Photo Credit: RIZIN FF
When something becomes popular, especially a sport or certain thing within a sport, one of the struggles is to remember to acknowledge those who paved the way, those who were doing it become it was "cool". With the women's side of MMA growing in popularity, a new fan base has arrived and it is up to the "die-hards" to let those new fans know those who paved the way. For without them doing it, where would the newer athletes have discovered it from? Where would the newer fighters have learned that they can get in the cage themselves and compete at the highest level?
In MMA people love to say that Gina Carano started it and Ronda Rousey picked up from there. But the reality is women were in the cage long before Gina, fighting for whatever money they could get a promote to pay them, if he paid them at all. But even if we ignore history and go with that theory that it started with Carano, it's not a fight unless you have two people in there. So in the modern fans version of history that women's MMA started with a person named Gina, still others had to be there with her. One of those women, on May 31st of 2008 was Kaitlin Young, live on National TV on CBS. It doesn't take a genius to know that most likely Kaitlin was selected as the opponent because they knew she'd want to stand and trade with Carano, but one must wonder if they knew Kaitlin was going to be as tough as she was. Kaitlin did not get the win that night, as the doctors stopped the fight in round two. However, Kaitlin Young introduced herself to a knew group of fans, she let people know she was a fighter, a legit fighter, who on any given night could take out anyone.
Photo Credit: RIZIN FF
Kaitlin continued to compete, facing off with the proverbial who's who of the sport, the Kedzie's, the Smith's and the Carmouche's before deciding to step away from MMA and just focusing on competing in Muay Thai. After a few losses, she probably felt like Muay Thai AKA stand-up was her "specialty" so let's focus on that. And focus she did as she showed herself to still be an elite fighter, winning fights and winning titles. In that time she took on a new challenge, she became the matchmaker for Invicta FC, the all female promotion and like with any challenge, she excelled. Sure, there are those who live to complain who probably said she wasn't great at her job, but if you ever dealt with her on a professional level, you'd know Kaitlin was great at her job and put her heart into it, all the while, still training and competing.
Photo Credit: Unknown
But like anyone who feels they still have more to offer, Kaitlin decided it was time to compete in MMA again and on August 12th Kaitlin travelled to Japan to fight for RIZIN and take on the much heralded Reina Miura. Not to put words into people's mouths or to speak for them, but I don't think it is out of the realm of possibility that Kaitlin was being brought in to be a nice name on Miura's resume. A name to help make the homegrown superstar look good. Someone forgot to tell Kaitlin. Kaitlin looked like the Kaitlin Young of old, perhaps even better than the Kaitlin Young of old and walked out with a unanimous decision victory. She was back and she was ready for more.
Photo Credit: MMAFightGala
Within the past few days it has been revealed Kaitlin is back competing in MMA and will be stepping down as Invicta's matchmaker and in fact will be competing at Invicta's next event. While those who dealt with Kaitlin in a business aspect will be sad to see her go, anyone who is a fan of women's MMA must be excited that she is back competing. A newer Kaitlin, a confident Kaitlin can really make waves and it's going to be exciting to watch this next chapter.
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