MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - NOVEMBER 15: Leslie Smith prepares to go another round against Jessica Eye in their women's bantamweight bout during the UFC 180 event at Arena Ciudad de Mexico on November 15, 2014 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
UFC women's bantamweight Leslie Smith may be a 7-to-1 underdog entering her matchup against Cris Cyborg, but the Cesar Gracie fighter is confident that she'll not only come out victorious, but that she'll be remembered forever for her performance.
According to Smith, Saturday night after her main card bout, she will effectively be known as "the woman who destroyed Cyborg."
"I'm totally okay with being an underdog -- it means I don't have any pressure on me," Smith said in a new video released by the UFC. "I have nothing to lose, that means I have everything to gain and nothing to fear. After this fight, people are going to know me as the woman who destroyed Cyborg."
Smith has amassed four knockouts in eight career wins and is known for her aggressive fighting style and willingness to throw down with anyone. And according to UFC president Dana White, Smith was the "only one who wanted" to fight Cyborg.
Smith started her professional MMA career in 2009, the same year that Cyborg defeated Gina Carano in a fight that helped put women's MMA on the map. It was at that point that Smith knew she'd eventually face off against the Brazilian.
"I remember watching her fight Gina Carano, and thinking, 'I would fight her,'" Smith said. "This is the fight fighters dream about. It's taken me eight years to get here ... I'm ready to go."
Smith is taking on Cyborg on the main card of UFC 198, which airs this Saturday, live on Pay-Per-View.
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