Kline opened UFC on ESPN 70 with highlight-reel head-kick KO win over Melissa Martinez
Fatima Kline met the media Saturday after her third-round TKO win over Melissa Martinez at UFC on ESPN 70.
Kline (8-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) was the largest favourite on the cardboard in opposition to Martinez (8-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC) and saved after the end till she ended issues halfway via the ultimate spherical at UFC on ESPN 70 at Bridgestone Area in Nashville, Tenn., with a large head kick.
To prime issues off, the end got here on the strawweight’s twenty fifth birthday – and got here with a reasonably stable current, too, within the type of her first $50,000 efficiency bonus. Kline stated she wasn’t content material simply using out a call win.
“I feel I heard two and a half minutes (left within the combat) – I knew that the spherical was coming to an in depth,” Kline instructed UFC.com after the win. “I knew I used to be higher than that, to let it go to a call. I do not wish to be a decisioner. I wish to be a finisher.
“I felt like she was hesitating loads and she or he was fearful about my jab. … I knew if I faked the jab sufficient and arrange that kick, that it was going to land – and that is precisely what occurred.”
Kline, a 25-year-old former CFFC strawweight champion, stated she desires to proceed to tackle stiff checks to climb into the rankings. Her win over Martinez had her as upwards of a 10-1 betting favourite heading into the combat.
After a loss to Jasmine Jasudavicius in her promotional debut a 12 months in the past to the weekend of her win over Martinez, she knocked out Victoria Dudakova earlier this 12 months. With two wins and two finishes in a row, she’s capturing her shot.
“I desire a prime 15 (opponent). That is two dominant finishes in a row, so anyone within the prime 15, I will take,” Kline stated. “(Madison Sq. Backyard in New York) is in November. That is my residence state. I am a New York native. I’ve all the time been there and I will all the time keep. So I need MSG, I need prime 15, and I need $50 grand for my birthday.”
Try Kline’s post-fight interview within the video beneath.
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