Final Part: interview with Diane Korkunkova(Michelle Joy Phelps sits with Diana at her stables locker room on benches, with both in workout gear as the BBU flyweight title sits between them on the bench facing the camera)Michelle: hey guys; I am honoured this week to have the BBU's very own flyweight champion Diana Korkunkova with me for this weeks interview.
Diana: (waving to the camera) hello to the BBU fans out there, I am so happy to get to speak to you all.
Michelle: now normally we use videos of fighters workouts to show how fit they are, but we found an image I think is astounding.
Michelle: I mean I certainly won't be trying that anytime soon haha.
Diana: haha yeah I like to do yoga when I am not trying to fight, it is part of what I feel makes me dangerous as a fighter, I can fight you in a brawl but I can also create different angles to strike because of my flexibility.
I'll tell you now it is so satisfying seeing an opponent's face when they throw a straight and I slip it a little more then I know they expected, it is so fun.
Michelle: well we don't want to toot our own horn but we did vote you the rookie of the year back in 2017, did you feel pressure after having such a great opening year to your career, with pundits saying you were a future world champion?
Diana: of course there was pressure on me, I mean being the only woman not a light or welterweight in my stable has it's own pressures, I have to be the leading light in my division for our stable.
The thing is though is that I don't really let it bother me, I enjoy the thrill of the fight, the competition of fighting another fighter who wants the same things I do.
So all the stuff outside the ring has never really effected me I think, hence why you'll see my rarely tense in the ring, only really when I fought for the title did I feel any tenseness at all.
Michelle: of course I have to ask about that fight; in May you stepped into the ring with Cheryl Cole, a woman many see as the best in the BBU, someone who you were an underdog too, how did it feel for you going into that fight?
Diana: well first I think Cheryl is a sweetheart, I know she has a bit of a reputation for being a bit loud with opinions, but I think me and her get along OK, so it was never like we were at each others throats and the title was a bonus, the title was what we both wanted.
Now I'll tell you that weigh in where me and Cheryl were in our bikinis, each getting to see the others bodies for the first time that close, I had butterflies then just seeing how fit she is, I honestly wanted to joke with her about having abs of steel.
But when our eyes locked; after a minute my nerves started to go away, I wanted so much to be like Cheryl, at that moment though I knew I wanted to surpass her and show her I was the best.
Michelle: you spoke about being tense in the ring; did you loosen up as the round went by, can you please give the fans an insight into a challengers mindset in the ring?
Diana: like I said I was feeling tense in the opening two rounds, you don't want to make a mistake and lose your chance, I want to say as well Cheryl is truly as good as everyone says, I am honoured to have even been able to get into the ring with her that night.
As the rounds went on and I had success; you honestly feel stronger, the tension in your muscles go and you start hitting harder, you see punches coming easier, it is like you are tuned into the wavelength of your rival.
Now I know of course that if I was losing, that feeling would never have come, I'd be thinking too much about what I was doing and not just doing what I can.
Michelle: now we return to the present; you are fighting Emilia Clarke in three days time on Wednesday, how are you feeling about your first defence?
Diana: I am so excited! I absolutely love Emilia for things like Game of Thrones of course, though that last series might be playing on her mind just a little. (Winks)
In the ring though she is a great fighter to watch, she is very skillful with how she can pick apart opponents defences, something I will watch out for of course.
I of course believe this (points at the title) will be leaving with me, I think I an physically better then her, throw in the fact that I need to stamp my authority on the division with a good performance, Emilia better be ready for this fight.
Michelle: we haven't got much time; I know that you can't look past Emilia, but if you do beat her this PPV, is there anyone you'd love to get it on with?
Diana: honestly there are so many great fighters here that I can't name one person, this is a division stacked with top fighters who I need will be braying for my blood haha.
I can tell you and my fans now though that I will be a fighting champion, I have never hidden from a challenge in my life and the fact I hold a title doesn't mean I will start hiding from them now.
Michelle: strong words from a great champion, sadly that is all we have time for, thank you Diana for giving us your free time.
Diana (blowing kisses to the camera) thank you Michelle and a big thank you to my fans, I will keep fighting hard for all of you amazing people.
Michelle: that is it guys, thank you to everyone who took the time to read these posts, hopefully we will see you next Sunday for the next edition of the Real View.