- Written by Philip Marsh
- BBC Sport Wales
image source, Getty Images
Cory McKenna has only lost one fight since joining the UFC – to Elise Reid
“Easy is not my style,” says Welsh strawweight Corey McKenna as he prepares for his fight with Brazil's Jacqueline Amorim.
The 24-year-old will return to the Octagon on Saturday at UFC Fight Night 239 in Las Vegas for her first fight since December 2022.
McKenna's opponent Amorim, who has won five of his seven fights by submission, says “Poppins” is happy with “playing to people's strengths.”
“I'm always up for a challenge,” McKenna told BBC Sport Wales.
“I was on social media all morning telling everyone, 'Corey, promise not to wrestle her!'
“I'm grinning because I know that I'm one of those people who tends to take advantage of people's strengths because I'm stubborn.
“I talked to one of my coaches the other day, and they said, 'Look, you can beat them on their strengths, but you can make your life a lot easier. can.”
“Looks like easy isn't my style!”
McKenna has won four of five fights in the UFC and is looking to improve on his 8-2 professional record.
The Camblanc fighter made headlines in August 2022 when she became the first woman in UFC history to score a submission victory using a Von Flue choke.
After proving to be a threat on the ground, McKenna made an early impression by defeating Cheyenne Brismas by unanimous decision in the final timeout.
McKenna wasn't able to get a jump start on that win, as it turned out he had a number of health issues that kept him out of 2023.
However, McKenna is fully healthy again and ready for Amorim's challenge, believing that her ability to change tactics mid-fight will be her greatest advantage.
McKenna said: “I'm excited. It's been a long break so I'm really happy to be out there and I can't wait.”
“This is my first time fighting Jacqueline, who is a very strict grappler.” [Amorim] She is very good at her job.
“But I also love grappling and being comfortable on the ground with my own feet.
“I think that gives me an advantage, if something doesn’t work out I don’t mind mixing it up.
“She's a strong grappler, so people make me sad and say, 'Don't grapple her,' but I grapple her too.
“Just because someone is good at something doesn't automatically mean I'm bad at it.”
