Regina Tarin was successful in her short-notice UFC debut in February, shortly after being part of a WWE tryout a month before, and remains open to doing both in the future even if the priority remains to pursue her ultimate dream in mixed martial arts.
The Mexican talent won a decision over Ernesta Kareckaite in her octagon debut to improve to 8-0 in the sport and returns to take on flyweight veteran JJ Aldrich this Saturday at Noche UFC in Glendale, Arizona.
“They reached out to me directly on Instagram and told me about going to the WWE tryouts,” Tarin told MMA Fighting. “And I said, ‘Okay, let’s go.’ That’s how they contacted me. I showed up, I made it into WWE, but three days later I got a call from UFC, so, well, passion comes first.”
The WWE and UFC are now part of the same group, when TKO Group Holdings was formed in late 2023, and that could lead to opportunities for Tarin in professional wrestling. The Mexican star has a huge platform on social media with over 500,000 followers on Instagram.
“Of course, I’d consider doing it later, maybe alongside MMA, or even at the same time, I don’t know,” Tarin said. “But right now my priority is MMA, my priority is UFC, my priority is winning fights and maybe in the future we’ll see it happen.”
Tarin has a 75 percent finishing rate in MMA, half of her eight victories coming by way of knockout, and said “I’m confident I’m going to win by knockout.” Tarin said her nickname “Kill Bill” is inspired by the iconic movie character Beatrix Kiddo, played by Uma Thurman, because “she’s blonde, she’s crazy, and she wants to kill everyone.”
“And she does it,” Tarin said with a laugh. “So, that’s me. I’m crazy, and I’m going for everything.”
Close to turning 22 years of age in October, Tarin is confident she will put on a much better performance now compared to her UFC debut.
“This time I had a full training camp,” Tarin said. “I had the opportunity to study my opponent, and making weight is going to be much easier this time than it was last time because I won’t have to cut as much. But I think the hunger and the desire are going to be exactly the same.
“The mentality is the same. The same Regina who stepped into the cage last time, with that hunger and that desire, is the same Regina stepping in this time. I think now you’re going to see a prepared Regina — a Regina with a strategy, a game plan, and everything already in place for this war. So yes, I think I can put on a better performance, and that’s the plan. That’s exactly the plan.”
Tarin had a long run in amateur MMA before turning pro in 2023 and believes that reduces the experience gap between her and Aldrich, who enters her 18th UFC fight Saturday after back-to-back wins over Andrea Lee and Jamey-Lyn Horth.
“Honestly, I know she has a lot of experience,” Tarin said. “She’s been in the UFC for many years and has had a lot of fights. But I think I’ve gotten used to the idea of youth versus experience. And well, I have the hunger. I have the desire to move forward and show what kind of fighter I am. She has a lot of experience, and I respect her, but once we’re inside the cage, the respect goes out the window. Honestly, I’m going in there giving it everything I have and going for the win.”
