Free agent Jessica Aguilar ready to conquer the UFC strawweight division
Top-rated strawweight contender Jessica Aguilar is officially a free agent, and she's going to do everything in her power to land a deal with the UFC.
Aguilar has been considered one of the best 115-pound fighters on the planet for the past few years, but she hasn't had the chance to face the best women from her division while she was under contract with World Series of Fighting.
Now with the prospects dwindling that the promotion could offer her any viable opponents, Aguilar was granted her release to allow her the chance to pursue a deal with the UFC.
"It's about fighting the best and fighting the best possible competition, and the UFC has that so I made my decision," Aguilar told FOX Sports about her free agency. "I want to continue fighting and I love the sport of MMA, and I'm excited to become the next UFC champion."
Aguilar has a laundry list of big wins during her career including a victory over former UFC strawweight champion Carla Esparza. While she says she was happy with her previous promotion, it was tough to watch the rest of the strawweights explode in the UFC while she was stuck on the outside looking in.
"I've watched what's been going on in my division with the UFC and I think it's great. For me with the WSOF it was a little hard to find opponents so that was my decision and why I made the decision," Aguilar said.
"They have the best, I am the best, why not show the world on a bigger platform who Jessica Aguilar is if they don't know and why I'm the best in the world. I just want to have fun. I want to challenge myself. I'm looking to challenging myself against these ladies and top athletes."
The potential matchups for Aguilar seem limitless considering she would likely jump right into the deep end of the strawweight division if she signs with the UFC this year. Current champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk is awaiting her first title defense in June against Jessica Penne, while it would appear that Brazilian Claudia Gadelha is probably next in line if she wins her next bout in the UFC.
Aguilar is more than happy to face any of them in her debut, although her ultimate goal is taking the title from around Jedrzejczyk's waist and proving that the No. 1 next to her name for so many years wasn't just for show.
"I just want to prove once again why I am the No. 1-ranked fighter in my weight class. It's my destiny to defend my No. 1 world ranking in the UFC. My No. 1 goal is to become UFC champion," Aguilar said. "I know Joanna gets it because she's a lot like me. We are both seeking out the best possible opponents.
"With that being said, that's the fight I want. I just want to become the next UFC champion, that's it."
Aguilar says she was just granted her release from her previous promotion, so as of now she's had no dialogue with the UFC or matchmaker Sean Shelby about signing with them yet. She hopes that changes in a hurry. Aguilar's been out of action since last November, and she's eager to get back to business in 2015.
"I would like a deal to be done. I'm ready to make something happen. All I would ask for is my two-month camp, and then I'll be ready. I'm ready now. I'm ready to make a deal now," Aguilar stated.
"A message to my fans -- if you want to see me fight in the UFC, I want you to tweet Dana (White), I want everyone to tweet Dana and give him their thoughts."
