Undefeated bantamweight Melissa Dixon (2-0) informs CSUK readers of the attributes she possesses ahead of Golden Ticket Fight Promotions 19 title fight with Mafalda Carmona.
This Saturday, the two women headline a historic main event at GTFP in Wolverhampton. The main event highlights a step in the right direction, with GTFP becoming the first regional show to feature a women’s main event.
Dixon, who has had tremendous success under the GTFP banner, having won her first two professional bouts within the first round, will be eager to do the same on Saturday night to attain gold.
We had the pleasure of speaking with Melissa Dixon ahead of her title fight. Read the full interview below.
Interview With Melissa Dixon
It’s fight week and a huge one for you at that. How does it feel to be headlining such a big UK promotion?
I feel normal. Answering this question, I have my first objective to focus on, which is to make weight. This is always the first and foremost. When building into fight week, the rest is easy. I’m excited to headline and show the eyes watching that females can put on a show. I like to be punched, draw blood from cuts and technically perform. I’m, not a female who swings and hopes to land, nor do I wish to hug. This fight either gets finished, or it is a war.
With being the main event, do you feel any added pressure in preparation?
Definitely no extra pressure as for me, a fight is a fight. I don’t pick my fights, and I just agree unless it’s a ridiculous offer that is just unfair. I honestly don’t think there are enough females willing to say yes to fights tbh, let alone enough females. If more females just fought, more fights would happen. Females would be better known on the scene, and bigger shows would likely start showcasing the UK female talent pool. However, atm that is not happening, so hopefully, this will be the start of something bigger.
Dixon Talks Pro Career
You couldn’t have asked for a better start since turning to the pro ranks. What do you put the success of the early stages of your pro-career down to?
A staggered start, but when it started, yes, I felt I had managed to smash it. This third fight has been the quickest to get so far, as seven ladies turned me down for my debut for one reason or another. The wins are down to my team in Coventry, “Lions Gym Coventry” allow me to fight, and they prepare me to fight. I am not a typical female in regards to this sport. I have KO power and a natural desire to want to fight. I feel this may be to do with it!
Golden Ticket and their team obviously hold you in high regard after seeing what you’ve done in your previous two fights, giving you the main event slot. How comforting does it know you have the backing of a show of GTFP’s stature?
GTFP are a great freaking team. I feel very happy to fight under their lights. I think they are doing great things in MMA, and many shows are trying to copy or step on toes. However, when you are a pioneer, everyone knows who truly rules. I really appreciate what the team have done for me!
Preparation For Mafalda Carmona
Talk me through preparation ahead of your meeting with Mafalda Carmona. Have you altered the camp in any way as opposed to your previous camps? Have there been any new additions?
Make weight, lol. I stepped into MMA a lot older than most. Maybe age is fudging with me, but the Bantamweight weight cut sucks a**. I have changed nothing particularly to do with Mafaldas style, just better prepared myself to be less lazy, more fit, better equipped, and technically sharper.
Mafalda is a worthy opponent with a killer instinct to finish fights. Are you impressed with her watching any of her previous bouts back? What are your overall thoughts on her as an opponent?
She has yet to meet my skill set. I figure anyone stepping into a cage should be considered worthy and respected because many people have turned this fight down. I think she is young and game, but I could give you no more. Iv has been training since 2016 with two major injuries leaving me out of this sport for two years in total. I have no time to mess around, so hopefully, she is a full plate and allows me to showcase my work!
The Future
Your mind is obviously laser-focussed on Saturday night. However, what does the future look like for you in your ideal world? This time next year, where can we expect to see Melissa Dixon?
Wherever the adventure takes me, I enjoy training, I dislike the weight cut, and I love the dance. All things that are packaged into this whirlwind of a sport are just accepted and lived with in order to have an end product. Hopefully, one day soon, the right people will notice me and focus on a true female athlete of MMA.
Lastly, can we get an official fight prediction?
I have a heart, a great chin and a really hard right hand. I think that sums up a prediction without an official answer.
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Featured image credits Melissa Dixon
