by Matt Lo Cascio

After defeating Simona Soukupova at XFC 19, Felice Herrig told Pat Miletich in a post-fight interview that she knew who she wanted for her next opponent.

“I’ve been trying to fight Lacey Schuckman for quite a bit. I would really love to fight Lacey Schuckman,” Herrig told Miletich.

Herrig said she has been trying to get a fight with Schuckman but hasn’t been able to secure a bout with her.

“Her last fight she took a fight short notice and fought a Japanese fighter, which was a phenomenal fighter and I’m just wondering why I can’t get a fight with her trying to book it three months in advance, when she takes a fight on such short notice against a top-level fighter like that,” Herrig said.

Schuckman told Chicago’s MMA that she isn’t avoiding a bout with Herrig, but that it doesn’t make sense for her career at this time.

“I am debuting at 105 lbs. in October, something that has been in the works for over a year,” Schuckman said. “A return to 115 lbs. is a definite possibility. I have never avoided a fight with Felice, the paycheck just isn’t there.”

Schuckman said that she actually pursued a fight with Herrig after she turned pro in 2009.

“I tried to get that fight (with Herrig) but XFO, the promotion she was working with at that time, wasn’t interested,” Schuckman said. “Now she wants to call me out after I’m coming off a loss and she is coming off a win? Not to mention she won her previous fight with Vidonic who I’ve lost to? Makes no logical business or career sense at this point.”

Herrig beat Vidonic by unanimous decision at XFC 17. Schuckman was submitted by Vidonic in the third round of their June, 2011 fight.

While Schuckman will be making the drop to 105 lbs. for her bout in October, she still isn’t writing off a fight with Herrig down the line.

“I’m only 24. I have plenty of years left in this sport,” Schuckman said. “If that fight makes sense in the future, myself and my management will make it happen. As of now I’m focused on my future at 105lbs.”