Former title challenger Cat Zingano snapped her three-fight skid after scoring a unanimous-decision victory in a women’s bantamweight bout against Marion Reneau this past weekend at CenturyLink Arena in Boise, Idaho.
That was her first win since September 2014, which came against current champ Amanda Nunes and earned Zingano a title shot.
Zingano was on the cusp of being the best when she challenged Ronda Rousey at UFC 184 but ended up losing the bout via submission armbar, that was the start of her losing skid era. No doubt she has been through a lot and explained how this victory means so much to her.
“I was so scared going into this fight,” Zingano told MMAjunkie after UFC Fight Night 133. “I was very, very scared. Coming off three losses, all of them were losses where I just didn’t show up, wake up. I felt out of it. To come in tonight, I wasn’t sure who would show up. I really just wanted to dance my dance and try to feel her and try to stay off rhythm and be wild and crazy and me.”
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“I worked so hard for so long without any of the results I wanted,” Zingano said. “I’m grateful for all the steps I took to get here. Although not all of them looked the way I wanted them to, it’s all part of this. I’m grateful and thankful, for everyone and everything along the way, and I’m able to know myself through all of this, and it’s nice to be here, and it’s nice to feel myself again.”
Zingano says last few years were tumultuous for her, and the level of determination she posed inside the octagon is what makes her more confident after back in winning column.
The much-needed win put her on a different trajectory and now eying a rematch with Amanda Nunes to avenge her loss.
“I think we’ve got some unfinished business,” Zingano said. “I think it’s weird for me to call her out. She should call me out. It drives me crazy seeing people that (I’ve beaten) go on. She seems pretty not worried about me. But now that I’m in the W column, she’s got no reason not to lock horns with me again.
“She’s good. She’s been a good champion. She’s been dominant. But she hasn’t done a whole lot that I feel has evolved past what I’ve done to her. It’s time. The time’s coming.”
Currently, Nunes is close to finalizing the super-fight deal with Cris Cyborg for December. In the meantime, Cat can establish herself as strong 135-pounder and wrack up some more wins before locking horns with Nunes.
