Calderwood fighting fit following health scare
JOANNE CALDERWOOD endured a frightening experience in the moments after her last fight in the UFC but the Scottish flyweight is undaunted as she seeks to re-establish herself in the 125lb division.
Calderwood had been earmarked for a bout against flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko but, with the titlist injured, she decided to take a tune-up by facing Jennifer Maia on late notice in August last year and losing.
As well as suffering a badly damaged arm from the showdown in Las Vegas, Calderwood passed out backstage as she was being checked over while her heart rate plummeted on the way to the local hospital.
She then tested positive for coronavirus a few days later but is now fit and raring to go ahead of UFC 257, where she will take on Jessica Eye on the undercard of Conor McGregor’s lightweight bout against Dustin Poirier.
“The whole day I wasn’t feeling good,” Calderwood said at a media day when reflecting on the Maia loss. “I didn’t have enough to eat or drink that day, I just wasn’t feeling right the whole day and afterwards I passed out.
“I got put in the ambulance, they were checking me out and then they called for back-up.
“Apparently my heart rate dropped and they were worried. I got Covid a few days later so we think it’s maybe just been that. I’m just happy to be here and healthy.”
Maia’s upset victory meant she catapulted herself into title contention although the Brazilian came up short last November, losing via unanimous decision as Shevchenko made the fourth successful defence of her crown.
Shevchenko remains on Calderwood’s radar but the Las Vegas-based 34-year-old, who has won 14 and lost five of her 19 mixed martial arts contests, knows she must deliver against an opponent she intensely dislikes.
Calderwood criticised Eye (15-8, with one no-contest) for missing weight by 0.2lbs in her last fight against Cynthia Calvillo and the rivals went on to trade barbs over social media.
“I really don’t like her, she rubs me up the wrong way and it’s good to see her face getting some elbows, punches and kicks when I’m visualising the fight,” Calderwood said.
“I like this match-up, we actually wanted this fight last year.
“I’m looking forward to this match-up, I like her style for what I’ve got. I know she always brings it so it will be an exciting fight.”
The pair scaled 126lbs at Friday morning’s weigh-in, with fighters given one-pound leeway for non-title bouts.
If she prevails, Calderwood wants to remain active as she added: “The big thing for me is another two fights and get back to the spot that I was already in.”