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FIGHTING WORDS: CLAUDIA GADELHA

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Ever evolving Claudia Gadelha makes her Invicta FC debut July 13th, at Invicta FC 6 against fellow world traveler, Japanese standout Ayaka Hamasaki.

Believing that the key to continued success in MMA depends upon the evolution of your skills, Gadelha takes advantage of the talent present on her team, famed Nova Uniao. A lover of martial arts since she was a teenager, Gadelha will need every aspect of her game to defeat current JEWELS champion, Ayaka Hamasaki on July 13th.

Corey Smith: How did you first get started in the world of martial arts? How did it advance from there?

Claudia Gadelha: When I was younger I was always interested in martial arts but my parents would not let me train. I started working out at 14 years old; I used to cut class just to go to the gym. Then when I was 16 I went to an MMA event in my city, Mossoró and that’s where I met Jair Lourenço(head coach at Nova Uniao in Natal.)

CG: He invited me to come to Natal and to train in his academy. At that event they had 2 women fighting and after watching I knew I wanted to fight. From there I started training Jiu Jitsu 3 or 4 times per day, then competing every weekend. After winning a lot of championships I had my first MMA fight at 18 years old.

CS: Brazil is known as the birth place of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and the homeland of the famed Gracie family. What is the MMA community like in Brazil?

CG: With the presence of the UFC here now in Brasil, MMA is exploding and growing faster than ever.

CS: You currently train with Nova Uniao, with among others world champion Jose Aldo. How many women currently train with the team? What does being around that kind of talent level do for your overall game?

CG: Well, there are only 3 women on the team, including myself. Having this kind of world class talent around me on a daily basis is truly a blessing. Training with these guys I learn what it takes to be a champion, not just physically but the mental aspect as well, and how to carry myself like a true professional.

CS: Training camp injuries have been an issue for you in the past, and in general in MMA. How do you manage to maintain a full fight camp but also minimize training injuries?

CG:  When playing a sport like MMA injuries are very normal, especially when training and fighting at a high level. At Nova Uniao we train smart and that is important to staying healthy. I have learned to listen to my body and that has helped tremendously.

CS: You are currently undefeated with a record of 9-0. If you were to self-critique your career so far, what would you say has been your biggest area of improvement?

CG: I think that I am just trying to evolve with the sport. When I started MMA I was mainly a Jiu Jitsu fighter, but as time has gone on I have tried to evolve into a more complete fighter and I am working hard everyday to keep evolving. The level in woman’s MMA in getting so high and being able to evolve is such an important factor.

CS: This will be your first fight in the United States, and also for Invicta FC. How has your experience been like so far with the company? Are you anticipating any added difficulties with travelling to the United States?

CG: Working with Invicta thus far has been an absolute pleasure, it is so great to be apart of an all female organization like Invicta. I am very excited to fight in America. I know the crowd and people really love MMA and I am excited for this opportunity. It won’t be a problem for me traveling to the USA to fight. I lived in Texas, have traveled there to fight Jiu Jitsu and other things, so I am used to these things.

CS: You were originally slated to face Joanne Calderwood at Invicta FC 6, until an injury to Invicta champion Carla Esparza led to you now facing current JEWELS champion Ayaka Hamasaki. What are your thoughts on the opponent change? What are the differences in preparation for Hamasaki vs. Calderwood?

CG: Opponent change is something I am used to by now, this has happened with me quite often in my career. The difference in their two styles has been the main thing, Joanne a striker and Hamasaki a grappler. My training has remained pretty much the same with the exception of sparring. I went from sparring with top strikers to sparring with people looking to take me down. People to mimic the game of Hamasaki.

CS: The bout will also likely determine the next number one contender. Does that entail any added pressure going into the match?

CG: No, I don’t feel any added pressure. I am doing everything I need to be prepared physically as well as mentally.

CS: What is your mindset like on the night of the fight? Are there any superstitions or routines that you perform?

CG: I keep a calm mind and maintain my focus. I don’t have any kind routine or traditions, I take things as they come and listen to my music.

CS: Who generally accompanies you to the cage? What type of instruction do you like to receive from your coaches?

CG: I usually bring Renan Barao with me, he is a very experienced fighter/current UFC champion and close friend. He really knows my game and how to support me with the weight cut, the fight and everything that goes along with it. It’s a blessing to have such an experienced corner man.

CS: Outside of the cage, what types of activities do you enjoy? What helps you to mentally recharge during training camp?

CG: I love to spend time with my family in Mossoró. I love riding motorcycles. And I love anything that makes me laugh; laughter is the best medicine to recharge me during my fight camp.

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

CG:  First off I have to thank God for giving the body and mindset it take to play this sport. And my family for supporting me always.

CG: Andre Pederneiras, Jair Lourenço, Alessandro Gelke and all my sponsors.

CG: And my fiancée for always being patient with me and being by my side.

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FIGHTING WORDS: AYAKA HAMASAKI

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Current JEWELS Lightweight champion, Ayaka Hamasaki, reports to the Invicta FC cage for a second time on July 13th, facing off against Brazilian grappler Claudia Gadelha at Invicta FC 6.

Originally booked to face Straweight champion Carla Esparza before an injury sidelined the champion, Hamasaki is intent on making an impression regardless of the opponent. Gadelha and Hamasaki sport perfect 9-0 records, and one will be leaving with the first loss of their careers on July 13th.

Corey Smith: With a childhood background in Judo, you initially entered into the world of MMA as a means to get into better shape. How familiar were you with MMA at that point, and how did your training begin?

Ayaka Hamasaki: I knew about men’s MMA from watching them on TV but until Rina Tomita told me, I didn’t even know women’s MMA actually existed.

AH: When I joined AACC I had no intention of doing MMA but after taking grappling classes for a year or also, I just tried a MMA class.

AH: And, I did many moves that I’ve never done before and it was really fun so I started doing MMA training.

CS: Many American fighters travel to Japan to train, have you ever trained in the United States? If not, would you consider it?

AH: I thought about training in US but realistically it’s difficult to do so because I have a job, and also, financially it’s not easy to just go to US for training.

CS: What are the main differences between Japanese and American MMA?

AH: I don’t think there is a big difference between the two but in terms of women’s MMA, in Japan, some matches still won’t allow fighters to strike to the head on the ground so compared to overseas, I think we are little bit behind.

CS: It is common knowledge that Japanese fight fans are not as loud and boisterous as their American counterparts. Is that something that you have to adjust to while fighting in America?

AH: First I was very surprised on how loud they are but I can actually pump myself up listening to those fans noise so it was really easy for me to fight in the US.

CS: Aside from specifics for your opponent, what is your focus going into this training camp?

AH: This was going to be my first five 5-minute round bout so I was emphasizing a bit more on the stamina department.

CS: You previously fought at Invicta FC 2, how has your relationship been like with Invicta FC?

AH: Invicta FC did offer me a fight few times (since the Lacey Schuckman fight) but unfortunately because of my previous engagements with the promotion in Japan I couldn’t take it.

AH: But I really enjoy, and proud to be able to fight for Invicta FC, so I would like to fight for them as much as I can.

CS: You were originally slated to face Invicta FC Straweight champion, Carla Esparza. What are your thoughts on the opponent change?”

AH: It’s a bummer that I can’t fight Carla for the title but I am going to fight hard so Invicta FC would match me against Carla in the future.

CS: You are now scheduled to face Brazilian submission authority, Claudia Gadelha. How is the preparation different for Gadelha versus Esparza? How familiar are you with Gadelha?”

AH: Both Carla and Claudia are good grapplers so my basic training schedule hasn’t changed much. But Claudia is a very good BJJ fighter too so I am working on countermeasures in that department for sure.

CS: When you are in the cage, what type of instruction do you like to hear from your corner? Who generally accompanies you into the cage?

AH: I can hear my corner men’s voices pretty well during the fight so I listen to everyone’s advice.

CS: Outside of the gym, what keeps you entertained? How do you unwind after a long day of training camp?

AH: I like to rent DVD’s and watch movies at home. If it’s a good weather, I like to go out with my bike. When I am super tired from training, I play with my two cats.

CS: Other than the weight cut before a fight, what is the hardest aspect of being a professional fighter?

AH: The most difficult thing is to maintain hard training and keep myself injury free.

CS: What is the best advice you have ever received from a fan?

AH: When I hear the fans yelling my name, it just inspires me a lot.

CS: When you look back on your career many years from now, when the lights have dimmed, and the roar of the crowd faded, what do you hope you have accomplished?

AH: Honestly I haven’t really thought about that but I would like to be part of the growth of MMA. Women’s MMA in particular.

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

AH: I would like to thank Invicta FC for giving me this opportunity and everyone that worked hard to make this fight happen, and everyone that is currently working hard with me everyday.

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FIGHTING WORDS: LESLIE SMITH

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The always loquacious and entertaining Leslie Smith appears in the Invicta cage once more on July 13th at Invicta FC 6, looking for her third Fight of the Night award.

Dropping down a weight class to 125lbs for the first time, Smith looks to go straight to the front of the line with a win of fellow 125 pound contender, Jennifer Maia. The winner will get a crack at Flyweight Champion Barb Honchak, and Smith will settle for nothing less than a referee stoppage at Invicta FC 6 to get her shot at the champion.

Corey Smith: You are fast becoming a fan favorite in Invicta FC, with two past Fight of the Night honors. Is that a natural result of your style? Or are you trying to entertain the fans as much as possible?

Leslie Smith:  Thank you!  I love getting to fight for such an enthusiastic crowd! Invicta fans are the best; whether they are in house, or streaming the fights over their internet, their enthusiasm is palpable and it keeps me amped.

LS:  I am lucky in that my instinctual fighting style is very exciting.  I have to keep it fast paced to keep myself entertained, the biggest challenge in keeping to a slower pace for me is ignoring the little voices in my head that say “just jump in there and punch her in the face!  Hurry up! This is boring!”

LS: I have never consciously thought, “Will the crowd like this?”  But I am a pretty big fan of exciting fights so trying to keep myself happy is pretty much the same as trying to keep the fans happy.

CS: Cesar Gracie trained fighters tend to have a reputation of being aggressive and pushing the pace. Do you think that this is a product of a coach training these traits into his fighters or fighters finding a coach that fits their natural style?

LS: That’s a good question, like of  nature vs nurture on the GracieFighter team.  I think both factors play in to determine the style of fighting you see in my teammates and myself.

CS: How much do you benefit from having regular training partners such as Sarah D’Alelio and Alexis Davis, as opposed to women that have to train primarily with men?

LS: Every fighter that is successful is going to find the advantages to their available resources and exploit them to their fullest, or else they wouldn’t be successful.  There is no magical combination of training partners or super secret moves that guarantee a win, there are just fighters that make the most of what they have available and that becomes a skill in itself, making the most of whatever is available.

LS:  I benefit from having Sarah D’Alelio and Alexis Davis in my camp because it is motivational for one, but also because they give me a broader frame of reference when evaluating my opponents’ skills versus my own.  I can see how everybody Sarah and Alexis have fought matched up to them in the past and compare it to my experiences with Sarah and Alexis.

LS: Another advantage to the close proximity of other fighters that are doing their thing in Invicta just like me is that it is a permanent reminder that there are hundreds of other women trying to take my spot in Invicta.  And I like them.  It helps make going to practice more fun when you like your training partners.

CS: Training camp injuries are common place in MMA. How do your coaches manage your training to maintain the proper amount of learning but also minimize over training or accidents?

LS: That is quite the balancing act and I am always trying to push the limit.  It can be hard to train at the max without injury or overtraining, in fact sometimes you have to fall over the edge to learn how close you can come.

LS: My team of coaches are experienced in each of their different departments and always trying to understand the interplay of all the different techniques used in fighting and training to give me a more cohesive and effective training camp.

CS: You recently decided to drop in weight class down to 125. What prompted this decision?

LS:  I have had a very easy time cutting weight the past few fights and if I didn’t explore my abilities at a lower weight class I would feel like I wasn’t pushing myself to step out of my comfort zone.  I wonder if some people might think I am looking for an easier fight by fighting at a lower weight.  I am know my job is to show up at the weigh ins at weight, after training as hard as I can to get ready for a fight.

LS:  When I get in the ring it is playtime so I look at this fight as more of a challenge than any other fight because play time is play time but I am going to have to work harder to get to that point.  I have fought at 145 in the past and spent most of my time at 135 but I really want to take my fighting to the next level and to do that I need to challenge myself in all departments.

CS: At Invicta FC 5, you lost a close decision to Sarah Kaufman. Many felt that you should have won that fight. How confident were you as you awaited the decision?

LS:  I was very confident I had won my last fight but when I don’t finish a fight I forfeit any right to complain about a decision (if any right ever existed, which I doubt).  I have been focusing my training on fighting to a finish and nothing short of a ref stoppage will make me feel successful after this next fight.

CS: Shortly after Invicta FC 5, you signed a multi fight contract with the organization. What motivated you to make Invicta your home for the foreseeable future?

LS: I signed with Invicta because they have belts that I want.  I want a belt at 125 and then I want the belt at 135.  I am proud to be a part of a promotion that takes good care of their fighters and I appreciate the way they market us.

LS: I think that the more successful I can be, and the more visible to the rest of the world, the stronger an image of femininity I can contribute to.  I feel like Invicta is the place for me to do that right now and when my contract is up I will look to go wherever I can keep contributing as much as possible.

CS: Your upcoming bout at Invicta FC 6 will be against Jennifer Maia, in match with title implications. How familiar are you with Maia? What are you expecting out of the fight?

LS: The winner of my fight with Maia gets to fight Barb Honchak for the belt and I have been studying Maia’s fight history to be as prepared as possible.  I expect her to bring it, she is an intense fighter, I have no illusions about Maia being the kind of fighter to tap out to strikes.  She has been bigger than many of her opponents and she is used to bull dogging her way into dominant positions  but she isn’t going to be able to do that this fight.  I am prepared to fight her wherever the fight may lead us.

CS: Does the bout having title shot implications carry any extra pressure for you?

LS: I put more pressure on myself to be better than I was yesterday than any kind of title shot implications can hope to compare with.

CS: On the day of the fight, do you have any superstitions or routines that you have to perform?

LS: I like to eat a lot of cheese and tuna and onions so I can be extra smelly so the person will want to get out of the cage with me.  Subliminal stuff.

CS: Who generally accompanies you to the cage? And what type of advice do you like to receive from your corners during the fight?

LS: My coach Alessandro Ferreira and my boyfriend Kevin Lum have been at every single Invicta fight with me so far.  I get so wrapped up in the moment that I don’t know exactly what Alessandro and Kevin do, but I know it works to get me feeling good and ready.

LS:  Sometimes we’re so in tune with each other that they can be yelling instructions during a round and I will execute their commands exactly and afterward I will not be able to distinguish between thoughts of my own and their advice.  I am lucky to be so in tune with my corners.

CS: How much MMA do you watch purely for enjoyment? Are there any non team mates that you are big fan of?

LS:  I watch MMA whenever I can but to be really involved in a fight I have to have some kind of connection to the fighters.   I really enjoy watching fighters who I am familiar with so I always pay more attention when women fight or when people I have met and seen them train fight. So Brandon Vera, Mark Munoz, Jacare, and Manny Gamburyan, are all more fun for me to watch than people I have never met.

CS: What is the best advice you have ever received from a fan?

LS: The best advice I have ever received from a fan would probably have to be to ignore the bad and not put too much value on the good.   It wasn’t one particular person that said the two things together but as Invicta fights get more and more coverage and people are paying more attention to me and my fights I have been getting more feedback, both positive and negative.

LS:  Luckily, when people are hating there has always been someone around to point out the fact that they’re just being  haters.   I know that when people are saying good things I have to keep in mind the fact that I haven’t arrived where I want to be yet, and listening to praise isn’t going to get me any closer.

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

LS:  I want to thank Cesar Gracie, Alessandro Ferreira, Jongsanon, Yuzo, Travis Lee and Mark Wine for excelling in their respective departments of jiu jitsu, mma, muay thai, boxing, wrestling and strength and conditioning and helping me get better in each department.

LS:   My sponsors, Loyalty Before Royalty, Hella High Oakland, Spighter.com and Brentwood Embroidery and Screenprinting have all helped me in more than just monetary ways.

LS: My boyfriend Kevin is pretty much the best boyfriend ever and I am eternally grateful for his love and support, I couldn’t have gotten here by the same path without him.

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FIGHTING WORDS: LAUREN TAYLOR

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Late addition to Invicta FC 5, Lauren Taylor, will attempt to climb the next rung on the ladder, when she returns to face off against battle hardened veteran Sarah D’alelio at Invicta FC 6 on July 13th.

Though it may sound like an oxymoron, Taylor is only interested in one thing in the cage; fighting. Taylor aims to inflict as much damage as possible against battle seasoned veteran D’alelio, and will undoubtedly entertain the crowd at the same time.

Corey Smith: You last appeared at Invicta FC 5, earning the biggest win of your career against Kaitlin Young. How did that feel about securing the win and your performance that night?

Lauren Taylor: Well, of course it feels great to win, especially against a tough opponent like Kaitlin! It was really good to have a fight that went the distance, it exposed a lot of holes in my game for us to fix. I remember being pretty hard on myself after the fight for not finishing her, but there is nothing to change that now.

CS: How confident where you that the judges would score the fight in your favor?

LT: Extremely. I know judges screw up fights sometimes, and I was bummed I didn’t finish Kaitlin, but if they had scored in her favor, I might have had a tantrum right there in the cage.

CS: That was your second fight in roughly a month, do you think having just come off of a fight helped your overall conditioning with such a short camp? Do you feel like any part of your game suffered with a short camp?

LT: I actually like short camps better. It’s less time to think about your opponent and stress out, they cost less money, and burnout and injury isn’t as likely. My conditioning was already alright from my last fight, and I worked really hard in the two weeks I had to make it even better.

CS: What did you see in your last fight that you wanted to work on?

LT: Ha! One thing is I brought too many shirts and not enough pants last time, which is why I walked out in my pajamas. I wasn’t trying to be like…gimmicky or whatever, I just really didn’t have any other pants to warm up in. So maybe this time I’ll try using my brain while I’m packing.

LT: Other than that, I am always working on everything, every day, to be the best mixed martial artist I can be.

CS: Was there any hesitation in taking the short notice fight against such a high level opponent?

LT: Nope, I don’t think so. I had a good feeling about it, which I know sounds stupid, but there it is. I knew I could win the fight. And if I didn’t win, who cares? It’s not a shame to lose to someone like Kaitlin. Everyone loses at some point, so I’m not too worried about any of that.

CS: What do you think the win showed about your abilities?

LT: That I’m tough. I’m just hard to beat, you know? Kaitlin had me mounted, took my back, locked on a nasty body triangle, flattened me out, had me triangled. That first round sucked….I was in a lot of bad positions in that fight, but I never stopped fighting or broke mentally.

LT:  I think that’s because my camps are so hard. I really go through hell in a fight camp, so the fight is a lot easier. It really speaks more about the team I have behind me than anything for myself.

CS: This was your first experience fighting for Invicta FC, what was the experience like?

LT: AMAZING. Invicta is top level, and they run themselves as such. What an awesome promotion. The fighters are treated so well, everything is very detailed and well thought out. They have made themselves one of the top promotions in MMA, and I was really proud to be a part of that. I have never been treated better or been part of a better promotion.

CS: You mentioned that you met many of your MMA idols. Was there anyone in particular that left you star struck?

LT: I don’t know about star struck. Everyone was so nice, so it was easy to kind of relax. I really enjoyed meeting Sarah Kaufman, Alexis Davis, Marloes Coenen, Cyborg….all really nice ladies.

CS: Your next opponent at Invicta FC 6, Sarah D’Alelio, will pose another stiff test. How familiar are you with Sarah, and how do expect the fight to go?

LT: I’ve seen her fight. She seems to prefer the ground game but doesn’t mind standing and banging with people like me. I think her stand up has probably come a long way, and her ground game is great.

LT: So it’s going to be an awesome fight. I don’t really care where it goes. We can stand and bang if she wants; that sounds like fun to me. I’m a pretty good wrestler and decent on the ground myself, so let’s do it. No matter where it goes we’re beating the hell out of each other.

LT: I think I’m the underdog in this fight, which takes some pressure off me as well. She’s ranked in the top ten, and I’m not, so I think she has more to lose in this fight than I do.

CS: Invicta has quickly gained a reputation of putting on exciting cards top to bottom. Do you feel any extra pressure to continue that reputation?

LT: No, because I don’t think about it like that. I’m not there to just win a fight however I can. I come to fight, period, and that’s what makes fights exciting. I’m fighting till the end, until the ref pulls me off of you, I’m trying tohurt you. I’m not there to win, I came there to put a beat down on someone. How could that possibly be boring?

CS: What is it like to be on a card that features only women, compared to a card that has one or two female bouts?

LT: It’s great. I feel like I am part of an elite club and not a side show.

CS: What’s the best advice you have ever received from a fan?

Haha, I don’t know. Usually when fans give me advice, they are trying to coach me. I know they mean well, but seriously, if my coaches can’t fix me, no one can.

LT: I do like it when fans tell me to relax and have fun, it lets me know that they are there to see a good fight, and win or lose, if I do my best and put on a good show, they love me anyway. Lots of people with losing records are crowd faves, while some people with winning records no one wants to see. They sacrifice the spirit of MMA for their record.  So I like being reminded to relax and just have fun.

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

LT: First and foremost, my team at Gracie Barra Katy; especially my coaches Pat Applegate and Alex Cisne, as well as Aaron Pena. My team mates and sparring partners, Skylar, Little Joe, Paris, Abdul and Michael. Thanks for putting up with me and making me better all the time.

LT:  My sponsor, American KnockOut, they are so cool, man.

LT:  My manager Paul Stockler, he’s the best in the biz, and all my fans for all the support.

LT:  My mom, I love you mom.

LT:  And most of all to Joe Murphy, thanks for being with me through thick and thin, I love you so much. I wouldn’t be here without any of you.

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FIGHTING WORDS: SARAH D’ALELIO

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If the expression “Iron sharpens iron,” is true, then veteran Sarah D’Alelio should be as sharp as they come when she enters into the Invicta cage July 13thagainst Lauren Taylor at Invicta FC 6.

Having fought and trained with some of the best athletes on the planet, D’Alelio will be making her fifth appearance in the Invicta cage. A true lover of the ‘art’ in Martial Arts, Sarah will look to paint a picture for all of the Bantamweight division to see on July 13th.

Corey Smith: It was written that when you were young, you had a neighbor that practiced karate. After seeing him show off things he learned, it stirred an interest in you. Years later you took up Jiu Jitsu in 2007. What kept your interest so long, and how did it feel to finally begin learning martial arts?

Sarah D’Alelio: The art itself is just so interesting and physical; I just always thought martial arts were so beautiful. To be honest when you first start training in an art it’s really frustrating until you feel yourself do something right the first time.

CS: You turned pro in 2010, a few years after you began training. What led you to believe that you were ready to turn pro?

SD: My coaches told me it was time. And we couldn’t get any more amateur fights.

CS: You train out of the CombatSportsAcademy, and also with Cesar Gracie. What is the relationship like between the two gyms? What areas do you focus on at each gym?

SD: I do all of my training at CSA but we have a great relationship with Cesar Gracie; he comes and guest teaches from time to time for us and that’s really special to get to learn technique from an instructor of his caliber.

CS: One of your main training partners, Miriam Nakamoto, is a world champion Muay Thai fighter. How beneficial do you think it is to have training partners whose skills seemingly offset each other?

SD: Oh man it doesn’t get any better than that. We tell each other what we would do in a particular situation and then trade tactics. To have that kind of insight available to you makes for a very dangerous opponent I think.

CS: For most of your career, you have been considered an underdog “on paper” yet you continue to shock most pundits. What does that type of reaction bring out of you, always being considered the underdog?

SD: It makes for a pretty pressure free fight. I don’t have to worry about living up to anyone’s expectations of me.

CS: All three of your losses have been at the hands of high level opponents. What have you learned from those losses?

SD: The biggest thing I brought out of my losses is to listen to your corner. Don’t be a dummy and think you know better than them. HaHa.

CS: With your phoenix tattoo, you seem to be tailored made to fight for Invicta FC. How has your relationship been like with the company so far?

SD: I have nothing but good things to say about Invicta. They’ve always been great to me and I absolutely love Shannon and Janet.

CS: You have fought on four of the first five Invicta events. What is it like to fight for a promotion that features only women, compared to a promotion were they are an occasional attraction?

SD: It makes you feel like a true athlete, and not just a commodity.

CS: Invicta has a reputation of putting on exciting cards top to bottom. Do you feel any extra pressure to add to that reputation when you fight for them?

SD: I try not to think about it that way. Shannon and Janet are the bosses and I just want to make them happy.

CS: Your opponent at Invicta FC 6, Lauren Taylor, is coming off two impressive wins in under a month’s time. How familiar are you with her skills? What are you expecting out of the matchup?

SD: I think I understand her game plan well and I have no expectations for this fight. Just going to keep it open and see where the fight goes.

CS: When you are in the cage, what type of instruction do you like to hear from your corner? Who generally accompanies you into the cage?

SD: I don’t know you’re going to have to ask Kirian about that one. He’s the one there with me.

CS: Outside of the gym, what keeps you entertained? How do you unwind after a long day of training camp?

SD: Well I spend most of my waking hours at the gym, in between sessions it helps to have Netflix available on my phone. I love to read but when I find a really good book I forget the time and have been known to stay up all night reading. That’s not good when sleep is so important to a good day of training so I stick to movies during camp.

CS: Other than the weight cut before a fight, what is the hardest aspect of being a professional fighter?

SD: Putting your life on hold. It’s really hard to maintain normal relationships during a fight camp and most people don’t understand and have the patience for it.

CS: When you look back on your career many years from now, when the lights have dimmed, and the roar of the crowd faded, what do you hope you have accomplished?

SD: Just that I reached my full potential.

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

SD: My family, they’re 100 % behind me.

SD: My entire team at CSA, they’re also 100 % behind me. My manager Alessandro Gelke, always professional and always there when I need anything.

SD: Brawl and Maul fight gear, they are the best sponsors I could ask for. Everyone’s been great this fight camp.

SD: And if course the entire team at Invicta for giving us ladies a permanent home.

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FIGHTING WORDS: MIRIAM NAKAMOTO

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Seven-time Muay Thai world champion Miriam Nakamoto opposes Duda Yankovich, herself a world champion in Boxing, July 13th at Invicta FC 6.

Believing that you should always face the challenge you are most scared of, Nakamoto has met the challenge of transitioning from Muay Thai head on. With world class striking, Nakamoto looks to continue her Muay Thai success in the 135lb division, and Yankovich is next on the list.

Corey Smith: You started off your career in martial arts with a win in the 2004 San Francisco Golden Gloves tournament. What was your confidence level going into the tournament? How long had you been training at that point?

Miriam Nakamoto: I had been trying for about four or five years and that point. I was shy. It took a long time for me to spar, it came from being self-conscious. I was uncomfortable shadow boxing in class. It took me a very long time to actually fight. I won the tournament, but I was ‘sick with nerves’ for a couple days of the event. It ignited my passion, I’ve never been unconfident, and there are times that I feel more comfortable.

CS: You quickly transitioned into Muay Thai, where you won several world championships. How do the MMA and Muay Thai worlds differ?

MN: I started in Muay Thai. I did Muay Thai for five years before somebody I knew passed away and I was very sad so I didn’t want to do Muay Thai. That’s when I went into boxing. My base has always been Muay Thai.

MN: MMA is like fighting in water. Or anti-gravity fighting. It’s all over the place. With a jiu-jitsu match, or a wrestling match, or Muay Thai match if you take out the ground it’s all pretty much the same thing. You end up in different positions, but in a sense a Muay Thai clinch is grappling. But on the ground, same position, it’s a can opener. MMA is fighting in an anti-gravity chamber.

CS: During one of the most successful parts of your Muay Thai career, you participated in the Oxygen reality series Fight Girls. What was that experience like? Did it interfere in your training in any way?

MN: Fight Girls was not the highlight of my Muay Thai career. It was awful. They wanted reality, but for me I go train, I eat, I go to sleep. I get up eat, go train, eat again, and go to sleep. There is nothing that interesting going on, other than maybe some self-doubt while training. They would try to create these things, and pit us against each other.

MN: You have to feed your body regularly, train at a certain time, rest. It’s not really reality show material. But they created the drama.

CS: After so much success in Muay Thai, what made you decide to transition into mixed martial arts?

MN: One reason was that I was scared of MMA. If you are scared of something, you have to do it. I would hate to be old and grey and look back and remember that I chose not to do because scared of it, or I was intimidated by it. I usually find that give me the most anxiety are the ones that give me the most reward.

MN: With fighting, when I first started fighting, I don’t know if it was being hurt by the other person, my body is always aware that it is in danger, but for me it was being seen that was the scary part. Putting myself out there in front of everyone and letting my light shine instead of hiding. That was the scariest thing for me.

MN: Another reason I got in MMA, it was weird for me, because on one hand I had these historic accomplishments in Muay Thai, and on the other hand I was so broke and unrecognized. I would look at MMA fighters with a couple fights as an amateur, maybe two fights as a pro, and everybody is making this huge funk about them. And they are nothing special and they walk around acting like they are special, and they are getting paid more money than a world champion Muay Thai fighter. It’s baffling and frustrating, so that’s one more reason for my switch.

CS: Are you completely finished with Muay Thai? Or would you return for the right fight?

MN: I would definitely like to defend one of my belts.

CS: Many consider you to be at the top of list of female strikers around the world. How much training do you devote to that aspect compared to wrestling or takedown defense?

MN: It’s all equal, just different aspects of it. My standup for a Muay Thai fight isn’t going to be the same as for an MMA fight, you have to make the adjustments. The opponent comes into play too, what their background is, how do they fight, what’s their style, what’s their temperament in a fight. You have to take all of those things into consideration when you come up with a game plan and your training camp. All the components are there.

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

MN: I am dumbfounded. They give you stuff! I’m not used to that! One time I received a world title belt in Muay Thai, and after posing in the ring and walking out with it, they took it back. My last Thai fight I actually got a win bonus, but that’s it. If you’re lucky you get to keep your gloves.

MN: So I am completely blown away. They are giving me stuff, this is weird. I’m signing posters, really? I’m signing posters and I’m on the undercard. I remember fighting in China, and they don’t really French braid over there. So I am hiking around looking for a salon, no one speaks English, and I have to explain to them what I need for my hair. The day of the fight. Here it’s all taken care of.

CS: What did teammates and Invicta veterans Alexis Davis and Sarah D’Alelio have to say in regards to fighting for Invicta?

MN: Of course we had conversations about Invicta, and their experience there. And they showed me the gift baskets and what not, and I was like huh? They gave you what? They paid you what? It was a no brainer after hearing about those stories.

MN: I’ve had 24 fights, and never had this experience with any promoter that I fought for. It makes me feel like, and as a female fighter you don’t usually feel this way, but for once it makes you feel like having a vagina is good.

CS: On July 13th at Invicta FC 6, you will be facing off against Duda Yankovich, a well accomplished boxer making the transition to MMA. How do you see that match going? How familiar are you with Yankovich?

MN: I’ve said this in my last interview; I don’t see how it’s going. If I try to predict what happens, I can get stuck on one thing. I really just need to focus on whatever is in front of me, so I can react appropriately.

MN: I have looked at her tape; she’s very scrappy. She’s tough, and she doesn’t quit. So it’s a good matchup.

CS: On fight night, what is your mood like? Do you prefer to be left alone and focus? Or do you try to distract yourself?

MN: I’m all over the place. One moment I might be joking and laughing, the next moment I’ll be laying there sleeping, the next moment I’ll be crying, the next moment I want to hit pads so I’ll go crack them, then drink water, then lay down, and then I might want a banana. I’m all over the place.

MN: My coach just knows it’s part of the process, he just has to ride the wave. The night of the fight, I do like to watch the fights in the background because it I don’t feel as far away from the moment. I can watch the athletes in front of me go, and it helps me realize “Oh yeah they are just hitting each other. This is just glorified sparring, no chin guards.”

MN: I like to watch before rather than after, it helps me more before. Unless it’s a fight that I really want to see. It brings it back down to Earth, instead of hyping it in my mind.

CS: So during the fight, how do you prefer to be coached? Who generally accompanies you to the cage?

MN: I don’t remember. I know what I don’t like. I don’t like someone giving me a hard time, and I don’t need someone to lie to me. I do not like someone telling me how bad I am doing, telling me what’s wrong with me. I’ve had that before, and I don’t need it. Just someone talking to me, I can use that.

MN: I only remember really bad situations. I had a fractured eye socket, and I remember telling my coaches I couldn’t continue because I was injured so badly. I had to go to the emergency room after.

MN: I don’t usually get yelled at, because my coach and I usually see eye to eye. I come to our training sessions and I have an idea what an opponent needs, and he will be right there with me. We usually don’t argue about the game plan, because we see similar things.

CS: What types of activities do you enjoy solely for fun and relaxation?

MN: I’m kinda boring, I don’t really do anything. I do make stuff though. I like to make food. I make Paleo, raw, gluten free stuff. I like to design new flavors. I sell them; I made a lavender maple coconut cheesecake, with a spiced orange crust.  I worked at a raw food restaurant and just branched out from there. It’s just me in the kitchen with my short attention span.

MN: I designed a granola for Sarah (D’Alelio), for her birthday last year. She asked me for an apples and cinnamon granola because it would remind her of when she was a kid. That sounds boring though, I didn’t wanna make that. So I threw a twist on it, I put apples and cinnamon with cayenne pepper, black pepper, ginger, and lemon. So it’s apples and cinnamon but kind of spicy. It’s apple jacks for grown-ups.  I call it ‘Monster Morning.’

CS: You eat only a raw food diet. How does that type of diet benefit someone with such a high level of fitness such as yourself?

MN: I’m not actually on an entirely raw food diet. I make a lot of raw food and play around with it, but I’m not entirely raw. I’ve done like 80% raw, everything raw except my meat. You do have to eat more often, it’s kinda a hassle but it’s all about prep work.

CS: All things being equal, if both are on TV at the same time, are you watching MMA or Muay Thai?

MN: Depends on the fight. Completely depends on the fight, I do not like watching shit fights. I don’t like when people say something is good when it’s not good. It’s more frustrating when it’s females fighting, because then it’s about how we are representing ourselves. When it’s rudimentary at best, and you say that its good, you bring down women’s MMA.

MN: When women fight they are doing it for a reason, whereas when men fight it’s just part of their makeup. Women are more born as the nurturer, but men are born as the fighter, the aggressor, the dominator.

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

MN: Thank you to my whole team. My fight camp process can be a hell of a ride, and I appreciate their patience and endurance while working with me.

MN: A special thanks to my Sambo coach Val, for his conversations that helped me get back on track.

MN: And thank you my Jiu Jitsu coach Matias for reigniting my passion for Jiu Jitsu.

MN: My sponsors Kinetic Chain Sport, Elite Sports Physical Therapy, Sweet Sweat, Revgear, The Rehab Group, and the AMR group.

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FIGHTING WORDS: NICDALI RIVERA-CALANOC

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Returning to the Invicta cage for a third time on July 13th, Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc looks to announce herself as a contender in the 105 pound division with a win over former Invicta Atomweight Champion, Jessica Penne.

With a strong background in boxing, and a hard charging aggressive style, “The Night Queen” has quickly garnered a following for her crowd pleasing fights. Calanoc loves to create poetry in and out of the cage, and will be writing her next chapter on July 13th at Invicta FC 6.

Corey Smith: From an early age you dreamt of being a boxer, and your MMA career evolved from there. How old were you when you first knew you wanted to box? And what attracted you to the sport?

Nicdali Rivera-Calanoc: I was about 11 years old when I knew I wanted to do Boxing. My step-dad at the time and I were watching Oscar de la Hoya fight Chavez for the WBC World championship. At the time I didn’t have any Mexican role models to look up to and I found one in De la Hoya.

NRC: I have always been Athletic since I was 5 years old; I was always doing sports. It runs in my family. My father played American football in college along with basketball. What attracts me to combat sports is that I feeling that it is the highest form of expression.

CS: How early on were you aware of women’s MMA as you were beginning to train in boxing and kickboxing? What led you to the MMA route versus strictly a boxing career?

NRC: Since day one of my training in boxing, I was aware of women’s MMA. Some of my husband’s training partners (Dorothy and Clay) showed me a video of WMMA.

NRC:  I guess what led me to MMA vs Boxing was that my husband did his first MMA fight, watching him win his first Pro MMA fight inspired me. I love all the different variables in MMA, standing and trading blows, clinch, wrestling, and BJJ. I have always dabbled in Jui-Jitsu, and I just love it all. MMA is like life; a sea of possibilities.

CS: You speak both English and Spanish fluently. You are also working on learning Portuguese.  Do enjoy speaking new languages, or does learning Portuguese help in the world of MMA?

NRC: LOL! who told you I was trying to learn Portuguese? I have tried before in the past to learn Portuguese, but it is too similar and different to Spanish. Spanish was my first language and than I learned English when I moved to America at 5 years old. I plan on learning Tagalog (Philipino.) My husband’s father is from there. Then I plan on learning Italian. I want to learn to speak at least 7 languages before I die! Lol!

CS: You are married to and train under retired fighter and US Marine, Travis Calanoc. How much does it help to have someone that is familiar with the fighting lifestyle?  Is it easier or more difficult to train under your spouse?

NRC: I think it is more difficult because you really have to separate yourself from your relationship while you’re training. For example at the gym I call my husband coach and sir. But at home I just call him by his name lol.

NRC: When we are at the gym or during a fight he isn’t my husband, he’s my coach. Part of it is easier because he understands everything I am going through and gives me a lot of advice. He is a great coach. He is constantly continuing his education as far as his field goes. He is a retired MMA fighter so he knows how to incorporate all the things a top level MMA athlete needs.

CS: How much does it help to have someone with the experience of Miesha Tate in your corner during a fight?

NRC: It’s not really during a fight where it makes a huge difference, but as far as my career goes Miesha has taught me ALOT!! I can’t ever thank her enough for helping make me the fighter I am today.

CS: For a good portion of your career you fought at, and had a lot of success at 125lbs. You have since dropped to 105lbs. Do you feel like it was always your most natural weight class? Has the talent level at 105 grown to the point where you always feel you can find competitive fights?

NRC: Yes I had a lot of success at 125lbs, and I also fought quite a bit at 115lbs. I feel best fighting at 105lbs. I feel that with the way Invicta FC has helped grow ALL the WMMA weight classes there are enough competitive fights for everyone.

CS: How were your experiences with Invicta as a company on the first two shows?

NRC: They treated me and the rest of the women like we deserve to be treated; like high level professional athletes. I can’t say enough good things about Ms. Knapp and Janet Martin.

CS: How familiar are you with your opponent on July 13th, Jessica Penne? What should the fans expect out of the fight?

NRC: Yes, I am familiar with Penne, she is the former Invicta world champion. Fans should expect a very exciting fight. I always fight hard as Hades.

CS: Invicta FC commentator and MMA champion, KingMo, has called you a female Wanderlei Silva because of your hard charging and violent style. Does this come from a desire to entertain the fans or is it more your natural fighting style?

NRC: It’s just the way I fight :)

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

NRC: My mood on day and night of the fight is like every other day; 2 cents short of  loca! Just kidding! I am pretty calm. I have a few superstitions and routines; I always get my hair braided the day of the fight and warmup.

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

NRC: I can always hear my husband and main coach Travis Calanoc’s voice and I can also always hear Miesha Tate voice if she is there.

CS: When you aren’t training, what types of activities do you enjoy for fun? How do you relax after a long day of training camp?

NRC: I read books, comics and I study hair fashion. I also like to long board, cook, paint, and write poetry.  During camp I like to read a book or watch a movie, or have a discussion with my husband.

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

NRC: I would like to thank my sponsors: FighterGirls, Funkygums, Babes of MMA, Sangre Management, UPC Tulsa and Team UnderDawgs!!

NRC: Special thanks to Travis Calanoc, Charlie Mills, Nulf, Jose, and Miesha Tate.

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FIGHTING WORDS: NORMA RUEDA CENTER

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Undefeated Jacksons’ MMA prospect, Norma Rueda Center will make her Invicta FC debut on July 13th as a late replacement opponent for Scottish striker Joanne Calderwood at Invicta FC 6.

Bringing her “dark passenger” into the ring with her, Center will attempt to remain undefeated after turning pro in March. Center is ready to put the division on notice; there is a new lion in town, and she is ready to hunt her prey.

Corey Smith: What initially drew you to the world of Mixed Martial Arts? What discipline did you begin training in first?

Norma Rueda Center: My husband, DustinCenter, (boyfriend at the time) introduced me to MMA.   In 2011, Dustin was getting ready for his second pro fight in Kentucky for Absolute Action MMA.   There were flyers going around advertising the next fight card including the “famous” Kim Couture.   I saw the flyer and started telling my buddies, “I am going to fight this girl.”

NRC: A week later I was training in Son of Siam, KY.  I loved BJJ, because I come from a wrestling background.  Nonetheless, I was intrigued by the world of Muay Thai.

NRC: They tried getting me the fight against Couture but in the end, I didn’t get the fight.  However, I was able to get a fight with a local girl who was 3-0.  Despite her MMA experience, I decided I wanted to fight.

CS: How did training at Jackson’s MMA come about and how soon did you begin training there?

NRC: After a couple of fights, I began training in Dayton MMA with Michael Patt.   Patt’s team made me feel like part of a team, and it is here where decided I wanted to take it to the next level.   With the Ohio gloomy days, I grew homesick and I missed my family.  You can say I am weak sauce, I guess, but I missed the desert.

NRC: So many things had happened; I married Dustin and had a couple more fights.   In a toll of continuing our MMA career, we both decided to pack up our things and head to Albuquerque, NM.   It was a rough drive from Ohio to New Mexico, but we were too excited.  We began training a week soon after we arrived to Albuquerque.

CS: Many Jackson’s MMA students have stated that the diversity and depth of knowledge, not just from its coaches but from fellow fighters, is Jacksons biggest strength. Would you agree? What keeps you training at Jackson’s?

NRC: I couldn’t agree more.  If one of the coaches can’t make it to practice, one of the fighters substitute for the day and we continue to do what we do every day – train like champions.

CS: After a perfect 5-0 record as an amateur, you took your first professional bout on just two days notice against Rachel Cummins. How did that bout come about? And what led you to believe that you were ready to turn pro?

NRC: Like I stated in the previous questions, we all help each other.  My teammate Heather Clark, who now switched gyms to be close to family, told me about the fight.  The rest of the girls and coaches Julie Kedzie, Jodie Esquibel agreed I was ready for this fight.

NRC: Furthermore, I had been asking everyone for a fight.  So, I took advantage of the opportunity.   Cummins is a great MMA fighter.  It was our pro debut, so it was perfect.

CS: You will also be stepping in on late notice at Invicta FC 6 to face Joanne Calderwood. How familiar are you with Joanne? Was there any hesitation in taking the bout?

NRC: Well, at least this time, I have a short camp. I studied some of Calderwood’s fights and realized she is a vicious fighter. I like that. There’s no doubt we will be in a war for Invicta.

CS: How has your experience been like with Invicta thus far?

NRC: I am very content with Invicta’s decision of putting me part of this card in short notice.   The third one (opponent) is the charm.

CS: At this point in your career, what are your goals going forward?

NRC: At this point in my MMA career, I am hungry.  I’m a lion and going after my prey.   It’s time to show the crowd a Mexican beat down.

CS: Most fighters list the weight cut as the hardest aspect of MMA. Aside from that, what do you consider the hardest aspect?

NRC: The weight cut should be the least of the worries.  However there’s no doubt the hallucinations from the weight cut make you feel crazy.  Neither does the crazy ever go away.  Lol. To me, the hardest aspect is the performance a fighter does in the cage.  I want to perform to the best of my potential.

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

NRC: I’m Mexican so superstitions are always included in my routine; however I try not to think about them.  I like to stay relaxed and focused on the things I want to do in the cage.   When I walk into the cage, I am no longer NormaCenter.   My dark passenger comes into play.

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

NRC: Well, the plan is not yet confirmed.   Usually, my husband is at my corner but he decided to step back this time.  He gets too nervous.  Whoever is in my corner, I would like them to yell out winning techniques.

CS: Outside of the cage, what types of activities do you enjoy? What helps you to make it through a long training camp?

NRC: I enjoy keeping my feet on land. I like trekking; there are some many places I would like to see. With the company of my husband, I enjoy going to other countries.  I love socializing with strangers, along with a cheap beer of course.

NRC: I always like an adventure, no matter what happens.   As for “what helps you to make it through a long training camp?” Hmmm… I shall find out when I do have one.   I’m going to guess, ultimately, the outcome my performance and fight.

CS: How much MMA do watch purely for enjoyment?

NRC: Let’s just say that when there are fights going on, those are our “date” nights.   We go out quite often.

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

NRC: True.  I have endless people to thank.  It goes way back to when I started in Ohio and people really took the time to help me.  I would like to thank all of those MMA promotions that embrace and support WMMA.   Thank you to all the girls who step into the cage and kick ass!

NRC: Thank you to all my teammates, coaches, managers at Jackson’s MMA and Mean 1.

NRC:  My supporting family and loving husband DustinCenter.   Most importantly, the Lord because is with me at every step.

NRC: What the heck, I’ll just throw it out there.  I would like to thank Ronda Rousey for almost breaking Meisha Tate’s arm.  No pun intended.  And you’re Welcome.

NRC: Checkout my Facebook page:  NormaRuedaCenter

NRC: Twitter:   @nrcenter

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FIGHTING WORDS: JOANNE CALDERWOOD

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Explosive and exciting Scotish striker Joanna Calderwood treks across the ocean to again conquer the Invicta cage on July 13th, for Invicta FC 6.

Shrugging off two opponent changes, Calderwood is focused on one thing; NormaRuedaCenter. With a mental game as strong as her renowned striking, Calderwood is intent on earning the win, and propelling herself towards the Invicta FC Straweight World title.

Corey Smith: You have said in the past that you got into MMA by accident. How did your love for MMA come about?

Joanne Calderwood: I started Muay Thai by accident. I went along to a class to keep my little brother company initially. After a while he packed it in, and I got more and more into it. I got into MMA just from being around the MMA guys in our gym, they seemed to be having a lot of fun, Their banter was funny, they were getting decent exposure, and opportunities where as I was getting less fights in Muay Thai.

JC: I had pretty much achieved everything I wanted to in it when I became a world champion. The thing I love most about MMA is just learning every day in the gym.

CS: At one point you were a nursing assistant. Have you considered the irony of helping people with health problems at one point, and then being the one causing the health problems?

JC: Haha, I still trained Muay Thai when I was working in the hospitals. I loved working and helping people especially the elderly. For the record I never took my training to work and never took my work to training ;)

JC: I feel that I’m still that caring person but now it’s just looking after people in the gym and looking out for my team mates. When I fight I never go in wanting to injure my opponent, it’s a sport. I want to beat them within the rules but I know they’re there to hurt me and sometimes they do get hurt. I try and always check on the girls after I fight them.

CS: With your genesis in MMA coming via kickboxing, do you ever see yourself going back to solely kickboxing matches?

JC: To be honest the thing I love in MMA is to be the best you got to beat the best. In Muay Thai every girl in my category is a champion, I beat four world champions before picking up my world title, and in the end the title thing was never a factor for me.

JC: But with MMA, the Invicta title belt will mean the world to me when I win it. Outside of Ronda I believe the Invicta champions are the best female fighters in the world at each respective weight class.

JC: I will still take big Muay Thai fights, defend my ISKA title and if the right opportunity comes along I’d take it, but MMA is my first priority.

CS: Does being one of the only active female fighters from Scotland hold special meaning to you?

JC: No not at all, it doesn’t really bother me and it doesn’t make me feel special in any way. I’d still be doing this if there were a hundred females in Scotland doing this and I’d still be the best one in the bunch.

JC: It does make me proud being a fighter and traveling and showing other countries that Scots can fight. Scotland’s a proud fighting country.

CS: What is the MMA community like in Scotland and in Europe? Are there major differences between European MMA and in the United States?

JC: Yea there is some big differences, in general everything is a bit more professional and regulated in the United States although there are some really good promotions in Europe doing good things. I’d say Europe is a little behind the states, but they’re getting there. You can see this with some of the European fighters doing well in the big US based shows.

CS: Your MMA career has taken you all around the globe, from your home in Scotland, to the United States, and including a stop in India. How does travel affect your training and conditioning?

JC: My training is usually done by the time I travel; I’ve never had any trouble with travelling. When I went to India I felt it a bit, but I just got on with it. I don’t like to cause any drama. At the end of the day I’m there to do my job and can’t really moan about it when it’s what I want to do. The traveling and weight cut is all mental, it should never be an excuse for under performing.

CS: You have fought on two previous Invcita cards, earning Knockout of the Night on one of them. How has your experience been like so far with the company?

JC: In one word; awesomeness. They are really great to work for and fight for. I’m so excited to be going back and to have extended my contract with them. I was gutted I wasn’t on the last one. I’d fight on every show they put on if they would let me. It’s really nice to get treated as a professional athlete by everyone on the team and I was a fan of the show the first time I saw it, so it’s cool to be a part of it.

CS: Your opponent at Invicta FC 6 on July 13th, NormaCenter, who trains out of Jacksons MMA, and brings an undefeated record with her. What are you expecting out of this bout?

JC: I’m really looking forward to putting on another great performance, my camp has been great and I’m just getting into last few weeks of training. Even though my opponents changed twice it doesn’t affect my training camp, it just means my coaches might need to tailor it a tad, but my heads been down and nothing can change that.

CS: There is some thought that the winner of this bout could be in line for a shot at current Invicta FC Straweight Champion Carla Esparza. Do title shot implications carry with them extra pressure for you?

JC: I’m not seeing past Norma. I will tell you though my screensaver is the Invicta belt and there ain’t a second that goes by looking at the belt that I don’t see myself fighting to the death for it. I hope I won’t be far away from a title shot, but I need to keep performing and winning to earn that spot and when I do, as Muhammad Ali once said,

“Not only be champion of the whole world, better than all of those before me.”

CS: What is your mindset like on the day of the fight? Do you have any superstitions or routines that you have to perform?

JC: Calm and focused. I spend it around my positive corner team and I could be going to war with a bear and I’d be calm, confident and ready.

JC: Not really, I always brush my gum shield the night before. I like to make sure I get a hug off all my team mates when I know I won’t see them until after the fight.

CS: Who usually accompanies you to the cage?

JC: Always my partner, coach, training partner and manager James Doolan. Paul McVeigh usually makes an appearance when he knows there’s an opportunity of getting his Blue Steel pose snapped by a camera within 100 miles. If the fights in the UK, one of my other coaches Guy Ramsay or Garry Christie will be there.

CS: What type of coaching do you prefer from your corners during a fight?

JC: My partner corners me with my other coaches; he knows how I think and how to get me to react. He is the only one who talks. I think this is important as in my earlier fights there has been times when 3 people telling me different things.

JC: I feel confident with my corner team, they’re very experienced. There isn’t anything in MMA they haven’t seen before and I trust them totally. I’ve had people comment on the relationship between me and my corner in several fights, it’s pretty unique but works so well.

CS: What types of activities do you enjoy for fun?

JC: I think training is fun! I’m pretty boring and single minded if I’m not training, I’m sleeping. I do some normal stuff like going to the movies, walking and stuff. I’ll have plenty of time for fun stuff once I’m done fighting.

CS: What helps you to mentally recharge during training camp?

JC: Sleep has a massive part lol. I think I have a good mind set and try to always feed the positives to the negatives. If I have a bad day I’ve got a great team behind me also.

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

JC: People don’t realize just how much MMA is a team sport. Thanks to every one on my team especially everyone that helps me prepare for my fights.

JC: DNFT #1 kicking Baws and breaking jaws. The old saying “There is no I in team,” is a true one.

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FIGHTING WORDS: CHARMAINE TWEET

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

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 1st. A world champion Muay Thai fighter with strong submission skills, Tweet will to make an impressive Invicta debut on July 13th.

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 1st, 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 13th? 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!