Wrestle World - Melissa Mullins hopes for new UFC deal despite second straight weight miss

LAS VEGAS – Melissa Mullins beat Klaudia Sygula with a second-round TKO Saturday to open the preliminary card at UFC Fight Night 247 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Take a look inside the fight with Mullins, who was ineligible for a post-fight bonus for her finish because she missed weight for the second straight fight.

Melissa Mullins def. Klaudia Sygula

Melissa Mullins

Result: Melissa Mullins def. Klaudia Sygula via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 1:20
Updated records: Mullins (7-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC), Sygula (6-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Key stats: Mullins, who was a 3-1 favorite against the short-notice newcomer, landed two takedowns and had nearly 3 minutes of control time.

Mullins on the fight’s key moment

Melissa Mullins def. Klaudia Sygula, UFC Fight Night 247 (via UFC)

“Ultimately, I would have loved to have a TKO/KO situation, and that’s what I achieved. The missing weight – it’s embarrassing. It’s just unseen and not something you ever want to do. Make the weight: It’s half the job of the athlete, and I didn’t do that. But I felt like I put everything in the buildup to making weight, and unfortunately it just didn’t happen. I’ve got no reason for it. I was going to get the win either way, but the weight loss is just another situation I’ve got to deal with.”

Mullins on getting the finish, missing weight

“I’m really, really happy. I’m grateful and very thankful. I’m hoping that the win is enough to keep me in my contract. Obviously you guys saw that I missed weight – completely unintentional. Completely unexpected. I’ve got a TKO. Females don’t normally get TKO (in the UFC) – they normally go to decisions. So I’m hoping that based on that win, which I was hunting for, it’s going to allow me to stay within my contract.”

Get the finish. Bust-a-move. 💃🏼

Melissa Mullins delivers a TKO win in round 2

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— UFC (@ufc) November 9, 2024

Mullins on what she wants next

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 09: (L-R) Melissa Mullins of England punches Klaudia Sygula of Poland in a bantamweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on November 09, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

“I have never said no to a fight. I will fight anyone in terms of the opportunity that’s given in front of me – I will take it. Obviously, I would love to contend eventually for the belt, but I also know I need to make my name in order to get to that opportunity. … Nobody knows who I am, so I need to take a few fights in order to build my name. I’d like to now fight more regularly instead of having a break and people forgetting about me. … Maybe February, March, I’d love to get the opportunity to fight again.”

To hear more from Mullins, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 247.