The MMA Digest

How would you describe your fighting style?
I’m a grappler who likes to kick and punch.

What have you learned from being part of MMA?
Apart from how to ice, strap and rehab almost every part of my body (smiles), there always someone out there that is better than you and that you have to be a complete fighter in order to win. Being really good at only one element, be it ground wrestle or striking doesn’t necessarily make you a good MMA fighter, you have to be able to combine all three elements. The sport is in a constant state of flux, you have to keep learning.

What are you thoughts on you opponent Cindy Hales?
I quite excited to fight her she is a BJJ black belt and a very experienced competitor with and has several MMA fights under her belt. We actually meet last year when we both competed at ADCC but we where in different weight divisions. I have had to drop a weight class to fight her but I think it will be a good match up. Hopefully we can put on an exciting fight for the crowd.

What are you most cherished MMA memory at this point in you career?
I have been really lucky I have so many to pick from both in terms of BJJ and MMA. Just checkout the pictures on my myspace page. Winning at Primetime last year would have to rate up there, as would having lunch with Randy Couture while he and Dan Henderson where teaching a seminar in Sydney. Running into Enson Inoue in the fokai store in Guam was a total blast, and training with Roxy Modafferi in Japan was what made me decide for sure that I wanted to fight MMA. While not MMA the after party for the ADCC would have to be the top. A few of us girls who competed ended up having grapple instead of hanging out at the bar, my ADCC match lasted less than 2 minutes so I was up for getting some mat time in, the mats where gone by then, so it was just the carpeted floor in the ball room of the hotel we where staying in. Walid Ismail came in at one stage and gave us in impromptu lesson in guard passing, then Saulo Ribeiro came in and asked to grapple with me, he flipped me over from guard and a I shot in and took him down, the whole room went silent then Saulo burst out laughing, after that every time someone else came in he was like, “check out what this chick just did to me” and we would recreate it. It was an awesome evening.

What are you goals for the sport?
Personally I want to have fun and do my best; I like to win so if I can keep doing that that would be good. So beating Cindy is high on my list short term. Long term I want to be up there with the best in the world in what I do. I would love to fight MMA in Australia, something I am yet to do and want to get the chance to fight on one of the Big US show such as Bodogfight. Or have Princesses of Pain become the premiere female leagues, that way I only have a short flight to fight.
For the Sport in general I want the people to understand that MMA is just that a sport, there are rules and a ref the participants are trained and skill combat athletes. The aim is not to “bash each other in the head” as I heard one doctor say on TV recently. It is to win using skill, technique and heart. Head blows are just one way, submissions, ref stoppage and decision are far more common. When a fighter cannot intelligently defend themselves the fight is stopped its that simple.
We need to change the way we market fights here in Australia, The cage has already been banded in a few states and we need the public and law makers to understand that the cage far from being a barbaric two men (or women) enter, one man leaves blood feast out of some bad B-grade martial arts movie is actually for fighter safety, you can’t fall out of the cage like you can the ring.

Any sponsors to thank or anything else to say?
I have to give a big thank you to Belinda Dunne for her vision and passion to create the “Princesses of Pain” and build a league for Australasian women as well as Internationals to fight in. To all the Australian Promoters out there… when are you going to add some girl fights onto you shows? I’m ready when you are.

I have to thank my sponsors Kya and the team from Brace Gear.
All the crew at CrossFit North Queensland. The Guys from IMA for letting me come and “play” at their house and of course my Coach Colin Crosby and all the boys at Kickstart Fitness in Townsville for kicking my butt each and every training session.