Pearl Gonzalez made her UFC debut at UFC 210 in a losing effort to the undefeated Cynthia Calvillo.
The fighter admits that the issues with her breast implants and the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) affected her performance at UFC 210.
“I think that mentally it kind of pulled me away from the task at hand and the task at hand is always to win,” Gonzalez said on The MMA Hour. “And so, not that it at all is an excuse, it was a lot for me to take in and go through. Did they look into it enough before they jumped the [gun]? No, but at the end of the day there was nothing I could do about it. I don’t blame them. They did jump the gun, but we all do that in our lives, I believe.”
Other female fighters have fought in UFC events in the state of New York with breast implants, which is what makes the situation an odd one.
Gonzalez also wants the fans out there to know that it is completely safe to compete with breast implants.
“They are safe,” Gonzalez said. “I did that research before I got the procedure done. Is it a silly rule? Absolutely. I can’t change other’s rules. Hopefully other states that have this rule will use me as an example to change that rule.”
Despite the craziness surrounding her UFC debut, the fighter will get another shot down the line, although her next fight has yet to be announced.