If you are on this page, then you are probably looking for information about MMA fighting, mixed martial arts in general, or probably an aspiring MMA fighter. Well, then, let me share to you my very first mixed martial arts fighting experience as a 40-year old woman with three kids.

Yes, I am 40, a woman, a mother of three, had three caesarean sections, and still looking forward to fighting in the cage, not for fame but for self-gratification. Martial arts has always fascinated me even at a young age. I am a fan of Jackie Chan, Cynthia Luster, Jet Li, Bruce Lee, and many other Hollywood action stars who made it to fame with their awesome Kung Fu and karate moves. Now that I am older and that real martial arts fighting has made big names in the likes of Angela Lee, Edward Folayang, Mei Yamaguchi, Ronda Rousey, and many more via their spectacular performances in UFC and One Championship, my love for the sport continues to flicker. Fortunately, through incessant training and getting into the right gym, I was finally able to make one of my biggest dreams – to fight inside the cage – come true. And man, was I happy with the outcome!

How Did It Feel To Fight Inside the Cage?

Unless you are a psychopath, you would probably not feel anything other than excitement to beat your opponent or getting beat up yourself. Days before the fight, especially when I learned who my opponent was and her background in fighting, I was already shaking with fright. Yes, I was frightened. I have waited for this day to come, but now that it has become a reality, I felt fear – fear of getting beaten up, fear of getting knocked out. My opponent was a more experienced fighter. She had fought internationally in Muay Thai tournaments and had even garnered a bronze medal in the World Muay Thai tournament held in Bangkok, Thailand. As for me, I was a beginner in all aspects, with only a gold medal in grappling held locally in a nearby town. I wasn’t even that good in grappling and I have not trained in Jiujitsu for months. For me, that particular win was “chamba”.

So, how could someone like me win against an experienced Muay Thai fighter who was bigger and heavier than me by some pounds? Not to mention, my opponent was a member of the Muay Thai Philippine Team. I did not expect to win. I expected to get beaten up, hence the fear.

On the day of the tournament, I could barely breathe as they prepared me for the fight. Once I stepped inside the cage, though, all my defenses kicked in. I told myself I will not let my opponent beat me, that I will survive until the last round. My main objective then was to fight and survive the entire rounds and not to win. In my mind, I pretended I was Black Widow and Wonder Woman. Yeah, I know that was lame. But I had to at least survive without getting knocked out. I forgot that I was afraid, or rather, I allowed fear to consume me and used it to my advantage.

Why Did I Join in the Mixed Martial Arts Competition?

Participating in a mixed martial arts competition has become a dream since I saw Angela Lee on tv. When I subscribed to MMA in the local gym near us, my purpose was not just to get fit but to learn and assess whether I have actually learned anything. Every time I hear about other fighters signing up for a fight, whether it be MMA or Muay Thai, I feel a sense of adrenaline rush within me. Somehow, I know I had to get there before I turn 40. Unfortunately, they could not find a suitable opponent for me when I was 39, so it wasn’t until summer of 2019 when I finally got word that I would finally be able to fight inside the cage. It was a mixture of emotions – I was excited, elated, and afraid all at the same time. Finally, I would be able to put myself to the test.

Fight Preparations

Preparing for an MMA fight entails putting so much effort on training. You know how it is when you are 40; you lack stamina, you lack oxygen, you lack energy – probably everything you need to win a fight inside the cage, or even avoid getting beat up. Luckily, my coach and mentors were kind enough to put up with me.  They urged me to go on even when I felt giving up during training. They pushed me to my limits and encouraged me to do more than I showed I could.  

I Got Gold!

I felt all the kicks and punches of my opponent against my body. I made every effort to make a counter attack each time I was hit. Weirdly, I could not feel any of my attacks connecting. Each second, I thought I was losing. So when the bell rang to mark the end of the second round and I went to my corner, I told my team mates we lost. But, surprise! It took a while for the judges to come up with a decision. It turned out, I was actually doing well. In the end, a split draw was decided. I was surprised and happy with the result.

Do I want to fight again? Definitely! Up to this day, I still wish to get inside the cage and fight, not for praises but to test whether I could really defend myself time and time again. But I am 40, and will be gaining a year more in the coming months. Life in the 40s is busy, so perhaps, I would have to put off fighting until my next lifetime.

How about you? Do you also wish to fight inside the cage as a mixed martial arts fighter? If you have fought in MMA, how was your experience like? Please share in the comments section below.