NASHVILLE – Randa Markos’ gameplan for UFC on ESPN+ 6 had to undergo a major overhaul.
After an injury briefly sidelined her from competition, she was offered a fight with Mackenzie Dern, she told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. Markos was excited to face the jiu-jitsu standout in hopes of taking her career to the next level. Then Dern announced she was pregnant, and the UFC sought a replacement.
Now, Markos (8-6-1 MMA, 4-5-1 UFC) is readying herself for the sharp striking of veteran Angela Hill (8-5 MMA, 3-5 UFC), who she meets on the preliminary card of Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 6, which takes place at Bridgestone Arena.
“For a gameplan against Mackenzie, I was thinking about keeping the fight on the feet, Markos said. “Her takedowns are not that great, so I had to make sure she didn’t take me down, and I feel like I had a stronger top game than her.
“They gave me Angela Hill, and she doesn’t like to go to the ground. She’s very good at standing back up, so it’s a very, very different gameplan.”
Positivity is a trait that Markos puts above others in the fight game, and so she doesn’t dwell on what might have been against Dern. She figures Hill presents an opportunity to show off skills she might not have otherwise. Markos still would like a shot at Dern down the road.
“She’s awesome,” Markos said. “She’s proven herself, and I’d definitely take that fight.”
To hear more from Markos, watch our one-on-one interview in the video above.
For more on UFC on ESPN+ 6, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.
