LAS VEGAS – Yana Kunitskaya has an honest assessment about her upcoming fight.
Kunitskaya (12-4 MMA, 2-1 UFC) takes on Aspen Ladd at UFC on ESPN 7 in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 7, and doesn’t think a win over Ladd makes her next in line for a title shot.
“You never know what the UFC is going to do, but I think no – I think it’s like minimum one more fight,” Kunitskaya said.
After dropping her UFC debut to then-featherweight champion Cris Cyborg, failing to capture the title, Kunitskaya moved back down to 135 pounds and has won two in a row over Lina Lansberg and Marion Reneau in March.
Ladd suffered her first career blemish to current title challenger and former featherweight champ Germaine de Randamie in a first-round TKO loss that she thinks was stopped too early.
But Kunitskaya is not focusing on where her opponent’s particular strengths lie. At this level, she thinks everyone is good.
“I think she’s tough, and at this level, all girls are well-rounded,” Kunitskaya said. “I’m not trying to see, like, she’s good here or there. (I’m) trying to prepare for everything. If it’s for the standup fight or ground game, I’m trying to be ready everywhere.”
Off Guard: Yana Kunitskaya doesn't think UFC on ESPN 7 win over Aspen Ladd gets her a title shot