Attendees
Host
Krystal Knight
Trixie Redd
Sunni Khan
Manuel Gamboa
Geri Vayden
Host: Hi, everyone. Thank you for attending tonight's press conference. Unfortunately, Mr. Khan was unable to attend and will not be able to answer your questions tonight. We will proceed directly into the fighter question phase. Thank you for your understanding.
Q) Krystal, you are coming off the biggest win of your career after defeating Juanita Sanchez in a rematch at GFN 19. How do you feel coming off such a huge victory
Krystal Knight: I feel great! Anyone who has fought Juanita Sanchez before know's how tough she is, well, maybe not Misty DeMeans but everyone else has. It's just a different feeling when your able to go out there and do something you fell short of doing the last time out. That win against Sanchez really meant a lot to me so it's important to use the momentum to get me past Trixie Redd. I feel like I can beat anyone in the division and make another big title run.
Q) Trixie, what was the first thought in your head when you found out you were being matched up against Krystal Knight in the GFN 21 main event?
Trixie Redd: I knew there had ta’ be a catch to it. I lost ta’ last fight against Alexia and Krystal Knight is coming off the biggest win in her career so it’s obvious they are trying ta’ get her in there with me for ta' fucking rub. It’s whatever. Krystal and the GCC are going ta’ have to be reminded ta' hard way that I am a legit bitch in ta’ featherweight division.
Q) Your cousin Rupika Khan is coming off a huge victory over Jessica House at GCC 20. Have you talked to her and how has she been doing in light of her performance?
Sunni Khan: Of course, Rupika Khan is already back in the gym preparing for whatever is next for her. She has been such a big advocate for me in well... life really, so I always know we have each other's back no matter what we're going through.
Q) Manuel, you're coming into this fight on a two-fight losing streak. What do you think went wrong in those fights and how do you plan on avoiding them against Vitalis at #GFN21?
Manuel Gamboa: Look amigo, I got caught in a couple of leg locks and that's all there is to it man. It's obvious as shit I had a hole in my game and I've been rolling every day to fix it. They put me up against another BJJ guy but I ain't falling for his tricks this time. I promise you, it'll be a baptism on Friday Night. Manuel Gamboa is a new man!
Q) Geri, you are 0-3 in the GCC heading into this fight. Fazan Khan has stated on record that this is a must-fight win for you, how much more pressure does this add onto your shoulders heading into fight night?
Geri Vayden: It does to an extent. You see I am a perfectionist. I am an Olympic Gold medal gymnast. I am going to.give this one my all.
Q) Krystal Knight, is it true MMA reporter Savannah White will be training at Lone Wolf MMA in preparation for her MMA debut against a fellow reporter, Jocelyn Edwards? If so, what went into her decision to join you and in what ways do you think your team can help her?
Krystal Knight: Yes, it's true. We're very excited to have Savannah White on board with us at Lone Wolf MMA! I am sure Vannah had a lot of offers from some great gyms all over the world and it's an honor that she chose us! She has begun training and shows progress in every session, she is an extremely quick learner. We have her rolling light with our pro team so we can help her a lot in every way imaginable.
Q) Sunni, there have been a lot of rumors as to who's next for Sammie Ward in the bantamweight division but your name hasn't come up as a potential challenger for Sammie. Why do you think that is and do you think a win over Cinzia Rossi justifies a title shot?
Sunni Khan: I mean, I get it. I'm the granddaughter of a billionaire with a technical submission-based fighting style that only the most educated MMA fans can really appreciate, so I get it. At the end of the day, I am young, I am learning things every day and I have plenty of time to make a run at the title so I am in no rush. When I became the SUPREME bantamweight champion, it wasn't because I made call out's, demands, or talked copious amounts of shit so don't expect anything different here.
Q) Manuel, you're coming into this fight on a two-fight losing streak. What do you think went wrong in those fights and how do you plan on avoiding them against Vitalis at #GFN21?
Manuel Gamboa: Look amigo, I got caught in a couple of leg locks and that's all there is to it man. It's obvious as shit I had a hole in my game and I've been rolling every day to fix it. They put me up against another BJJ guy but I ain't falling for his tricks this time. I promise you, it'll be a baptism on Friday Night. Manuel Gamboa is a new man!
Q) Ms. Knight, a few weeks ago at GCC 20 Misty DeMeans made a historic third title defense of the GCC featherweight championship. As a veteran in the fight business, what do you think of her title run and how do you think a second fight between the two of you would go if it happened tomorrow night?
Krystal Knight: Umm, tomorrow night? I'd definitely need more time than that to prepare for someone like Misty, haha! That said, I'd definitely be game to fight her again before I call it quits. I don't think either of us was truly satisfied with the way our first fight ended. While I may not subscribe to Misty's way of going about things or representing women's MMA, I respect her as a fighter and I don't think I've seen someone as skilled as her in all my years of fighting. She has set the bar high for women's mixed martial arts and I think she deserves to be commended for that. That said, I believe I can beat any woman on any given night and I wouldn't be intimidated stepping into the cage with her again regardless of how great of a fighter she's proven to be.
Q) Trixie, where do you think a win over Krystal Knight puts you in terms of the GCC women's featherweight rankings?
Trixie Redd: I'd like ta think that it would at least put me in ta top five but whos keeping track of rankings these days anyways? Ta fact of ta matter is, I was given ta fight against poster girl Knight for a reason. Khan and the GCC don't want me ta win this fight. They gave me this opportunity hoping that Krystal Knight could add another win ta' her little resume. I know ta deal and Im here to fuck it all up.
Q) Krystal, you had some surprising success in wrestling with Juanita Sanchez during your last fight, do you plan on using any of your grappling skills against Trixie Redd?
Krystal Knight: Well guys at the end of the day, I am a mixed martial artist. I think everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses so my strategy tends to vary from fight to fight. I don't have an active game plan to grapple with Trixie but it's good to know that you always have a plan B to consider if the fight isn't going according to plan. Trixie Redd is an hard hitting in-your-face type of gal' and I plan to stare her straight down the barrel of the gun tomorrow night. I believe I can stand with her and take her out while she's on her feet so that's the approach I have in mind.
Q) Kylie Moore, ever since you departed ways with your previous gym you've garnered a reputation for being lazy in the gym. What do you plan to do to prove those critics wrong?
Geri Vayden: I plan on training myself and doing what needs to be done.
Q) Sunni, there here have been rumors that Supreme MMA was considering a return, what are your thoughts on it? Would there be any chance we see you back in a SUPREME MMA cage?
Sunni Khan: Supreme MMA was great to me and I think it was a great experience for as long as it lasted but that chapter of my life is done. I fought in Supreme MMA because my granddad thought I wasn't ready to make my debut professionally and I wanted to prove him wrong. Now, I'm in the GCC against the best in the world and I am holding my own and doing better than just fine - that was the ultimate goal. Besides, Karla is fighting at Featherweight while Des and Leah are struggling to get or stay on the main card - realistically, there is nothing more left for me to prove. I wish them the best in whatever they do even if it's doing nothing, I guess.
Q) Manuel, what do you think of Vitalis as an opponent? Since he was the middleweight winner on GUF season 1 were you able to get any inside information on him from your buddy Carson Carver?
Manuel Gamboa: Manuel Gamboa: Nah man, Carson was team Rossi all day. He didn't mix with those other cats. This guy Vitalis is looking like he fell off hard like he doesn't have the drive anymore. Not surprised, the gym is trains at is an absolute flop, those girls ruin careers man. Those chicks are straight cancer.
Q) Geri, I got a question for you. How do you think you match up with your opponent Meizumi Kirigawa? If there is anything you could say to her face, what would that be?
Geri Vayden: Being a submission fighter is my life. If Meizumi values her limbs.. She may want to stay off the ground.. Not that she has a choice.
Q) Manuel, I'm sorry man I just have to ask... what are your predictions in this main event between your girl Trixx and Krystal Knight. What's your prediction, how's that going to go?
Manuel Gamboa: Man, I been messing with Trixxie all week about this match-up. She knows I got a crush on baby girl Krystal Knight, she fine as shit but Trixie is a dog in there, man. It's going to be nasty, Trix is going to take her out before the judges get to stick their noses into gang shit.
Q) Trixie, you have had some up and downs in your GCC career so far and some people are saying that as talented as you are too hot-headed. That maybe you just go a little too hard a little too fast. Do you approach this fight any different from your last and if so, how?
Trixie Redd: I fight ta only way I know-how. You can play ta armchair Saturday Night quarterback all you want but I am just doing what has got me ta the dance in the first place. I am not out ta score points or worry about what numbers are on the scorecards of ta judges it just isn't my style! I will approach ta the fight as aggressive as always because Krystal Knight hasn't given anybody a reason ta respect her standup game and it ain't going ta' happen tomorrow night either. If she stands with me, she will not stand with me for long.
Q) Krystal, Trixie has repeatedly referred to you as the GCC's posterchild. As we know, you have been featured in the most co-main/main events in GCC history. Tell us why Trixie Redd is so jealous and why do you think you're so deserving of being featured on some of the biggest cards in this way.
Krystal Knight: Well first, I don't think Trixie Redd is jealous of me - I just think she has a different perspective on things. She doesn't seem like a person that is willing to trust easily, likely having something to do with a negative upbringing. In spite of her lack of trust, I've been in the main event and been a part of some of the biggest cards because the fans know I don't back down from anyone and I'm always up (or down?) for a fight. It's an honor to be valued by the GCC not some sort of privilege and I don't see why Trixie can't have everything I have and then some should she win this fight. Of course, ''should'' being the keyword.
Host: Thank you all for attending tonight's press conference, that's all we have for you tonight. Please drive safe and be well.
Aleksandr Baranov joined in during the press conference to answer a few questions as well. He seems confident that he would KO Colin Downes.
After losing fights to Ross Hanson and Shazir Khan, it’s clear you struggle against wrestlers. How will you stay on your feet against a guy who only knows how to wrestle in Colin Downes?
Baranov, you looked off against Shazir Khan. What do you think went wrong that night?
TundraMMA was one of the hottest gyms last year. In fact, it shot to the very top of GCC before many things took place that would eventually lead to a rough season for your gym, including two of the best fighters in the gym leaving retiring unexpectedly, two fighters being let go, and two title shots being lost. What steps are you taking to ensure the success of your gym to rise back through the gym rankings?