Sydney Smith is set to face Taylor Starling at BKFC Blood 4 Blood on May 6th. The fight was confirmed on short notice after Marisol Ruelas was forced to withdraw due to injury and not being cleared by California’s strict regulations. Smith, known for stepping in when needed, described how the opportunity arose.
“We officially accepted it on Monday, but it was presented to me 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 agreed to last-minute fights, including a fight with Crystal Pittman that was nixed, and another on a day’s notice against Crystal Van Wyk when Jenny Savage missed weight. The latter fell through because Smith didn’t have her identification to fly.
Regarding the unique BKFC Blood 4 Blood event, which combines bare-knuckle boxing with live metal music, Smith expressed her enthusiasm for the concept, despite not being a heavy metal fan. “I think it’s cool. I don’t really know like the logistics of it,” she said. “I think I did just get the itinerary earlier, but like I haven’t had a chance to look at it because I was in the gym. But yeah, I mean it’s cool, right? But like I don’t really listen to a lot of metal. I mean I listen to like Christian rock and stuff. They do have some like screaming Christian music. Which I listen to a little bit of that.”
Smith emphasized her primary motivation: “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. I haven’t had the opportunity. I haven’t been presented the opportunity to fight in over a year and a half. Other than that last minute fight with Crystal Van Wyk. So, yeah. Gimme.”
Facing Taylor Starling, a recognized grassroots star in BKFC who has competed for titles in multiple weight classes, Smith acknowledged Starling’s respect for opponents. “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, you know? I just want it to be a good fight regardless of what happens.”
Smith is approaching this fight with a “nothing to lose” mentality. “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. You know what I’m saying? Yeah, I’m looking forward to it.”
When asked about the dynamic of her fight with Starling, Smith believes it guarantees action without the need for manufactured hype. “Oh yeah. For me, I think it kind of diminishes things if it’s just like very gimmicky or whatever. You can tell when things are organic. If I’m pissed, you’re going to know I’m pissed. There’s no playing about it. Like, there is no nothing, right?” Smith stated. “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. You know what I’m saying? 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.”
Although contracted as a flyweight bout, Starling’s position as the second-ranked strawweight contender leaves open the possibility of future divisional shifts for Smith. However, Smith remains focused on the present fight. “Yeah, absolutely. I feel like I’m not really; I don’t even want to think about anything like that. You know what I’m saying? Like, for me, 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.”
Smith highlighted the advantage of the short notice, which prevents overthinking. “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.”
She confidently predicts an exciting fight. “Yeah, it’s definitely going to be a banger. I can guarantee you that one. 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.”
