Kailin Curran Says Every Fight is a Must-Win For Her, Talks Staying Positive

Kailin Curran spoke with MMAjunkie ahead of her fight with Yan Xiaonan at UFC Fight Night 122 this weekend in Shanghai, China. Highlights are below:

On her sub-.500 record: “I say this a lot: I got good at losing. My record doesn’t really show the kind of fighter I am. My record doesn’t show what I’m actually capable of. I was bummed for sure. I definitely thought I won (my last fight vs. Alexandra Albu at UFC 214). Sometimes judges see it with a different perspective and there’s nothing really I can do about that except for making sure going into this next fight I solidifying I’m going to win. Either I win by submission or ref’s stoppage. I really have to make it clear that I won. It was heartbreaking, but at the same time I was very happy with how I performed. I feel like I’ve come a long way from fighting Paige VanZant. It’s been a crazy journey, but I love it. I feel like I’m getting better every fight.”

On keeping a positive attitude: “It hasn’t been easy to stay positive. My last two camps I’ve been very positive, though. There’s been a change in my attitude because there’s been times I wanted to give up and I’m just like, ‘I keep losing.’ But I just put winning in a different category now. That used to be my main priority. It’s funny because I’m basically winning. I have these little wins throughout the fights. I’m getting wins for myself personally, it’s just not on paper. I feel like a winner every time.”

On the stakes of the fight: “Every fight is a must-win for me. I haven’t been as worried because I feel like I’m due. It’s my time, I’m sorry. I’m winning this fight. There’s no way I’m going to lose. That’s how I feel going into this fight, to be honest. I don’t really have a thought in my mind I’m going to lose. If it happens, like I was saying earlier, I know how to lose, so it’s OK. I just don’t see me losing this fight. I work too hard. My last fight was so close. I can just taste victory. It’s right there.”