Loopy Godinez thinks 2024 is will be a key year in her fighting career, and she’s excited for it.
The rising UFC strawweight contender is confident big things will come with the new year. And by new things, she means fighting for the undisputed belt in her weight class – or least being close to it, at the very least.
“Yeah, I really think so,” Godinez told MMA Junkie in Spanish when asked about challenging for a belt in 2024. “I think 2024 is going to be a very important year for me and my team. I do see myself fighting for the title or knocking on the door of the title.”
Godinez is coming off a split decision win over Tabatha Ricci at UFC 295 earlier this month. The victory put her on a four-fight winning streak and 6-1 in her past seven bouts.
Her fight against Ricci was her second bout full-time under Lobo Gym. She’s extremely confident she’s where she needs to be to become champion.
“Yeah, of course, especially now that I have an amazing team,” Godinez said. “We’re in the thick of it, and we’re all hungry, and we’re all giving it our all. Just as I’m giving them my all, they’re giving me everything they can. We’ll be ready for whoever they give us next.”
With the win over Ricci, Godinez broke the record for the most wins in a calendar year by a woman in the UFC. She intends to give her body a break for what’s remaining in 2023, but she angles for a February return.
Godinez has no opponent in mind for her next outing, but would like it to be against someone in the top 10 of the official UFC rankings.
“I don’t have a specific name in mind,” Godinez said. “I look at the rankings list and go, ‘Wow, any of those fighters is going to improve me as an athlete. I saw that Mackenzie Dern fought and she lost, but maybe her? I don’t know, whoever they want me to fight.”
