Rosi Sexton puts theory of opposites to test in hometown at UFC Fight Night 30

(The following story appeared in today’s print edition of USA TODAY.)

MANCHESTER – Plenty of fighters have black belts, and Rosi Sexton is a part of that group.

Where she stands out is that she has a black belt as well as a doctorate in theoretical computer science. So maybe the 36-year-old native of Manchester, England, might know a thing or two about the theory of opposites.

Sexton (13-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) will put that theory to the test Saturday when she meets Jessica Andrade (9-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC), of Brazil, at UFC Fight Night 30 in her hometown.

Just about everything is just the opposite for “The Surgeon” this time around than it was in June, when she made her UFC debut. For that fight, she was coming up in weight from 125 pounds to the lone UFC women’s division at bantamweight. She was taking a lengthy flight from Manchester to Winnipeg. And she was fighting a Canadian on her home turf.

She lost that fight to Alexis Davis, but she made a big enough impression on the UFC brass to stick around – and even get a coveted slot on the card in front of her home fans. She may be feeling the pressure to put on a show, but she’s trying to thrive on it.

“I think there is a certain amount of pressure, yeah,” Sexton told MMAjunkie.com. “But I like pressure. My best performances tend to come when I’m under pressure, so that’s a good thing.”

At least she has the pressure of her UFC debut out of the way. And she said she has adapted to the 10 pounds of added bulk to fight at 135 pounds instead of flyweight. And, of course, traveling halfway around the world doesn’t have to happen this time. All opposites, and she hopes that leads to the opposite result, as well, with her first UFC victory.

“The atmosphere is going to be incredible and it’s going to be fantastic to hear my hometown crowd,” she said. “But I think it’s important to not get too distracted by that and stay focused. At the end of the day, I’ve got a job to do. Regardless of where the fight is taking place, that’s where my attention has to be.”

The other opposite she may have to be concerned about is in the age department. Andrade, who lost her UFC debut in July in her native Brazil, is just 22. Sexton is 36. But she is taking the philosophy that her experience will trump whatever youthful exuberance Andrade brings to the fight.

“She’s very young, she’s very talented,” Sexton said. “I think the fact that I do have those extra years of experience does make a difference. You can’t buy experience. She’s done a lot in a very short time, but at the same time, I think there’s no shortcut in this sport for those years in the gym refining things and developing that understanding. And when the pressure’s on, in the second and third round, I think that’s when that’s going to show.”

For more on UFC Fight Night 30, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.