Interview: Princesses of Pain promoter Belinda Dunne
Princesses of Pain is an international women’s fight league, featuring MMA and Kickboxing. The league New Zealand, where it originated. Being the first women’s MMA to be held in New Zealand, and one of the earliest all female fight cards, Princesses of Pain has spearheaded the way for promotions of women’s fighting. It continues to aim towards showcasing talented female fighters in both MMA and Kickboxing. Promoter Belinda Dunne was gracious enough to take some time to chat with The MMA Digest.
How’d you get started in MMA?
I never started out wanting to be involved in MMA, I was building a fight league for women and as I felt the league was about the women in it I was happy for it to go in the direction they wanted. I was running grappling competitions and I was getting a lot of requests from the fighters to allow them the opportunity to fight MMA and Thai. There was less interest in the grappling and more in MMA which surprised me but again I wanted this league to be about the women in it and what they wanted it to be. So I ran my first MMA comp in June 2007 and it was a huge success the fighters were happy and there was a strong feeling of comradery they were all asking when they could do it again. So we do it again in May 2008 and likely once more before the end of the year.
What needs to happen for MMA to increase its popularity in New Zealand ?
For MMA’S popularity to increase in New Zealand there is no formula, for one it is happening on its own very quickly. I get e-mails every day from girls wanting to fight.
I do feel however that it is VERY VERY important that the image of MMA is protected at all costs. MMA has been wrongly painted as a sport of brutality and not skill by some members of the media and this could have devastating results if taken into the hands of a politician with a point to prove.
MMA is a skilled fight, for skilled fighters with rules and a ref which are designed to keep the fighter safe. Coaches and promoters should and I believe do take the responsibility of allowing their fighters to enter very seriously.
I am scheduled to be on 20/20 in a couple of months, I know for some members of the public this will be the first they have heard of our sport, I take this responsibility to heart in a way that has me loosing sleep at night. I hope I represent the sport and its fighters well…..I’ll certainly try.
Who is the most interesting fighter you’ve met?
The most interesting fighter I have ever met? Well it’s very hard because they are all really damn interesting. Women have stories to tell they have passion and history and they tend to share it with me. The stories of their struggle to get fights, to be accepted by their non fighter friends and the journey to the ring is what makes me tick. I never tire of hearing the girl’s dreams and it is those dreams which drive me. I care about and respect them all……but hey if you gotta have a name it would be Fiona Muxlow or Van Do since both these women have huge hearts and huge passions to succeed.
George Lucas’ daughter is fighting on your next card. What is she like as a competitor and person?
Amanda Lucas has a dad like all of us, im sure he is a great guy (In fact I’m told awesome), but my concern is with Amanda as a fighter. If I could ask one thing of the public it is can you PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE respect how very hard it is to be the daughter of some-one so famous and how very hard it is to be your own person. It’s also very hard on Amanda’s opponent.
I think Amanda is awesome so far her spirit and desire to be a part of this sport are a part of why I admire her. She is a novice and has nerves like all novices, ill protect her and her opponent as much as I can and so far they are both doing very well and not being bothered by the building interest in her but focussing on the fight, can we please follow their example.
What other countries are you looking to expand into?
Princesses of Pain will next include fighters from Asia I hope this will happen at the end of the year, but that largely lies on the ability of our Asian agent to get the sponsorship and coverage needed.
What can we look forward to in upcoming months from Princesses of Pain?
What you can expect from Princesses of Pain in the coming months is some amazing athletes coming to NZ and fighting it out at the ABA for rankings in our league. It is really hard for me to plan beyond that as things have grown so much faster than I could have dreamed of. I never really know the possibilities which could be just around the corner. It is at this stage I would like to thank the amazing women of this league who are there every day supporting me answering my questions and helping in any way they can. I couldn’t do it alone.
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