UFC Strawweight Denmark’s Anna ‘Panda’ Elmose makes her return to the Octagon this Saturday for UFC Belfast against TUF 23 Runner-up Amanda “ABC” Cooper (1-2-0). Elmose (3-1-0) made her debut for the organisation back in May of this year in the Bantamweight division against Germaine de Randamie, in a bout which Elmose was severely undersized. She received her first career loss. ‘Panda’ has now made the transition to strawweight

Elmose spoke to us earlier in the week and was very honest and open. Here’s the full transcript below.

You’ll be returning to the cage at UFC Belfast, making your Strawweight debut. What are your reasons for making this transition?

I always knew, that I didn’t belong in 135, but I kept knocking my opponents out and even when I sparred high level bantamweights, I did well. I was on my way down to 125, when I got the call to fight Germaine De Randamie at 135, so we decided to bulk up and go for it. I believed in myself, but it was obvious from the get-go, that Germaine simply was way too big.

I’m very happy about taking that fight, because even though I lost the fight, I won in so many other aspects. And of course, without that experience, I probably wouldn’t have been motivated to drop down to 115. My goal is to be the best in the World. Not number seven. I needed to drop 20 lbs to be able to reach my potential.

I know, that it’s a cliché, when a fighter says, that he or she’s in the best shape of his/her life. But I am really in the very best shape of my life, and I look forward to showcasing it on the 19th. I’ve lost around 15 lbs of fat, and me being able to do that shows that I never belonged in Strawweight. It has been very tough, though, but with the help from my dietist, Martin Kreutzer, and the support from my team, I’ve made this transition step by step.

What are your thoughts on Amanda Cooper as an opponent?

In many ways, I think we’re kind of like the same type of fighter. Same size, similar backgrounds and so forth. She’s very strong for the weight, and her boxing seems sharp. She also has a tight submission game and hefty GnP. It also seems like she evolves a lot from fight to fight, so I’m looking forward to trading bombs with the best version of Amanda Cooper.

I will do my very best to show, that my skills and my physique will be too much for her to overcome. I have a hard time seeing the fight going the distance, though. I’m not really sure, what to expect from her, so I’m focusing on what I have to do, and I let my coach focus on her.

I do believe she’s a very, very good opponent, and I think we’ll put on one hell of a fight. If she’s as strong and skillful as I anticipate, she’ll bring out the best in me, and I look forward to that.

What are your thoughts on current Strawweight Champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk?

She’s a very impressive fighter. Hopefully, I’ll get the chance to trade bombs with her one day. She seems a tad one-dimensional, but extremely good at what she does. She’s fast, sharp, very clever, has great stamina and is supremely confident. I don’t think her power is very impressive, and her grappling still seems questionable. But because of her better striking, her opponents so far haven’t been able to threaten her much. Claudia Gadelha came close in both fights, and I think she showed weaknesses in Joanna Jedrzejczyk’s game.

How do you see the UFC 207 main event between Ronda Rousey and Amanda Nunes going down?

I honestly believe that Amanda Nunes is the best 135’er in the World. I’ve thought that for a while, and I don’t think the former champion will be able to do much about it. Nunes’ big weakness seems to be her cardio, but I’m not sure Ronda Rousey can push her that much.

How did you get into the sport?

I used to do horseback riding, but after my horse died, I decided to try something else. So, at the age of 25, I took up Kickboxing. That lead me to boxing, Muay Thai and finally MMA, where the rule-set gives me much more freedom. I fell in love with MMA, because I can be creative and use my strengths.

What would you say your biggest strengths are, and what’s the thing you need to work on the most?

Of course, I’m known for my power, but I feel my overall MMA-game is pretty well rounded. I haven’t gotten the chance to showcase much of it, so hopefully Amanda Cooper can push me a bit. I constantly try to evolve at all the areas. I guess my age and lack of experience in MMA are my weaknesses.

What’s your favourite strike or submission to use in a fight?

The one that gets the job done.

Who is your biggest inspiration?

I find inspiration in my teammates at Rumble Sports.

Which team are you training with in preparation for your bout with Amanda Cooper?

As always, I’m preparing at Rumble Sports in Copenhagen, Denmark. I love our atmosphere, comradery, teamwork and of course my coach and husband, Tue Trnka.

What does it mean for you to be a fighter?

Fighting is something I do. I don’t identify myself with UFC or being a UFC-fighter. I’m Anna Elmose, and I do many different things. I work as a real estate agent, I’m a wife, I’m a daughter, I’m a friend and so forth.

I love fighting, because it’s my sport, where I can focus 100% on becoming the best Anna Elmose I can be. I treasure the evolution, my training partners and it’s very fun to train. It’s something special, when you get to test yourself in a fight, and I really like that aspect as well.

How big a factor is reviewing your opponent’s fight tapes?

Not so much. My coach does it a lot, and then he shows me certain fights or moments, which showcases strengths or weaknesses in my opponents. I kind of sneak peak, so I have an idea about, who I’m fighting. My training is all about me and how I can evolve as a fighter. With my physical attributes, I can end any fight at any time. So, it’s all about setting myself in that position, so I can finish a fight.

What holes do you see in Amanda Cooper’s game?

Not any big holes, really. She seems well-rounded and very athletic. Most of her fights are not very impressive, but then again if you look at my fights a few years back, they aren’t very impressive either. In her latest fights, she has seemed much better and I expect an even better version to stand in front me on November 19.

What separates you from every other fighter in your division?

I believe, I have the skills to compete with the best of them, and my physical tools will be too much for the 115’ers to handle.

If you could have one dream fight with anyone, who would it be?

Of course, my dream is to win the UFC-belt one day. So, whoever is the champion, is my dream opponent.

What’s your five year plan?

To become the best in the World.

What do you want to be remembered for at the end of your career?

I do this for myself. I don’t care about how people might remember me. I’ve never thought about it, and I honestly don’t have an answer to that.

Elmose VS Cooper takes place this Saturday from the Odyssey Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The fight will air live on UFC Fight Pass, the event begins at 12:15PM/9:15AM ETPT.

Who do you think will win? Let us know below.

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