Sydney Smith is set to face Taylor Starling at BKFC Blood 4 Blood on May 6th, a bout that came together on short notice. Initially, Marisol Ruelas was scheduled to fight Starling, but an injury prevented Ruelas from competing.
Smith shared her reaction to stepping in on short notice, stating, “So we officially accepted it on Monday. But it was presented to me like late in the week. Probably about a week ago.” She explained that Ruelas was not cleared to fight by California’s strict regulations, necessitating a replacement. Smith highlighted her willingness to take fights on short notice, noting, “Everybody knows you call Sydney, call ‘Sundance’, she’ll step in and fight. This is not the first time.” She recounted previous instances where she agreed to fight on short notice, including a fight that was ultimately canceled and another where an opponent missed weight significantly.
The BKFC Blood 4 Blood event is unique, combining live metal music with bare-knuckle fights. Smith expressed her enthusiasm for the unconventional format, despite not being deeply familiar with the featured bands. “I think it’s cool,” she said. “But like I don’t really listen to a lot of metal. I mean I listen to like Christian rock and stuff.” Her primary focus remains the fight itself, stating, “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.” She also mentioned that she hasn’t had the opportunity to compete in over eighteen months, making this fight particularly welcome.
Smith acknowledged Taylor Starling’s status as a prominent fighter in BKFC, having competed for titles in multiple divisions. Despite Starling’s accolades, Smith expressed her respect for her opponent’s professionalism. “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?” However, Smith is clear about the intensity of the fight itself: “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?” She emphasized her desire for a hard-fought battle where both fighters leave everything in the ring. Smith views this fight as a significant opportunity with “nothing to lose,” which she believes makes her a dangerous opponent.
Regarding the dynamic of the fight, Smith believes their high-octane styles will create a guaranteed “banger” without the need for manufactured animosity. “You can tell when things are organic. If I’m pissed, you’re going to know I’m pissed,” she stated, highlighting her authentic approach to competition. She believes the fight will be an “awesome experience for both of us all around” and will deliver the action fans are looking for.
Although the bout is contracted at flyweight, Starling is a highly-ranked strawweight contender. Smith suggested that a strong performance could potentially impact her standing in the strawweight division. However, her immediate focus is on the fight itself and securing a victory. “I’m not fighting to not lose. I’m not fighting to be any number on whatever. Like, I’m fighting. I’m coming out here and I’m fighting to win,” she declared, noting a shift in her mentality to approach fights with the same fervor she had when she first started. The short timeframe to prepare has also worked in her favor, preventing overthinking. “Our game plan is just go out there and do your thing. You know what I mean? Like let it all out,” she said.
Smith confidently predicts a thrilling fight, stating, “Yeah, it’s definitely going to be a banger. I can guarantee you that one.” She anticipates both fighters will engage in a brawl, leading to a highly entertaining contest for the fans, regardless of the outcome. “Who cares about the outcome? Like they’re going to be happy with the fight,” she concluded.