Issue 165

March 2018

The TUF 26 "bad guy" put her TV nightmare behind her to earn the biggest win of her career.

How did it feel to pick up a big win over Barb Honchak at the TUF 26 Finale?

It was nice to go out there and show the world what I was capable of. It felt really good to shut up the haters, too. After watching the fight, I just want to get back in the gym, start working hard again and have an even better performance next time.

It was a close fight. Did you think you'd done enough to win?

I totally felt like I had won the first round. I knew it was close but I felt like I was getting the better of the exchanges on the feet. I thought she won the second round – she got the better of the exchanges on the feet and also ended the round on top – but I feel like I clearly won the third round. I had that big takedown and control for most of the round.

I escaped her submission attempts and then took her back. I think all three judges gave me the third round. It was a close fight. It should be a close fight. We are two of the best in the world. I was just able to push a little bit harder.

Have you forgiven Daniel Cormier for messing up your name and calling you Barb?

I couldn’t believe it. I thought he was joking. I thought, ‘OK, this is going to be funny.’ Then it turned out he wasn’t even joking. ‘DC’ should buy one of my shirts. We got shirts made that say ‘My Name is Lauren’.

What was it like going through a season of TUF? Would you do it again?

I would never do TUF again. I had a really hard time being on there and a harder time watching it. I know they needed someone to be the bad guy, but I’m not a bad person. I was doing things any normal

competitor would do. They didn’t show a lot of things that I felt like would have made more sense. There was a lot of stuff Eddie Alvarez (coach) did that they didn’t show. There was a lot of stuff Sijara Eubanks did that they didn’t show that I think would have made people see it from my point of view a little more.

What didn’t we see?

All the way up to her weigh-ins, Sijara was lying in bed eating peanut butter and chocolate chips. She was using a pretzel as a spoon. We all knew she was going to miss weight. Maybe if they had broadcast just how irresponsible she was towards her diet and how lazy she was, maybe people would have felt differently about what

I had done.

Do you think you’ve earned a chance at a title shot with your win at the finale?

Obviously, I’d like to fight Nicco (Montano). When Barb vs. Roxy was the number one contender fight. For me to step in (when Roxanne Modafferi was moved to the main event) and win, I feel like I am the number one contender now. This division is way too new and open.

I stepped up and earned it. We will have a bunch of girls in their bikinis taking pictures and talking about how they want a title shot but I went in there and earned it.

So you’re not a fan of self-promotion on social media?

I’m not really about the selfie game and having photo shoots. I really don’t have the time for that. I don’t understand when women do. I am so busy working hard in the gym. That is how certain women have been given title shots and certain opportunities have been handed out. I don’t think that is a secret. The better you look the better you will be marketed. The other way to get a shot and respect is to win your fights and I am planning on winning the rest of my fights.

What are your thoughts on the women that do go that route?

I am set up. I have a husband that loves me to death. I have a great team. I am happy with what I am doing. I don’t need 65,000 Instagram followers looking at a picture of my a**hole for me to get fans.