Sydney Smith is set to face Taylor Starling at BKFC Blood 4 Blood on May 6th, stepping in on short notice after Marisol Ruelas was unable to compete. Smith, known for her willingness to take fights on brief notice, shared her perspective on this opportunity.
“They presented it to me about a week ago,” Smith explained. “Marisol had been knocked out in California and wasn’t cleared to fight due to strict regulations. So, they needed a last-minute replacement, and my name came up. This isn’t the first time I’ve answered the call for a short-notice fight.”
Smith recounted previous instances where she agreed to fight on short notice, highlighting her readiness to step into the BKFC ring whenever needed. She mentioned a fight that was canceled at the last minute, another where an opponent missed weight, and a day’s notice opportunity that she couldn’t take due to a forgotten ID.
Regarding the unique “Blood 4 Blood” event, which combines bare-knuckle boxing with live metal music, Smith expressed her enthusiasm for the innovative concept, even if she’s not deeply familiar with the music genre. “I think it’s cool,” she stated. “I just want to fight, regardless of the card or if there are concerts involved. I haven’t had the opportunity to fight in over a year and a half, so I’m eager.”
Smith acknowledged Taylor Starling as a respected opponent and a significant figure in BKFC. “Taylor is a class act, and she’s shown me a lot of respect for stepping up,” Smith said. “But in the ring, we’re going to go in there and try to beat each other. Afterward, we’ll hug. That’s the kind of opponent I want – someone I can have a good fight with and then move on.”
With “nothing to lose,” Smith feels she is a dangerous opponent. “I’ve got nothing to lose,” she quipped. “That’s a dangerous person right there. So, I’m really excited to go out here and just let loose.”
Smith anticipates a high-octane bout against Starling, emphasizing that their aggressive styles will ensure an exciting fight without the need for manufactured animosity. “You can tell when things are organic,” she stated. “If I’m pissed, you’re going to know I’m pissed. I’ll show respect before and after, but inside that ring, it’s a different world.”
Although the fight is at flyweight, Starling is a top contender in the strawweight division. Smith suggested that a strong performance could potentially impact her standing in that division. However, her primary focus is on winning.
“Right now, the way I feel, I feel like I did when I first started fighting,” Smith shared. “I’m not fighting to not lose; I’m fighting to win. We haven’t had a lot of time to overthink this fight, and our game plan is mostly to go out there and let it all hang out. I’m very excited for that.”
Smith guaranteed that the fight against Starling will be a “banger.” “I can guarantee you that one,” she said. “We’re both going to come for it, and she likes to brawl. I’m looking to do sort of the same. It’s going to be a really good fight, and the fans are going to be happy with it, regardless of the outcome.”