Athletes
Five Questions With Karolina Kowalkiewcz
The “Polish Princess” Looks To Get Back On Track Against One Of Her Idols
If you talk to Karolina Kowalkiewicz about her fight with Michelle Waterson, you wouldn’t know she was getting ready for a fight at all.
“She’s one of my idols,” she said. “For me, this is a big honor that I can fight with her. She is a great person and a great fighter. She has perfect standup, perfect ground game, very good wrestling, but I am a good striker too.”
Coming off a first-round loss to Jessica Andrade, the “Polish Princess” has a chance to get back on track against the surging Waterson, even if she is someone that she holds to a high regard.
“I admire Michelle,” Kowalkiewicz said. “I like her very much, and I don’t want to hurt her, but I have to, but I know when I’m in the Octagon, something changes. After the fight, no matter who wins, I’ll drink a beer with her.”
Before that beer, though, Kowalkiewicz is confident she’ll be able to flip the switch and take care of business in Philadelphia.
UFC.com talked to Kowalkiewicz about how Philadelphia reminds her of her hometown in Poland, her sense of urgency coming into this bout and what her perfect fight looks like for her.
UFC: How do you feel now that you’re in Philadelphia and getting closer to the fight?
Karolina Kowalkiewicz: I feel great. Philadelphia is similar to my hometown, so I feel here is like home. I’m in good shape. I have very good weight. I only have two kilograms to cut, so it’s nothing. I can’t wait for Saturday.
UFC: What about Philadelphia reminds you of home?
KK: The weather is the same. The climate is the same. Buildings and everything is similar to Łódź.
UFC: Coming off a loss, is there a sense of urgency for you to get a win, or are you a fighter that doesn’t think about things in that way?
KK: My last fight is in the past, and I cannot change the past, so I am focused on this fight. I’ll win this fight. You will see.
UFC: How do you flip that switch and get into that zone?
KK: I don’t know. I love MMA. I love fighting, so I’m very focused and very calm and very happy in the Octagon. Just like that.
UFC: Before you go grab your beer with Michelle, what does your perfect fight night look like?
KK: My perfect fight night scenario? Knockout in the first minute.
Zac Pacleb is a writer and producer for UFC.com. You can follow him on Twitter @ZacPacleb.
MORE UFC Philadelphia: Main Event Preview |Open Workout Gallery | Top 5 Philly Fighter Finishes | Karate Hottie | Fight by Fight Preview | Sodiq Yusuff | Jack Hermansson | Barboza’s Top 5 | Borg Returns | Nzechukwu Hopes | Philly On The Rise | Yusuff vs Moraes Preview
