WITH an official UFC debut under her belt, Jojo Calderwood is gunning for the rest of the women's strawweight division and she doesn't care who's next.
The Scot - coming off a stint on The Ultimate Fighter series 20 and a crack at becoming the first UFC 115lbs champion - made her debut in Las Vegas last weekend and she was left beaming at her first UFC fight week.
Speaking to Kingdom MMA, Jojo said: "It was an awesome experience. The whole week was really cool and I was really confident. I was really happy and excited for the fight and it went awesome. I performed and I got the win, so the whole experience was great."
Calderwood shone as she dominated against the tough South Korean Seo Hee Ham as she scooped a unanimous decision to seal her place as the first Scottish woman to pick up a UFC win.
She said: "I just go in there a see what happens and obviously my coach, James Doolan, had done some research on Seo Hee Ham. He knew she was going to be a game fighter and it was going to be a good fight.
"We knew she was a southpaw as well so we just went in and worked on a few things. We knew she had quite a good right hand. I went in and let all my training go to work and getting the win was the main goal.
"I was quite happy. I'll fight anyone but one of the cast (of TUF 20) was out with injury and I was quite pleased not to get anyone from the house. I had to see them at the show and stuff. Now, after the show, I don't need to see any of them until I need to fight them."
Despite getting her big break as a result of the hit reality series, Calderwood admits that the Ultimate Fighter house is not something that she will miss. Trapped in a house with fellow title hopefuls and dealing with the drama is something she can live without.
"The house was a bit of a nightmare. I don't regret anything and I survived it, but I didn't enjoy it. But it was the experience of a life time and I was grateful to get the opportunity to do it. Said Calderwood.
"Now this is where I want to be, I want to be in the UFC, so it's kind of got me here.
"I would say it's more for up and coming fighters or fighters that like the reality side of things and attention. Me, as a fighter, I don't like any of that so I didn't enjoy it. But I was really grateful for the opportunity to be part of it and it was a historic moment being an all female cast."
Not one to stand back and admire her handy work, Calderwood is already back in the gym and gearing towards her next fight. Hot off the heels of a massive debut in Las Vegas Calderwood was back training at Glasgow's Griphouse gym on Monday.
Jojo said: "I like to stay busy as a fighter so I'm hoping the UFC has me back out in the next few months. I just need to wait and see if they want me out so soon but I'm ready. I've got no injuries and I'm back training already and I'm already hoping I've got another fight lined up but I need to wait and see and keep my fingers crossed but I'm hoping it'll be in the next few months.
"I'll take whoever they offer me. That's their job. They set the fights up so I just wait and see who they give me and that'll be the girl that I'm facing next. As for picking anyone, all of the girls in the division are dangerous and talented fighters so I'm happy to fight them all."
With Carla Esparza notching the UFC title, and the subsequent rankings being released, Calderwood finds herself handily sitting in sixth. In a talent rich division with plenty of outstanding potential match ups, The Scot is happy to take on all comers, saying:
"I don't really bother with the rankings but I know a lot of people think I should be higher. I'm not like 'I should be higher, I should be this number or that number'. I'd rather just fight whoever is above me or whoever I need to fight to get to the title and prove it that way.
"The rankings, especially in MMA, don't really matter, so I'm quite happy if I need to fight everyone above me. That means more fights for me so I'm quite happy."
As the second Scot to step foot in the octagon, Calderwood remains optimistic about the prospects of more of her compatriots emulating her achievement.
"There's a few really talented team mates of mine that are more than deserving of an opportunity to fight in the UFC" she said.
"The UFC may be coming to Scotland next year, so I'm hoping that they get on the card and we put on a good show and the UFC come when they're ready. It'll be awesome, especially if my team mates get on the card."
With a rumoured Scottish card in the works, Calderwood is eager to forge ahead and get a fight closer to home for a change. She hasn't fought on British soil since she sensationally knocked out Sally Krumdiack back at Cage Warriors 53 in April 2013.
She said: "I know they are thinking about it, and I know they'll come when they're ready. The UFC don't want to put on just any show, they want to put on a good card.
"It would be awesome to fight in my hometown. I haven't fought here for two years now and it's expensive for flights out to America and that's where I've been fighting so most of my family and friends haven't been able to come over to America. They've had to stay up late and watch me. It would be awesome to repay them and let them support me live. It would be cool just to say the UFC has come to Scotland and that I was part of it."
With her first win in the books it's certain that we will be seeing much more of Jojo in the octagon and with any luck she will get to fulfill her dream of bringing the UFC to Scotland in 2015.
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