Sydney Smith is set to face Taylor Starling at BKFC Blood 4 Blood on May 6th, stepping in on short notice after Marisol Ruelas was forced out of the original bout. Smith revealed that she accepted the fight just a week prior, highlighting her readiness to take on challenges whenever called upon by BKFC.
“So we officially accepted it on Monday. But it was presented to me like late in the week. Probably about a week ago,” Smith explained. “I guess Marisol [Ruelas] had been KO’ed in California. They were hoping that she was going to get cleared, but California is very, very strict. So, she didn’t end up getting cleared. So they needed a last minute dance partner. Everybody knows you call Sydney, call ‘Sundance’, she’ll step in and fight. This is not the first time.”
Smith recounted previous instances where she readily accepted short-notice fights, including a bout that was nixed and another where she was prepared to fight on a day’s notice but couldn’t due to an expired ID. This latest opportunity at BKFC Blood 4 Blood, with just over a week’s notice, was no different for Smith.
Regarding the unique hybrid nature of the BKFC Blood 4 Blood event, which combines live metal shows with bare-knuckle fights, Smith expressed her enthusiasm for the concept, even if she’s not deeply familiar with the musical acts. Her primary focus remains on competing.
“I think it’s cool. I don’t really know like the logistics of it,” Smith said. “But, everybody’s just messaging me like, ‘This so cool. You’re on with Alex the Terrible and Slaughter to Prevail.’ Like, I really don’t. So I think it’s awesome that they’re coming up with different ideas. But I just want to fight. I don’t care if it’s on KnuckleMania. I don’t care if it’s on a random card. I don’t care if it’s with concerts. I don’t care. I just want to fight.”
Smith acknowledged Taylor Starling’s prominence within BKFC, having been a significant grassroots star and a former title challenger in multiple divisions. Despite Starling’s accolades, Smith feels she has nothing to lose in this matchup.
“Yeah, Taylor’s a class act in that she really respects her opponents. She has shown me a lot of respect for stepping up and I respect that, right? But at the end of the day, like we’re both gonna go in there and try to like kill each other and then we’ll hug afterwards, right? That’s the kind of opponent I want,” Smith stated. “I’ve got nothing to lose. That’s a dangerous person right there. So, I’m really excited to go out here and just let loose.”
Smith believes their fight doesn’t require manufactured animosity, as both possess aggressive fighting styles that will naturally create an exciting contest.
“Oh yeah. For me, I think it kind of diminishes things if it’s just like very gimmicky or whatever,” she explained. “I’ll show you respect inside and afterwards, before and afterwards, but inside of that ring, like it’s a different world and we both understand that. So I think it’s just going to be an awesome experience for both of us all around and we’re both gonna get what we’re looking for. We’re gonna get a good fight.”
While the bout is contracted at flyweight, Starling is a top contender in the strawweight division. Smith, however, is focused on the present fight and winning, rather than future divisional implications. She feels a renewed passion for fighting, reminiscent of when she first started.
“Right now the way I feel, I feel like I did when I first started fighting,” Smith shared. “That’s a good thing for me. I think one of the really good pieces on this one is that we really haven’t had a lot of time to think about it. To overthink it or think too much. We have a little bit of a game plan, but for the most part, our game plan is just go out there and do your thing. You know what I mean? Like let it all out. I’m very, very excited for that.”
Convinced that the fight will be a “banger,” Smith predicts a high-octane brawl that will leave fans satisfied regardless of the outcome.
“Yeah, it’s definitely going to be a banger. I can guarantee you that one,” Smith concluded. “I do know that we’re both going to come for it, and she likes to brawl… I’m looking to do sort of the same. Yeah, I mean we’re just going to go at it and it’s going to be a really good fight. I think the fans are going to be very, very happy with [it]. Who cares about the outcome? Like they’re going to be happy with the fight. You know what I’m saying? Like they’re going to be ‘that was freaking awesome.’ So that’s the goal.”
