Paulina Granados Dedicates Combate Americas Fight to Fallen Teammate | MMAWeekly.com

Coming off of two straight losses, atomweight Paulina Granados was in need of a rebound heading into her Combate Americas debut this past May against Stephanie Alba. Thankfully, Granados was up to the task.

After three rounds, Granados was awarded a split-decision victory over Alba. And while she doesn’t feel the fight was that close, Granados was nonetheless pleased to pick up the win.

“After the fight, I realized I had a lot more in my gas tank, and I should have probably trusted my cardio a little more and been a little bit more aggressive,” Granados told MMAWeekly.com. “But it was a good win for me. It was a good comeback fight.

“I definitely do not think it was a split decision. I felt like it was unanimous. I’m pretty sure the judge who gave it to Stephanie was sleeping throughout the whole fight.”

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One of the big things Granados did to get out of her slump was to join Alliance MMA. Since becoming part of that gym, she has seen nothing but good, positive changes in her game.

“I switched training camps due to not having high enough competition in training,” she said. “Being at Alliance has really helped me get more serious about my career path. Just trusting my coaches, I knew everything that was supposed to happen would happen.

“My cardio got better. I’m a little bit smarter. I used to be a little bit relentless and put myself in bad positions, but now I know how to avoid that. I know my strengths and how to capitalize on what I’m good at. So I feel like it was a big change.”

Granados (3-2) will step into action for Combate Americas once again on Friday in Verona, N.Y., to take on Jenna Serio (3-1) in a main card 105-pound bout.

“I think I just have to stay confident in what I’m good at,” Granados said. “I have to be one step ahead of (Serio). I know she’s aggressive, but I’m very aggressive too and I’m stubborn and have a strong will to win. It’s just a matter of time before I break her.”

Looking to stay on the winning path, Granados is eager to get back to fighting again sooner than later.

“I’m looking to finish this fight as fast as I can and be healthy afterwards and injury free, because there are a lot of things I need, and I need to keep fighting to get to where I want to be financially, as well,” said Granados.

“I want to dedicate this fight for Combate Americas in New York to my former teammate Louie Bowen-Rojo Jr., who passed away (on Sept. 29). This fight is going to be for him.”

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