A brand new 12 months means an entire new batch of questions for Roxanne Modafferi and her Pricey Roxy column, the place the ‘Glad Warrior’ goes toe-to-toe-with readers’ inquiries about preventing, coaching, and life normally.
Final time round we received questions on weight class designations and whether or not the UFC ought to contemplate including extra of them. We additionally checked out fighter nicknames, how they arrive about, and why you may’t select your personal. And at last, we took a have a look at Dana White’s Contender Sequence and whether or not or not it’s been good for MMA.
This time round, we’re looking at why all MMA fighters appear to be they’re studying from the identical script with regards to pre-fight interviews. We’re additionally wanting on the progress of ladies’s MMA, together with the battle to discover sponsors. And at last, longevity, make it occur and keep within the recreation for years.
Pricey Roxy,
Does the ufc present any script for fighters, ‘cuz often you all the time hear the identical factor from fighters, like “that is the perfect camp I’ve ever had,” or “he’s by no means fought somebody like me.“ Its all the time an identical. — Huntexlol
Pricey Huntexlol,
That’s fairly humorous you level that out. I agree, it looks as if individuals say the identical issues. I seen, too! I feel it’s as a result of we fighters do the identical issues to organize for fights. We spar, wrestle, do energy and conditioning, and so on, so the followers hear about the identical varieties of coaching. We don’t go skydiving to organize. We need to make everybody consider we’re robust and prepared, no matter whether or not we’re or not (some individuals even bluff if they’re injured).
There are solely so many phrases we will use to explain it, and many individuals aren’t unique or inventive. They hear others say these items and duplicate it. I’ve achieved it, truly.
My coach John Wooden says, “So we’ll sit down, watch some movie, pick her patterns, and make a gameplan.” I mentioned in an interview, “Yeah, I sat down with my coach, watched movie, and made a fantastic gameplan.” My traditional chosen phrases are, “watch movies .” I by no means say “movie.” It simply got here out. I keep in mind making a psychological be aware about that someday. “Why did I say, ‘movie?’ Haha.” I feel a number of fighters say what they suppose individuals need to hear, and what sounds good.
Hey, Roxy.
Since you might be one of many OG WMMA fighters I simply need to ask what it was all like at first of your MMA journey? Was it onerous to discover a camp, sponsors, or opponents? Would additionally like to listen to what you suppose may very well be achieved to raised developed and promote WMMA and MMA normally. To me, it seems like most individuals take up MMA later in life in comparison with different sports activities the place they begin at an early age so do you suppose something may very well be achieved to get individuals on board sooner? — Podfather
Pricey Podfather,
Sure, it was certainly onerous to search out something MMA associated in 2003 within the mainstream. MMA was fairly underground so fighters, competitions, and different issues had been few and much between. Truly, sponsors paid extra money to me to put on their gear again once I fought in Strikeforce because of the legislation of provide and demand.
There have been fewer alternatives and fighters, so the value was greater. These days, there are such a lot of fighters in numerous organizations, sponsors solely need to give free product and no cash. With regard to opponents, I nearly by no means fought in my residence metropolis as a result of ladies needed to journey to face somebody their ability and weight-class. Once I lived in Japan, it was so onerous to discover a combat as a result of the American promoter must pay for my worldwide airplane ticket. Truly, I could have been fortunate I did MMA again then, because of the truth that there WEREN’T many feminine fighters, promoters had been extra inclined to convey me in, as a result of who else was there?
You talked about individuals beginning to combat later in age and getting individuals began sooner. To be sincere, I don’t consider that’s appropriate. I feel these days individuals ARE getting began sooner. That’s why we’ve younger ones like Maycee Barber, Raul Rosas Jr, and others aiming to be the youngest champions. Their dad and mom most likely watched the UFC of their youth. I feel fighters are persevering with to combat later because of advances in science, athletic growth, and physique care. I used to suppose I’d combat till 32 years previous after which my physique could be too destroyed to proceed. I made it to 39.
Pricey Roxy,
You appeared to have fairly a little bit of success in opposition to excessive stage opponents in the course of the again half of your profession, particularly in comparison with most different fighters. What would you attribute your success/longevity to? – From Mommydollars
Pricey Mommydollars,
My tremendous energy is “perseverance.” I didn’t all the time have success in opposition to excessive stage opponents, solely generally. If I misplaced a combat, I might hold working tremendous onerous. I’d make some sort of change in my coaching to assist me get higher so I may win my subsequent combat. I modified gyms inside Japan, hanging coaches, bodily trainers, my schedule, therapeutic massage therapists, MMA head coaches, moved my residence nearer to a brand new health club, and even moved to a special nation! There are such a lot of tales surrounding these items, I may write a e-book! Oh yeah, I did. Memoirs of a Glad Warrior II, accessible on Amazon.
I’ve achieved a number of issues with a single-minded dedication to achieve my objective of profitable fights and hopefully making it into the UFC sometime. I by no means need to do the identical factor if I really feel it’ll yield the identical unfavourable consequence. Me working to alter my conditions enabled me to achieve the place I’m now.
In the event you’d prefer to submit your personal questions for ‘Pricey Roxy’ be at liberty to e-mail me at basilisk875@yahoo.com, with the topic line “Pricey Roxy”, or attain out on twitter @RoxyFighter with the hashtag #DearRoxy. Or just go away your questions in a remark beneath on Bloody Elbow. Sit up for listening to from you all quickly.
