Paulina Granados Heads into Legacy FC 23 as One of the Promotion’s Rising Stars

After a very successful amateur career, Texas 105-pound fighter Paulina “Firefox” Granados has kept rolling with two wins in two pro fights this year. She is looking to earn her third straight pro victory at Friday’s Legacy FC 23 show in San Antonio.

According to Granados, the transition from amateur to pro has gone smoothly and has only required a few tweaks to her game.

“Other than the nerves, it wasn’t any different,” she said. “My past couple of fights I feel like I performed well.

“I got the wins, I got what I wanted, but there is also some things I feel like I needed work on, which I’ve been doing for this upcoming fight.”

Having made her debut for Legacy in May with a 46-second submission win over Maria Lopez, Granados has become one of the promotion’s premier up-and-coming fighters. It comes with added expectations, but it’s a position she’s more than happy to have.

“It’s a motivator and actually an honor,” she said of her involvement with Legacy. “They take care of me and are very good people.

“Being with them I’ve gotten some really good exposure and have met some really great people. I really enjoy it and want to be with them as long as possible.”

Granados’ return to Legacy will come against Tessa Simpson (2-1), who will be making her return to MMA for the first time in nearly four years.

“I just feel like I have to be the best me that I can be,” Granados told MMAWeekly.com. “If I am that, then I’ve got this.

“I think my strength, stamina and quickness is my biggest advantage. I’m very technical standing and on the ground. Basically I feel like this fight is going to be mine. I’m confident and I train very hard in every area, so I don’t feel any pressure coming from her end.”

Having already made an impact this year as a pro, Granados was initially thinking of taking some time off, but if things continue to go her way, she might return to action sooner than later.

“I didn’t want to fight again until next year because I’ve already fought three times this year and I told myself three was enough; it’s looking like (I might fight again),” she said.

“I have a big, Catholic family and the holidays are very important to me, so I planned on taking a break. But it’s looking like I’ll be fighting again in December, but it’s not set in stone.”

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