CFFC 129's Fatima Kline hopes historical second title belt shows 'I deserve to be in the UFC'
"The Archangel" looks to become second double-champ in CFFC history when she headlines Friday's event in Philadelphia.
Just five fights into her professional MMA career, Fatima Kline is poised to etch her name into the CFFC history books.
The 23-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt debuted for the promotion in October, expecting to challenge for a vacant strawweight title. However, when her opponent encountered travel issues en route to the fight, Kline was asked to face a new opponent on short notice, instead, and move up a division, as well.
Kline did so without hesitation and claimed a flyweight belt with an impressive third-round stoppage over a gritty Sara Cova. Kline has long been a highly decorated grappler, but the title was the first of her budding MMA career.
"It feels awesome," Kline said. "First time getting a belt in MMA, obviously it means a lot to you."
Now it might not be long until "The Archangel" gets to find out what it means to win a second title, as well. Kline could become just the second simultaneous two-division champion in the promotion's history – joining Katlyn Cerminara (nee Chookagian) – should she prove victorious at Friday's CFFC 129 event, which streams live on UFC FIGHT PASS from Philadelphia's 2300 Arena.
"I thought I was going to be the strawweight champion," Kline said. "It didn't work out that way, but hey, I get to go for the actual strawweight champ this time, so it feels good. It definitely meant a lot to me, and yeah, I'm just really excited to go and get another one."
At CFFC 129, Kline (5-0) will face promotional newcomer Andressa Romero (6-3-1), a 30-year-old Brazilian who competes in the U.S. for the first time. The strawweight title remains vacant to this point and will be on the line in the matchup, giving Kline an opportunity for champ-champ status.
Despite her impressive performance at 125 pounds in her last outing, Kline said she always intended for an immediate return to the strawweight division.
"I knew kind of right away that I wanted to go back down," Kline said. "I'm just a natural 115. I love the way I was able to go up to 125 and get it last minute. I think just everything that happened, even all the chaos with switching opponents and everything, it just allowed me to fight a weight class up, which is a learning experience of itself, and so I am glad that I was able to fight at 125 and get a feel for it, but I believe 115 is definitely my natural weight class."
In Romero, Kline will face another competitor who is active on the grappling scene in addition to her MMA pursuits. Kline doesn't take any opponent lightly but has done her research and feels confident heading into the matchup.
"She's tough," Kline said. "Brazilian, so she's going to come with that, like, sturdiness, you know? But I'm excited.
"I think she's a tough, tough opponent. I'm really excited to be able to fight in my weight class, and I've had a long enough camp, and me and my coaches have looked through all of her fights, and we see a lot of the same tendencies. So, yeah, I'm really hoping to be able to kind of display the same thing I did last time and really show that I'm good everywhere. You know, in the cage with me, you've got to be worried about a lot of things."
A second CFFC title would go a long way towards Kline's ultimate goal of a UFC bid, where she believes she can provide an immediate impact in the promotion's strawweight division. The New York native likes the idea of debuting down the road in New Jersey when the organization visits Atlantic City – and where Kline's teammate, Erin Blanchfield, holds a prominent role.
But those dream scenarios can evaporate in the blink of an eye should Kline not deliver when needed. The undefeated champ says she's acutely aware of that reality and plans to prove her worth at CFFC 129.
"I'm hyper focused on the now," Kline said. "I've got to worry about that first, but it's definitely in the back of my mind, like, what could be next? And I really think if I get this next belt and I finish her the same way I finished my last fight that I'm undeniable, and that it's only a matter of time.
"To be able to fight on the same card that my teammate Erin is fighting on and just to fight pretty close to home, I think that would be like, a dream debut, you know? So that would that would be really exciting for me, but yeah, we'll see what happens. Fingers crossed, but yeah, I'm ready to definitely, definitely show out there and show that I deserve to be in the UFC."
