💐 Lucia «Pretty bad wave » Apdlegarim EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW after his win in Japan 🇯🇵
By Ganryuijima – VIRTUAL FIGHT ✨
*[Post-match interview]
Lucia 🇦🇷 reflects on winning the undefeated match against Panchan 🇯🇵
🇯🇵You won the undefeated match against Panchan Rina, but what was your strategy?
👧Lucia: After the match against Panchan was decided, I kept watching videos on YouTube and checking Instagram, and came up with a strategy. She is the Japanese champion and my first impression was that she was a very strong fighter, so to be honest, I was a little worried at first, but by training with an emphasis on mentality, I was able to get into good condition.
By building up my mental strength, I didn’t feel scared when I faced Panchan. After the match, I talked to Panchan and felt that she was a very kind person.
🇯🇵 I felt that you were quite nervous right after you arrived in Japan. What exactly do you do in terms of mental training?
👧 Lucia: The security situation in Argentina is not good, and I myself have been in danger many times, so I think there may be some parts of daily life that can help me to train my mentality. My family was poor, so I think I was able to have a hungry spirit. As for mental training, I told myself, “I can win! I can win!” and built up my confidence.
🇯🇵This time, I was contracted at 49.5kg, so I think it was harder to lose weight than usual. At the lighter weight the day before, Lucia was 48.6kg, which was almost 1kg lighter than Panchan, who passed at 49.5kg.
👧Lucia: This fight was a big opportunity I got in Japan, so I went into the day before the fight well below the limit so that I would never ruin it by failing to make weight. It was the lightest contract weight I’ve ever had, so the weight loss was difficult, but I made a plan a month in advance and was able to get through it.
🇯🇵What did you feel at the first contact in the fight?
👧Lucia: When I first got hit with Panchan’s calf kick, I felt that he was a strong fighter. But this time I came in perfect condition, so I was able to deal with it without panicking.
🇯🇵Lucia’s punches gradually started to hit Panchan’s face, and he was bleeding. How did the punch feel?
👧Lucia: I felt like I could land a powerful punch and knock him out, but Panchan still came at me, so I was surprised. I felt like I could knock him out with my right straight in particular. A knockout with a punch was a strategy I had been aiming for from the beginning, and I heard my corner say, “You’ll definitely win, so don’t back down, keep moving forward!”, and I think that the reason I won was because I was able to keep moving forward.
🇯🇵What was the reason you were able to hit so many punches in the face?
👧Lucia: It’s a jab. The speed and power of our jabs were almost the same, but my jab was a little faster, and Panchan’s face gradually swelled up.
🇯🇵Panchan was thinking, “What? What?” and then she lost her pace.
Lucia: Yes. From there, I was able to hit her with a strong right punch.
🇯🇵Panchan changed her strategy to distance herself halfway through and counter with kicks.
👧Lucia: In the third round, she managed to keep her distance, but she still came forward to close the distance. It was a little difficult, but I think it was good that she was able to come forward with punches in the last 30 seconds.
🇯🇵Panchan’s second said, “Your knee is working,” but how did it actually go?
👧Lucia: There was no damage. However, I was anxious that I might lose points.
🇯🇵What was going through your mind when the decision went to the wire? Did you think you could win, or was it bad?
👧Lucia: I thought I had won, but the first judge’s decision was a draw, so I thought for a moment, “Is it really difficult to win by decision in a hometown decision?” But in the end, I won by decision 2-0, and I was very happy.
🇯🇵It seems that you were crying with joy at the moment you won, but how did you feel at that time?
👧Lucia: I started martial arts at the age of 14, and finally got a big opportunity, and finally won by decision, so a lot of thoughts came to my mind and tears welled up.
🇯🇵Do people in Argentina often get emotional and cry?
👧Lucia: Yes, because I’m Latin (laughs). It’s passion (smiles)
🇯🇵Would you like to fight in Japan again?
👧Lucia: If I get the chance, I’d love to come back and fight again.
🇯🇵Which do you prefer, kickboxing or MMA?
👧Lucia: Kickboxing.
🇯🇵This is your first time in Japan. What are your impressions?
👧Lucia: I was very happy as soon as it was decided that I would be fighting in Japan. When I actually came here, I felt that the security situation was very good, everyone was relaxed, and the people were kind. It’s a great country. Argentina has a bad security situation and is noisy.
🇯🇵Congratulations on your victory in Japan.
👧Lucia: Thank you.
