in the UFC, she is in a good place. For the first time ever the fighter feels healthy leading into a fight, which is something that she feels will help her turn the corner. Talking with Top Turtle MMA Podcast, Markos recounted the injuries and all of the issues with fighting through them.

A few fights ago, I had a horrible injury. I got my knee cap completely torn off, my MCL almost fully torn, and I had four weeks until my fight, she said. I trained and I sucked it up, and I went through with it. I ended up with a win.

After working through the injury, Markos was looking forward to some time to heal. However, the UFC came right back at her with another matchup.

Right after that they booked me with Nina [Ansaroff] and these are all kickers – Nina was destroying that leg, Markos said.

Having fought through the injury in consecutive fights, Markos had her mind set on taking some time to recover. However, that simply wasn’t an option according to her.

It wasn’t healed yet and they offered me the fight in Brazil [vs . Marina Rodriguez], she recounted. I wasn’t even cleared to fight and I told [the UFC] that. They said ‘you either take it or you’re out.

With the threat of being released by the UFC, Markos took the bout, but had trouble dealing with the company’s stance.

There are girls in there who have 3 losses in a row and you give them another chance, she noted. It was really really frustrating.

Now removed from the situation, Markos bears no ill will, nor does she worry about where she stands in the company. Instead, she feels that she simply has more insight into the workings of the UFC and knows how to play the game.

I don’t take it back, she said. I just realize where we stand. We don’t really have decisions to make. If they come to you with a fight, you either need to take it or suffer the consequences.

Now fully healthy, Markos doesn’t have to worry about taking fights injured. She does need to worry about fellow TUF castmate Angela Hill, who will be standing across the cage from her come Saturday.

(12:00 mark)

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Author Daniel Vreeland is a co-founder of the Top Turtle Podcast, and a brown belt in Jiu-Jitsu at New England Submission Fighting in Amherst, Massachusetts.