Finding fights?

[DianeB]

I seem to be hitting a brick wall when it comes to finding fights. I’d like to step up a skill level not a weight division. In other words I want to fight internationally.

I’ve asked a few promotions if they’d be interested, but nobody wants to pay to bring anyone here & I don’t have the contacts for shows abroad.

Anyone interested or can help let me know?

I am u48kg / u105lbs

[Aisling]

Japan seems to be the only place that would really have good competition in your weight class.
PM me if you're interested I might have a contact that would be useful to you.
It's probably not what you want to hear but in honesty it's hard to be picky when you just want to fight. I'm walking around about 58kg but have fought as high as 65kg and as low as 55kg just to get fights, maybe with a good programme you could build some more muscle and fight at 52kg, there's more competition at that weight.
Anyway good luck with getting some fights, it's no fun just hanging around! :)

[DianeB]

Thank you for your advice. Increasing weight isn't an option. I will send you a pm in a second.

[Rosi]

Aisling makes a good point. You don't want to fight out of your weight division, and there's no reason you should have to. However, if you don't, you may have to face the fact that you're unlikely to get many opportunities.

You've been offered at least one opponent at 50 kgs with a same day weigh in - not really very different from the standard 48 kgs with a day before weigh in - and turned it down. That's not the kind of luxury that female fighters can afford right now if they want to fight.

I have a pretty small build even for 125 lbs. But I've fought at heavier weights more often than not, just to get opportunities to fight. There's no way that I would have had the chance to fight internationally if I hadn't done that. Same with all the SBG team - Aisling, Lisa and Anna have all done the same. Otherwise we'd still be sitting around looking for a promoter to bring in just the right opponent for us. Unfortunately that's female MMA for you.

I dunno... perhaps there might be more opportunities for you in boxing or Muay Thai? Or perhaps doing some international grappling competitions with lighter weight divisions would help to get your name out there a bit.

[bigleeroy1]

get on the gear diane and put some size on.... bench squat and deadlift!!! FTW

on the real tho im sure packing on size wouldnt be beneficial with your height altho working really hard on your strength to match a bit of a higher weight might help di.

[BruceLeeMMAfighting.net]

Learn Japanese.

That will make you more marketable in Japan and give the Japanese Promoters an extra reason to hire you.

Look at American Josh Barnett, he is fluent in Japanese and is extremely popular over there. Same with Danish K-1 fighter Nicholas Pettas. (You can probably contact Nicholas Pettas through his Blog) and Russian K-1 Fighter Ruslan Kareav.

http://www.nicholaspettas.com/

[Rosi]

^Good advice. In fact, if you're really serious about it, something worth considering would be to spend a few months in Japan and get in a few fights while you're out there.

[DianeB]

Thanks, yes, I'm also interested in the international grappling competitions. It's something on my 'to do' list for this year.

I am giving away weight at u48kg, so i'm sticking to that division. I'll see where that leads.

[DianeB]

I'd love to spend some time in Japan. I like the idea of training over there for a few months as well. I'll have to do some saving up!! I'm going to do it..

[Rosi]

I am giving away weight at u48kg, so i'm sticking to that division. I'll see where that leads.

Out of interest, what is your normal "in training" weight?

[DianeB]

My weight varies between 45 and 48kg depending on how healthy i eat & how training is going i suppose.

Yes, i know it is going to be difficult to find the fights at u105lbs. That's another challenge i have set myself for the year.

Hence, I'm requesting help or advice finding fights within my fight division at u105lbs / u48kg

[Rosi]

Good luck with that. :)

As an aside, from some of the things you've said, it sounds like you would probably benefit from work with a strength coach and possibly a nutritionist. If you're training at Wolfslair, no doubt they can help you out with this.

[DianeB]

Ah, right! maybe I should have mentioned where i train. lol

My coach is Tom Blackledge, Blackledge MMA in Wigan.
He's part of the Wolfslair, & I go there if I get time off from work. but mostly i train in Wigan.

I've just started with strength conditioning. I need help with the nutrition side though.

If anyone can pm me contacts or with help, i'd be very greatful.

[Rosi]

oops, sorry... I just noticed that you said you trained at Wolfslair on one of the other threads. I wasn't sure where your main gym was at the moment. :)

[BruceLeeMMAfighting.net]

I'd love to spend some time in Japan. I like the idea of training over there for a few months as well. I'll have to do some saving up!! I'm going to do it..

There are rooms for those training Judo at the Kodokan that seem fairly cheap in Central Tokyo. Of course you would have to train Judo while you are staying in these rooms I would think.

http://www.kodokan.org/e_basic/lodging.html

[tanswell]

I have an opponent for you at 48 kgs Diane. She's competing in the US in two weeks, but we could do any time from March onwards.

[DianeB]

I have emailed some contacts that have been given to me. Thank you. Hopefully i'm going to get to travel & fight soon. Please pm me with any contacts or shows that may be interested.

[Rosi]

Hey Diane... you say that you can't get fights. Karl's just offered you an opponent in your weight category (as he did months ago after you won your title) and it doesn't even merit a reply?

I can understand you not wanting to fight Lisa. She's tough. But if you're under the illusion that the Japanese and American girls are going to be significantly smaller, weaker or technically inferior, then you're going to get a shock. Fighting internationally means facing top quality opposition.

I wish you all the best with your trip to Japan. But I think asking a UK promoter to bring a fighter over for you is (to be blunt) a little arrogant considering the fact that you're turning down quality opponents in the UK.

[DianeB]

Karl's just offered you an opponent in your weight category (as he did months ago after you won your title) and it doesn't even merit a reply?

Thank you for your offer & yes I am turning it down. There are numerous threads discussing this, i'm not going over old ground.


if you're under the illusion that the Japanese and American girls are going to be significantly smaller, weaker or technically inferior, then you're going to get a shock. Fighting internationally means facing top quality opposition.

Anyone who knows me knows that isn't my way of thinking. It's simply my dream & goal to fight MMA abroad. I am aware that I am more likely to be the underdog, I may get beaten to a pulp, I may get submitted within seconds, I may win!! It's my dream & i'm following it!!


I think asking a UK promoter to bring a fighter over for you is (to be blunt) a little arrogant

it wasn't arrogance, it was wishful thinking..

[Rosi]

Well, fair enough, at least you're honest ;)

[pauljono1120]

ur 48kg?...hmmm surely you cant be that skinny..=p

Or are you short?

Im 60kg but 5 foot 9 lol