Genah Fabian Says She’s “Learning on the Job” Ahead of PFL 3

Genah Fabian had one of the better seasons in the women’s lightweight division last year, going 2-1 and falling to Kayla Harrison in the PFL 2021 semifinals last August.

Now, she’s back and ready to kick off the 2022 season at PFL 3 on Friday.

“I’m learning on the job, at the highest level in one of the top promotions in the world. Every single fight, every single weight cut, every single camp I am constantly evolving and learning and leveling up at a rapid rate,” Fabian said during this week’s PFL 3 media day.

She admits that last season had a “disappointing end result,” especially given that she feels she had “one of the better performances and seasons out of the lightweight division, just couldn’t get the job done.” But, added Fabian, “that certainly added fuel to the fire.”

Moving forward, she plans on more leveling up and growing as a marital artist, and as a person as well throughout. “So took a lot away [from last year], motivated as ever, hungry as ever, better than ever. I take this fight— I haven’t took my foot off the gas since the next Monday after that fight in August. And I have been working entirely throughout that time out here in America, so I’m excited to display my best performance yet on Friday.”

Fabian has always been an athlete, getting her start in track and field as a youth, from the time she was six years old. She worked her way up, representing New Zealand at the Junior Olympics and Junior Worlds. “I did that until I was like 19, so that was that was my base.” The regimen and skill translated over into other sports after that point.

“I moved to Australia in my late teens, early 20s,” she added, and got into rowing as well. Then, on a holiday in Thailand, “Just found Muay Thai, found my first martial art, combat sport. And here we are, ran with it to date. I think those core fundamental skills of regimen and discipline and body awareness and coordination and all those things and skills really did help me in that transition when I started to train martial arts, and then got into fighting.”

“I was a late starter compared to most; I didn’t grow up doing martial arts per se. Obviously always an athlete, but martial arts is a different thing. Those things helped me, and the rest I had to navigate and learn and figure out for myself.”

Fabian will look to put it all together when she faces Julia Budd this Friday at PFL 3 in Arlington, Texas.

Genah Fabian meets Julia Budd at PFL 3 this Friday, May 6, 2022, in Arlington, Texas. Watch the rest of Fabian’s media day appearance above. More coverage can be found below.