Posts tagged: Charmaine Tweet

No matter what your philosophical approach might be in life, there’s no denying that some things are simply beyond our control.

Whether it’s the unexpected traffic jam that makes you late for a meeting or the snow storm that delays your flight, sometimes you just have to go with the flow.

Invicta featherweight Charmaine Tweet faced this reality recently.

As she prepared to take on Faith Van Duin at Invicta FC 10 in Houston in December, a medical concern identified by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation led to the fight being scrapped at the last minute.

“That was so frustrating,” exclaimed Tweet. “There is nothing worse than knowing you are healthy and not being able to fight. I do say that everything happens for a reason though. The results of the electroencephalography (EEG) coming back as they did prompted me to get an MRI immediately after I returned from Texas. I am happy to say that the results of the MRI came back clean.”

The situation in Texas was difficult for Tweet, her opponent and the promotion. The 37-year-old Canadian, dubbed “No So Sweet,” was hoping to build on the momentum of her first-round TKO over Veronica Rothenhausler at Invicta FC 8 in September. Despite nearly a decade of Muay Thai competition, the win was her first finish by strikes in MMA.

“To be honest, at that moment, I wasn’t even thinking about the TKO,” recalled Tweet. “I was more focused on the fact that, even though some might consider me to be too old to be in this sport, I was able to pump the brakes on a young up-and-comer’s knockout streak!

“Later, however, it was interesting to take a look at what happened in the cage that night and see a switch in my brain flip and really notice the ‘not so sweet’ part of my personality take over and go for the KO rather than the submission.”

The win was Tweet’s sixth career victory in the cage, and her sixth inside the first round. Her knack for ending fights both quickly and emphatically helped earn the Saskatchewan native something she never expected when she was dealing with the issues in Texas: a shot at the Invicta 145-pound title. She’ll square off with Brazilian titleholder Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino in the main event of Invicta FC 11 on Friday, Feb. 27, in Los Angeles.

“I was shocked at first because so many people thought that there was already an opponent picked out for her and, since I hadn’t heard anything previously, I certainly didn’t think it was me,” admitted the challenger. “I was expecting to be offered a fight with her, but I thought it would be later in the year and was more prepared for that to happen. When I heard the details of the entire weekend, though, I knew that this was the time to reach out and grab the opportunity that was hovering in front of me. I said yes immediately and hit the gym a few hours later.”

Tweet’s journey to a title shot has been long, and although it might have been slightly unexpected, the timing couldn’t be better. As a mother of two boys, her commitment to both family and fighting has always required a level of sacrifice for everyone involved.

“The balancing act has gotten easier as my children and I have gotten older,” explained Tweet with a laugh. “My oldest son is 18 and has a driver’s license, so I can rely on him to ease some of the stress by taking my youngest son to the places he needs to go. I have been lucky in that my fighting career has become the most hectic in the last few years. If it had been like this from the beginning, when my children were small, I’m not sure I would have been able to balance working full-time, training full-time and being a mom.

“I have to give a huge shout out to both my children, Joshua and Christian, for the sacrifices they have made in order for me to pursue my dreams. I hope I have been able to inspire them to chase their own dreams!”

Although Tweet was an IFMA world champion in Muay Thai, the Invicta gold would mean much more to her.

“Being Invicta champion would add a legitimacy to everything I have been doing for the past four years,” declared the Canadian. “I have always strived to be the best, and winning a championship is a great way to prove that one is the best at something.”

Her opponent, Cyborg, has not tasted defeat since 2005 and has scored back-to-back TKO wins inside the Invicta cage. Despite the accolades of the Brazilian, Tweet isn’t intimidated.

“I have the size, the skill, the strength and the experience that is needed to beat her,” she proclaimed. “My team and I have been preparing for a year and a half for her. Everything we have been working on, while training for my other opponents, has been with her in mind.”

With that preparation, Tweet enters the title fight with a level of confidence that few of Justino’s challengers have had in the past. Tweet believes it will be the fans that will see the biggest reward come Friday night.

“Never underestimate me. Challengers have a hard time taking a decision win from the current champ, so I will be finishing this fight prior to the fifth round,” she boldly proclaimed.

“The fans should expect a war. It’s going to be dirty, vicious and bloody, and we will probably both leave the cage looking worse than we did going in. Only, I will be leaving with a golden glow shining off my face.”

Charmaine would like to thank her coaches: Jeff Wiley, Nolan Coller, Deryl Bangsund and Myke Yee, her sponsors: Stellar Gear, Virus International, London Jacks Authentic British Fish and Chips, Fight Chix, Night Vision Inspections, UFCW1400, X-Ion-X, Puget Sound Computer Repair, Dynamic Fastener, The Great Canadian Oil Change, Sports Food International, Jiffy Lube Weyburn, MMA Road Hog and Professional Events Sponsors, her husband/manager: Cord Crowthers, her children, family and friends, and last but not least, the fans.

September 6th 2014 will mark the debut of the Invicta FC 155lb division, with Canadian Charmaine Tweet one half of the equation at Invicta FC 8.
Finally stepping into the cage with a rival has it’s own reward, but Tweet remains focused on capturing the first win of the 155lb division at Invicta FC 8.

Corey Smith: During the layoff, you kept yourself busy with a Victory in May.  How important was it for you to not allow ring rust to set in?
Charmaine Tweet: I never really think about ring rust, for me it is more about attaining my goal of having at least one fight per quarter.  I have yet to achieve that goal, as I am averaging three fights per year, but I love to fight and the more often I can, the happier I am. One of the things I love about being with Invicta is that I am able to fight for other promotions here in Canada, so long as what I am doing does not interfere with any Invicta bouts I have scheduled.

CS: MMA in Canada is virtually as popular as it in the United States.  Are there major differences in the MMA communities in the United States and Canada?
CT: I would say that the MMA community in Canada is pretty much the same as it is in the States, except our fighters say “eh” a lot more and wear “gotch” instead of underwear.   All kidding aside, it is very similar in that we train hard and fight hard!
CT: It is a very tight knit community and when you fight on a card here, chances are you are fighting on the same card as someone you know, and even though they may be from another province the two of you have most likely fought on other cards together in the past.  There are the inevitable rivalries between competing gyms and training centers…

 
CS: With training camp injuries a common occurrence in MMA, how do you balance getting the full amount of training that you require but still guard against injury?
CT: I choose my training partners wisely…
CT: There are people with whom I will train when I am not in fight camp, but politely turn down in the midst of a camp.  I try not to come off as a diva but, since I know that there are people that I’m more likely to get injured training with, my health and safety are my primary concern.  Obviously, things happen and you can’t avoid all injuries, but I feel it is unfair to my opponent if I sustain an injury that could have been avoided but making wise training choices.

CS: This bout will mark the opening of the 155lb division in Invicta FC.  Does that hold any special meaning for you?  How much of a difference will it make to be fighting at 155 compared to 145?
CT: I feel that it is ground breaking for a promotion that has a viewing platform as prominent as UFC Fight Pass to be debuting a heavier weight class and I am so proud to be part of it.  I have said for years that there is so much talent out there that doesn’t get to showcase their stuff because they cannot cut to 145lbs.
CT: I think this is a stepping stone to bringing in more divisions above 155lbs, which I feel is important because, in my personal opinion, cutting anything more than a few pounds to make a certain division is detrimental to a fighter’s health and to the strength of their fighting performance.  I truly feel that if we can put an end to these crazy weight cuts we are going to see stronger more exciting fights.  Stronger and more exciting pretty much describes the difference fighting at 155lbs will make compared to 145lbs!

CS: Your opponent on September 6th, Veronica Rothenhausler, and you have engaged in quite the war of words before the fight was announced; how important was it to you to step into the cage with Veronica?
CT: Let’s just put it this way, it’s time for this old dog to teach the young pup a thing or two!

CS: What is your mood on fight night?  Do you have any routines of superstitions that you have to perform?
CT: On fight night, I think the best way to describe me is a focused calm before the storm.  I have never had a pre-fight ritual, but do have a couple of superstitions.  I will not wear any article of clothing that I have worn in a fight which I have lost, nor will I walk in to the same ring music.  So, unfortunately, as much as I love “Fatty Boom Boom”, by Die Antwoord, I will not be walking into it on September 6th.

CS: Who generally accompanies you to the cage?  What type of feedback and coaching do you prefer from your corners?
CT: Lol, a lot of the time who I have in my corner depends on who, out of my coaches, can get time off from their day job.  In a perfect world I like to have a striking coach and a Jiu Jitsu coach.  My coaches are the eyes in the back of my head, they get an overall view of what is happening in the cage and I like to have them point out the stuff that I might not be cueing on when I am in trouble in a match.
CT: I like them to tell me very little if what I am doing is working because if they are constantly telling me which move to make, they may as well be coaching my opponent on how to counter me.

CS: Most fans love to give fighters advice before a fight.  What is the best advice you have ever received before a fight?
CT: I honestly can’t remember, I am usually so focused on the game plans my coaches set out for me.  The best advice any local fans could give me in the future would be the best place to eat or the coolest sites to see while I am in their city. ;)

CS: Aside from fight preparation, how much MMA do you watch purely for enjoyment?
CT: Oooh, you caught me on this one.  Unless I have a vested interest, for instance if there is an Invicta Card on, or there is someone I know personally, or someone I really want to see lose (read Rhonda Rousey) fighting, I actually watch very little MMA purely for enjoyment.  However, when it comes to sports, I have always been like that; I would much prefer to be competing myself or training than sitting and watching.

CS: Outside of the gym and MMA, what types of activities do you enjoy for fun?  What helps you to relax?
CT: When I have some down time, which is rare, I like to read books and watch movies with my husband.  In addition, I LOVE to watch my kids in the activities they compete in; football and basketball for my youngest son and wrestling for my oldest.

CS: Lastly, MMA takes a team to succeed alone inside the cage.  Who would you like to thank?
CT: I would first and foremost like to thank my coaches and all of the people are helping me prepare for Invicta 8: Jeff Wiley, Nolan Collar, Deryl Bangsund,  Myke Yee, Moses Ali, and Dan McGee.
CT: Things would be greatly amiss if I did not give a huge shout out to my Husband/ Manager Cord Crowthers; he does so much for me and for the sport of WMMA!
CT: In addition I send much gratitude out to the women who attended our “Eve-olution” training camp in June: Maureen “Baby Face” Riordan (keep an eye out for her in my corner on Sept 6th!), Roma “Panther” Pawelek, Summer “Critter” Bradshaw, Jackie Baker, Angel Anderson, Carly Short and Heather Wilson.  It was amazing having these talented women up in Regina to train with.  I have made some really good friends through this experience.
CT: I also send much love and many thanks out to my sponsors: London Jacks Authentic British Fish and Chips, Stellar Gear ,Misfit Made ,X-ion-X, and  King Eddie and MMA Comix.
CT: Also PSCR – Shawn Burdette The Computer Guy, Canada Whey, Comtech, and Weyburn Jiffy Lube.
CT: And of course I have to thank my family, friends and fans for their continued support.

Invicta FC 8 takes place September 6th live from the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. The full card will air live via UFC Fight Pass. Click below for tickets, or to subscribe to UFC FightPass.

Confident and experienced, Charmaine Tweet answered the call, and will clash with Ediane Gomes at Invicta FC 6 on July 13^th.

Fulfilling a lifetime goal to fight for the pinnacle of Women’s MMA, Tweet had little hesitation filling in for an injured Julia Budd, even after having fought on June 1^st. A world champion Muay Thai fighter with strong submission skills, Tweet will to make an impressive Invicta debut on July 13^th.

Corey Smith: At a young age, your introduction to martial arts came via fitness tapes made by Sugar Ray Leonard. Soon after you began to train kickboxing with Duke Roofus. How did that relationship come about? And what was your early training like?

Charmaine Tweet: My husband actually met Duke first, and since he knew that I was interested in boxing sent me down to his gym for a free trial.  I absolutely loved it and told them right away that I wanted to box competitively, and was asked if I would be interested in kickboxing as well; I said sure and entered into their beginner class.

CT: I spent three or four, what seemed to me like, very long months in that class trying to get the skills down.  I never saw myself as being particularly coordinated, and couple that with my intense desire to succeed and be the best, and I was feeling like I wasn’t doing very well.  Looking back now, I was probably doing better than most!

CS: How soon after your training began did you take your first Muay Thai bout? What was that first bout like for you mentally?

CT: I had my first bout approximately two years after I first started training.  It was against Julie Kedzie and it was tough! There I was 26 years old, with two years experience, competing against a Third Degree Black Belt who had been training since she was a child.

CT: I experienced my first ever ‘adrenaline dump”, my arms and legs felt like lead and it didn’t feel like I could do anything.  It ended in a draw and I wasn’t so sure I wanted to compete again, but I pressed on and my second fight was much better and I knew that I wanted to continue in the sport.

CS: Your Muay Thai career lasted roughly ten years before you began MMA full time. What was your biggest accomplishment? How do the Muay Thai and MMA worlds differ?

CT: I won two World Titles as a striker, and would have to say that my biggest accomplishment, so far  , was winning the IFMA Championship in Thailand.  As far as the sports themselves go, in Thai Boxing, you only have to worry about eight different things hitting you in a variety of ways and in MMA you still have to worry about those, but when you add in the wrestling and BJJ aspects you suddenly have hundreds of different things that could be happening to you and it can be a little bit overwhelming at first.

CT: I also found the worlds outside of the competitive arena quite a bit different as well.  In Thai Boxing you could compete with relative anonymity, where as is in MMA people really start to know who you are and can have very strong opinions of you.  I find it kind of interesting, with the expansion of social media, to see the good, bad and sometimes downright ugly things people have to say about their favorite and not so favorite fighters lol.

CS: Despite being classified as the classic “striker” label, all of your wins have come via submission. What do you credit for such a strong ground game?

CT: The funny thing is, I love to strike, but in each fight the submission just seemed to present it’s self to me. When I first started taking BJJ, it wasn’t real fun for me . It wasn’t until I found the right coach & gym with an amazing team that I real started to enjoy BJJ & Wrestling. Wiley BJJ has really helped me elevate my ground game to a new level and has rounded out my MMA.

CS: The first opponent in your MMA career was Ronda Rousey. What were your impressions of her at the time? How do you think a rematch would turn out?

CT: It was my first fight, and going Pro with no real amateur experience in MMA was a big leap. I thought she was good enough to win that night. But let’s make no mistake about it, that was 2 years ago. And I am a different fighter today. There is no doubt in my mind a re-match would end much differently; even at 135 lbs. Never say never!!!

CS: You have spoken in the past about viewing Strikeforce as the pinnacle of Women’s MMA, and that your goal was to fight there. With Strikeforce’s closure, and Invicta’s

emergence, how does it feel to be fighting for the pinnacle of Women’s MMA?

CT: It is 12 years worth of hard work all coming together at the right time. I am so proud to be fighting for Invicta FC. Shannon & Janet are such great ambassadors for WMMA, and I’m glad to be part of it. After working so hard to get here, it was very hard to turn down an amazing opportunity when Janet called for Invicta FC 5.

CT: It was a real short notice fight and there was only just over 1 week to prepare. So after talking with my Coach and Manager we decided to play it smart and wait. I can tell you that was a couple of tough days struggling with that. But like I always say… “Everything happens for a reason”, and here we are today.

CS: You most recently fought on June 1^st, and will now be facing Ediane Gomes on less than a month’s notice. Was there any hesitation in taking the bout so soon after your last one and on short notice? How familiar are you with Gomes?

CT: We called Janet just prior to my June 1st fight, when another fight we had lined up for England fell through. We asked if there was a chance to get a spot on Invicta 6. The card was already full, so Janet suggested I stay ready as a possible alternate at 145.

CT: I did just that. I went right back to the gym the Monday following my win over Amanda Bell, and started getting ready for this card. So when the call came a few days ago, there was no hesitation. I have been given an opportunity and I plan to make the most of it come July 13th. I met Ediane at a card a few years back, but other then that don’t know her personally. She comes from a great gym with a strong team, but I feel I match up in all areas and have the advantage in most.

CS: On fight night, what is your mindset? Do you have any routines that you perform? Any superstitions?

CT: My game plan and the way I get ready is something we don’t discuss outside my locker room with my team. I can say that she is the one person standing in my way at this point….. And that’s not a good place to be!!

CS: Who will be accompanying you to the cage on July 13^th? What type of feedback do you prefer from your coaches?

CT: My two coaches from Wiley BJJ, from Regina Saskatchewan, Canada, Jeff Wiley & Nolan Coller, will be in my corner. We are a family and it comes down to Train Hard, Win Easy!!!

CS: Outside of training and martial arts, what types of activities do you enjoy?

CT: I’m a Mom    I like watching my two teenage ( Joshua 16 & Christian 13 ) sons play Football,  Basketball & Wrestle. We are an all around sports family and its kind of how we all stick together and get time as a family

CS: What advice would you give to a young athlete looking to begin their journey in martial arts?

CT: Follow what you feel is right. Don’t let gyms, coaches, friends, etc tell you what direction is best for you. If it feels right it probably is, if it doesn’t maybe its time for a change. God knows I have found that out over the years. 

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

CT: I want to first thank my family for supporting me and letting me pursue my dreams while encouraging me at every turn.

CT: Secondly I want t thank my Coaches Jeff Wiley, Nolan Coller, Moses Ali (New Line Boxing) , Myke Lee & Deryl Bangsund.

CT: But honestly without the entire family at Wiley BJJ, which includes all the students, I wouldn’t be at this place today!! I love these guys… this is my home, it’s not just a gym!!

CT: I need to as always give a huge shout out to all my amazing sponsors and with any luck get a great plug in for them all. Misfit Baggers, The Tap House, Canadian Whey,

X – ION – X, Signal Direct, Power Dodge, Dedicated Few, and Com Tech!