Posts in category: Interviews

FIGHTING WORDS: MICHELLE WATERSON ON BECOMING THE NEW INVICTA FC ATOMWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION

Michelle Waterson recently defeated Jessica Penne at Invicta FC 5 to win the World Atomweight Championship, and she took a few minutes to tell us what life has been like since winning the championship, what it’s like to be a fighting mother, and most importantly where she keeps the title belt!

Michelle also walks us through the championship bout itself, and reveals how important the mental aspect of training is to pushing through when you run into adversity. Fighting Words thanks Michelle for her time!

Corey Smith: You began training in martial arts at a young age, specifically American Karate and Wushu, which led to the nickname “Karate Hottie.” What aspects of those martial arts do you utilize the most in your MMA career?

Michelle Waterson: I think that right now the most that I use from my karate background would be my kicks. They aren’t necessarily karate kicks, but the quickness of the kicks is what sets me apart from a lot other MMA fighters out there. I can shoot the kicks out there quicker, and right now I’m working on putting some power behind it.

CS: After karate, you switched over to Muay Thai, and spent some time training over in Thailand. What is it like in a Thai training camp compared to an American training team?

MW: In Thailand, in a lot of the gyms they have the children living there. A lot of the families are poor, and fighting has always been a way for them to get out of poverty. When I was training in Thailand I felt how fighting was their life. The kids there live in the camp, they wake up there, they go for their run, and they eat breakfast and then go off to school. When they come back they train at night, and then do homework. In Thailand they fight pretty often and the fighters give their prize money to their families so they can eat.

MW: The camps themselves, and I’m not sure if it was just the camp that I was at, or if it is like this all over Thailand, but it was outside. So it was a great experience, and I would love to go back now knowing what I know and compare my fighting ability. When I first went out there to train I had only had my karate and Wushu background.

CS: You train now primarily out of Jackson’s MMA in New Mexico. What drew you to that team, and what keeps you there today?

MW: Before I was training out of Denver with Donald Cerrone, and he went out to New Mexico to train. I was on the reality show Fight Girls and I didn’t want to go back to Colorado. So I ended up going out there and seeing how I liked it, and ended up really loving it. Coach Jackson opened his arms and his gym to me, and treated me like family. Coach Jackson let me live in the dorm until I found a place there, and it really touched my heart and it became part of my life.

MW:  I liked the fact that he treated us like his own children, and it really did have a family feel to it to me. I loved the fact that there were so many people coming in to train, and I didn’t have to go to three different places to train, I could train at one spot. I ended up falling in love with New Mexico, and so I ended up staying.

CS: You gave birth to your daughter Araya close to two years ago, what has been the key to balancing your MMA career and being a mother? What has been the biggest challenge?

MW: I think the key to being able to balance it, is having a really supportive family. My husband supports me in what I do, and tries to help me as much as possible. My mom lives with us and helps watch Araya, so I didn’t feel guilty leaving her at home because she is with my mom.

MW: The hardest part is missing those “first” moments when she is so young. I feel like she is growing up so fast, and sometimes during a training camp you get in the zone and you have to go, which is hard.

CS: Your husband is a professional boxer, how much does that help with your career? How much does it help having someone who understands what a training camp is like when you get home at the end of the day?

MW: I think it makes a huge difference, I think that’s why we mesh so well. He has a boxing background, and I have MMA. There are similarities, but they are also different enough that we can have something to ourselves. He does understand, and we understand each other.

CS: Most fighters say that the weight cut is the hardest part about being a fighter. Aside from that, what would you say is the hardest aspect?

MW: I think getting through mental blocks is the hardest part for me. Your mental has a lot to do with your physical, and it all intertwines together. It’s the most challenging part for me, fighting through mental blocks, and it’s also the reason I enjoy fighting so much.

CS: How has your experience been like so far with Invicta Fighting Championships?

MW: Being an Invicta fighter makes me feel blessed. Shannon and Janet and everyone that works for the organization truly does have our best interests at heart. They want to see us succeed, and it’s a good feeling to know that they are on our side. I always tell people that they don’t call us “females” or “chicks.” They refer to us as athletes, and that’s what we are. That’s all we’ve ever wanted to be. In turn we want to perform for them, so it’s a win win for everyone.

CS: You recently defeated Jessica Penne for the Invicta Atomweight Championship. Jessica had you in trouble a few times, most notably with an arm bar in the third. How did the fight go compared to how you thought it would beforehand, and what were your general thoughts about the match and after the win?

MW: My game plan going into was to focus on what I needed to do to her, so in my mind I never visualized her beating me. It was always what I could do to her. I understood that wherever the fight went, I needed to be mentally strong enough to take it there. I wanted it to be a standup fight, and it always seems to work out that way for me. The biggest problem for me was that she was the champ, and there was a lot of hype behind her, and for good reason.

MW:  I was the overwhelming underdog going into the fight, and I needed to push all of that aside and know in my heart that I could beat her. So I didn’t pay attention to any of the media, and I tried to stay away from the internet. I got in the zone on my own, and just kept telling myself that I could beat her. I knew that I had the physical capabilities of doing it, I just had to go out there and perform.

MW: I thought the first round was kinda back and forth, and I feel like it could have gone either way for both of us. The second round I think that I was able to dominate her. I wish that I had done a little more ground and pound, but I also understood how good of a jiu Jitsu player that she is, so I just had to keep working her with heavy pressure.

MW: The third round I was just getting worked though. Everyone keeps asking me about the armbar, but truthfully the armbar isn’t when I felt like I was in danger. It was her ground and pound that I felt was never going to end. She had my back, and I felt like every time I moved she kept getting a better position for her ground and pound. I had to keep telling myself “keep pushing through.”

MW:  I was talking to Coach Wink today, and he told me had spoken to John McCarthy, the ref in the fight, and that John heard me say me say to myself “don’t quit.” I remember thinking it in my head, but I didn’t remember saying it out loud. It’s crazy how much mental control you have over yourself. I don’t have control over what Jessica could do to me, but I have control over what I can do.

MW: And so at that time and moment I choose not to quit, and I think that turned the tables. I don’t think Jessica was expecting me not to quit, and I was able to get out of that armbar. And then the forth round came around, and we went to the ground I was able to set up a string of submissions and landed a good one. So here we are.

CS: When you are in the cage, what type of coaching and feedback do you look for from your corner? Did anyone’s voice stand out over the others that night?

MW: I think that it’s important to have calm corners, corners that can see what I am not seeing and bring me back to the little things that I am not doing. I usually always look at my mom and Araya when I’m coming out. Coach Jackson, Coach Wink and my husband were in my corner for this fight, and I couldn’t ask for anything more. They are always there for me, and that’s a dream corner right there.

CS: What was the reaction at your gym when you brought the title in for the first time?

MW: Everyone just kept saying “The champ is here! The champ is here!” It was a good feeling, and everyone was happy for me. Lots of pats of the back. They all helped me get the title, so it was nice to bring it home.

CS: Looking at the Invicta Atomweight division, what are your thoughts?

MW: I think that our division is an amazing division. As far as me scouting out the other athletes, I’m not any good at that. I just take it fight by fight and let my coaches do the scouting. I always respect any fighter that gets in the ring, because they put in the time to get there. I take my training and I focus on myself though. I leave the outside stuff to my coaches.

CS: Where do you keep the title belt now? Do you take it to dinner with you or sleep with it like other champions?

MW: It’s the centerpiece for my dining room table!

CS: Are there any perks to being the champion that you didn’t realize before? Do you get a closer parking spot at the gym?

MW: No not really, I think it’s kinda just life as usual. It is pretty awesome to have someone call me ‘champ.’ It has meaning to it for me.

CS: When you aren’t training, what type of things do you enjoy doing? What helps you unwind after a long day of training camp?

MW: For me it’s changed a lot since I had my daughter. I really enjoy spending time with her, and with family. It’s the little things you take for granted. She’s already two years old, and I just enjoy spending time with her and my family in general outside of fighting.

MW: I love to do crafts, I’m a scrapbooker! Anything crafty I enjoy doing when I have time, and I’m addicted to Pinterest. When I’m cutting weight I pin all the fatty recipes for later; for times when I can eat. I also enjoy doing anything adventurous and outdoors; camping, rockclimbing, anything like that. It’s hard to find time for it during camp with a family as well.

MW: During camp we always watch movies together. Movies take you out of reality for a little bit, so we love to watch movies. We just got a new house, so for my last camp all I did was come home and remodel the house. I didn’t have time to stress about Jessica in camp, or what was being said. After training I had to come home to tear down walls and paint.

CS: Now that you have won the championship, what are your goals moving forward?

MW: When I was the contender, I was talking to Coach Jackson and he told me it was easy becoming the champ, it’s hard to stay the champ. That is something that I have to keep in mind, because now I have a huge target on my head. Everyone is gunning for me, so I have to keep improving my game. I still feel like I wasn’t able to showcase my abilities when I fought Jessica. You do so much in training, and you practice so many moves, and then you get in the fight and don’t get to show it off. I still feel like I have so much to show people.

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

MW: I couldn’t do it without my husband or my mom taking care of Araya. And I want thank all my family and fans for being supportive of me and believing in me.

MW: Invicta of course for making it all possible!

MW: My strength and conditioning at Turning Point, and my coaches Coach Jackson, Coach Winkeljohn, Coach Izzy, and Coach Valle.

MW: My sponsors EatFit@ABQ.Com, Bony Acai, Buffalo Wild Wings, OnIt Supplements, and MMA Sporting Goods.

MW: Follow me on Twitter @KarateHottieMMA

Women’s MMA trailblazer Jessica Penne steps back into the Invicta cage on April 5^th, for another first; Invicta FC’s first ever title defense.

Penne will defend her Atomweight title against Jackson’s MMA standout Michelle Waterson at Invicta FC 5. Few women can match the 10-1 record of Invicta FC’s first champion at any weight class, and Penne is focused continuing her reign long into the future.

Corey Smith: One of the common themes in your career has been firsts. You participated in the first Bellator Women’s MMA bout, and along with competing on the first Invicta card, you were the first champion of any weight class for Invicta as well. Do you enjoy being a trailblazer?

Jessica Penne: I do cherish my experiences and the opportunities that I have had thus far. I’m excited about the future of WMMA and hope to have a few more firsts.

CS: You have gone on a strong winning streak since settling at your natural weight class of Atomweight, with wins over Amy Davis, Lisa Ellis, and of course winning the Invicta Atomweight title with a win over Naho Sugiyama. What has been the biggest change in your life since winning the Invicta Atomweight title?

JP: There really hasn’t been any change. I was back in the gym a couple days later and back to work. Hopefully with this title, I can stay busy this year.

CS: You’ve spoken in the past about how hard it used to be to get fights at 105, and having to fight outside your weight class just to keep fighting. Why do you think there are so many talented women at 105 now?

JP: With the growth and popularity of the sport there have been many additions and shifts in weight classes. It’s an exciting time for the sport and for this division.

CS: What kind of effect does working for an organization that treats it’s athletes as well as Invicta have on your fight performances?

JP: I’m so thankful for Invicta. Janet and Shannon have given me and the other women in the sport a place to call home. It feels good to be treated with respect and treated as a professional.

CS: Reading the list of the gyms and trainers that you use, it’s quite the impressive list. Reign MMA, Checkmat BJJ, King’s MMA, Blackhouse. What is the advantage of having the varied gyms for training? Do you enjoy getting different feedback from different coaches?

JP: I am really fortunate to train at such amazing gyms! Each coach has so much to offer. I feel that it is important to train each discipline separately to have a better understanding of them. It’s nice to have coaches that are great in their respective disciplines. My coach Mark Munoz always helps me put everything together.

CS: Being at the bottom end of the weight spectrum in MMA, is it hard to find training partners in your weight class? How hard is it to train with partners, male or female, that are above your weight class?

JP:  It’s was more difficult in the beginning to train with larger people.  It was difficult to learn and apply everything that I learned because there was always such a large size difference. Now it is a little bit easier to find training partners. I have a couple of main training partners, both male and female. But yes, they are always larger than I am. I think it is better to deal with a size and strength disadvantage in training though.

CS: When you aren’t training, what type of things do you enjoy doing? What helps you unwind after a long day of training camp? What food do you dream of most while in the middle of training camp?

JP: I enjoy gardening, walking the monsters, going to the beach. I really like being active as well. I like paddle boarding, hiking, cycling etc.

JP:  I eat pretty clean when I’m not fighting so I don’t really crave a whole lot when I’m dieting. I just cut down on my portion sizes. My favorite junk food is popcorn and anything chocolate, I’ve got to have that every so often.

CS: You are defending your title for the first time against Michelle Waterson at Invicta 5. What type of challenge do you think Michelle brings to the table?

JP:  I think Michelle is a tough fighter and comes from a good camp; I’m looking forward to the challenge. I think it will be an exciting fight.

CS: Michelle fights out of Greg Jackson’s gym in New Mexico. Jackson fighters have been accused by some of sticking to close to a game plan for their fights. I understand you try not to have too much of a game plan going into your fights. Do you think that is an advantage in general or something that works best for you?

JP:  I don’t really know how other people plan for a fight.  I just know what works for me.

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

JP: I trust my coaches and corners to the fullest. I do what ever they tell me, however they tell me.

CS: Fighting is equally a team sport as it is an individual sport. Who would you like to thank?

JP: I’d like to thank my coaches and teammates at Reign training center, Kings MMA, Checkmat BJJ and Innovative results. Nathan Gable, Jason Parillo, Chris Franco, Prime Time 360 management. Thank you to my sponsors RVCA / VASport, Vega and Thrive Foods. Thank you for your support, it means everything to me!

Boasting one of the most impressive resumes in Women’s MMA at 12-2, Zoila Frausto Gurgel makes her way to the Invicta cage on April 5^th at Invicta FC 5.

With world titles and and victories over the legendary Megumii Fuji, and current Invicta FC Atomweight champion Jessica Penne, few can match the career of Gurgel. Using controlled aggressiveness and with a family of fighters, including current Invicta veteran Stephanie Frausto, behind her, Gurgel will attempt to move straight to the top of the 125lb division on April 5^th.

Corey Smith: You come from a family of Mixed Martial Artists. Your sister Stephanie Frausto fights, of course your husband Jorge Gurgel is a fighter. Even your father is a third degree black belt in Taekwondo. How much easier is your career because of that type of support group?

Zoila Frausto Gurgel: I wouldn’t say it’s easier because of the pressure I put on myself to achieve greatness for them all, because I fight for my family and to leave a legacy. But it is also nice to have so many people, so close to me, know the ins and outs of martial arts and competition.

ZFG: To be able to gain knowledge of how things were and how they are now & exactly what is needed to succeed, it definitely helps when a lot of family is involved in it.

CS: Are there any challenges that come with it?

ZFG: The challenges would definitely be the pressure I put on myself to do great things for not just myself, but for them as well.

CS: You have spoken about the fact that you were a very talented soccer player, but ultimately you were too aggressive for the sport. Do you think natural aggression is a necessity for MMA or is it possible to be more reactive?

ZFG: If you use it right, I believe it’s a definite plus. Controlled aggression is what I call it. I’m a prime example of the fact that it does work, but I’m also an example that if you get too involved in that part of it, you can definitely over look things and make mistakes in fights. My only two losses have come from just that, letting the anger take over with no control.

CS: You recently left Bellator to sign with Invicta. Is it safe to say a main reason for the departure was a desire to fight more often?

ZFG: Haha, to be safe, yes, but there were many other reasons why I wanted out and to see the way Invicta treated their athletes was a major plus for me. It’s exactly where I want to be. I’ll also be able to fight more often, and staying busy, for me, is a major plus.

CS: You were the 115lb world champion in Bellator, but your last two fights were at 125lbs, and your upcoming bout in Invicta is also at 125lbs. Do you feel like this is a more natural weight class for you?

ZFG: I fought at 115 only because I was given an opportunity to fight the best in the world at the time and I was fighting for a world title. I took the opportunity and I did what I set out to do, beat the best to be the best.

ZFG: 125lbs is definitely a lot easier to make, and is a more natural weight class for me. Making 115lbs; there’s advantages and disadvantages, I’m usually a lot bigger, stronger and faster than most women at that weight class. But, I was only able to fight at maybe 80% of my full ability because of the harsh weight cuts.

ZFG: Who knows, if there was ever a big fight that I couldn’t turn down, I just might go down to 115 for something big, but I’m happy where I am now at 125. I did what I needed to do at 115.

CS: Most fighter say the weight cut is the hardest part about fighting. Other than that, what do you consider the most difficult part of being a professional fighter?

ZFG: To make 115lb it was definitely the weight cut, it drove me crazy. It was never a very pleasant time in my life. Other than that, now cutting is pretty easy, it’s never fun, but it’s necessary.

ZFG: Like anything else, training isn’t always fun especially when you’re tired or worn out, but it’s all the name of the game to push through to be the best. All the many sacrifices that are made throughout the training camp are worth the victories at the end.

ZFG: I wouldn’t consider the weight cut being the hardest part anymore. The hardest part would be the time away from family and friends that’s usually sacrificed due to training. Resting and staying on a good training schedule can also be hard.

CS: After your loss to Jessica Eye, you posted a picture of yourself on Twitter in the same chokehold she used on you. The tag line was something to the effect of “stuff happens.” Do you think it’s important to keep a positive attitude and not take yourself too seriously?

ZFG: It was “sh*t happens” though. HAHA! Of course, you can either dwell on the past, even though it was so soon, or you can learn from your mistakes and move forward. Plus, I was in high spirits that day, because the day after the fight I wasn’t at all satisfied with what happen so I went out to Grappler’s Quest World Championship and won the Absolute Division, a belt and two medals.

ZFG: I’m a competitor and the only way I can move forward from a loss is continue to compete, and I did. The very next day with ZERO sleep, and I won.

CS: You once called your only other loss to Miesha Tate a “good thing.” Do you feel the same way about the loss to Eye? Do you learn more in defeat than you do in victory?

ZFG: Of course. You can only learn more from losses. But it’s the athlete’s choices to learn by mistake and continue to improve, so it doesn’t happen again.

CS: What do you think an organization like Invicta means for the sport of Women’s MMA?

ZFG: It’s amazing. It give us a much needed home. It gives us a chance to shine together. To let the world know that there is A LOT of talented and professional Mixed Martial Artist out there that are also women. Invicta treats their fighters the way professional athletes should be treated. It gives us more hope.

CS: When you are in the cage, what type of coaching and feedback do you look for from your corner? Does anyone’s voice stand out over the others?

ZFG: My corners are very important to me. For me it has to be someone that is definitely looking out for my best interest and whose voice I respect, hear, and will follow. So for this fight my corners will be the man that started my career on fire; Kru Jasper Tayaba and the man that pulled me through a World Championship, my husband Jorge Gurgel. Lastly, my sister Stephanie Frausto; because she’s always a major part of my training camp, mental and physical, she gives me strength as well.

CS: You have mentioned that you are horrible in your sister’s corner during a fight because you are too excited or nervous. Are your family members the same when they corner you?

ZFG: I believe Steph and Jorge both have said that they are never really that nervous for my fight because they know what I’m capable of and if used correctly, nobody can beat me.

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

ZFG: As always I’d like to thank my coaches for this camp: My husband Jorge Gurgel, my 1st coach ever Jasper Tayaba, wrestling coach Alan Fried.

ZFG: Boxing Coach T, and main training partner my sister Stephanie Frausto. My team back home in Ohio JGMMA and the guys here at Dethrone Base Camp in Fresno that have helped me out for this fight.

ZFG:  And as always my family, friends, and supporters. Especially my mom Zoyla Grace and Larry, brother Arthur Frausto and Victoria Le Callahan. My dad, Luis Frausto.

ZFG: Without my support system I would be nothing, so thank you.

Recent Texas transplant Lauren Taylor, will make her Invicta debut April 5^th, at Invicta FC 5, stepping in for an injured Amanda Nunes, against Kaitlin Young.

Coming off a dominant win less than a month ago, Taylor had no hesitation in accepting the fight on less than three weeks notice. Confident and fit, Taylor accepted the honor of fighting Women’s MMA pioneer Kaitlin Young in order to prove that she belongs among the best at 135lbs.

Corey Smith: How did you first enter into the world of mixed martial arts? How long had you been formally training before your first fight?

Lauren Taylor: I took my son to a Jiu Jitsu class in late 2009, and I took the class with him to encourage him. I fell in love with it and started going all the time. I began training MMA about 3 months later, and took my first pro fight 3 months after that. I did not have any amateur fights.

CS: What aspects of mixed martial arts do you enjoy training the most? What aspects take more mental strength to train?

LT: I enjoy different aspects on different days, usually I enjoy whatever I am doing well that day, haha. I’m kidding… sort of. I think the thing that consistently takes the most for me to get okay with mentally is dieting while in a fight camp. I like to eat!

CS: You trained at a Gracie Barra affiliate in your native Alaska, and now train at a Gracie Barra affiliate in Houston, TX. The Gracie name is more than familiar to mixed martial arts fan. Where does the Barra come from?

LT: It’s my understanding that the first Gracie Jiu Jitsu academy operated by Carlos Gracie Jr., was opened in a town called Barra de Tujica. So it was called Gracie Barra. Why we continue to call them ‘Gracie Barra’, and not Gracie Katy or Gracie Anchorage or whatever, I suppose you’d have to ask Master Carlos Gracie Jr.

CS: You are coming off a dominant win on March 1^st, yet it was a win in which you were not completely satisfied with your performance. What did you see in your performance that left you feeling like you could have competed better?

LT: I felt like it took me a minute to get back in the groove of being in the cage. Actually it took about two minutes, and then I was back in the swing of things, so to speak. I hope that doesn’t happen again.

LT: It had been a while since I fought last, and the feeling of dancing with someone who is trying to hurt you took a second to readjust to. I also did a few things in that fight that can certainly be capitalized on by a smart opponent, which Kaitlin is.

LT: I know everyone has at least one bad habit, but I don’t like having any, and I may even have several, so the sooner I fix those the better off I will be.

CS: On April 5^th, it will be a little more than a month since your last bout. Were there any concerns about fighting again so quickly?

LT: Only that we did not have time to train specifically for Kaitlin like my coaches and I would have preferred. But we still had a good solid two and a half weeks to drill some things that I would like to do, and they are not things that I have never seen before, so it’s not a situation I am panicking about.

LT:  I mean, you can’t have it all and there are always things I would have ‘preferred’ go differently in a fight camp. Other than that, it’s really kind of nice. I enjoy being the underdog, I have less time to worry. I am still in good shape and injury free. I think the major concern taking last minute fights is whether your conditioning is on point, and I believe mine will be.

CS: This will mark your debut with Invicta FC, how has your experience been like so far with the company?

LT: It’s been incredible. I am excited to fight for them. I actually signed a multi fight contract with them way back in October or so, so this isn’t the first time I have heard from them.

LT: It seems like a lot of promotions care very little for their fighters, especially the female ones, because they are more concerned about having fights and putting on a show and building up certain fighters, than they are about the well-being of the fighters themselves. Invicta has not been like that. They are dedicated to the athletes.

CS: You are stepping in for an injured Amanda Nunes to face Women’s MMA pioneer, Kaitlin Young at Invicta FC 5. How do you expect the fight to go?

LT: I think it’s going to be a great fight. Kaitlin obviously has more experience. She was fighting MMA before I even knew what MMA was, so it’s really an honor to compete with her. I believe I have the ability to beat her, although I don’t believe it will be easy.

LT:  I don’t know if I will beat her, necessarily, but I certainly can. She clearly also has the ability to beat me, and will also be looking for a finish, so I think it will be a fantastic fight. She’s very tough. In my mind, it’s going to be a war.

CS: On the subject of injuries, how do you maintain a full force training schedule but also guard against overtraining and injuries?

LT: That’s a great question, haha. When someone figures it out, please tell me! For me, regarding overtraining, I honestly try not to think too much in fight camp- I let my coaches do that.

LT: They are the brains and I’m the brawn, and up to this point, it’s worked out well. So we sit down and make a schedule and I follow it, no matter how I feel. They do check in with me frequently to see how I am feeling and we can always adjust if needed, but for the most part I just train my ass off.

LT: They can tell when I am pushed past my limit and sometimes they push me even further and sometimes they let me rest. I may or may not keep a Z pack on hand to treat passing colds that come my way.

LT: As far as injuries, I have been blessed not to have had many. That may just be dumb luck, but I’ll take it. I did hurt my foot once right before a fight, but it was a freak accident and not from overtraining.

CS: After a long day of training camp, what helps you to unwind and recharge?

LT: When I’m in camp, away from home, it’s talking to my boyfriend. He’s been a huge source of inspiration to me. I call him all the time to pick his brain, get encouragement, vent, or just listen to someone besides my own voice in my own head.

LT: He believes in me and loves me no matter if I win or lose, and it’s so important for me to have that. When I’m not in camp, and I’m with him, it’s a hug, a movie, and a good meal. Like I said, I like to eat.

CS: What is your mood like on fight night? Do you have any superstitions or routines that you have to perform?

LT: I love fight night! I get very giddy and excited. Of course I get nervous, but it’s the kind of nervous you feel when you’re on a roller coaster and you’re just going up that first hill, and you can feel the cars going over the edge and you’re about to plummet into a wild ride, and there’s nothing you can do about it. That’s how fight night feels, haha!

LT:  I have been doing away with superstitions. I used to have several, but one by one, they were kind of taken away from me with each fight, and I still won dominantly; So I had to face the fact that superstitions are something that make me feel better mentally, not a real thing, and that I don’t really need them. Things will go just fine even if I don’t wear my lucky underwear or whatever.

CS: Inside the cage, how do you prefer to be coached? Whose voice stands out above the others among your corners?

LT: My coach Pat Applegate stands out to me the most, although I do hear my other corners. I do hear different stuff sometimes that kind of amuses me in each fight. Sometimes I hear the audience, or my opponent’s corner telling them what to do, and it always makes me think, ‘Huh. That’s interesting.’

CS: How much MMA do you watch purely for enjoyment? Are there any fighters in particular that you are a fan of?

LT: I watch MMA all the time. I mean, ALL. THE. TIME. I love it. One of my all-time favorites is Forrest Griffin. I also like Anderson Silva (who doesn’t?) because I think that dude may actually be from another planet, that’s how good he is.

LT:  And Frankie Edgar. Actually now that I am thinking about it, I am a fan of too many fighters to really list here. So I will say, I’m a fan of Sarah Kaufman. And Chael Sonnen. And Julie Kedzie. And Joe Murphy. And Jose Aldo. And…

CS: When you aren’t training or fighting, what types of activities do you participate in solely for fun?

LT: I love to read, and go to the beach (only since moving to Florida, though. The beaches in my home state are awful). I like to cook and bake. I am a people person and I like being around good friends.

LT:  It drives me crazy to be alone, I can’t do that for too long. I also like to spend money, if I wasn’t so broke all the time, I could see myself turning into a shop-aholic. The warning signs are all there.

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

LT: Oooh I have a lot. My team at GB Katy first and foremost. The athletes and coaches there are amazing and I wouldn’t want to go anywhere else.

LT:  My Fight Shop here in Houston for providing me with great gear. Airrosti rehab centers for keeping me healthy. Centurion BJJ in Panama City, and all my team mates there. Coach Rey at NLA Katy for making me a beast and Paul Moran as well, those guys know their stuff and keep me in great shape.

LT: FOR SURE I want to thank each and every person who donated to Pimp My Fight, your donations have made possible an incredible training camp, and will carry me on into the next one as well. Joe, Aurora and Jen for being so damn awesome, and my mom. I love you mom!

Exciting MMA prospect Rose Namajunas, steps back into the Invicta cage after a late third round submission victory at Invicta FC 4.

The victory at Invicta FC 4 also marked Namajunas’ first professional bout, and she looks to improve her record to 2-0 against fellow prospect Kathina Catron at Invicta FC 5 on April 5^th.  A Renaissance woman at her core, Rose will try to ignite the crowd once again when the cage door closes April 5^th.

Corey Smith: With a wide range of interests from an early age, including music and athletics, what led you to choose mixed martial arts as your primary occupation?

Rose Namajunas: I had a lot of different interests growing up, and for some reason the main theme that always stuck out was: sports. The majority of my family members were involved in sports, so it runs in the genes. I did modeling and music on the side, but for some reason anything athletic intrigued me the most and stuck with me.

RN: Athletics was also the first thing I started, and the first martial art I was exposed to was Tae Kwon Do. From there it slowly progressed, but I never knew that I would do this as a profession. I stuck with it, one thing led to another, and here I am at Invicta on my second fight.

CS: Do you think that it is important to try a wide variety of hobbies and activities?

RN: Yeah I think so. The main theme in MMA is being well-rounded, the well rounded fighter usually does well. And in life that can be applied to anything. Doing music, and fighting at the same time, helps me find a lot parallels in them. I can explain a lot of things to Pat (Barry). He doesn’t understand a lot about music, but I can find analogies with fighting that make sense to him.

RN: It sounds crazy, but everything is connected. I feel like the more things that you do and are good at, the more enlightened you are. It goes back to the whole Renaissance period, Da Vinci was a legend for a reason. He was good at all types of things, because if you can be good at many different things you’re enlightened, and you can see how we are all connected aside from all our differences.

CS: You have spoken about how, as far back as you could remember, you were always focused on everything you did. Where do you think that mental attitude came from?

RN: I don’t know, honestly I think it was just something I was born with. I don’t really know where it came from. It was just something I knew as a child. There were a few times I was a bad child behind closed doors, but I never really talked back to her or had temper tantrums. She just explained it to me, and ever since Kindergarten it just clicked for me.

RN:  My teacher would talk about how I got there early, completed my work, and then I didn’t move until class was over. I don’t know if it had to do with focus, or if it has to do with proper diet. When they are growing up I think a lot of kids are being fed foods that have no nutritional value. It’s no wonder why they are bouncing off the walls and getting diagnosed with ADD. There is so much sugar and no nutrients.

RN:  So it’s a combination of my personality, never having a problem with authority, but also the surroundings that I grew up with. I grew up with a non-American mother, and I think children in other countries tend to be a little more disciplined and less rebellious.

CS: With a fellow mixed martial artist for a partner, heavyweight Pat Barry, what are the advantages of having a fellow fighter as a boyfriend?

RN: We speak the same language. Even the things that we don’t view the same way, we can use certain things that we have common ground on. His knowledge of fighting, and my knowledge of fighting help me explain things about myself like music that he doesn’t particularly understand. We know each other’s facial expressions, and can speak without talking. We might look at each other in front of people, and they might not know we are having a conversation. Communication is key to a relationship and having a common language helps.

CS: In your pro debut at Invicta FC 4, you won via submission late in the third round. How satisfying was that win for you?

RN: It was extremely satisfying. You’re tired and just want to sit down after going through three rounds of action like that. It’s exhausting. So it’s extremely satisfying because I wanted to get the finish. One of the gratifying moments of that fight was that it was a finish, and it was my first submission win, so that was cool.

RN:  My opponent was known for being well rounded on the ground, so that was a win in itself. She came from Greg Jackson’s camp, and was more experienced than I am, so that was a win right there. All those things made the win perfect. To go in there after two rounds of ups and downs and mental barriers that I had to break through, and pull off the win like that was definitely amazing.

CS: You spoke about how in your first pro fight, the size of the cage was a little unfamiliar to you. Along with that, what else did you learn from that first fight that you can’t learn in training?

RN: Being against the cage, and not knowing when I should have angled off at the right time was different. The amount of steps that I could back up until I get to the cage without having to clinch up with my opponent in the middle of the ring. Along with that, I have a habit in training, if my opponent is not really doing any damage to me, against the cage I tend to wait for my opponent to make a move and then I react.

RN: I don’t waste my time trying to muscle her off or get out of a situation, if it isn’t really going anywhere for either of us. In the fight I could have muscled her off, but that’s not how I train. We have “Wall Wednesday” at the gym where we start on the wall, so we practice it a lot.

RN: So should you prepare for the worst, and therefore make the worst happen? Or should I not worry about the worst happening and just implement my game plan? That’s something you always struggle with, because you want to be prepared but you don’t want to self-sabotage.

CS: You split your training camp between your hometown gym, The Academy in Minnesota, and Grudge Training Center in Colorado. How did that come about? What areas do you focus on at Grudge?

RN: Pat trained at Grudge for his last fight against Shane Del Rosario, and he said great things about that camp. Trevor (Wittman) and Pat know each other from coaching The Ultimate Fighter together. So ever since Pat went out there, he wanted to bring me out there. Before my last fight was the first time I was at Grudge, and I loved it, it was great and beneficial. So for this fight, I just got out here to Grudge and had my first workout with Trevor tonight. I love it a lot.

RN: In Minnesota with Greg (Nelson), we work on everything, but we work mainly on areas I need to improve, wrestling and Jiu Jitsu. I enjoy striking more, but Greg knows much more about the Jiu Jitsu game.

RN: With Trevor, he’s a boxing fanatic. He teaches me the overall striking game not just boxing, but kicks and everything. I’ll be working with Cat Zingano this week. The high altitude is also a benefit for my endurance.

RN: In Minnesota, again it’s a lot of ground work, but also my strength and conditioning with Matt Miller. I focus on getting in the best shape possible, with power lifting and horse power.

CS: With your pro debut, and your next bout on April 5^th at Invicta FC 5, how has your experience been so far with the company?

RN: Invicta has been tremendous. They treat us all like queens. Pat was actually a little jealous of the treatment they were giving me, and he is a heavyweight in the UFC. They know the fight game really well, they aren’t rookies.

RN: They aren’t running an organization for the first time, they are very professional about everything and Invicta takes care of their athletes. Invicta doesn’t ever leave you hanging, they are super organized. I am very appreciative of everything, I love it.

CS: Your opponent on April 5^th, Kathina Catron, has three professional bouts under her belt. How familiar are you with her? What are you expecting out of the bout?

RN: I am coming in to impose my will and throw thunder at her. She is going to have to be able to handle it, or she is going down. I love striking, so that’s what I am looking to come in and do. Throw a flurry of punches and kicks and be ready for anything else.

RN: I know that she is similar to my last opponent Emily, though she is not a lefty. She does like to clinch up more, and is coming in well rounded. I feel like being well rounded is good, but you tend to go wherever the fight goes and that’s not my plan. My plan is to impose my will, and not just let whatever happens happen.

CS: Inside the cage, whose voice are you looking to the most? What type of advice to prefer to receive during the fight?

RN: Well Pat is phenomenal. I personally think that he is the best corner man ever. If you want someone in your corner with great advice, he knows exactly what to say. I don’t know if it’s because of the relationship we have or if he is just that good at it.

RN: It’s not necessarily that I am looking for something or that I look to a certain person, because in the fight you are on auto-pilot. It almost seems like a dream, you can’t really recall everything that happens. Because you are in such a high adrenaline state or survival mode, that whatever you pick up you don’t really have much control over it.

RN: Chico Camas was in my corner last time, and he was great. We trained together back in Milwaukee, and is one of the people I connected with. He was telling me some great things as well.

RN:  Kaitlin (Young) was in my corner, along with Greg Nelson. Greg doesn’t have to yell or forcefully say anything, his words travel straight into my ears. Like the cartoons where a scent travels across the screen and into a cartoon characters nose, that’s how his words reach me.

RN: It’s hard to explain what is the right thing to say, or the right words that click. It’s a letting go experience, and I just listen to each of my coaches.

CS: When you aren’t terrorizing Pat Barry and filming it for YouTube, what kinds of activities do you enjoy? What helps you to mentally unwind after a hard day of training camp?

RN: Recently we started doing the sensory deprivation floats, and that is really fun to do. Other than the salt water burning your skin from all the cuts and scratches of MMA practice, it’s a great way to refuel, and to get to a Zen state of mind. It’s a really easy way to meditate for me.

RN: I love listening to any music, and we love watching movies, Pat and I. Mainly we are very laid back kind of people, but I know we are perceived as always making these goofy videos, which is fun. But we also have a flip side to it, we love just being together, not really going out that much.

RN: I love being outside, and animals are another passion of mine. I’ve always loved any animals, and I can’t wait to get a puppy. Anytime I can be around animals or nature in general. I love art, and drawing, but during camp it’s hard to do those things when I am so drained. I like non energy taxing things like taking a walk, or sitting and talking with Pat.

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

RN: I want to thank Pat Barry for being my number one hype man, and my soul mate. I want to thank Trevor Wittman, and his wife Christine. My awesome coaches Greg Nelson and Matt Miller. Brad Butler at SuckerPunch Entertainment.

RN: My sponsors Fear The Fighter, PolyCase Ammo, and Down2Scrap.

RN: I want to also thank my mom and brother, and all my family in Lithuania. And lastly, Invicta for giving me this opportunity!

An international student of all martial arts, Australian Alex Chambers will make her Invicta FC debut April 5^th against undefeated fellow Strawweight Jodie Esquibel at Invicta FC 5.

Starting to study karate as a child, martial arts is a lifestyle for Chambers, and she has grown into a well rounded fighter beginning to find her place in the world of MMA. Part of a three fighter Australian invasion at Invicta along with Bec Hyatt and Fiona Muxlow, Chambers will be looking to make a successful US debut on April 5^th.

Corey Smith: I understand there is some family history in martial arts. Is that what first drew you martial arts? What keeps your competing in the sport now?

Alex Chambers: Yeah, my uncle always brings up training with Chuck Norris (briefly) and has kinda become a family joke. When I was a child he (my uncle) got me and my cousins into karate because he thought it was important to learn self defense and also the underlying values inherent in traditional/classical martial arts (discipline, self-confidence, etiquette, etc.).

AC:  While as a kid I was really happy on my karate planet doing that, MMA has become a whole universe for me to explore. That’s what has kept my interest. Having said that I do still think it’s important not to forget where you came from, otherwise you get lost.

CS: You previously stated that MMA is a lifestyle for you, not a trend. What did you mean by that?

AC: Just the same as when I did Karate as a child, it went through a phase of hype where people did it just to do it, because everyone else was doing it. While its great MMA is taking off and becoming really popular it has also led to people doing it for the wrong reasons.

CS: It’s common for fighters to have a home gym, but also to take a few weeks to train somewhere else. Who or where was someplace or someone that you learned much more than you were expecting to?

AC: While I have learnt many good things traveling, the biggest thing I get out of it is being able to get a bit of perspective (of where my level is at) and refreshes my interest in training again (a change in environment, commitments, training partners etc). It also makes me appreciate how good my gym is and how good my coaches are.

CS: You have trained many times in Japan, with among others Megumi Fujii, what advantage is there to training in Japan?

AC: It’s a different way of training over there and its not often I get to train with girls of a similar weight (or any weight for that matter), and for the girls to be some of the best fighters in the world, makes the experience even more unique.

AC: Obviously training with Megumi Fujii at her gym AACC in Tokyo Japan has been the highlight of my experience training elsewhere at another gym. I didn’t realize I would have such direct training with one of the best MMA fighters in the world. I really wasn’t expecting that. She also has some of the top ranked female fighters in the world training in her team, which makes the experience even more invaluable.

AC: I remember the first time I visited AACC sitting on the side watching Megumi Fujii warming up, I couldn’t believe my eyes, I had seen her on video, on the internet, and to see her training in person was so surreal. To actually be able to train with her was a dream come true.

CS: What are the major differences between fighting in Japan and fighting in Australia?

AC: In terms of the rules of the actual fights, the ground and pound rules vary (with special rules required for ground and pound in Japan for female MMA promotion Jewels, and usually only allowed for championship matches).

AC: In terms of the overall experience, because martial arts is a big part of Japanese history and culture the crowds and the whole is experience is so different and whilst they still like a big KO, they also appreciate the complexities of the different disciplines of martial arts in MMA.

AC: Which we are now seeing the crowds appreciate and understand more and more outside of Japan too. It was a real honor to get the opportunity to fight on a card in Japan, and I would definitely like to again one day.

CS: You are among several fighters for Invicta that hail from Australia, Bec Hyatt and Fiona Muxlow being the others. How small is the MMA community in Australia? Or is it similar to the US, with fight camps all over the country?

AC: Aussie invasion at Invicta FC 5, pretty cool huh! With the popularity of MMA growing, there seems to be a lot of MMA gyms popping up all over the country. Recently a UFC gym opened up in Sydney which seems to be developing even more interest.

AC: However, I don’t think it is as developed here as the USA just yet. Don’t get me wrong, we still have a few quality MMA camps over here, just not as many.

CS: On the subject of the US, you are very familiar with the United States having visited countless times, but have never fought here. Is there anything in particular that you are looking forward to when you make your stateside debut on April 5^th?

AC: Getting my hand raised is number 1. I’m really looking forward to meeting and getting to know some of the other fighters. I might have to make a stop on the West Coast, sad to say I need a fix of In and Out Burger. I’m also going to see New York City for a few days whilst I’m there. All my other visits have been on the West Coast so I’m really excited to go there.

CS: Leading up to your most recent fight, you were ill beforehand. How much did that affect you considering you were still able to secure a win? Do you think your opponent was aware of your illness?

AC: You never fight at 100 percent, and can’t expect to. There can always be something bothering you if you let it. As soon as the cage door closes and you get that adrenalin rush, you soon overcome/forget any illness or injury.

CS: This will be your first fight for Invicta FC. How has your experience been so far with the company?

AC: It’s been great. They are very organized and professional and from watching all their previous fight cards Invicta looks like an awesome promotion. I’m so happy to have the opportunity to fight for them, so I will be giving it my all come fight time.

CS: Your opponent on April 5^th, Jodie Esquibel, has less MMA bouts on her record than you, but brings a large amount of boxing experience with her. What are you expecting out of the bout?

AC: She is undefeated in MMA and you never really know the full depth of experience fighters may have outside of MMA. I’m definitely not underestimating the challenge.

CS: When you are in the cage, what do you expect from your corners? Do you allow all your corners to coach, or do you have a main voice that you look to?

AC: I do have a main coach, Liam Resnekov, so he is the one I listen to when I am fighting.

CS: Outside of preparation for your fights, how much MMA do you watch purely for enjoyment?

AC: I try not to miss any big promotions either in the USA or in Japan. Luckily with the internet now, being able to get PPV on it I am able to see most events live, which we didn’t used to be able to do here in Australia. We would have to go to a local bar to watch it via satellite. Of course I also like to get to any local promotions that are being held and support Australian MMA.

CS: When you aren’t in the gym or the cage, what types of activities do you enjoy? How do you mentally unwind after a long day of camp?

AC: Growing up on the beach I find it a really relaxing place to go to unwind, even if it is just a walk or sitting on the sand watching the waves and surfers. I also play a bit of Black Ops (Call of Duty) occasionally, but I don’t know if I consider that unwinding!

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

AC: Definitely couldn’t have the opportunities I have today without such a great team of coaches, training partners and friends behind me.  My head coaches Liam and Dylan Resnekov at VT1 Mixed Martial Arts academy (vt1mma.com.au).

AC:  Also coaches Eddy, Graham, Adam and Jeff for their time and effort. All my training partners and friends at VT1, you guys are awesome (thanks for putting up with me).

Special thanks to training partner Glen for always being there for me. My strength and conditioning Coach Jason Gulati of Real Training (real-training.com.au) for always getting me fighting fit and strong.

AC: Thank you to my sponsors Level Clothing, and Tussel FightGear for their continuous support. Also thank you to my new sponsor Bloodbath Fightwear (www.bloodbath.com.au).  Thank you to Kya Pate of Brace for War for supporting WMMA in Australia.

AC: Last but not least, thank you to the fans, you guys are awesome!