Aguilar hopes for UFC debut, and title shot
Jessica Aguilar: “At the end of the day, as long as I get a fair deal, I’ll do whatever the UFC wants. But I feel I deserve the title shot. That’s the fight I want.”
When the UFC announced they were adding a women’s strawweight division early in 2014, Jessica Aguilar wanted it. She holds a 2007 win over the first champion in the UFC’s newest division, Carla Esparza, as well as over UFC fighters Lisa Ellis, and Angela Magana (twice).
Aguilar was then signed with World Series of Fighting, but when she spoke about her goal with WSoF president Ray Sefo and matchmaker Ali Abdel-Aziz, they nobly granted her a release.
She is in talks with the UFC, hopes to sign soon, and then needs a two month camp for her first fight. And she hopes it is for the title,
“I feel I deserve the title shot,” she told Jeremy Botter for B/R. “At the end of the day, as long as I get a fair deal, I’ll do whatever the UFC wants. But I feel I deserve the title shot. That’s the fight I want. I want to be the UFC champion. But again, I’m a team player. If we get a good deal and they want something different, so be it. But my priority is going for the title.
One possibility for a return fight is Esparza, who recently accused Aguilar of past PED use.
“I feel sorry for her,” said Aguilar. “She has nothing good to say about anyone. I don’t even pay attention to that. I focus on the opportunities out there and the positive things. I try to see what I can do for the community in a positive way.
The UFC Women’s Strawweight Top 10 is stacked with interesting match ups:
Champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk
1. Carla Esparza
2. Claudia Gadelha
3. Jessica Penne
4. Rose Namajunas
5. Tecia Torres
6. Randa Markos
7. Maryna Moroz
8. Paige VanZant
9. Joanne Calderwood
10. Felice Herrig
“They are all great matchups,” said Aguilar. “The top ladies in my division are a challenge to me. I want to keep challenging myself and to show the world why I’m the best strawweight in the world.”