If the past is any guide, expect plenty of action when Gillian Robertson and Poliana Botelho collide on Saturday night.
The Canadian-born Robertson (8-4), who now calls Florida home, will clash with Brazil's Botelho (8-2) in a flyweight contest at UFC on ESPN+ 38 held in Abu Dhabi, Dubai at the UFC's Fight Island.
The 25-year-old Robertson has earned a reputation as a dangerous grappler, landing seven of her eight professional victories via submission, and she said her approach is always to hunt for the neck as quickly as possible.
"Every fight starts the same for me — it's just a sprint to the throat," Robertson told MMA Empire in an interview.
"The rear-naked choke is my bread and butter. Girls can know it's coming, and I'm still going to secure it. That's all this fight is to me — how quickly I can reach it."
At 31, Botelho has consistently shown her strength in the stand-up game, scoring six of her eight wins via knockout or TKO.
Yet despite her striking credentials, Botelho insists she's ready for any path the fight takes.
"Wherever the fight ends up, I'll be ready. My training covers every angle," Botelho told MMA Empire.
Robertson Has Taken on Elite Opposition
Since debuting in the UFC, Robertson has taken on some of the division's toughest names, recording victories over Cortney Casey, Molly McCann, and Sarah Frota.
Even though Botelho boasts a 3-1 mark inside the Octagon, Robertson isn't convinced her opponent has beaten anyone noteworthy.
"Every victory she's picked up came against fighters who either got released from the UFC or carry losing records," Robertson said.
"I don't see any real notable wins on her resume. The closest thing she had to a legitimate opponent was Cynthia Calvillo, and Cynthia finished her in round one. I expect my matchup to play out similarly."
After her latest triumph over Casey in June, Robertson currently sits at No. 15 in the women's flyweight rankings.
With a potential win over Botelho opening the door to a top-10 matchup, Robertson feels she matches up favorably against anyone in the division.
"I consider myself a danger to every woman in the division. Even Maycee — I want another shot at her. I'll take any fight in the division against any woman ahead of me," Robertson declared.
"I believe in August I was offered a short-notice bout against Antonina Shevchenko, and she turned it down at the time, likely just because of the late notice. I'm really hoping that opportunity comes back around. I'd love to share the cage with her."
This outing marks Robertson's second experience competing in front of empty arenas, having previously fought at the UFC Apex back in June.
Although she appreciates the excitement a live crowd brings, Robertson feels the quiet environment pushes fighters to perform at their peak.
"I enjoy the energy from fans, but you genuinely see athletes reaching their highest level when there's no crowd cheering," Robertson said.
"There's less pressure weighing on you, and stepping in feels like sparring in the gym. When I fought Cortney Casey, the whole place felt oddly calm. Everything was so relaxed, and it's strange thinking you're in the middle of a fight at that point."
Botelho Trained Smart Despite Pandemic Challenges
Many nations continue to enforce various COVID-19 limitations affecting gym operations and attendance caps.
Botelho explained that even with restrictions still active in Brazil, her preparation period took a different shape but remained productive.
"Brazil still has restrictions in place. We trained in separate groups to avoid risking contamination," Botelho shared.
"My camp went perfectly. I began preparing well before helping Ketlen Vieira with her fight, and I kept going straight through mine. I'm extremely well-trained and fully prepared for a great performance."
Botelho's most recent appearance inside the cage came as a unanimous decision victory over Lauren Mueller in April 2019, marking a strong rebound following her defeat to Calvillo.
She said that matchup demonstrated she possesses more than just stand-up ability and has a comprehensive skill set to draw upon.
"That fight showed me I'm a complete competitor. Whatever direction the match takes, I know how to handle it. Against my last opponent, I recognized that the smartest approach was taking it to the mat and controlling strategically," Botelho explained.
Robertson's Shoutouts
"I always need to thank my head coach, Din Thomas. He's the reason I'm here today. I also want to thank Jose "Shorty" Torres, and Gamblers Jiu-Jitsu." Follow Robertson on social media: FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM
Follow Botelho on social media: FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM
