Crystal "THE LOVELY" Van wyk Gonzalez Media TV interview

In the Crystal "THE LOVELY" Van wyk Gonzalez Media TV interview, Van wyk told Jose G that she had returned to training with her husband and original coach ahead of an October 23 Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship fight with Noelia Bassai in Clearwater, Florida. She said technical boxing had pulled her away from her aggressive style, while her last loss had motivated rather than discouraged her.

Why did Crystal "THE LOVELY" Van wyk return to training with her husband and her aggressive fighting style?

Crystal "THE LOVELY" Van wyk returned to her husband, her original coach, after deciding that a more technical approach to boxing was making her overthink fights. She said her strengths lie in pressing forward and fighting aggressively, and she wants to bring that approach back against Noelia Bassai on October 23.

Training at different boxing schools

Since her previous conversation with Gonzalez Media TV, Van wyk had trained at two boxing schools and worked with different coaches. She said she was training hard even before she knew another fight was coming. The schools had produced boxing champions, but she came to believe that concentrating on boxing technique alone did not bring out the best in her own style.

Van wyk had worked on head movement and skill. Looking back at her recent fights, though, she felt that thinking through each exchange had kept her from using her strongest attributes. The demanding routine also left her feeling burned out: training and fighting had become less enjoyable and less rewarding than they had been.

Going back to her original coach

Her husband was the coach who had guided her from the start, and she credited him with helping her earn her wins. Returning to him has also helped her enjoy training again. Van wyk described her preferred approach as aggressive and forward-facing, without letting the prospect of a cut dictate how she fights. She said she now feels more engaged, mentally and physically, and expects that version of herself to show up on October 23.

What did Crystal "THE LOVELY" Van wyk say about her next fight with Noelia Bassai?

Crystal "THE LOVELY" Van wyk expects an action-packed fight with Noelia Bassai at the October 23 BKFC event in Clearwater, Florida. A major reason for her optimism is their size: Van wyk said Bassai is an atomweight like her, whereas she has previously had to face larger opponents in bare-knuckle boxing.

Facing another atomweight

Van wyk said she has usually fought at 105, 108 or 110 pounds during her career. Bare-knuckle boxing has not offered her an atomweight division, she explained, so she has faced women who were 125 pounds. That history makes a matchup with Bassai especially welcome to her.

She expressed respect for Bassai and expects both fighters to bring out the best in each other. Van wyk did not offer a prediction about the result. Instead, she focused on the prospect of an active fight between two athletes she believes are well matched.

How did Crystal "THE LOVELY" Van wyk respond to her last fight loss?

Crystal "THE LOVELY" Van wyk said her last loss made her examine her own performance, not question whether she wanted to keep fighting. She felt she had held back while trying to follow a more strategic approach, even though she enjoyed the fight and respected her opponent. Her faith helped her treat the setback as motivation.

Van wyk said she had listened to coaches and others urging her to move her head more and think more strategically. Afterward, she felt she had not given everything she could have given to win. She did not blame her opponent, whom she called good, and said she had fun despite the result. Her frustration was with how much of her own fighting style she had left unused.

She also said she felt she became more active only in the last two rounds. Rather than dwelling on the loss, Van wyk framed it as part of a longer process of getting back up and improving. Describing what defeat does to her, she put it plainly:

when I lose it only motivates me more

Faith is central to that outlook. Van wyk said she believes God helps her through setbacks and that losses can become fuel for what comes next. For her, the response is to keep working rather than stop after a difficult fight.

Why does Crystal "THE LOVELY" Van wyk keep fighting in bare-knuckle boxing?

Crystal "THE LOVELY" Van wyk keeps returning to bare-knuckle boxing because she enjoys the fights themselves. She acknowledged that she has been cut more badly in bare-knuckle bouts than in other fights, but said the experience in the ring, and the freedom she feels without boxing gloves, outweigh those concerns for her.

Cuts and recovery

Van wyk said lacerations are part of the sport and that her fighting style has left her cut in bare-knuckle bouts. She described those cuts as cosmetic and said she does not let their effect on her appearance govern her decisions. She enjoys doing her hair and makeup, but said she prays for her vision to remain intact and has healed from cuts in a matter of days.

Freedom without boxing gloves

Of the fighting styles she has tried, Van wyk said bare-knuckle feels most natural to her. Tight hand wraps and gloves in other fights made her feel trapped; once those fights ended, she wanted the gear removed. She appreciates small differences in bare-knuckle boxing, including being able to pick up her own water and drink after a round. Above all, she said she enjoys how the fighting feels while it is happening.

What makes the Clearwater fight important to Crystal "THE LOVELY" Van wyk?

Crystal "THE LOVELY" Van wyk is looking forward to fighting in Clearwater because she considers it home and expects people who support her to attend. She is also grateful for another opportunity to compete. Van wyk said the October 23 bout would probably be her last fight of the year.

The opponent is part of the appeal: she believes the matchup with Bassai can produce a strong fight. So is the location. Van wyk said Clearwater is where she plans to live, making the chance to fight in front of family, friends and supporters particularly meaningful.

If the night goes as she hopes, Van wyk said she may have a drink afterward, possibly even with Bassai. More important to her would be the chance to speak with family and friends and be grateful for the opportunity to fight again.

Who helped Crystal "THE LOVELY" Van wyk prepare for the fight?

Crystal "THE LOVELY" Van wyk credited her husband, who is also her coach and mentor, as the person she was most grateful to for her preparation. She also thanked God and named several sponsors whose support, she said, helped her get through training camp.

Van wyk said fron husk had supported her through her fight camps and that hka had provided gear. She also thanked drank drops, which she described as a newer supporter, along with fight wax, consumer protection and Probef. Their help mattered to her alongside the work she had put in with her husband.

Who is Crystal "THE LOVELY" Van wyk?

Crystal "THE LOVELY" Van wyk is a professional strawweight MMA fighter originally from South Africa. She began her MMA journey in the United States in 2017 and has competed in MMA, Muay Thai, boxing, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and bare-knuckle boxing. She is signed with BKFC, where she has a 2-1 record, and hopes to become a world champion. Van wyk is also a wife and mother who wants to help others succeed in combat sports.