Andy Nguyen finds herself within a unique historical confluence this weekend in Tijuana, Mexico. In the co-main event of BKB 59, Nguyen will vie for the BKB super flyweight championship against Cecy Ulloa in the promotion’s first-ever card in Mexico. The other historical piece lies within that Police Gazette Diamond Belt, which has such a rich history to it, dating back well over a hundred years. When addressing some of these components found within this fight, Andy Nguyen said [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],

“Yeah, it is a lot of history and I kind of feel bad that I’m going to take that away from her, but it is what it is. [laughter]”

After playfully quipping about ‘why should she feel bad when she’s trying to carve out her own path in this sport?’, Andy Nguyen stated [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],

“Awesome. Yeah, definitely. They could always invite me back into Tijuana. I love this place.”

Touching on the inherent temerity of entering enemy territory, into such a pressure-cooker type of scenario here, Andy Nguyen quipped [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],

“Yeah, it definitely comes with experience. I’ve been in everybody’s territory before, so. They didn’t fly me here to win [laughter].”

With a career that spans multiple countries with multiple instances of fighting their partisan favorite, when mentioning that the broader story of her career speaks to this type of framework, Andy Nguyen said [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],

“Yeah, kind of [laughter]. Thank you for saying that though.”

The former KOTC champion also recently signed a multi-fight BKB deal, and when delving into some differences in BKB as compared to other promotions she has fought for, Andy Nguyen stated [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],

“Well, the ramp was so long. I remember watching Rizin on TV and I was like, “Oh my god, I wish one day I could fight on that thing.” When I got the call, I was like, “Dude, that’s a long walk out.” So, there’s no long walk out for the Trigon [laughter]. The Trigon’s even smaller, too. So, I haven’t really thought of any dance at all because you’re [just right] there.”

Responding to the notion that the compact nature of the BKB Mighty Trigon lends itself well to her fighting approach, Andy Nguyen quipped [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],

“Oh, it can be. I’m good with angles. So, we’re Asian. You’re supposed to be good with like geometry and stuff. [laughter]”

Julian Fernandez quipped about similar aspects during his Bare Knuckle Bowker appearance, as he also fought for BKFC and BKB. When touching on that specific mastery of the angles piece that one has to figure out inside of the Trigon, Andy Nguyen said [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],

“Yeah, it’s a little tricky. It’s intimidating. It looks raw. I like it. I mean, the squared circle from BKFC is nice, too, if you want to be like the outside fighter. This one’s more inside. You don’t really have like any place to run to basically.”

In the pursuit of championship gold, the idea of surrounding oneself with prolific champions makes sense. Britain Hart, is the multi-time defending BKFC strawweight champ who will be cornering Nguyen this weekend, and when addressing their camaraderie with one another, Andy Nguyen stated [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],

“Yeah, she really brings good energy and stuff like that. I wish I could talk s**t like her. [laughter] I can’t do it. She always talks s**t to all her opponents. I’m not like that unless I really don’t like that person.”

Quipping about how things got a little heated in the face-off with Cecy Ulloa before their title clash, Andy Nguyen quipped [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],

“Yeah, she started it. I already like scoped out the stage. I’m like, “Oh my goodness.” I was hoping none of the guys would push there. I had no idea that my opponent was going to get in my face. I was like, “Is she going to try to kiss me or are we really doing this?” So, when she was trying to push me with her, I guess her head. So that’s when I had to use the LA Rams and ram her back. [laughter]”

After the face-off, Nguyen put up an Instagram post that mentioned how Ulloa reminded her of bullies from back in the day. When asked if she now has that ‘put the bully in their place’ mentality here, Andy Nguyen said [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],

“Yeah, it did remind me of my younger childhood days, how it all started. Like how girly girls; I was like girly girls could fight too. I remember being; I didn’t get picked on as much as my pretty girlfriends did cuz they weren’t going to do anything, you know? So, I always like stood up for them. So, yeah, she did remind me of that and I kind of like that.”

Espousing her thoughts on the antiquated, dumb notion that someone isn’t a fighter at their core because of their physical appearance, Andy Nguyen stated [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],

“Oh, yeah. Yeah, I try to make it girly as possible. If you watch all my fights, I’m usually in a skirt unless we’re in uniform. I’m fighting in a skirt. I’m going to make me look like a cheerleader and you’re going to look like a basketball player. [laughter]”

With one of the more memorable entrances in MMA history, with her iconic Rizin walkout and how much one’s attire can inform brand identity/ personality expression, Andy Nguyen quipped [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],

“Yeah. Kind of like when the UFC [implemented] the uniform and everything. Yeah, it takes away their characteristics and their personality. It does show their personality way more, I think.”

Remaining active across multiple combat sports, with her last bout being under boxing rules on the Tommy Fury vs. Eddie Hall undercard, and how much independent contractor freedom that BKFC gives her as a multi-combat-sport athlete, Nguyen said [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],

“Yes, as long as it’s not bare knuckle. So I can’t do bare knuckle MMA but I could do boxing. It was 2 week notice and it’s not my weight class but I’m not going to put down a opportunity like that. I rarely decline any fights. You’re going to Manchester, England and you’re going to be fighting under the Tommy Fury card. Why would I say no to that? It just gets me in shape really fast, really quick for two weeks. Even though, I should have pushed the pace a little bit more. It was still a great experience and a lot of things that I do not regret about that at all.”

Beyond the burgeoning rivalry piece, when addressing the resume and skillset that a former BKFC title challenger in Ulloa brings to the fight here on September 19th, Andy Nguyen stated [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],

“I don’t think she’s as active as me. I’m not going to take that away. She’s probably busy owning her own gym or whatever she does. I don’t really look into that. I like to stay busy. I fight as much as I can. I just can’t fight forever. That’s why I’m trying to cherish every moment I can.”

Back on the topic of fighting in multiple combat sports, the 44-year-old also made history with Gamebred Bare Knuckle MMA years back, as Nguyen quipped [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],

“When they asked me to fight Crystal Lawson, that’s the first girl I ever saw fight MMA and how I got into MMA. She always like to brag that it was her that was the reason and I can’t stand it. But 10 years later, I get to kick her ass in bare knuckle. I also made history. I was the first female to win by TKO in bare knuckle MMA. The sport’s super new. So, it’s just cool just to stamp some of these historic things I could tell my grandkids later. [laughter]”

Andy Nguyen: “I’m hoping to finish earlier than round three” at BKB 59

Touching on the unique combination of factors whereby bare knuckle is the oldest combat sport there is but also one that is surging within a modern era of regulation as well as global expansion, Andy Nguyen said [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],

“Yeah. It’s actually the oldest sport. You want to go back to throwback, but yeah, they’re bringing it back. So yeah, it is a new sport now with all like the computers and social media that you can do. You can’t even look that up in an encyclopedia. I don’t know if it is, but yeah. Yeah, it’s definitely been around forever.”

With BKB’s Zanfer Boxing partnership and how much the Mexican boxing powerhouse will serve to provide quality infrastructure here, as well as for planned subsequent events, Nguyen stated [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],

“Yes, I do have a gym here, I could train in San Diego. So I could like come to Tijuana if they ever need me. I don’t mind it at all. I love the weather. I love tacos even though I can’t have any this week [laughter]. I can’t wait to have it on Saturday night. But yeah, I’m open to travel anywhere in the world.”

Responding to Ulloa’s comments on Bare Knuckle Bowker about how she hopes ‘The CrAsian’ is ready to trade with her, because as a Mexican they like to trade and she’s not going anywhere, Andy Nguyen quipped [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],

“I’m ready forever. Wherever the fight goes. If it’s just exchanging, if it’s angles, if it’s dirty boxing, if it’s; Yeah, anything and everything. It doesn’t really matter.”

Also responding to Ulloa’s BKB prediction regarding securing a third-round stoppage on Saturday night, Nguyen said [via Bare Knuckle Bowker],

“Wow, round three. I’m hoping to finish earlier than round three, but I have cardio for all six [laughter].”