Nearly four years have passed since Anastasia Nikolakakos last stepped inside the octagon, but the Canadian fighter is now ready to return to competition on Saturday evening.
Canada's Nikolakakos (3-0) takes on Brazil's Elisandra Ferreira (4-1) in the atomweight championship bout at Pallas Athena WFC 2 on Saturday night in Calgary, Alta.
Regarding her preparation for Saturday's co-main event, Nikolakakos, 32, explained that she delegates all video analysis and scouting work to her coaching staff.
"That's not my role. To be honest, I don't review footage of my opponents. It doesn't matter who I'm facing. That responsibility falls on my coaches and team to analyze. I trust them to prepare me for every scenario. For me personally, I don't need to lay awake worrying about my opponent, and I certainly don't need to think about them before I go to sleep. My focus is on my own performance and the pace I set in the cage. Everyone approaches it differently," Nikolakakos told MMA Empire during an interview.
"There are fighters who literally place photos of their opponent above their bed to study before sleep. That's completely opposite to how I operate. My approach is entirely different. I don't feel the need to fixate on whoever I'm facing."
While numerous competitors thrive on the raw physicality that mixed martial arts can deliver, Nikolakakos takes a somewhat distinct perspective on the combat.
The 32-year-old brings creative sensibility to her fighting, though she remains fully aware of the brutal reality inherent in the sport.
"If we can execute it with elegance, fantastic. We absolutely must resort to some roughness at times, and we can do that as well. But for this discipline, I strive to maintain professionalism and beauty. As I mentioned, I want to create the masterpiece, paint the picture. I intend to wield my abilities like a brush and discover what I can accomplish with them."
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