After falling short on the “The Ultimate Figher 28” finale, Pannie Kianzadreceived the shocking news that she was no longer part of the promotion. It was a decision that left many confused, especially with the UFC’s stated intention of building out the women’s featherweight division.

Seven months later, Kianzad got the call back that she campaigned to get. She will step in on short notice to take on Julia Avila at UFC 239 in a bantamweight contest.

Kianzad (11-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC), was ecstatic when she got the call early morning, after returning home from a work shift.

“I was pretty shocked actually, I jumped out of bed because we talked a few days before and (he manager) told me he’s probably going to get me a fight in Slovakia or something,” Kianzad told MMA Junkie. “He was like, ‘we need to get you another fight, they’re (UFC) not satisfied yet.'”

After compiling a 10-3 pro record, fighting high level competition in Invicta FC and other promotions across Europe, Kianzad got the call to be part of The Ultimate Fighter. She won both fights in the house, putting on a striking clinic in the semi-finals, on route to a spot in the finale. She lost in the finals to Macy Chiasson, and was subsequently released from the promotion.

Historically, TUF fighters who lose in the championship round are given at least one more shot in the UFC. Unfortunately for Kianzad, that wasn’t the case. She, among many others, were surprised at the UFC’s decision to let her go.

“Of course I was shocked because I was like (expletive), so I’m the only finalist ever that won’t get a chance?” Kianzad said. “And then I found out that they made a decision that everybody who loses on the finale no matter what, won’t get a contract.”

And in the past couple months, two former TUF 28 contestants got the call back, Leah Letson, who was knocked off the tournament by eventual winner Chiasson, and Bea Malecki, who lost her first fight in the house to Letson. Kianzad was baffled at how girls she outperformed on the show were getting second chances before her.

“I was mostly disappointed that the girls that didn’t make it to the finale, Leah Letson, got a chance and she barely won against Julia (Stoliarenko) that I beat dominantly in the house,” Kianzad said. “So that was running through my head like, is this personal and stuff but then I heard that they already decided that no matter what, nobody is going to get the chance.”

And the UFC didn’t seem keen on re-signing Kianzad, at least not in the near future.

“They told my old manager that it might take a few wins for me to come back and I was really confused,” Kianzad said. “I’m like, I have 15 pro fights, what the (expletive)? I was just so confused and I didn’t know what to do with myself. After my teammate Bea got signed, I got even more confused.”

“It was really tough,” Kianzad added. “It could be one of the toughest months of my life, not knowing what to do.”

Trying not to dwell on the past, Kianzad moved on, taking a fight on three weeks’ notice, versus former Bellator fighter Iony Razafiarison (6-3 MMA). She won the May bout via unanimous decision.

Waiting for the next call to compete, Kianzad wanted to make sure it wasn’t another short-notice fight. She then received the call from her manager, another short-notice fight, but this time in the UFC.

“I thought he called about that and I told him before, you just need to tell me at least three weeks ahead so I can prepare,” Kianzad said. “Then he was like yeah, it’s in two weeks and I was like ‘I’m not ready for that.’ Then he told me it was the UFC 239 card and I was like ‘whoa.’ I got totally woken up by it, I was like ‘yes (expletive), let’s do it.'”

She will take on Avila (6-1 MMA), a familiar face, as they shared the same Invicta card, not too long ago.

“We fought on the same card at Invicta, the last Invicta that I fought in before I went to TUF,” Kianzad said. “What I know is, that she’s really tough and she’s really good everywhere. She’s a brown belt in jiu-jitsu and she’s a really strong girl that moves forward.”

Kianzad respects Avila’s skillset, but feels she’s far more experienced and has gone through a lot more in her MMA career, which will make the difference.

“I see myself being more adaptable, more experienced and I’ve been into deep waters,” Kianzad said. “I think that’s the most important part here. I don’t think Julia has been in a bad position coming back and I feel like that’s going to make me win the fight because I know, I’ve been everywhere.”

And when asked if she feels any pressure to prove that the UFC made a mistake letting her go, Kianzad said she just wants to enjoy the process this time around.

“Last time when I went to the finale, I did something that I won’t repeat again, I didn’t enjoy the moment,” Kianzad said. “I did not enjoy anything. I did not enjoy the moment of being in the finale. I’m just going to enjoy the moment. I’m not here to just be a short notice fight, I’m here to win.”

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