Monthly Archives: March 2013

Austrian kickboxer Jasminka Cive looks to run her streak of consecutive knockouts to five when she opposes Australian Bec Hyatt on April 5^th at Invicta FC 5.

With an extensive and championship caliber resume in Muay Thai, Cive is looking to become a champion in MMA as well. Running her own gym, along with her own fight promotion, Cive is engrained in every aspect of the MMA world. With bad blood between herself and Hyatt, fans should not look away when she enters the cage on April 5^th in Kansas City.

Corey Smith: Your gateway into the world of mixed martial arts was karate, which was followed by Muay Thai and Kickboxing. How did you first get into martial arts? At what point to did you decide to do it as more than a hobby?

Jasminka Cive: I was only 10 years old as I started Karate in Belgrade, Serbia. The reason was my elder sister, who was stronger than me and always won our fight/wrestling-games!

JC: I decided to fight only 3 weeks after my training started, and so I did!

CS: Your father was an officer in Serbian army, who decided to move the family to Austria when the conflict between Serbia and Bosnia became too dangerous. How did this move shape your life and career in MMA?

JC: When I moved to Austria with my family I was a 12 year old child. I think it was a good decision for my father to move away. Here I could get a better life and pursue my career (in the end). It made me the person that I am today.

CS: After a few years of not training, you began an extensive and championship level Muay Thai career. What did you enjoy about Muay Thai? And how aware of MMA were you at this point?

JC: I started with kickboxing and Muay Thai when I was 16 years old, I trained this style from 1998-2010. During this time I had difficult injuries, and I had to undergo 4 operations in all.

CS: Why do you believe Muay Thai as a sport is not as popular in the United States as it is in Europe or Asia compared to MMA?

JC: I really don’t know this for certain, but I think Americans or Russians have a lot of exposure to wrestling, that makes it easier to understand MMA. Also in my opinion it’s much more spectacular than Muay Thai or boxing.

CS: You suffered some career threatening injuries to your knee and hand during your Muay Thai career. Three knee surgeries and another on your hand left you unable to compete for four years. What was that time period like for you, being unable to compete?

JC: My wound healing was terrible after every surgery and I could not fight for a long time. 4 years long in total. Always nearly one year after an operation.

JC: It was partially my fault, because I can’t rest, I always want to go to the gym and push and push. I think I never got enough rest after my surgeries, I always went to the fitness center! Crazy, I know, but that’s me, I want to go full blast, all the time.

CS: At what point did you decide to switch entirely over to MMA?

JC: 2010 I came back and felt stronger than ever I won a Muay Thai title and MMA was only just another sport at this time that got me interested.

JC: I was referee in a MMA-fight and I was so excited about this I loved it from the first time and decided to do it myself. Only 5 weeks later I made my MMA debut and won by submission!

CS: You currently reside in Austria, and run your own fighting promotion named MixFight Night. How are the challenges of running your own promotion different from the challenges of the cage?

JC: There are 2 very important things in my life. The first one is my job, it is the Mixfight-Night and the promotion of it. Then I have my training for the fights, this is the time where I relax. In these hours I can switch on and off and don´t care about appointments and what I have to do. So this is the difference and I big reason for loving what I do.

JC: The Mixfight Night is one of the biggest events in Austria, with high caliber athletes from WFC or UFC-Fighters like Nandor Guelmino etc. Also this year we got some of Germany’s Top 10 athletes on the card. I am excited!

CS: How would you describe the MMA environment in Europe compared to the United States?

JC: MMA is becoming more popular in Europe, also very fast, but it needs some more years to get the same status like in the U.S. A TV deal is important to push this evolution – and of course to educate the viewers.

CS: April 5^th against Bec Hyatt will be your first fight for Invicta FC. What has your experience been like with the company so far?

JC: Invicta is awesome, I always dreamt to fight for them – and finally I can. I was very disappointed about the last one, where I couldn’t come (IFC2), but this time I am even more excited. They do, and already did, a lot for WMMA – that´s making the difference.

JC: I was on the Invicta FC 2  Fightcard but  some visa troubles hindered me, but this time I will be coming for sure.

CS: Your opponent at Invicta FC 5, Bec Hyatt, has promised a knock out. How familiar are you with Hyatt? And what do you expect out of the fight?

JC: Willi says Bec is talking a lot of smack and is doing more promos/facebook etc. than training and it seems like she is on Facebook 23 hours a day. She also talked a lot of smack about me and my fiancée, which got him involved in it. I saw that only days later, because as you know I am not that often on FB. Basically first he told her months ago to train more instead of using FB, because he saw her on some show (again)- he didn’t mean it in a bad way (he told me). After that she accused him of being roided and ugly – and I guess the smack talk started there. Me, for my part, I really don´t care what she says, I hardly read it (only read it some days ago, because one Australian fan of mine linked me to it).

JC:  I asked my fiancée not to get involved anymore. I mean I know he wants to protect me and all, after Bec talked about me, then said he is using roids and laughed about his tattoos and much more happened in the last days.  Understandable that he fought back, verbally! But knowing that I don’t read and care what Bec says he agreed not to get involved anymore. Bec always plays innocent when it comes to such things, after provoking I guess. I don’t want to play this kindergarten-games, this puts a bad light on our beautiful sport.

JC: People that know me, know that in all of my 30 fights I show nothing but respect to my opponents, fans and promoters, and this won´t change now. Bec doesn´t seem to honor this warrior spirit. On the other hand, Bec is only 24 years old, it´s understandable that she behaves that way. She also said she wants to KO me. I doubt that, because that has never happened before. I will try to do the same instead. Like I said, she talks a lot, but if you follow my Twitter posts you realize I don’t really, I just want to have fun (and I am having a lot right now.) I do my talking in the cage.

JC: About the fight: Sure, that’s what the fans want to see. High paced action! Of course I want to finish the fight, but I am always ready for 3 rounds!

Have you seen my new Highlight video? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFvuNTAgsjg&feature=youtu.be

CS: Your fiancé Willi Ott is also a fighter, and you jointly run a gym in Austria. What does it mean for your career to have a fellow fighter as a spouse?

JC: This is the best relationship I ever had, we train together and when we have different minds we can clear it at some sparring! Honestly, we work very well together and also evolve with our fighting style every day in the gym. It’s a win/win.

CS: What types of challenges do you encounter while running your own gym, along with the promotion, and fighting yourself?

JC: I have to meet lot of people, make appointments and drive so many kilometers This is a really hard job when you have to do all things at same time like now.  My event is on the 30^th of March and I fly only 2 days later to Invicta, but I am unbreakable and this is what I really believe in! It is my dream, and I love it.

CS: When you aren’t doing any of the duties listed above, what types of activities do you enjoy for fun?

JC: I have a little dog, his name is “Hope” and I spend time with him whenever I can.

CS: Lastly, MMA is as much a team sport as it is an individual sport. Who would you like to thank?

JC: I want to thank you for the interview and Invicta in general for giving me the chance to fight for them and all my fans and MMA-supporters. I love you all!

There can be no doubt, that no fighter in all of MMA has a more apt nickname than, Australian “Rowdy” Bec Hyatt. Bursting onto the international scene with her Invicta debut this past January, Hyatt’s popularity has exploded with a speed few have matched.

A war of words between herself and Austrian kick boxer Jasminka Cive, will explode into a war of fists on at Invicta FC 5, on April 5^th.

Corey Smith: Despite playing a wide variety of sports, you gravitated towards MMA in 2010. How did that come about?

BH: I actually began training as a way to lose weight and at first I had no intention of fighting. I’m naturally fairly athletic and so for the most part of my early child hood I was active in sports, however once I grew into my teenage years, I fell into the wrong crowd, started getting into trouble and was regularly binge eating and drinking. At my heaviest before my first pregnancy in 2008 and two years before I started training, I was pushing 155lbs and then after that, much, much heavier.

BH:  I wanted to lose all this burdening weight after giving birth to my first son, but at the same time I was unmotivated and very disinterested at times due to some of the influences in my life. Initially, I joined several fitness gyms, but I always found them to be boring and the exercises to be repetitive. So after being inspired by a John Wayne Parr kickboxing instructional, I sought out kickboxing lessons to drop my weight. After trialing a few clubs, I came across my now husband, Dan Hyatt, who at the same was a trainer of a local MMA team and the rest is history!

CS: Your professional debut was in October of 2011, after roughly a year of formal training. What led you to believe that you were ready after that length of time?

BH: In hindsight, I probably wasn’t ready to fight, but try telling me I can’t do something! At the time of my debut, I’d been training seriously for less than a year altogether due to the birth of my second son Enson and I was much greener than a lot of people thought. Before I had even stepped inside the cage I was receiving a bit of hype and I had some exceptions placed on me because of who my husband was, so there was already some pressure to perform.

BH:  Leading into the fight, I had managed to lose the bulk of my second pregnancy weight and was feeling fit and confident, walking around at 119lbs.  The fight itself was at 132lbs, and my opponent was cutting to make it. This didn’t bother me however as I genuinely believed I was going to win. It was heart breaking to be caught slipping with such a sloppy kick after dominating most of the fight. My opponent’s reaction after the kick says it all really, but despite the loss, this fight is still one of my favorites and I don’t have any regrets. I went on a four fight winning streak afterwards feeling no pressure, already having tasted defeat and knowing what its like to be knocked unconscious. If I could go back in time, I don’t really know whether or not I would change the result.

CS: You and current UFC Bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey share the same nickname. Who do you think “Rowdy” suits more?

BH: If there can be a million fighters with the nickname ‘Hammer’, ‘Spider’ or ‘Pitbull’, surely there can be a few with ‘Rowdy’ too? In my mind, it’s just a word in the dictionary and by definition it means disorderly. Anyone that’s been around me for more than five minutes knows exactly how fitting this nickname is and I will change it for no one. Nobody owns rights to a word and by my last count, five other fighters use it as a nickname worldwide, but I would bet my butt that I’m the Rowdiest of them all by definition! Ronda Rousey has been fantastic for this sport and the growth of WMMA and I have no issues about sharing the same nickname as her, but I most definitely did not copy her! I was answering to ‘Rowdy’ from my family and friends well before I even knew who Ronda Rousey was and a little known fact is that my maiden name during this time was ‘Rebecca Rawlings’.

CS: To call you the undisputed female champion of social media might be an understatement if that’s possible. What draws you to such a high level of fan interaction?

BH: The reasoning for my popularity is simple; I appeal to so many different demographics. I’m a mother, I’m formerly overweight, I’m a fighter, I enjoy playing video games, I have tattoos and piercings and I know myself that I don’t have the appearance of a bush pig and sometimes play to that. From the outset, I’ve always made a point to put myself out there and to be sure that people to know my name and my image, so the level of my popularity and followers isn’t by luck or mistake, that’s for sure.

BH: My management and I have spent a lot of time over the past 18 months making myself as accessible to my supporters as possible and I make sure to interact with them as much as I can, so much so that I reply to over 50 messages personally a day! Without my supporters, I know that I wouldn’t be in the position that I am right now and I appreciate everyone’s unwavering support.

CS: Do you think that it’s important for a fighter’s career to use social and traditional media to further their career?

BH: I think it is incredibly important and I believe that fighters who think that their ability and fight results alone will take them to the top are naive. Do I agree with this? Of course not, but I accept it! MMA is sports entertainment and promoters more often than not care about how many bums you put in seats, as opposed to how great a fighter you actually are.

BH: Making people care about you and your fight is a big part of this sport now and the more marketing and exposure you can do or gain, the better for your career and image. I have no problem attracting attention or making headlines, good or bad, and I’m content with my supporter to hater ratio. I understand the importance of being a villain sometimes as well and am more than happy to play to that if it means a bigger fight or better opportunities for my career moving forward. Marketability is a part of the game as much as the fights themselves and as long as people continue to tune in to watch me fight, whether they want to see me win, or see me lose, I’m happy with that and have done my job.

CS: Invicta FC President Shannon Knapp stated that she had never seen anything like the amount of attention that you received from mainstream Australian media during your fight at Invicta FC 4. How important is it for you to promote the sport in your country? What are the differences in general state of MMA in Australia versus the US?

BH: I was very pleased when I heard Shannon Knapp’s comments as awareness and education is key when it comes to WMMA and it’s something I’ve focused a lot on here in Australia. I know that I’m in the best position out of any female fighter down under to promote this sport and I do my best to do so. No other fighter in Australia has ever achieved the amount of mainstream exposure I have, not even UFC signed fighters, so it’s been a great thing for MMA and WMMA as a whole here. In terms of differences between MMA in Australia and the USA though, to sum it up best, in Australia we have state governments banning the cage at the moment and the sport is more known as “cage fighting” than MMA!

CS: You stepped in on late notice to face Carla Ezparza for the inaugural Invicta strawweight championship at Invicta FC 4. What were thoughts when you received that call? Have you taken short notice fights in the past?

BH: I’d never taken a short notice fight up until that point, but I was also never not going to answer a call like that to step up. When your promoter comes a knocking and is in need of someone to save the day, it’s always in a fighter’s best interest to accept and I’m not naive to that fact. It’s certainly not cheap to bring a fighter over to the United States from Australia, so in some ways I felt indebted to the organization as well. But I still can’t believe that so many fighters turned down the opportunity, especially when it can only take one loss, mistake or injury to derail a contender’s title run.

BH:  I have zero regrets accepting the fight and wouldn’t change anything other than the result, but even then I’m not too disappointed with my performance given the circumstances. Leading into the fight I was subject to a lot of negativity, being that I was a 10-1 underdog, with many MMA “experts” in their “expert” opinions suggesting that I wouldn’t last a single round. My original opponent even commented in a catty fashion that it would be an early night for me and the commentators were seemingly pro Esparza during the fight itself. The only people who believed I could win or perform were myself, my team and my supporters.

BH: So in many ways my performance was satisfying, while bitter sweet at the same time considering I could have potentially finished on a couple occasions. Make no mistake, I never felt in danger or was ever hurt during the fight and I could have continued for many rounds more. But in the end, Esparza definitely deserved her victory on points, she fought her fight, a smart fight and now I’m looking forward to EARNING my way back to an eventual re-match and title shot!

BH: The amount of experience I managed to gain inside and outside of the cage from that week alone has been invaluable. Even in defeat, I’ve benefited greatly from more exposure and career opportunities than a win over my original opponent would have ever brought me, so it wasn’t all that bad. I’m very thankful that I was given the opportunity and if I had my time again, even knowing that I would lose, I wouldn’t change a thing.

CS: What has it been like so far working with Invicta? What does working for a company like Invicta do for your in cage performance?

BH: In a word, the treatment I’ve received as an IFC fighter thus far has been AMAZING! I’ve never experienced anything like it in my career and I hope to call IFC my home for a long, long time to come. You get the genuine feeling that you matter to the powers that be within the organization and it’s been more than I could ever have imagined coming from where I have. I’ve been lucky enough over the past three years to be around a lot of promotions in Australia, but the professionalism from top to bottom of IFC events is on a whole other level. I’m very proud to have become the first ever Australian to sign and fight for the organization. Being able to experience the sport at this level, this early in my career has been a real eye opener. I have no doubt moving forward into the future that my time spent with Invicta Fighting Championships is going benefit me for years and years to come!

CS: What type of feedback and coaching do you prefer during a fight? Whose voice do you look to the most?

BH: During a fight and in-between rounds, I listen out most for my head trainer Malcolm Vanderaar’s voice. Mal’s been in my corner for all six of my fights to date and is very knowledgeable about the sport, the situations and he researches all my opponent’s styles and tells. I can’t imagine fighting without his voice giving me instruction and I definitely prefer to be told the truth between rounds. If I’m losing or under performing, I want to be told, I don’t want it sugar coated and I want to know what I need to do to win. I’ve seen so many corners give their fighters reassuring advice despite obviously losing the fight at the time and that would really frustrate me in the corner. Give me a kick up the butt!

CS: You are set to face Jasminka Cive at Invicta FC 5 on April 5th. How much do you know about Cive? Have you been able to review any video of her past fights?

BH: My team and I have reviewed a lot of tape on Jasminka, even before this fight was even signed as we anticipated the fight would be inevitable. In saying this, I’ve always been excited for this match up, but now I’m actually counting down the days after comments made by my opponent’s fiance recently. I’ve been accused of steroid abuse, being a junkie & having zero talent, so victory is set to be even sweeter on April 5 in Kansas City. Stylistically, this is a fan friendly fight, I have no doubt that everyone will be entertained. There is no mistaking that Jasminka is a strong and durable opponent, one that is not to be underestimated. I’m confident though that I’m going to punch Jasminka Cive in the face so hard, she’ll wish she was still back in Austria fighting gypsies in home made cages!

CS: Like most female fighters, you originally had to fight at a higher weight class in order to get a fight. What do you think about the amount of talent that seems to have flooded the sport recently, allowing more athletes to fight at their natural class?

BH: I think it’s fantastic and that a lot of credit is due to the personalities and popularity of fighters such as Ronda Rousey, Miesha Tate and Gina Carano, in addition to the arrival of Invicta Fighting Championships and the opportunities on a world stage that the promotion presents.

BH: Even in Australia alone, the amount of female’s fighting now compared to when I first started training is nothing short of incredible. It’s definitely good to know that I likely won’t ever have to fight outside of my natural weight class again. At the end of the day, every single female fighter has two arms, two legs and a heart beat just like any man and if justified, a female should be afforded the same opportunities. It’s great to see so many fighters active now, not to mention the amount that are currently training and I have no doubt with women in the UFC now, it’s only going to keep getting bigger and bigger!

CS: Your husband Dan Hyatt, is also a professional fighter. How does that aid the both of you in your careers?

BH: It can be a blessing at times, but at others a hindrance. Dan is the reason I got into this sport and was my first ever trainer, manager and has played a huge role in my development as a fighter. Outside of that, he has also sacrificed his own training for my past four fights by looking after our two children so I’m able get the right training in. I know this frustrates him a lot, but it’s allowed me to train at a level I was never able to before and has been a big factor in me taking my training, skills and career to the next level. It’s definitely much harder when he is active but to be known as the first husband and wife MMA couple in Australia does come with a lot of perks and we can’t really complain from that end. Really, it’s just about someday soon finding the right balance so that we can both train and fight again to the levels that we want.

CS: In another interview, you stated that you enjoy playing video games. What are you favorite titles? What else do you enjoy doing outside of training?

BH: I try and get in as much game time as I can but with my increased training schedule since signing with Invicta Fighting Championships, I haven’t had the chance to play as much. I mostly hit up the Call of Duty series but I’m admittedly not very good and my K/D ratio is terrible! I do talk a mean game though and when I posted my gamertag on my fan page, my Xbox Live friends list reached its limited within five minutes and I was owned in every game thereafter! Other than gaming, I enjoy spending time with my two children, Enson and Zake, along with my miniature bull terrier puppy, Meaty and outside of that, any amount of sleep is a good thing, especially close to fight week!

CS: Lastly, MMA is as much a team sport as it is an individual one. Who would you like to thank?

BH: First and foremost, I’d like to thank all my supporters! As I always say, I have undoubtedly the best support base any fighter could ever ask for and a lot of the opportunities I’ve been given over the past couple years has been due to them. I’d like to also thank my trainers, Malcolm Vanderaar, Dean Wall and Mark Brady, and along with my training partners at Impact MMA in Brisbane for all the time and effort they put into me. In addition, thank you to coach Danny Higgins and Adrian Pang from Integrated MMA in Stafford and my American wrestling coach, former NCAA D1 wrestler Danny Galvan, for all the extra assistance they have given and offered to me. Lastly, thank you to my management at Alchemist Management and to all my existing and new sponsors for this upcoming fight. Without your support, I could not afford to do this sport. Please follow me on Twitter @RowdyBec!

Undefeated kickboxing prospect Jessamyn Duke, steps into the Invicta cage for the third time in her career April 5^th at Invicta FC 5.

2-0 thus far in her career, Duke will take on fellow undefeated kickboxing champion Miriam Nakamoto. Duke brings a killer attitude each and every time she enters the Invicta cage, and looks to best Nakamoto to remain perfect.

Corey Smith: How did you first enter into the world of MMA?

Jessamyn Duke: I started training in 2006 under Scott Elliott, and although I was only taking Muay Thai classes in the beginning, it was only a matter of months before I was enrolled in all of the classes (Muay Thai, no-gi grappling, BJJ, MMA, wrestling, etc) available at the AFS Academy.

JD:  I expressed interest in competition and my coach directed me to grappling tournaments first, and then in 2008 I had my first Muay Thai fight. In 2010, after several kickboxing matches and numerous grappling tournaments I decided I wanted to try MMA and made a successful debut. Once I had a taste of what MMA competition was all about, and the popularity of female fighters was growing, I decided that I wanted to fully dedicate myself to the sport and becoming the very best.

CS: You bring a very strong Muay Thai background into the cage with you, and are also a certified instructor. How did that come about?

JD: It was just a natural progression of my training. We have a saying at my school… “Fight as a result of training, don’t train as a result of fighting.” In other words, train first. Train because you love it. Don’t train because you feel like you have to because you’ve agreed to a fight.

JD:  I decided early on that I wanted to pursue certifications in the areas available, and Muay Thai was one of them. My coach, Scott Elliott is a full instructor under Ajarn Chai Sirisute of the Thaiboxing Association of the U.S.A. We travel to train with him on a regular basis as well as host him at our school once a year. The man brings 45+ years of experience of coaching and training fighters and champions.

JD: In late 2009 I took my apprentice instructorship test in front of Ajarn Chai, and in 2011 I was promoted to Associate instructor as well as taking over the responsibilities as the new KY state director for the TBA.  I still train regularly with Ajarn Chai as well as attend the yearly Pacific NW Muay Thai Camp; an invitation only training camp where many of the world’s greatest fighters and instructors come to share their knowledge and push our minds and bodies to the limit for one week up in the mountains of Oregon.

CS: You fight out of the AFSAcademy in Kentucky. What is the MMA community like in the state of Kentucky?

JD: MMA is hugely popular and competitive in KY. Almost every weekend there are fights going on somewhere in the state (usually multiple shows). My instructor, Scott Elliott, even teaches college accredited courses at the university here in Richmond (EasternKentuckyUniversity) on Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and MMA.

CS: What has your experience with Invicta been like so far, considering both your professional bouts have been under the Invicta banner?

JD: Invicta has been an absolute joy to compete for. I honestly couldn’t ask for more in a promotion. They respect all the competitors under their banner and they strive to ensure that we are treated the way professional athletes should be treated. I never feel as though corners are being cut, or that anything takes priority over us and our experience with them.

CS: Invicta cards always seem to be exciting from top to bottom. Do you think that female athletes are more motivated to perform?

JD: Definitely. We always feel as though we have something to prove, whether it’s to the crowd, or the naysayers that claim we have no place in the sport. The women have been competing alongside the men for years, and even though we have a cage of our own in Invicta, I feel that we carry that motivation from past experience onto that stage. Like almost every coach tells their fighter, “Leave it all in the cage!” And I think women have no problem doing that. We’ve been doing it for years to carve out our niche in this sport.

CS: After your first professional bout, a TKO victory in round 3 at Invicta FC 2, you stated that you wished you had finished your opponent more quickly. At Invicta FC 3, you finished your opponent with a submission in round 1. How will you be looking to improve in your next bout on April 5^th at Invicta FC 5?

JD: I train my body and my mind for a war, every time I fight. Ideally, you train to such a high capacity that when you get in the cage, the fight feels like an easy day of training. I will always strive to finish my opponent in the most exciting, dominant way possible. I want the crowd to feel like they just saw the physical manifestation of someone imposing their will. I want the word “Wow” to be on everyone’s lips after my fight.

CS: Your opponent at Invicta FC 5, Miriam Nakamoto has relatively the same amount of MMA experience as you. How familiar are you with Nakamoto, and what are you expecting out of the bout?

JD: I’m extremely familiar with Miriam. I’ve known about her since 2006 after I saw her on a reality show about female Muay Thai fighters. I’ve always admired her as a fierce competitor and someone to model myself after in the ring. She is an aggressive, dominant fighter who has proven time and time again that she is not to be taken lightly or looked over.

JD: However, I’m expecting a finish. Miriam has never been defeated in professional Muay Thai or MMA. I intend on issuing her the first L in her career. I asked for this fight because I wanted a challenge and I wanted to make a statement. I feel that I have nothing to lose and no reason to hold back once we are in the cage together. I want this victory and Miriam should expect to collide with me at my best on April 5^th.

CS: How would you describe your in cage mindset and how that translates to your fighting style?

JD: My cage mindset is fairly simple. Impose my will, trust in my training, and hold nothing back. When I fight, I want to make sure that the opponent is fighting MY fight. I’ve erred before in my amateur career by trying to play my opponents game too much and beat them at it because I felt that I HAD to fight a certain way to beat them. I trust in my coach and my training that I am a highly skilled fighter who is capable and dangerous in all areas. You have to believe that your techniques will work, and if they don’t you have to trust that you will recover. You can have NO FEAR of failure in the cage.

JD: And although saying “Hold nothing back” sounds cliché, it’s important to drill that into your mindset. If the fight goes all 3 rounds, I want my opponent to feel 100% of my capabilities in that time. I don’t want to finish the fight and then be able to do backflips or pushups. I want to feel as though I gave everything I had, that way I have no regrets. The smallest things can turn the tide of a fight, if you hold back, you may be cheating yourself out of a victory.

CS: During a fight, how do you like to be coached? Whose voice do you look to the most?

JD: I’ve trained under the same instructor since the beginning. My coach, Scott Elliott, has all of his fighters tuned into his voice. It helps that his voice is loud and carries, but he honestly doesn’t say much during the fight. Occasional reminders or warning of something being set up that we might not see in the fight is about it. He doesn’t like to “overcoach” a fighter during a match. He says he trusts his competitor to know what to do.

JD: Between rounds, he helps me maintain focus and then, if there is some opening he wants me to exploit, he will tell me in the corner. Oddly enough, his voice is one of the only things I can hear in a fight. I’ve been told it’s called “tunnel hearing”. Everything else outside the cage just sounds like white noise. The only exceptions seem to be my Mom, or my sister’s voice, and if they’re cage side for one of my fights, I can hear every word they say. So they know to be careful what they shout when I fight! Ha!

CS: How much do you believe your natural height of 5 feet 11 inches contributes to your abilities in the cage?

JD: I think it’s a HUGE contributing factor. The challenge in my career thus far has been learning and understanding how to use my frame to its fullest advantage, both on the feet, and on the ground. But that goes for any fighter. You have to learn how to make the best use of the natural gifts you’re given. My height is one of mine. I’m one of the tallest female competitors at 135lbs. I present a unique challenge to anyone that fights me. It’s my job to continue making that challenge more and more difficult.

CS: 135lbs appears to be the premier division in Women’s MMA. What are your thoughts on the division as a whole, and competing within it?

JD: The women’s bantamweight division has always been one the most stacked and most competitive. I’m glad I made the drop down late in my amateur career. I made the move, not because I thought it was the premier division, but because it is where I thought I would be the most competitive. So far, I’m undefeated at 135lbs. I’m glad it’s the most packed division, because that presents me with plenty of challenges and experience along the way.

CS: How much MMA do you watch on a regular basis? Does training constantly in the sport make the fighting less appealing to watch?

JD: I watch something MMA related almost every day. I actually love watching fights and I think it’s great that there is so much free MMA available on TV all the time. Watching fights is addictive, to me. I study them and project myself onto the fighters I’m watching and think about what I would do in that situation, or how I would have handled a certain opponent or obstacle. It just helps to reinforce the things I do in training every day.

CS: Outside of the cage, what types of activities do you enjoy? What helps you unwind after a long day of training camp?

JD: I love to play video games when I get time. Usually in fight camp, that’s almost never though. After hard training, I really enjoy snuggling up on the couch with my kitties and watching some Ancient Aliens or a documentary I found on Netflix. I also enjoy visiting my family. I’m lucky that my Mom lives so close and that I can see her on a regular basis. I love going to visit and spend time catching up with her and eating the good food she spoils me with!

CS: Lastly, MMA is as much a team sport as it is an individual one. Who would you like to thank?

JD: So many people contribute and have a part in my success! I want to thank my coach, Scott Elliott, who has been with me from the very beginning and believes in me the way I do. All of my teammates at the AFS Academy, Gina Begley, Adam Fritz, Emily Bartee, Brandon Campbell, Andrew Brown, Ethan Bens, and everyone else who embraces the grind with me every day and sacrifice their bodies and their training to help me succeed.

JD: I want to thank my friends up in Minnesota, Kaitlin Young, her coach Greg Nelson, and her entire team for having me in for training to help during my fight camp, and for treating me like one of their own!

JD: I also want to thank my manager, Brett Atchley of Addison Sports Management and Media for helping provide guidance and opportunity to me as a fighter and for caring as much about my career as I do!

JD: Without sponsors, pursuing my dream of fighting would be much harder and many opportunities I’ve had in the past wouldn’t have been possible, so I want to be sure to thank ALL my sponsors: Polanti Watches, VII A.D. Jewelry, Horsepower S&C, Klench Mouthguards, Intimidation Fightwear, The JKD Doc – Dr. Taverni, BJJ Bands, Hype X-treme, Outlaw Fight Gear, Stinson Chiropractic, A Healing Stone Therapeutic Massage, and of course Invicta FC for giving female fighters a cage of our own.

JD: Finally, I want to thank my family, and all of my fans for the never-ending support. Thank you Mom, thank you Sis, and thank you to any fan who ever sent me words of encouragement, sent me an inspirational quote or cheered for me when it was my time to shine, regardless of the outcome. That support is the foundation of my success, and I am eternally grateful for each and every one of you!