Mexican-Canadian strawweight Loopy Godinez perhaps understands better than most the criticism received by Merab Dvalishvili, who is headlining next month’s Noche UFC (UFC 306) card at The Sphere in Las Vegas.
Godinez (12-4) faces Mackenzie Dern at UFC Abu Dhabi this Saturday, where she’ll represent both Mexico (where she was born) and Canada (where she was raised. Dvalishvili, who carried the Mexican flag earlier this year in support of the nation, now finds himself, a Georgian, headlining a card that celebrates Mexico’s independence from Spain.
Merab challenging Sean O’Malley on the September card raised a few eyebrows online, but Godinez noted she’s seen criticism of herself representing her own native and adopted homes.
“I feel like we all should be free to represent whoever we want. I get to represent Mexico and Canada,” said Godinez during this week’s UFC Abu Dhabi media day. “Yeah there’s some weird comments out there, like ‘why Canada?’ or ‘why Mexico?’ or whatever. But sometimes our hearts are in two different places, and it’s not our fault that life takes us to different places, because you’re born in different places.”
Godinez, who trains alongside Alexa Grasso in Mexico, and whose sister Ana is representing Canada at the 2024 Paris Olympics in wrestling, understands why people would be attracted to Mexican culture.
“It’s great. Being Mexican is something really cool, and I’m sure a lot of people want to be Mexican.”
Watch the full UFC Abu Dhabi media day appearance by Loopy Godinez above.
