Women's MMA 25 Most Influential

This is a list that was compiled by myself as well as 15 pro and amateur fighters and one more insider. This is not a list about who has done the most for women's MMA. That list would no doubt have many differences from this one. This list is about right now who is the most influential. It is all opinion and totally for fun, as if I had 15 different people help the list could end up entirely different. The way it was done is each person made their top 25 and from there a point system was used to make the final 25. Also, I was voted onto this list, but decided since it is on my own blog, it would be better to not list myself nor reveal where I would have been placed. Remember, this is totally for fun, and is not to be taken as anything serious.

1. Shannon Knapp- President of Invicta FC

2. Dana White- President of UFC

3. Sam Wilson- WMMA advocate/Matchmaker

4. Janet Martin- Matchmaker for Invicta FC

5. Ronda Rousey- Pro fighter

6. Miesha Tate- Pro fighter

7. Cris Cyborg- Pro fighter

8. Liz Carmouche- Pro fighter

9. Greg Jackson- Trainer at Jackson's MMA

10. Nichole Castillo- Matchmaker for NAAFS

11. Robert Sargent- Owner of MMA Rising

12. Carla Esparza- Pro fighter

13. Marloes Coenen- Pro fighter

14. Jessica Eye- Pro fighter

15. Tim Peterson- Owner of Women's MMA Today

16. Kaitlin Young- Pro fighter

17. Gina Begley- Amatuer fighter/Host of Pro WMMA Now

18. Marq Piocos- Owner of Wombat Sports

19. Rose Namajunas- Pro fighter

20. Slade Bittler- Owner of Tussle Fight Gear

21. Felice Herrig- Pro fighter

22. Alexis Davis- Pro fighter

23. Megumi Fuji- Pro fighter

24. Julie Kedzie- Pro fighter

25. Tecia Torres- Pro fighter

Taylor Munsell Interview

Originally Taylor Munsell just wanted to take up boxing when she entered the gym. Several months later she was entering an MMA cage for the first time. Taylor won her first two fights before suffering her first defeat last year. Moving and other things have kept Taylor from training and fighting since then but she is hoping to eventually get back to training and fighting at some point.

Q: Can you talk about how you got started training?
A: I had always been interested in at least boxing. My mom took me down to a local gym about three years ago and I started boxing and five months later I had my first fight.

Q: When you first started, was the plan to fight?
A: No! Not at all. It was just to get in good shape and that was it.

Q: You started with boxing, so why did you try MMA?
A: Because the gym that I went to was mainly MMA. I didn't know that at first. I am glad I went that route because I have had a good start with MMA.

Q: Some people may be concerned with their daughter or friend getting hit in the face, when you decided to fight were your family and friends o.k. with it?
A: At first no. My mom was o.k. with it, she had to sign for me because I was only sixteen. My dad was absolutely against it, he hated it. My grandparents were pretty supportive. Everyone pretty much was but my dad.

Q: That first time walking out to the cage, were you nervous or excited or both?
A: I was very excited. I was fighting in front all my family and friends, it was in my hometown. I was nervous, I didn't know what to expect because it was my first fight.

Q: Do you remember how you felt right after that first win?
A: I was on cloud nine. There was nothing else in the world that mattered. My coach came up to me and picked me up and flew me around. The promoter had me say a couple words. My mom picked me up and gave me a big hug and everyone was congratulating me. I was on cloud nine for a couple months, it was the best feeling ever.

Q: At that point do you realize you can do this and be good at it?
A: Oh yea, it was definitely something that I put my life around. It was my number one focus. It was high school and MMA and that was it.

Q: Your last fight was your first loss to Haelle Smith. After you get a couple wins and are feeling confident, how hard was that first loss to take?
A: It was hard but it wasn't as hard as I expected it to be. I wasn't supposed to fight Haelle, both my opponents backed out. Three months prior to that I had been training with Haelle. We were pretty good friends and we had trained together for a year. It was very unexpected. It was hard because I had to lose against a friend but it made me realize a lot and I took it with good spirit and it made me realize not to be a sore loser.

Q: That was over a year ago, is there a reason you haven't fought since then?
A: I have had some things in my life that have put me on a setback a little bit. I have moved to a new state by myself. There has been things that have put me to where I don't have the ability to train right now. I will be getting back into it eventually I hope.

Q: So the plan is to eventually hopefully fight again?
A: Yes, I would love to. First thing is I have to get back down in weight. There are a ton of good gyms here in Colorado Springs and I plan on getting back and getting my cardio back and then hopefully start training MMA again.

Q: There are several good gyms out there like you said, does that make you more optimistic knowing you have so many good options?
A: Oh yeah! I don't even think I would be able to just train at one gym. There are so many people to train with. There is Raquel Pennington, Summer Bradshaw, Jeremy Kimball, some of the Wildman Team come here, Altitude MMA, 719 Fight Team, a ton of places, so I don't think I would be able to train in just one place.

Q: Assuming you do fight again, from your last fights, were do you feel you most need to be better?
A: I would definitely say that I want to work on my ground game more. I do know quite a bit but am still pretty much a beginner. I trained with Patricia Vidonic before and she taught me a lot. I am mostly a stand-up fighter.

Q: Is there anyone you like to watch and try and learn things from?
A: That's a hard question because there are so many good people. I definitely like to watch Michelle Waterson, she is one of my role models. Raquel Pennington, I have met here and hope to train with her. Leslie Smith has amazing stand-up, she is awesome and also from Colorado which is way cool. There are a lot I look up to.

Q: Looking back even to when you started, would you have ever imagined seeing women in the UFC?
A: No, I didn't. When I first started, I didn't know anything about fighting, anything about the UFC. It is amazing to see women can push a men's sport so far.

Q: I am gonna put you on the spot. Invicta is coming up, what will be fight of the night?
A: I am gonna say Cassie Robb and Livia Von Plettenberg. I am actually very good friends with Cassie, I grew up with her and am a brides maid in her wedding come up. Cassie is a little scrapper. I am planning on going with her to Invicta. I also want to see Cris Cyborg and Marloes Coenen. I have followed Cyborg and am excited for that one as well.

Q: Anyone you want to thank?
A: I would like to thank my mom. She is up in heaven but she got me started in all of this. My first trainer Forrest Tobin, he got me a long way and is one of my role models. All the girls and guys I trained with. I don't have coaches right now, but thanks everyone who got me where I am today.

Maura Gay Delaware Open Prep Journal

Blog 2: 7 Weeks Out

Hey everybody! It’s Maura again! I’m now 7 weeks out from the NPC Delaware Open, where I’ll be competing in figure.

I had a request from someone on my Tumblr blog for a no-B.S. look into competition prep, so here it is, straight up, a day in my life:
• 4:20am – wake up
o try to get out the door without forgetting anything
• 4:30am – out the door
o off to the gym
• 5:10am – arrive at gym
o time to train
• 6:15am – hit the shower
o get ready for work
o try to make it look like I didn’t just spend the past hour sweating bullets
• 6:35am – run out the door, protein shake in hand
o head to work
• 7:00am – arrive at work (a desk job in information security)
o eat breakfast (chicken breast and some sort of vegetable, purely because I’d rather have cold chicken than cold eggs)
o check emails
o check systems, begin work
• 12:00pm – lunch
o more chicken and veggies
• 1:00 – back to work
o my job honestly varies day-to-day
• 4:00pm – done work
o head home
• 4:30pm – arrive home
o unpack from the day
• 5:00pm – make dinner
o usually ground beef/bison, rice, and some sort of vegetable
o om nom nom!
• 6:00pm – get ready for the next day
o prep meals
o pack
o prep supplements for shakes
• 7:00 – hang out
o watch tv, Facebook (you can find me at here), Skype, etc
• 10:00 – zonk
So there’s a day in the life of Maura Gay. So exciting, I know.

As a side note, last week was “max effort week,” a.k.a. the best week ever. My big 3 maxes (in pounds) were: 275 deadlift, 125 bench, 240 squat. Awesome!

Let me know via facebook or Tumblr message if you’d like for me to write about some particular aspect of my prep or if you have any questions (about anything, really)!

I’ll leave you guys with a photo from a shoot I did in Baltimore back in March. Love this shot!

Hillary Spearman Interview

Photo Credits:
Photos 1-5: RX Muscle/Tyson Arts



Hillary Spearman just made her bikini debut at the Upstate Classic. She finished a respectable fourth place, but she is the competitor who caught my attention. I was very impressed with her stage presence and really thought her back stood out. I definitely see Hillary as someone with a very bright future in the sport and a name you will hear for a long time.

Q: Can you talk about how you got started in the gym?
A: I played softball in high school and once I graduated I needed something to keep me busy. The gym was almost an outlet for me with stress and work and school. I didn't have softball anymore so I started picking up weights in the gym and realized that was gonna be my new sanctuary.

Q: Was there something specific about it that you enjoyed?
A: Going up in weight. It is invigorating to get stronger and stronger and see differences in yourself and your weight and your training.

Q: What made you decide you wanted to try competing ?
A: I set a goal for myself a year ago. I was struggling with an eating disorder and I decided at that point that I would no longer deprive myself of nutrients and instead I wanted to see that there was a good mixture of food and exercise. I said if I got my eating disorder under control and gained confidence in myself that I would get on stage. Almost like if I had found I was beautiful and could have confidence in myself that I wanted to get on stage and see my improvements and see how far I had come.

Q: A lot of people don't understand bikini, did you have to explain to people it was fitness and not some T&A thing?
A: Oh my goodness, I have to do that on a daily basis. My parents still think that I am gonna walk through the door and be this huge, masculine Ms. Olympia type. I have to explain that there is a difference between each division. Each girl I give props to. As far as bikini, yes, everyone is like "that's so trashy, you're gonna be showing everybody everything." I have to explain that that is not what it is, I cant just get up on a stage in a bathing suit and compete in such a great division. It takes time and hard work and dedication. I have to ignore the blogs on-line because they upset me because people don't understand how hard of work we put into it and how hard it is to stay lean and fit to be able to be on stage. Not everybody will completely understand.

Q: Doing prep for the first time, what was the hardest part for you?
A: The hardest part definitely was just being able to go out with friends. Not all of them drink but a lot of them don't have healthy eating habits so I was eating healthy and they were snacking on whatever they wanted to. It was like "you're not eating enough." I was eating enough and was eating what I was supposed to but they don't understand that. So going out and being able to chillax and have a drink or two once in awhile, it was hard not being able to do that.

Q: Right before going on stage that first time, were you nervous at all?
A: Yes, surprisingly. I love being the center of attention. I am the youngest of two girls and growing up I just loved being the center of attention. Getting on stage is never a problem for me except this past show. I just froze up a bit, but I tried to keep my cool the best I could.

Q: Was there anything surprising about competing to you?
A: Yes definitely! I went into this a very conservative person, not knowing what to expect. I would say the spray-tan experience was pretty eye-opening. That took me by surprise. Everyone was so open and comfortable around each other. Hair and make-up was awesome, girls would hand over any make-up you needed or curl your hair in a heartbeat. I had to be willing to be comfortable with everybody, but at the same time you build friendships that you cant find off stage.

Q: Some people say they expect everyone to be catty, where you surprised that they weren't?
A: I have two friends who competed before me and they told me "you are gonna make friends for a lifetime backstage, all the girls are super nice." I had a heads up that everyone was gonna be nice, I didn't have any negative worries.

Q: You took fourth at the Upstate Classic, how happy were you with what you brought to the stage?
A: I was happy. I felt like my appearance was beyond what I thought it could be. I am very hard on myself and lack confidence sometimes, but I was very proud of the way I looked. I knew I worked hard and gave all I could. My posing was off and I feel it brought me down a great deal, but I can go back and work on that.

Q: You mention lacking confidence, but on-stage you actually looked really confidence, so was that basically a really good acting job?
A: Yes, definitely! It might be half and half. Once you see yourself the day of the show, you almost a completely difference person. Everyone ask me "let me see your abs, let me see your abs." I am like "listen, those abs you see in the pictures are only there for a couple days." You wake up that morning and are in tip top shape, it is hard not to have confidence when you see yourself at your peak, but leading up to it, I did lack confidence a great deal.

Q: You mentioned not being happy with your posing, a lot of people don't realize how hard that is, were you surprised?
A: Yes! You can practice over and over and over in front of a mirror and once you are on stage it is nothing like posing practice. Your nerves are shot. Once you are being judged your nerves go haywire, it is hard to hold poses, it is hard to hold a smile on your face for so long. It is crucial but at the same time, you never realize how hard it is to hold a pose until you get a stage.

Q: When are you competing next?
A: I have a show in four days. It is peak week for me.

Q: Not a lot of time, but from last show were do you want to be better?
A: My main focus this time is get my posing down and I went in a little lean the last one so I tried to look a little fuller this time. Being so small, I don't have the big booty and broad shoulders like the other girls did so I tried to work on that the last four weeks.

Q: Is the plan to stick with bikini or would you consider figure at some point?
A: I have been told I should do figure. I don't know if I have the body-type to build as much muscle mass as the other girls. I don't know, I am a very random person, so that might change next year.

Q: Is fitness modeling something that interests you?
A: I don't think there is a girl who wakes up in the morning and says "you know what? I don't wanna do fitness modeling." Any girl that does fitness, I would think that would be a huge goal for them. That would make me the happiest girl ever.

Q: When you are at the gym, do you get the stares and attention from people?
A: I do. I do my cardio in the morning and train at night. A lot of the older men that workout in the morning love to come chit chat. I find it flattering but during fasted cardio it gets kind of hard to be super nice.

Q: If you could spend a day training with someone you have never trained with before, who would it be?
A: Definitely Jillian Michaels. She seems like such a hard-ass on t.v. that I would love to see if she could put me to the test.

Q: Anyone you want to thank?
A: My trainer Jeremy Mize, he has helped me so much and is a constant encouragement. My boyfriend, he has put up with two peak weeks and carb depleting and water loading and has been a saint. Also God, without God there is no way I could have done this. There is nothing I could say or do to repay God for getting me from where I was to where I am no.

Rebecca Jackson Interview

Photo Credits:
Photos 1-4: RX Muscle/Jeff Binns


While she has always been training, what drove Rebecca Jackson to compete is different than most. A tumor was found in her neck and was told that removing it would cause things such as gaining potentially sixty pounds. That was unacceptable to Rebecca, so to prove her point she set her sights on getting on stage in a figure show. This year she made the switch to physique, including winning the overall at the N.C. State.

Q: Can you talk about how you got started in the gym?
A: I grew up in sports, my father was a coach. It was always something we did. I played sports, I watched him, I played mostly with my brother, he is closer in age to me than me sister. I was always out back, always in the weight room, very interested in that. I went to college and did athletic training, was in the training room with the athletes, taping ankles. Watching the guys lift, I became fascinated at that and said "I wanna do that, why don't you see women in the weight room at the gym." Girls were always doing cardio. My dad, not that he didn't raise me like a girl, but he had the tough hand, "don't cry, dust yourself off, work to your best." It followed me through the years.

Q: What made you decide to try competing?
A: I didn't put much thought into it until 2009 when I discovered a tumor in my neck. Through a series of biopsies, I found out it was Hurthle Cell Carcinoma of the thyroid, a thyroid cancer. I am an information junkie so the first thing I did was get on the Internet and I found websites and support groups and all of this stuff. At the time I was personal training, I was the Health and Wellness Director for the YMCA. Everything I read was that I would gain sixty pounds and be miserable and be tired all the time, everything was doom and gloom. I told the doctor "you're not taking it out, this isn't gonna work, I am a personal trainer, I can't gain sixty pounds, you have to leave it in." He said that won't work, that it had to be removed. I was horrible, I did not do well when he told me that. I did more research and looking into the med's that they give you after. I don't have the thyroid anymore, so I am completely dependent on Synthroid to regulate my hormone levels. The generic from what I found, doesn't work, that the name brand of Synthroid is the only brand there is that works. I thought there was light at the end of the tunnel. Talking to some clients, they went through it with me because I was training at the time. I said "I am gonna prove a point, let's see if I can prove the biggest point ever and get on a stage in a tiny bikini and show what I did." I didn't gain sixty pounds, I am not miserable, and I got on s stage in a tiny bikini in front of a ton of people. I remember being backstage at the Contra Costa and the girls were like "aren't you nervous?" I said "no, what is there to be nervous about? I am happy I am here, this is cool for me." I didn't even care if I placed. I placed second in Masters and third in Open. I thought it was cool and fun.

Q: A lot of girls I interview say they do the first show and it becomes addicting, was that the case with you?
A: Yeah it was. For me, it was an interesting experience because they wouldn't let coaches backstage. I was back there by myself, I didn't know anybody at that time, I didn't know those girls. I sat quietly and watched. Looking at everyones physique and taking mental notes. When you look in a mirror you don't have a good concept of how you look. I thought I looked horrible and everyone said I was stupid. I didn't see what they saw. Then you see photos of you on stage and it's like "oh, wow, that looks really cool." I looked different than I had pictured in my head and said "let's see what else I can do with my body, now I wanna build." The girl who won first, her shoulders were bigger, her arms were more defined and I said "I wanna look like her". I said "I can do that, there is no reason I can't."

Q: You started with figure and then switched to physique, was there a specific reason?
A: Yeah, that was thanks to Kat (Ramirez). She came out to California for my figure show, she helped with my prep. After the Contra Costa, four months later I sent her a photo. She called me and said "If you are planning on doing Nationals in figure, you need to stop lifting and stop eating. You are too big. You need to come back down. Stop going heavy and start doing plyos and cardio, or stay on the path and build muscle and switch." She didn't tell me which way to go, it was that I need to make a decision and pick a goal for my physique. I said "let's try physique", even though I was super nervous, the posing freaked me out. Before I moved from California I was gonna do the Contra Costa in physique but I moved so it was a little while before my next one. So I sucked it up and learned the posing and switched.

Q: How hard was the posing to learn?
A: It was a little stressful. You have the mandatory poses, very different from the quarter turns. As my body changed from week to week, my coach would change it "do this, move here, put your foot here, open up a little wider." He was helping me, but it was a lot of work, there is a lot of work and time in posing to get your physique to pop out and display your best package to the judges. You have to know where you are without looking in a mirror. It is nerve-racking. All hail to those girls who do it beautifully and make it look easy.

Q: A lot of people who switch from figure to physique tell me how they had to change training and diet, but is it fair to say that in your case, switching allowed you to actually keep training how you were?
A: My training stayed for the most part the same. I was fortunate when I came here, not only to have my coach Kevin Dehaven but my training partner Joe, they hammered me and they switched it from week to week. I trained hard and heavy. All through my prep, I didn't back down near the end, my energy was up and they were still feeding me a lot of food.

Q: You took the overall at N.C. State, did that confirm to you it was the right move?
A: Yeah! I am still in shock. Everyone was like "really, how did you not know?" To me, everyone up there looked great. It was definitely cool. I always go in thinking "you never know, I am happy to get what I get." I cant explain it, still in shock and thrilled to death and thankful. I am happy I switched. I could still do figure and do well I think. The entire day was a lot of energy and great experience for me.

Q: Then you did Jr. USA and you didn't place but as I have told you, you looked great and was impressed with how you tightened up the glute and hamstring area. How happy were you with what you brought?
A: I was happy with how I looked. I thought my legs looked a lot better than at N.C. State. My upper body came down, I lost some size in my back. Not that it was bad, I looked proportionate. I was definitely tighter, there were subtle differences. For me, it wasn't what they were looking for but I did what I was told to do. I trusted my coach and his guidance. I know that I followed his directions, cardio and diet, and that was my package and I can say I didn't screw around and that is good enough for me. I did what I was told and did my thing.

Q: Were you any more nervous for a National stage?
A: The funny thing is that I didn't have time to be nervous. I almost missed my group. We had our order of events and I was back there and men's bodybuilding was going on. I was going over things sitting with my coach and he said that after men's heavyweights he was gonna look at my posing. They went on and we were backstage going over poses. We went over my sixty second routine and men's physique was next and they had 200 competitors and were before us. I was talking to somebody and looked up and thought "wait a second, that is Wendy Gerkman, she is in physique A, oh my God." So I had five minutes to get pumped up, oiled up and on stage cause they fixed the order. I got up there, and it was done before I knew it.

Q: Do you know when you want to compete next?
A: I was toying with the idea of doing nationals in November but the more I look at the pro shows and even National shows, they are looking for more size. I think maybe I will do Jr. USA's next year. That is what it is looking like. I haven't totally ruled out Nationals, but there are some areas I want to improve. My coach said "you aren't getting to big on me" but I know where there is a line and limit. When I dieted down there wasn't as much muscle in areas as I thought.

Q: Is there one area you feel you most need to improve?
A: My legs. Looking at some of those girls, I need more size and my glutes, when i diet down I tend to lose my tush. It didn't look bad on stage I don't think, but it loses some of its fullness. I will be doing butt blasters till the cows come home.

Q: If you could spend a day training with someone you have never trained with, who would it be?
A: Monique Jones is one. She fascinates me. I have seen her progression, she started in figure, till now. The other is Alyssa Stroud. Those two pop into my head. I bet I would have a crazy workout with Alyssa.

Q: Anyone you want to thank?
A: Obviously my coach Kevin Dehaven who is a promoter in North Carolina, Main Stage Muscle is his promotion group. I can't thank him enough. Joe Weaver who is a huge supporter and training partner and responsible for kicking my butt in the gym and yelling at me to suck it up and do cardio and stop eating peanut butter. My parents, they were a huge support at both of my show and did a lot for me. N'keigh Wheeler, she won South Carolina State bodybuilding and I wore her suit for N.C. State and Lisa Zisa who did my amazing suit for Jr. USA's. Also Adam Weidel from Silverback Krew for all my gym and workout gear.

Rach Wiley Interview

Photo Credit:
Photo 1: Jerry Chavez


One could look at Rach Wiley and not expect that they were looking at a fighter. However if one looked at what she did to the face of her opponent this weekend, they would have no doubt that she is a fighter. After working as a ring card girl, Rach decided to try training herself. After suffering a setback losing a decision in her first fight, Wiley bounced back with a first round TKO this weekend. Wiley is still days away from her nineteenth birthday which means Rach Wiley is a name you are likely to hear for many many years.

Q: Can you talk about how you got started training for the sport?
A: I was a ring girl for Danger Fire Promotions here in Topeka, Kansas. I got the chance to meet a lot of coaches and fighters and got invited to a gym one day. I have been going ever since.

Q: Did you when you started training that you would want to fight?
A: No actually. I didn't have any intention to ever fight when I first started. I liked training cause it was a good workout and it was fun. Eventually I got bored just training and wanted to do something with it so I decided to fight.

Q: When you decided to fight, were your family and friends o.k. with it?
A: My mom was really against it because they spent a couple thousand dollars getting my teeth straightened out with braces and orthodontics. My mom was upset and said if I get my teeth busted out or my nose broken, I am gonna have to pay for that myself. That hasn't happened yet thankfully. My dad was cool with it, he was pretty excited.

Q: When you were walking out for that first fight, were you nervous or excited or both?
A: My adrenaline was really high. I kind of don't even remember it very well. Everything seemed like it was going a million miles an hour. It seemed like it happened and was over pretty quick even though it went the distance. It was awesome.

Q: After you lost that first fight, did you spend any time questioning yourself and whether it is something you could be good at?
A: At first I kinda questioned if I should continue but after awhile I got over being upset and told myself everyone loses at least once unless you are Ronda Rousey. I told myself it is gonna happen and got back in there and did it again.

Q: You just beat Misty Blevins by TKO in the first, how did that first MMA win feel?
A: It was crazy. After the ref said stop, I went over to my coaches and was like "oh my gosh, I did it." It was kind of hard to believe it was over. I looked at my coach and said "I'm done right?" and he said "yeah, now go get your hand raised." That wasn't my first win, I am 1-0 in kickboxing, but it was crazy, it was hard to believe it was over that fast.

Q: How important was it to get that win for you and not start your career 0-2?
A: It was pretty important to me, especially for my confidence. I work really hard in training so it was big for my confidence. It is hard to believe in yourself sometimes but it proved to myself that I don't totally suck.

Q: Did you have any specific game-plan?
A: I didn't really have a game-plan. I just told myself that whatever happens happens and I worked really hard and trained my butt off.

Q: The card also had boxing matches so you fought in a ring, did having kickboxing experience and experience in a ring give you an advantage?
A: No, I don't like fighting in a ring at all, I like it to be in a cage. I have this fear of falling out of the ring because the ropes and you can fall in between them. I had her against the ropes a couple times and she almost slipped in between two of them. I like a cage a lot better, it is more secure.

Q: Do you feel like there might be some people who don't take you serious?
A: Yeah, especially because I work at Hooters and also at Title Boxing. I feel like a lot of people are like "oh, you are a Hooters girl, you have to be pretty, you are girly, you can't get punched in the face, you will freak out." People doubt me but I had people come watch me, customers at Hooters, and if anybody had doubts, that fixed them.

Q: Do you ever feel you have to prove something to them?
A: It depends on the day. Some days it will bug me more than others, but people will think what they want and you cant pay too much attention to it. Why waste your time worrying about what other people think. If you doubt me, come watch me fight, that will fix it.

Q: What do you feel is your biggest strength?
A: That is a tough question. I don't know, I think it is pretty equal, I feel confident with everything. Maybe it's cause I just won a fight, if I just lost and you asked me, my answer might be different.

Q: Are there any fighters you like to watch and learn from?
A: I really really like Rose Namajunas, I think she is awesome, I love her attitude. I love to watch her and Pat Barry's YouTube videos. I like Ronda Rousey and Sara McMann a lot, but I really like Rose the most.

Q: Do you know when you will fight next?
A: I am fighting in less than a month here in Topeka, July 20th.

Q: As a female fighter, how excited have you been to watch the progression of Invicta?
A: It is exciting. Hopefully I can be in Invicta some day. It is awesome that there is an all-girl card out there. It proves to people that fighting is not just a guys sport. There are guys who are real skeptical, but that is cause they haven't seen Invicta yet.

Q: Five years from now, where do you see yourself in the sport?
A: I see myself as a pro. Maybe in Invicta, maybe in the UFC, who knows. But somewhere with all the big women fighters.

Q: Anyone you want to thank?
A: My Muay-Thai coach Shanon Woodward, my Judo coach Gary Gucciano, and my Jiu-Jitsu, striking, kind of everything coach Wayman Carter. Also everyone at United Martial Sciences, my team, everyone who spars with me and kicks my butt to help me get ready, thanks guys.

Tecia Torres Interview

Photo Credits:
Photos 1,2 and 5: Invicta FC/Esther Lin
Photos 3-4: Alex Salmeron


Two of the most talked about up and coming pro fighters in the sport today are Tecia Torres and Rose Namajunas, and with good reason. Both have been incredibly impressive in their young pro careers scoring impressive wins. Torres has been winning her fights by decision, but clear decisive decisions showcasing her great striking ability. They will face each other on July 13th for Invicta. There is a reason this is the fight that most are predicting for fight of the night.

Q: Your last fight in January you won a decision over Paige Van Zant, how satisfied were you with your performance?
A: I was more or less completely satisfied because I feel like I was able to dominate the entire fight. If I had to pick one thing I wasn't satisfied with it would be when she did the hip toss, I believe she was able to do it at least twice. Since then I have worked on that and other aspects of my wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu game in order to prepare for Rose.

Q: You have had several decisions in a row, have you accepted the fact that everyone is aware of your stand-up and won't stand and trade with you for very long?
A: I don't know if I have accepted it, but I have become aware that if they don't feel they can stand and trade with me they will try and tie up and take it to the ground. I feel I have been successful enough to keep ti standing long enough or if it does go to the ground, get right back up and start fighting where I am most comfortable at. It is o.k. going to decisions but I would like to change that with my next couple fights.

Q: You are always in tremendous shape, how much has that helped in going the three fight minute rounds?
A: It really helps. When I am done I feel like I can go even more. I have become aware enough to pace myself when I need to and go forward when I need to.

Q: Do you feel like especially in that third round it give you an advantage?
A: In some of my fights, yeah I feel like I have better cardio. But others, like Kaiyana Rain, she was in phenomenal shape and could have gone another round as well.

Q: You have Rose Namajunas coming up, how do you feel you match up with her?
A: I think we match up pretty well. We come from the same background when we were younger. I think it is gonna be the fight to watch. We made our debuts with Invicta and are what Invicta is all about, two young talented girls looking to make a name for themselves.

Q: How impressed have you been with her so far as a pro?
A: I have enjoyed watching her fight and grow. I didn't know much about her till I started fighting with Invicta and hearing about her. I looked her up and it reminded me of myself a bit. I admire her and think she is really talented. I am happy I got this fight. A win over her would put my name on the map, her as well if she were to win.

Q: You are two of the popular up and coming fighters, is this a chance for one of you to separate yourself and move up the card?
A: Exactly, I feel like whoever comes out on top July 13th will definitely put their name out there for the other girls to be ready. Whoever is the smarter person that night will come out with the win.

Q: I have seen some people say Rose will just want it on the ground and you will just want it standing, but I feel it kind of underestimates you both, do you welcome the chance at all to show you are good on the ground?
A: I think for both of us, it has been the same but opposite. Everybody knows I come from a stand-up background and not afraid to stand and trade, I haven't gotten to showcase any Jiu-Jitsu. With her, I always thought she was a striker but her last two fights she showcased beautiful Jiu-Jitsu and hasn't gotten to showcase her stand-up. I think people underestimate my Jiu-Jitsu game. I don't think the previous girls have what I have, it will be her toughest fight to date.

Q: Do you think she would be willing to stand for an extended period of time?
A: That is a question I have been contemplating in my mind. I think she will come out and try to stand with me but it will be a shock to her when she feels my power. I don't think the girls she fought before me are as powerful or as aggressive as I am. Maybe she will trade and if it doesn't go her way she will go to the ground. I would like her to stand and trade with me, it is exciting for the fans and I am willing to do that for three rounds or however long it lasts.

Q: Fans seem as excited for this fight as any other fight, why do you think that is?
A: It is a really good match-up. Janet (Martin) and Shannon (Knapp) know we are undefeated as amateur and pros. This fight was definitely gonna happen. I am happy it is happening now, I feel I have had ample time to get ready for someone like her who is talented.

Q: Is there a key to you winning this fight?
A: Yes, to go in and be calm. Sometimes I get overly aggressive. Not saying I am not gonna be aggressive, I definitely am. I need to stay calm, stand my ground, play my game, as long as I do that, I think I will come out with a win.

Q: Since going to American Top Team, how are you a better fighter?
A: All-around, I have somewhere to go. Before it was mainly at a Jiu-Jitsu game and go somewhere else for my stand-up. At ATT I have wrestling, Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, everything in one spot. I have high level talent around me, especially with Jessica Aguilar and India Gomes. I finally feel like everything is coming together.

Q: You mention Jessica and India, some gyms only have one female, how much does it help to have other girls to train with?
A: A lot, we are different than men, me react different, our body is different. Jessica is my size, I get to feel the difference, then with India, she is larger, but her power and the way she moves, you can't compare it to a men. When I go in and fight it feels a lot easier.

Q: You and India are very tight, does it make it more exciting to be on a card with her?
A: Yeah, India is one of my best friends so I am really fortunate to have fought my first two Invicta fights with her. We get tot rain together and have the same goal and go there as a team.

Q: Do you have a prediction?
A: My prediction would be that I win unanimously. Like you said, I am a fighter who goes to decisions, so I am not gonna say I will knock her out, I am definitely not gonna say I will submit her. I think it will be a tight close fight, but I am gonna win unanimously. If I can end it early, I would like to.

Q: Any idea what you want after this or just taking it one at a time?
A: One at a time. I wanna get past Rose and look forward to what Invicta gives me. One thing about this fight is I feel like this is my first time as an underdog. Some people don't like to look on the Internet, but I do, it doesn't change my opinion about somebody. This fight she has more pressure, I am going to fight my fight and have fun and she has to live up to expectations that people have put on her since that awesome flying arm bar. It is my fight to win and there is no pressure.

Q: Anyone you want to thank?
A: I would like to thank God, my family, my friends, training partners, coaches and gym American Top Team, and my sponsors, Brawl and Maul, Dawgs Forever Forever Dawgs, Awakening Female Fighters, Babes of MMA, Slept Fightwear, 90 Day Challenge.