Archive for category: Interviews

Missouri’s own Mollie Estes, returns to the Invicta cage for the first time since Invicta FC 1, on April 5^th when she squares off against Invicta newcomer, Veronica Rothenhausler.

Fighting in the 145lb division, former professional rugby player Estes, wants to welcome Rothenhausler to Missouri in a rude fashion. In front of what will surely be a hometown crown, Estes will tangle with Rothenhausler on April 5^th, at Invicta FC 5.

Corey Smith: I understand Jiu-Jitsu is what initially drew you into mixed martial arts. How did that come about?

Mollie Estes: Actually I drove by it. There was a sign that said “ju jitsu” off of a busy street. I pulled in the parking lot and wrote down their info off of the window, Googled it and thought, hmmm, sounds like fun.

ME: I had just “retired” (as ruggers call it) from an 8 year rugby career with the Kansas City Jazz WRC. I was trying to figure out what non-team sport I could participate in to stay in shape. That was in September of 2008 and I have been hooked since

CS:  After Jiu-Jitsu, you moved into training Muay Thai. Which art do you feel fits you more naturally?

ME: In high school they called me the “Mahler” which was actually my first initial and maiden name (Ahlers), but it fit my prototype. I was aggressive, not graceful. I started Muay Thai training to find the graceful bird inside of me! Needless to say I enjoy grappling above head kicks, but soaking it all in and being able to filter what I think I can use to my advantage is key.

CS: Along with MMA, you used to play rugby. Which sport is tougher?

ME: When we would recruit new rugby players our first comment to them would always be, “You are going to get hurt.” I played 15 on 15, which means 80 minutes of tackling, getting up, getting tackled, stepped on, and getting up again.

ME: We played every Saturday during the season and I have witnessed on the field broken femurs, compound fractures, always a broken nose, dislocated shoulders, cracked ribs… I could go on. In MMA one trains for a few weeks for one fight which could last 1 minute or 15 minutes. Damage is sure to occur in either sport, but exposure is far less with MMA. The level of fitness is comparable as well.

CS:  You went 7-1 over your Amateur career. What were the best lessons that you learned from those fights?

ME: Going into my first fight I had never really punched someone. I remember thinking how surreal it was. I was about to step into a cage, hurt this girl, and I wasn’t going to be in the least amount of trouble for it (no fouls!). I was so excited!

ME: People always ask me if I am scared before a fight. I explain to them, “I am not stepping into a cage with a 250 pound man with a knife, so no, I am not scared.”

ME: Other lessons learned: When one wins a fight swiftly he or she hasn’t been put to the test. But when the fighter is put to the test and triumphs does the win feel earned.

ME: My first 5 round fight as an ammy, that lasted 4 of the 5 rounds, was the first time I remember feeling truly exhilarated. It was against Marciea Allen in Watertown, SD.

ME: My first lost: 2010 In Las Vegas Tuff N Uff. I learned that the little fighters can be fast as hell! TJ Cunanan buzzed me with a right and to be honest I have no memory of that fight. I don’t think she had to cut to make our fight weight of 135 and I think I was back at 150 the next day after weigh ins. I learned a lot more about nutrition and diet after that fight. Shout out to my nutritionist Ethan Benda at Fitinkc.com!

CS:  You were a part of the inaugural Invicta card last year. What was it like to be on the first card for a promotion like Invicta?

ME: Dreamy! When Janet Martin speaks, people listen. I wanted to shout to everyone every day, “Do you realize how historical this is?” “How could you NOT have tickets yet!?” I was thankful that they chose Kansas City and I felt truly blessed.

ME: Who has had Don House wrap their hands? Me! I really feel like I would have said yes to fight anyone, luckily they are fair matchmakers, ha!

CS: You live just outside Kansas City, how many friends and family showed up for that fight?

ME: My fight family is large. I knew a lot of people there that night. I probably had at least 200 friends there. I had some family there too, but to be honest they prefer to hear about it later. It is still tough for many of them to watch in person. Even some of my friends admitted that they kept their eyes closed most of the fight. I am ok with that because they were there to support me.

ME: They would have not been there for any other reason.

ME: I am uniquely excited for the diehard fans that flew across the country to be there. The type of fans that purchase UFC tickets and know every single fact about MMA are the ones that I get excited to see because they will be back time and time again whether I am fighting or not.

CS: What do you think Invicta means for the sport of women’s mixed martial arts?

ME:  I always had this gut feeling that when no one is around Shannon (Knapp) and Dana (White) speak alien to each other. An android type of clicking with pops and whistles. I do not know what type of relationship they have but Dana’s strategic comments defacing women in the UFC, then Shannon’s rising from the ashes, now 10 UFC WOMEN signed up. Those two are beings from a higher thinking planet if you were to ask me.

ME: Either that or they are the type to put it all on RED at the casinos and have the money to risk it. I am just enjoying the view from the sidelines.

CS: Before your bout last year against Randi Miller, you began to train in wrestling for the first time. Most of your wrestling training occurred at HDMMA, a gym in Kansas City, operated by longtime MMA veterans Jason High and LC Davis How far has your wrestling progressed? What type of support do most female competitors receive from their male counterparts?

ME:  I did train a lot with LC Davis, Jason High, and the HD MMA crew before my last fight. I had my first ever wrestling practice there at the age of 36 J. I have to be honest, the most I have learned since then has been through my two boys’ (ages 8 and 9) wrestling meets. They both won state at their rookie state championships this year.

ME: I have had great support from my male counterparts, although I have heard stories of negative things like a guy showing off because he outweighs his sparring partner (a female) by 50 pounds and ends up hurting her.

ME: I haven’t witnessed this, but I have had female fighters reach out to me since I am somewhat of a role model and confess some issues they face. I feel that I have managed to avoid this scrutiny partially because I am one of the larger female fighters. There are a lot of guys my size in the gym that I am able to go all out with and neither one of us will injure the other.

ME: Training with Jason High and LC Davis was like this. The only bruises that I received from LC was from his elbows on the top of my foot, but that is because I was trying to liver kick him!

ME: What I told a friend the other day was this, “You know when you become a fighter and are no longer just a “girl” at the gym. It’s when they kick and elbow you in the chest because they have forgotten that you have boobs.”

CS: Your  original opponent at Invicta FC 5 on April 5^th, Veronica Rothenhausler sustained an injury in training. After a few other injuries left Julia Budd without an opponent, you have agreed to step into the cage with her. What were your thoughts on accepting the change in opponent so close to the fight?

ME: I’m blessed with such a great opportunity! Win or lose, it’s a win-win for me. I plan to do my best. Wish me luck!

CS: Inside the cage, what type of instruction do you like to receive from your coaches?

ME: Do you ever work out to the Bas Ruten audio CD’s? He shouts out what you do next and you just follow it. I love it when my corner does that. It’s helped so many times and is almost an instinctive process.

ME: What I mean by that is one fight Sarah Schneider was my corner. She has a soft voice and after I won in the 2^nd round by a standing guillotine, I remember her coming out celebrating my win and saying, “You did great! You did everything I said!” I didn’t tell her that I didn’t hear a word she said.

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

ME:  I don’t eat any food less than 4 hours before my event. I like my hair braided the same day that I fight. I never shave my legs on fight day, although I do shave the night before. I like to nap and relax the day of my fight. Nothing exciting.

ME: If my corner is super nervous I like to play jokes. One time I hid my mouthpiece and as we were about to come out I asked, “where’s my mouth piece!?” No one could find it, then I pulled it out, “Oh, there it is!” and just started laughing at their pale faces.

CS: Outside of the gym, what types of activities do you enjoy for fun? What helps you recharge from a long day of training camp?

ME:  I am a work-a-holic. I have a commercial janitorial company that I have owned and operated for 12 years (www.abmaintenance.com). I also have a tattoo shop located at 1005 Westport Rd., KC, MO 64111 (Timeless Tattoo KC on FB). If I am not working on that I love spending time with my boys at Lake Lotawana, MO.

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

ME: I am so very thankful for my dojo, Steve Crawford’s American Ju Jitsu and happy that their new home has moved into my 2^nd home which is 68 Inside Sports, Overland Park, KS.

ME:  Also thankful for trainers and training partners: Damiyahn Smith, Sarah Schneider, mit and cardio specialist Austen Ford, Muay Thai trainer Bryan Carroll, kickboxing instructor Mr. Dwane F. Lewis Jr., my friends at Brian Davidson’s Grindhouse, my Pink Ponies, nutritionist Ethan Benda, my chiropractor Dr Mladenoff and founder of IStressedOut.com. I’ll stop there, but there is always more.

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!

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!