Invicta Fighting Championships Bantamweight Champion Tonya Evinger recently defended the gold against Yana Kunitskaya at Invicta FC 22.
However, the champion has heard some negative comments from the UFC and that has inspired her to become the best fighter in the world. A few years back, UFC match maker Sean Shelby called the champion an "unimpressive fighter" and she hasn’t forgotten those words.
“What’s there to really take back?” Evinger said on The MMA Hour. “It was a real occasion that happened. I’m not saying it helped or didn’t help my career, but it obviously lit a fire under my ass, because I’ve done nothing but win since.”
Evinger has defeated several fighters that are currently under a UFC deal, such as Cindy Dandois and Irene Aldana.
The fact that she has never gotten the opportunity on the biggest MMA stage of them all has weighed on her mind.
“It’s always bothered me,” Evinger said. “I work hard for whatever I’ve got. Same thing in wrestling and now this sport. The recognition comes from the people in power, I guess. They can make anybody a star. These kids, they’re a hype train, man. They don’t know how to fight like they can sell a pay-per-view. It sucks, but there’s nothing I can do.”
Despite the fact that she has never competed in the UFC, the Invicta FC veteran will still be defending the gold until somebody unseats her.
