Crystal Pittman’s return to the BKFC Squared Circle was worth the wait.

After a nine-month layoff since her most recent fight, Pittman returned to action at BKFC 47 on Friday, scoring a second-round TKO over the debuting Toni Tallman in Lakeland, FL.

“That victory was huge – not just for my career, but also for myself,” Pittman says. “We worked so, so hard on so many things to bring back my aggressive style. Being a violent fighter was our main focus.

“I was coming off back-to-back losses,” she adds. “I definitely didn’t want to add another loss onto my record – you don’t want three losses in a row.”

Pittman has worked tirelessly at Shift MMA over the course of the last year to become the most dangerous version of herself that she can become. The results are starting to show, and she says she’s just getting started.

“My coaches are very happy with my performance. That being said, the plan now is to build on it. I’m so excited to get back in the gym and put that work in with my coaches,” she says.

Pittman has big plans for the next 12 months.

“A lot of people say this, but I want to be active enough and work my (expletive) off with my coaches, to the point that I’m in the conversation for a title shot," she says when asked about her goals heading into 2024.

"A lot can happen in a year.”