Markos: Crossed my mind to ruin Herrig’s arm, but I didn’t

Canadian strawweight Randa Markos went into TUF 20 ranked #14, with very little recognition. Her first fight, she beat #3 ranked Tecia Torres. On the latest episode she armbarred #6 ranked Felice Herrig.

I took the opportunity right when it presented itself to me in the fight,” said Markos. “It was very tight. I could have easily pulled my legs back a little more and snapped her arm, but I’m not that kind of fighter. I’m not that kind of person. I don’t want to ruin her reputation, I mean her career as a fighter, especially since we just made it to the UFC. I would not do that to her, but it did cross my mind.

Herrig and event favorite Carla Esparza despise Markos, but she is not letting that slow her down.

There was no need for the way they treated me,” Markos told Heidi Fang for Fight Corner. There was no need for their actions. It was just them trying to build themselves up. It felt really good to shut them up and enjoy the victory. It was awesome.

At the beginning, everyone was nice to each other because we didn’t know each other yet. I got to see some sides of those girls. And I’m the type of person, if I don’t like what you’re doing, I don’t like the way you’re treating people, I can’t pretend to like you. I’m just gonna stay away from it as much as I can because I don’t like that negative attitude around me. That’s just the way I am.

My mom’s very respectful person. She taught me the way to act and the way to be. But I also had my dad who was very negative, very hard on us, physically and verbally abusive. And I just don’t like verbal abuse and I don’t like that kind of negative attitude. I’ve dealt with it my whole life. And the way I deal with it now is I just avoid it. I avoid it as much as I can. I know that by being raised in that environment, that if you talk back to these people, it’s going to be a never-ending battle. They’ll just feed off of whatever you say.

So I try as hard as I can to stay away, to not talk to them, to avoid them. Because you end up really knowing somebody, it’s true; you don’t know anyone ’til you live with them. I didn’t know these girls and I lived with them. You really notice their personalities after a few days, or after a few weeks of being with them. And I just didn’t like it, so I just tried to stay away. I didn’t do anything. I didn’t think I did anything that would make anybody hate me. If minding my own business is rude, then whatever, I’m going to be rude.”

I just want people to recognize the bullying and all this stuff that goes on in life and how it shouldn’t take over your life. It shouldn’t make you depressed or let it affect you in anyway because it’s not worth it. Just believe in yourself.

I want people to know that when they see me, I was one person that nobody ever believed in and I went out there and made a name for myself, and I showed them that hard work and dedication pays off. No matter what, if you’re good, they can’t ignore you.

Herrig responded via Twitter.

Felice Herrig @feliceherrig

If being a “bitch” means growing sick of a nasty passive aggressive person then calling her on it, then I guess I’m a bitch #Utrylivewithher

Esparza offered a longer defense.

Next up for Randa is the winner of Jessica Penne vs. Aisling Daly.