Leslie Smith Felt Like She Needed a Win at UFC on FOX 22

Leslie Smith spoke with MMAjunkie about her win over Irene Aldana at UFC on FOX 22 and more. Some highlights are below:

On saying she’s in a precarious position as an advocate of organizing fighters: “When you asked me earlier if I felt like my back was against the wall, you, I thought, were asking because of my last loss against (Cris) ‘Cyborg’ (Justino). But in my head, that was compounded by my very public stance on fighters associations and the unions.”

On having needed the win: “I definitely felt like I needed to get this win in order to keep myself in the game because I felt like I put a target on my back, which isn’t the goal. For the record, I love being in the UFC. I love everything the UFC has done for the sport. They are the vehicle that’s brought MMA to the masses, and I appreciate that. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the UFC. I want to keep working with them. I just want to make it a fair playing ground, and I think once labor issues are solved, then just like all the other major sports, the numbers are going to go through the roof.”