Joanne Wooden isn’t oblivious to her current report or the narrative that may doubtless encompass her return to motion at UFC 286 in London.
With three losses in a row on her resume, the 37-year-old veteran understands that she could be going through Luana Carolina in a do-or-die scenario however reasonably than permitting that to function a distraction, she’s simply staying upbeat with designs on successful.
“I imply in a means, if I don’t beat this lady, yeah [it’s important] however I’ve nonetheless bought yet one more battle on my contract,” Wooden defined on The MMA Hour. “I’m attempting to not put that strain on myself however I really feel like this lady is an ideal battle for me to get again within the win column. Simply go in there and I’m excited to return on that facet of the pond and battle. The London playing cards have been nice so I’m simply excited.
“Making an attempt to not put that strain on myself trigger I’ve accomplished that previously. That is going to be superior, that is going to be enjoyable and simply going over there and doing what I do day-after-day.”
Her return will occur nearly precisely one yr after her most up-to-date look within the UFC, which got here in a first-round submission loss to future UFC flyweight champion Alexa Grasso.
Wanting again now, Wooden confesses that she confronted Grasso whereas coping with an damage however that’s a reasonably widespread observe amongst fighters. The distinction for Wooden was her want to remain busy taking fights and that didn’t enable her a lot time to truly keep wholesome.
“The final battle with Grasso, I tore my quad two weeks earlier than that battle,” Wooden revealed. “Then earlier than that, I injured my finger so I used to be identical to I used to be wanting to remain lively as a result of staying lively is nice while you’re successful or while you’re physique’s feeling good.
“So I simply felt this isn’t going my means so possibly I must take a while out and get my physique again to feeling considerably regular. We’ll at all times have these little nagging accidents however for what we do, we ought to be moving into there at, not less than 90 % could be good.”
In keeping with Wooden, a giant a part of her want to battle via accidents and simply maintain a busier schedule was partially as a consequence of future plans to begin a household however she additionally couldn’t ignore her age.
She noticed fighters along with her identical degree of expertise calling it a profession and Wooden started to marvel if maybe the sand within the hourglass was beginning to run out on her as nicely.
“It was actually powerful and then you definately’ve bought the entire I’m getting older,” Wooden stated. “I’ve solely bought two extra fights on my contract. Again then, I used to be speeding issues as a result of I felt like I needed to have a household and everybody round me are retiring in order that strain as nicely. I put that strain on myself to remain lively and simply maintain combating.
“Like I stated earlier than, that’s all good in case your physique’s holding up however I ought to have been wiser and I don’t know why after so lengthy combating and being on this sport, that I’m not. I assume it’s simply the fighter mentality. You simply assume it’s going to be OK, I’m going to win, every little thing’s going to be dandy. However on the finish of the day, now I’m not younger. I can’t be dumb and simply do it anyway.”
Wooden is aware of she will’t battle endlessly however she’s notably conscious that her time in MMA is dwindling down, though she’s not setting a deadline for retirement.
“I’ve most likely solely bought one other yr or two within the sport,” Wooden stated. “We’ll see what occurs on this subsequent yr. I’m getting outdated. I’m an outdated woman.”
Time will run out ultimately however for now Wooden says she’s in a significantly better place heading into UFC 286 than she had been for her earlier two fights, particularly with a much-needed break over the previous yr.
“I simply needed to work on these issues and take somewhat reset,” Wooden stated. “That was three losses in a row there so I simply felt as an alternative of pushing and attempting to get again in there, simply take a while and get my physique feeling good and UFC had been good with that. I really feel prefer it did me good.
“I really feel superior. The worst factor that’s occurred to me on this camp is I tripped. I ran over a boulder and chipped my new Tesla so I’m good. I’m feeling good. My final two fights, I had large accidents going into the battle and I simply really feel like if that’s the worst that may occur. My physique feels good. I’m excited. I had a yr off, reset, and I’m able to get again in there.”
