With only a draw on her record, Gabrielle Roman was a big betting underdog heading into her fight against Martyna Krol on Friday at BKFC 47 in Lakeland, FL.

She knew that oddsmakers weren’t giving her much of a shot against Krol, who was coming off a stoppage victory over UFC vet Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger. But that didn’t phase Roman when it was time to step back into the Squared Circle.

“I don’t care about those things,” the 31-year-old Perth Amboy, NJ product says. “My team (Strategic Academy) prepared me for that – for every aspect of the experience – and my job is just to listen and do what they tell me.”

And that’s exactly what she did. Roman battered her more experienced opponent before Krol was unable to continue after two minutes of high-intensity action.

Roman is grateful to have her hand raised, especially after accepting the bout without the benefit of an eight-week training camp, but she’s excited to get back in the gym and continue to improve.

Roman’s coaches mandated a week away from the gym, so she’s more than happy to catch up on family time and enjoy some of the food her strict diet wouldn’t allow in the leadup to a fight. But, when the week is over, she’ll be ready to start attacking her lofty goals once again.

“I’m going to be the champ,” she proclaims. 

“BKFC is the best fighting platform in the world. It’s the most real. And it’s my home – but I’ve got to earn that, you know?”