After adding a fifth win to an undefeated pro run spent entirely in the Invicta FC cage, Aspen Ladd is ready to move on to the octagon.

Fresh off a unanimous-decision win over Sijara Eubanks (2-2) earlier this month at Invicta FC 21, Ladd (5-0) said she wouldn’t hesitate to say yes should a spot on the UFC’s women’s bantamweight roster open.

“My goal is to be in the UFC this year, so if they call, I’m going,” Ladd told MMAjunkie Radio. “My wish list is for my next fight to be in the UFC. It’s another step, and it’s another huge step, but for my entire career, from my first amateur fight, one little step at a time, keep on going. And I believe that is the next step now.”

Ladd, who said she’d be open to taking on a short-notice assignment if that were the only option, is aware that a move to the UFC this early in her career would probably mean a slower climb up the 135-pound ranks – currently ruled by UFC champ Amanda Nunes.

But with no specific targets or matchups in mind, the 21-year-old MMA GOLD product is more than willing to put in the work to build her name on the new stage.

“For me it’s just probably going to be an up-and-comer type deal,” Ladd said. “It’s like, fine, I’m sure they’ll start me all – I don’t think I’m getting anywhere near the top 10 unless I take a short-notice fight.

“I plan on working my way up, and by the time I get to whatever level, (fight) whoever is the champ at the time. Who knows? I have no idea who it’s going to be. Nobody does. But there’ll be a time years from now where I want to fight the champ in the UFC.”

The recent unanimous call over Eubanks marked Ladd’s first time going to the judges’ scorecards in the two years since she turned pro. Before Invicta FC 21, she’d submitted one opponent and knocked out three.

In spite of not having been able to get the finish over a game Eubanks, Ladd was ultimately happy to show off not only her endurance, but her ability to absorb damage.

“This is the first time that in a fight I stood and banged the entire time, and I honestly enjoyed myself,” Ladd said. “During the fight, I was having fun, which is not normal. I’m usually just thinking about the task at hand. So I loved it.

“I’m disappointed I didn’t get the finish, but at the same time, I don’t think this diminished my stock at all. I think it upped it. Because it does prove that I can go all three rounds, all five rounds, whatever they want me to do. I’m not afraid to stand, and like you said, I can take a punch.

“Every time I fight, I like to look back and go, ‘OK, I can kick my ass last fight. I can kick my ass the fight before that.’ It’s all about improvement. And I felt in this fight, improvement. I also saw a lot of things I need to work on, but it was better than the one before. So I’m happy with that.”

For more on Invicta FC 21, check out the MMA Events section of the site.

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