Lupita Godinez always knew a UFC opportunity was on the horizon.
Following the victory over Vanessa Demopoulos that secured the LFA strawweight championship, the Aguascalientes, Mexico-born fighter — now based in British Columbia — assumed a spot on the Contender Series would follow during the summer months.
But merely two weeks prior, Godinez (5-0) received a call from her management team confirming she'd been signed by the UFC to fill in on short notice at UFC on ESPN 22. Her opponent would be Jessica Penne (12-5), a former UFC title challenger.
"It felt like 'finally.' There's been plenty of effort and steps to complete in such a tight window. Everything is moving forward, step-by-step, and I'm thrilled," Godinez told MMA Empire.
"Sharing the octagon with someone like Jessica Penne is truly an honor, and I can't wait for it."
Upon hearing she'd be competing on April 17, Godinez quickly gathered her belongings and flew to Colorado to begin a two-week training camp.
The 27-year-old needed to travel to the United States to complete medical examinations and finalize her visa processing in time. Still, she emphasized this wasn't a last-minute assignment — she's been training consistently at Titan MMA since her previous bout in October.
"I spent the last two weeks of camp in Colorado. I had to visit the States for my visa, and I've loved training here," Godinez shared.
"Those final two weeks took place here, and I'm incredibly grateful, but I continued putting in work back home just like always leading up to that point."
Preparing for Penne presents unique challenges for Godinez. The 38-year-old hasn't stepped between the ropes since 2017, sidelined by a USADA suspension, and currently sits on a three-match losing streak.
Despite the recent struggles, Godinez expressed hope she'll face the peak version of Penne, noting she only desires to compete against top-tier talent.
"I'm just concentrating on myself and staying prepared for anything that comes my way — that's all," Godinez explained.
"I want it to be the strongest Jessica Penne showing up on Saturday. She's one of the finest, and those are the fighters I want to cross paths with. Anything can unfold inside the cage. She's been away so long that it's difficult to predict whether she'll rely on striking or grappling."
A victory would represent the most significant of Godinez's career, and she envisions facing a ranked contender next. If all goes according to plan, she'd welcome a rapid follow-up bout.
"A win here puts me right in contention. Hopefully, a victory leads to someone close to Penne's level of recognition. But I'm taking it one step at a time, and we'll see what unfolds after this fight and once I secure that win," Godinez concluded.
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