Ailin Perez is gearing up for two very different types of fights following her latest run in the Octagon.
Now riding a six-fight win streak, the Argentinian women’s bantamweight title contender hopes to resolve some personal issues with UFC women’s flyweight contender Tracy Cortez or try for gold against WMMA GOAT Amanda Nunes for the interim belt. There are clear differences between the two fights, but Perez (12-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC), who defeated TUF 28 champion Macy Chiasson at UFC Fight Night 268 in Mexico City on Saturday, considers both fights to be real possibilities — even though one of them was against a fighter outside of her division.
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When asked about the possibility of fighting Cortez, Perez told Hablemos MMA in Spanish: “There are a lot of fighters who have changed weight classes and gained weight, and the same goes for women.” “She has fought at 135 pounds before. And, this is to address some personal issues that happened between us. As far as I’m concerned, I’ve been fighting with her. I think now is the time. If she doesn’t accept the fight, it’s because she doesn’t want to. We’re already fighting with Mick (Maynard) talked; we wanted to fight and she had to do something about it. Speaking of me, I think it’s time to fight because when I’m the champion, I’m not going to give her a chance.”
As for an interim title fight with Nunes, Perez thinks it’s very feasible. Nunes is expected to return from retirement in January for a title fight with former teammate and current UFC women’s bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison. However, Harrison had to undergo neck surgery and withdraw from the game. She’s currently recovering and her timeline is still unknown – which is why Perez thought it would make sense to make an interim belt.
“I want to fight Amanda Nunes,” Perez said. “I’ve got six wins in a row and I think I’m in the top five. The sixth, fifth and third refused to fight me, so I think I’m ahead of them. Even with my surgery, I’m more active than most. I also have the longest winning streak, and I’m breaking records. I think I have the ability. I have the ovaries. I have confidence in my team. I’m healthy. I don’t see why we can’t fight. Of the fighters in the rankings, obviously, if I get Julianna Pena Peña, Ketlen Vieira or anyone who doesn’t have a fight, I would never say no to any fight, but I do want Amana Nunes and I’m ready.”
If the UFC brings up both possibilities at the same time, Allin will be in a dilemma. However, she does have her own preferences, and her answer may surprise many.
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“At this moment? Tracy Cortez,” Perez said. “I don’t think it’s a fight that’s going to really help my ranking, but it’s a fight that will raise my name and I want to appeal to all her fans and show people that I’m more Mexican than she is. She’s an American trying to be Mexican. There’s time to fight Amanda, but whatever happens first, that’s what I’ll take.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Ailin Perez Wants Tracy Cortez to Fight Amanda Nunes for Interim Title Fight