Better late than never--especially if you've just got yourself a spot on UFC 202, a card that looks set to break all UFC pay-per-view records. 

Yesterday it was announced that UFC strawweight Randa Markos would face Courtney Casey at UFC 202 at the T-Mobile Arena in Les Vegas, Nevada on August 20th. 

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Excited to be on the same card as Diaz vs McGregor II

For some fighters, seventeen days notice may not have been nearly enough time to prepare for a fight, however, Markos was already working hard in the gym getting ready for a call up for a card happening just one week after UFC 202.

"I think they just needed to fill the card with a few more fights or something but I've been preparing for a call for UFC Vancouver so I was ready to go," Markos said. "I really wanted to be on the Vancouver card and I was mentally prepared for it and everything but when the call came through I just said yeah I'd happily do it."

"Being on UFC 202 at such an awesome card, I'm just super excited about it."

Markos has good reason to be excited. UFC 202 is set to be headlined by a blockbuster rematch between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz in what is one of the most highly anticipated fights of the year. The opportunity to compete on such a high profile card was something Markos simply couldn't turn down, especially since she was already in great condition. 

"It wasn't a bother to me fighting one week earlier than expected because I've already been in training hard in the gym and getting my weight down," Markos said. "I'm just ready for it. I'm excited to have a fight right away because I don't like waiting around too long so it was perfect for me.

"I think this is really going to be great for me and just being on that card is just amazing. I've been on the same card as Nate Diaz before so to be on the same card as his rematch with Conor McGregor it's going to be an awesome experience. I just want to see the crowd going crazy again. Watching it on TV is insane so I can't imagine what it's going to be like to actually be there."

Ready for a 'tough' Courtney Casey

Her opponent on August 20th will be the American Courtney Casey who won her first UFC fight just last month when she beat Cristina Stanciu via first round TKO. Markos is expecting a tough evening and has been impressed with what she's seen so far from the American.

"To be honest, she's just an opponent I've been handed, I don't really care who I fight right now," Markos said. "From what I've seen she's super tough but I've not really looked her up too much but I just wanted to know who she was. She seems really durable and I'm expecting a tough match and a good brawl but I love fights like that. I'm really excited about this one I think we are going to put on a great fight."

With some other very high profile fighters on the card, Markos and Casey are going to have their work cut out stealing the headlines come Sunday morning. Markos, however, is confident she will be able to put in a noteworthy performance that will have the other UFC strawweight take note. 

"I've been working on a lot of things and I've had a few setbacks in the past so I've really tried to fix everything and my game in all parts," Markos said. "I'm going to just go out there and fight my heart out, that's all any of us can really do. Just go out there and just think about yourself and what you need to do to win."

Upcycling

When she's not 'fixing' her MMA game, Markos likes to spend her time fixing other things--furniture to be exact. 'Upcycling' has been her hobby for years and it's always been a nice distraction to have outside of fighting. 

"I always need to find something to do, I never like to sit still or have nothing on the go," Markos said. "I like re-doing furniture that's always been something I love to do. Outside of that, it's just training. I'm just one of those people that like to have something to look at by the end of the day to feel like I've accomplished something." 

Not interested in moving to a flyweight division

While fixing furniture in her spare time, Markos will be looking to rise through the ranks in the 115-pound strawweight division by the end of the year. While some of the other women in the UFC may be looking towards the creation of a 125-pound flyweight weight category, Markos isn't so much interested herself and believes strawweight is where her future lies. 

"We were never offered to take any catchweight, it's a 115-pound fight," Markos confirmed when asked if she had been offered a flyweight offer due to the late notice. "I know last time I missed weight by a little but that was because I was using a new weight cutting technique and I started off a little heavier than I wanted to. 

"I can make 115-pounds no problem, I did it all throughout the TUF house so it was just a one-off thing that happened and I'm never going to let it happen again. 115-pounds is where my home is, I like being small and I think that's where I'm best suited for. I do like the fact they are going to be adding the flyweight weight class as there are too many girls in between 115 and 135 but I think it's a great opportunity for other girls."

Fighting now her number one priority

Markos is now more determined than ever to realize her dreams inside the Octagon and with MMA now her number one priority in life, she's going to be giving herself every opportunity possible to achieve her goals.

"Fighting is everything to me right now, I love my family, I love spending time with them, but that understand now that fighting is my first priority now and everything else comes second," Markos said. "It just has to be that way, you need to be obsessed and want it really deep down to really achieve your goals. I know everyone understands that and all my family support me and back me up with what I want to do."

Dyeing her hair red

One of the biggest changes Markos has made over the last few months is the color of her hair, going from her usual jet black to a vibrant bright red. Though it may not have her initial intention, the change has brought her a lot of positive attention. 

"I really wanted to change my hair color because it's been dark for a really long time," Markos said nonchalantly. "My sister just said to me one day I should dye it this color and she even said it would draw me some good attention and make me stand out. 

"I think it's helped me a little bit but really, it's just because I like it and I think it looks cool. Everyone has been telling me it looks good and I plan on keeping it for a while."