Los Angeles, CA — Ava Knight will continue her journey in MMA this weekend at Bellator 238 when she takes on Emilee King. The multi-time boxing champion is one of several names from women’s boxing to switch sports, something that seems to be becoming a trend.
Knight (1-0 MMA, 19-2-5 boxing) is well aware of this. And although she finds it to be an interesting trend, she isn’t about to label it as boxers jumping on the bandwagon.
“I don’t really look at it as someone jumping the bandwagon. I thought it was just a good opportunity for me as a fighter, to be more of a figher. I think all these other girls, if you’re going to talk about it, you’re going to have to be about it,” Knight told Cageside Press at the Bellator 238 media day. “Claressa Shields said she would fight Amanda Nunes, but at the end of the day, if you’re not going to do it, don’t say it. I respect her in the ring, she’s probably one of the baddest women in the boxing ring right now. But at the same time, I’m about it. I came here and I did it, and I’m still doing it. And I want to do it, just like Holly Holm did it, and Heather Hardy did it, and [Amanda] Serrano. So there are women out there who do want to be more than just a boxer.”
Knight continued by saying that while she doesn’t know the motivation for other boxers crossing over, she knows her own. “Mine is just to be a bad-ass fighter. You know the bandwagon is just going to be there. People are going to jump on it, people are going to get off. But if you’re going to talk about it, be about it.”
Backed in boxing by The Money Team, Knight picked up her first MMA win last September at Bellator 228, finishing Shannon Goughary with a body shot. This time around, she faces Emilee King (3-3), who has fought for Invicta FC and Valor Fighting Challenge.
In regards to her opponent, Knight said that “I think she’s a great opponent. She’s a girl who’s been doing MMA for a long time, rolling on the ground for a long time. And she’s going to be a worthy opponent for me to get in the ring with.”
“My boxing is boxing. That has nothing to do with MMA. I don’t know how to do MMA, let’s just put it that way,” Knight admitted. “But I’m here to fight, and I’m learning, and I’m doing the best that I can. And I know that this girl’s going to bring everything she can, and I’m going to bring everything right back.”
Ava Knight returns this Saturday, January 25, 2020 at Bellator 238, going down live at The Forum in Inglewood (Los Angeles), California. The card airs live on DAZN.
