Rising Kiwi MMA fighter Genah Fabian is now tantalisingly close to both a career and life-changing opportunity in the semi-final of the Professional Fighting League's lightweight division playoffs in Florida on Friday (NZ time).
As she made her final farewells at her City Kickboxing headquarters before departing for the US - sans MIQ voucher and uncertain when she may be able to return - friend, teammate, and UFC world champion Israel Adesanya was on hand with some advice as sharp as one of his counter left-hooks.
"He said I'm the baddest bitch in the world when I want to show up and be that," Fabian reveals, as she prepares for her main event tilt at PFL 8.
"That's what he shared with me right before I left."
The 31-year-old will need to harness every ounce of that energy if she's to overcome defending champion Kayla Harrison, an undefeated two-time Olympic gold-medallist judoka who has taken the sport by storm, forging a deserved reputation as one of the most dominant fighters in all of MMA.
Since transitioning to the sport in 2018, Harrison has reeled off 10 consecutive wins, eight of which have come via submission or knockout. Six of those finishes have come in the first round.
But Harrison is yet to share the cage with a fighter of both Fabian's size and striking pedigree. A former Muay Thai and kickboxing world champion, the Aucklander has the ideal blueprint to hand Harrison her first career loss - an achievement which would alone be enough to turn the MMA world's collective head.
There's also the not insignificant matter of the $US1 million ($NZ1.4m) on offer in the championship final to follow, which is part and parcel of the PFL's unique tournament format.
Headed by president and NZ combat sports legend Ray Sefo, the young MMA promotion incorporates an innovative, alternative approach to prize fighting, with a points-based regular season, playoffs and championship series.
Fabian made her debut in the organisation's second season in 2019, where she showed glimpses of her promise in finishing Moriel Charneski in the first round. She progressed to a match-up with Harrison, only for that original bout to be thwarted by weight cut-related health issues.
After the 2020 season fell victim to COVID-19, Fabian seized the opportunity to lock herself in the lab at City Kickboxing, retooling for this year's title tilt, even a boxing bout on a regional card to keep her skills sharpened.
The fruits of that labour have been plain to see, with a comprehensive shutout decision win against Laura Sanchez in May, before reiterating her class with a second-round TKO of Julija Pajic in her quarter-final bout in June.
"With things being shut down last year, I didn't waste that time, when the world went into isolation," says Fabian. "We got right into it, and that year we were given, I used it as an opportunity to prepare me for this year.
"Just getting my wind and comfort in the cage. Each fight, each camp adding on more and growing, showing that much more in the cage.
"I feel great. To be here in the semi against Kayla is one step closer to the goal. I love where I'm at and I'm one step closer to the end goal for this year."
Under the guidance of cousin and City Kickboxing head coach Eugene Bareman, Fabian has patiently refined and adapted her approach to the cage, showcasing an ever evolving grappling game and improved conditioning.
Those developments should come as little surprise given her cousin's penchant for pain, and with a gruelling third fight camp in as many months completed, Fabian insists she hasn't received any whanau favouritism, and hasn't expected any either.
"There are no special treats or favours or even kind, encouraging words some days," she says. "He's preparing me for war in all aspects. That's kind of his style. He takes no prisoners and he really tests you.
"Camp is not a nice time. It isn't this uplifting, encouraging, supportive [place]. It's a hard grind. You'll be left on the floor on your back some days and they'll just tell you to move so they can mop the mats.
"It's that kind of environment but it brings the best out in us and by the time the fight comes we really are prepared for anything."
Unfortunately for Fabian, the scarcity of MIQ vouchers has meant her usual corner team - including Bareman - have remained in New Zealand, while she'll also have to contend with an extended stay in the States.
But Fabian will at least have a familiar face in City Kickboxing regular Frank Hickman behind her when she takes the cage. The American grappling wiz has been in the US coaching as part of UFC featherweight champ Alex Volkanovski's team on The Ultimate Fighter reality show.
It's a situation which further stacks the odds against the unfazed Kiwi - currently a $10 betting underdog - who's more than content to fly under the radar.
"It's actually been really nice being an underdog," she says. "Any talk of me being dismissed will only play into my favour.
"I've been taking this time for what it is, being able to 100 percent focus and not worry about any extra obligations on top of obligations.
"Kayla is the current champ. Of course she is going to get the heights and adulation she deserves. My team and I have let that play into our favour.
"I've prepared hard. I know I've got the skill, the camp, the game plan, and the size to be able to beat her. That's my only focus and concern and that's what it will come down to come fight night."
And Fabian has more than a million reasons to prove her worth come Friday.
