Loopy Godinez not only secured a victory at UFC Mexico but also narrowly avoided a potentially embarrassing situation.
A clip from Godinez`s recent fight against Julia Polastri gained rapid attention online. In the video, the strawweight contender is seen expressing urgent digestive distress to her corner between rounds, indicating she was on the verge of an in-cage accident.
Despite the discomfort, Godinez, ranked No. 11 in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings for the 115-pound division, managed to maintain composure. She persevered through a challenging third round to win by unanimous decision, breaking a streak of two losses.
Both fighters were widely praised for their exciting match. Godinez expressed relief at managing to compete and leave the octagon without any unwanted incidents.
“I think I started feeling unwell on Friday, experiencing chills. Initially, I attributed it to being cold due to very low body fat from weight cutting,” Godinez told Inside Fighting. “I didn’t mention it initially. My coach also thought it was just because of the low body fat. After the weigh-ins, I rehydrated, but I started experiencing diarrhea, which continued overnight and even right before entering the cage again.”
“I guess between rounds, I felt it coming on again, and I thought, ‘Oh no.’”
Godinez, originally from Mexico but now fighting out of Canada, hopes to compete at the UFC 320 event in Guadalajara on September 13. She humorously suggested a preventative measure for future gastrointestinal issues.
“Maybe next time, if I feel something like this, I could wear a diaper,” Godinez joked. “Perhaps that would be helpful.”
Currently, Godinez is pleased to be back in the winner`s circle after previous defeats to top contenders Mackenzie Dern and Virna Jandiroba. She emphasized mental fortitude as crucial in overcoming her fight with Polastri and avoiding what could have been a highly embarrassing career moment.
“I tried to push those thoughts away before the fight,” Godinez said. “Even if I felt something, dwelling on it would be self-sabotaging. So, I just thought, ‘Whatever, I’ll be fine. Not everyone entering the cage is at 100 percent.’ I just had to tough it out and hope for the best, and then I felt it again between rounds.”
“Luckily, nothing serious happened. I acknowledged it, said it out loud, and now it’s public knowledge, so yeah.”
For those new to the sport, it`s worth noting that several fighters have experienced bowel control issues during fights in the past. Justine Kish’s fight against Felice Herrig is one example, and Tim Sylvia is another.
Such incidents could technically lead to disqualification, though it`s rare to see that actually happen.
In any case, perhaps it`s best to move on from this topic.
