Former Bellator flyweight champion Juliana Velasquez nearly introduced her retirement in April, after Ekaterina Shakalova tapped her in below simply over two minutes at PFL 2. 4 months later, she returns to the cage for a rematch, this Friday evening at PFL 9, feeling a totally completely different girl.
Velasquez was slated to face Taila Santos within the first spherical of the 2025 PFL flyweight match in April, however Shakalova stepped in as a alternative after Santos withdrew. The Brazilian judoka was completed shortly, and admits she thought of ending her profession proper then and there.
“I labored on my psychological facet as a result of I used to be having such a tough time with my weight minimize,” Velasquez informed MMA Combating. “I used to be not having fun with the method. Every thing felt so heavy for me, you already know? I wasn’t hungry to coach and combat anymore. When the Ekaterina combat ended, I felt like leaving the gloves within the cage and saying, ‘I’ve had sufficient.’ However I used to be like, ‘No, settle down, it’s the warmth of the second. Let’s return and take into consideration what I’ll do with my life.’
“That’s once I realized I wanted one final strive, and that might be the psychological half. I’m nonetheless doing that to today, I preferred it rather a lot, and I’m feeling an enormous evolution in that side. Previously, I’d come right here [for fight week] apprehensive about my weight, apprehensive about not struggling an excessive amount of, as a substitute of specializing in what I’ve to concentrate on. Weight is simply the consequence, I’ll need to undergo that course of anyway.
“I received many messages after the Ekaterina combat was over. Many critics, heavy messages, heavy hate. If I weren’t doing that psychological work I’d have gotten sick, you already know? It touched issues within me. Household issues, heavy stuff. I needed to exit and search for a psychologist, and he made me see that there’s a Juliana in there that was means stronger. I used to be permitting little issues to have an effect on me. That was essential not solely in my skilled life, however primarily in my private life — as a result of that features the skilled life, and I’m no completely different out right here than I’m in there.”
Velasquez realized she needed to make some inside modifications after shedding 4 of her previous 5, three of these in opposition to Liz Carmouche, and one exterior change might be a catalyst.
“I made a decision to alter my look and be a brand new Juliana,” stated Velasquez, who had a brand new haircut after many, a few years. “I discovered to see Juliana in a different way. I used to be a Juliana that stored her head down. Somebody would say, ‘Do that,’ and I’d say, ‘Okay.’ I hated confrontation, and I didn’t agree with sure issues. Not this time. I put my foot down and discovered to speak again, to see and do issues the best way it’s greatest for me. In the long run, I’m the one which issues. If all of it goes fallacious, it’s on me, you already know? If it goes proper, cool, I’ll bear the fruits. But when it goes fallacious, it’s my determination. I wasn’t following nobody’s concepts. I discovered that.”
“It could appear foolish, however I’ve all the time wished to chop my hair,” she continued. “Rio de Janeiro is fairly sizzling. [I thought] ‘Rattling, it should really feel good to have quick hair.’ However everybody stored saying, ‘That’s loopy. You’ll appear like a person. You’re too brute.’ And I used to be scared as a result of everybody stored saying that. ‘Okay, I received’t try this.’ And at some point I noticed a buddy of mine try this and I used to be like, ‘Wow, it’s so cool. You’re so brave. You look so stunning.’ After which I spotted, ‘Why am I complimenting her, saying she’s brave? I’m, too! Come on!’ That’s when a brand new Juliana flourished within me. I couldn’t care much less about folks’s opinions.”
Velasquez stated she feels nice with the brand new haircut. She has been referred to as Goku from Dragonball-Z already, and heard good phrases whereas strolling round Charlotte throughout combat week. However extra importantly, she’s feeling stunning and highly effective.
“I checked out myself within the mirror, and that Juliana from the previous [is gone],” Velasquez stated. “Many individuals had been like, ‘Come on, you’re going to acknowledge your self in a different way due to your hair.’ It could be foolish to you, nevertheless it was vital for me. To vary the look, to see myself within the mirror and say, ‘I’ve carried out what I’ve all the time wished to do. I had the braveness. If I did that, brother, f*ck the remaining.’”
Velasquez stated that her authentic opponent for PFL 9 was going to be Kana Watanabe, however she needed to depart on account of well being points. When Shakalova stepped in for a rematch, it felt like future.
“It’s giving me an opportunity to perhaps present what I needed to present,” Velasquez stated. “I couldn’t do something final time. She ducked once I was attempting to hit her, all credit score to her. I used to be very upset. That combat messes me up. I couldn’t sleep for a very long time as a result of I assumed that, in principle, that was a straightforward combat. I used to be upset I underestimated her, and she or he’s not one to be underestimated. I went there so desperate to knock her out that it backfired.
“I’ll be utterly completely different this time round. My head is so ready for this. I’ll attempt to knock her out, however on the proper time. I received’t underestimate her. I’ll attempt to make her fall into my recreation as a substitute of me going to her recreation like final time. I’ll do every little thing I can to knock her out. If that doesn’t occur, it’s all good. I simply wish to depart with the victory.”
