Jessica Aguilar says it’s ‘ bittersweet’ fighting Megumi Fujii protege Ayaka Hamasaki at RIZIN FF 37

Women’s MMA pioneer Jessica Aguilar has mixed feelings about her return to fighting, and it’s not toward the sport.

The former WSOF champion and UFC and Bellator veteran fights Sunday in RIZIN FF’s women’s an atomweight grand prix. Aguilar (20-9) takes on the promotion’s former champion, Ayaka Hamasaki, in the opening round of the tournament.

“It’s a bittersweet feeling,” Aguilar told reporters at RIZIN FF 37 media day on Friday. “But these are the fights that the MMA fans want, so we’re going to give them a great show, and this is business, and after Sunday we can go and have a beer together. But no hard feelings, no bad feelings toward the team. Nothing but respect.”