An interview with JOJO the soon to be 115lb UFC Champion !

Post date: 12-Jan-2014 15:54:16

Hi Joanne

I know you've been busy, thanks for the time. are you getting sick of interviews yet?

Yea I've done a few. I don't mind actually it gives me something to do in-between training. I'm not to keen on the ones that I have to do by Skype or phone call as I'm not to good on the phone haha.

There's been a fair amount of media attention through out your MMA career and more so recently with the UFC signing and TUF announcement, do you feel like your famous?

Haha noo, I'm getting a bit of recognition which is nice, for me and for my team and the sport. It's nice seeing the sport getting some attention from the bigger news papers and television. I think that MMA isn't popular enough yet to make people really famous, if I wanted to be famous I'd be better on xfactor or something like that.

Let's start at the start, you went with your brother to a Muay Thai class, you got the bug, stuck with it, when did you decide to try competing?

It was a natural progression I think, I don't remember waking up one day thinking I'd like to fight, I had competed in swimming and gymnastics before Muay Thai, I trained that lead to interclubs and that lead to my first few fights.

You had a very successful Muay Thai career, World, European and British champion, what made you decide to try MMA?

I was getting more and more time inbetween Thai fights so started training in BJJ and MMA, my partner James was fighting MMA at some big shows, the Dinky Ninjas team and Griphouse team were really just a fun group of guys to train with and hang about with it was inevitable I'd end up trying it.

Did you move to the Griphouse in Glasgow to train MMA?

No actually I moved to the Griphouse as a 5-0 b class Muay Thai fighter. The coaches there took me from a pretty raw, aggressive fighter to world champion with a 19-2 professional record. Moving there was the best thing I've ever done, my coach Guy Ramsay encouraged me to take time out from my job and give fighting a go full time, he gave me part time work in the gym so I could just train and fight, every time I fight now I hope to repay some of the faith he had in me.

I remember you struggled trying to get your first fight, yet within 2 years your ranked number 3 in the world, your 8-0 and now signed with the UFC. Are you happy with what you've achieved ?

Yes and no. Yes I've had those 8 fights, I've fought on some great shows, I had the 4 wins at Invicta and beat some great fighters. I've always said I want to be where the best girls at my weight are, that's now the UFC I'm happy to be there. At the same time I'm never happy with what I achieve I always want more, I want to do better. Those fights I've win, in my mind I could have done stuff better in them. That's just the way I am. I'll always aiming to be perfect in my fights.

Your nominated for female fighter of the year along side UfC champion Rhonda Rousey and Holly Holm, what would that mean winning an award like that?

I'm happy to be nominated, especially with Rhonda as she's a superstar. Being considered is recognition enough for me.

The next challenge for you will be the Ultimate Fighter Tv show, what are you expecting?

I'm expecting anything and everything. James spoke to some guys who has been on the show before and they've gave him some advice for me. My coach Paul McVeigh was on the show so he's got some inside knowledge. I'm looking forward to the experience and hopefully getting to fight 3 times in a short period of time.

This season will be the first season where a champion is crowned what do you think about that?

I think it's cool, it's a clever way to introduce the straw-weights so the fans can get to know the fighters, especially with the different characters in the division. The tournament format changes things up, it's not always the best fighter that wins these things, factors like the draw, weight cuts, injuries etc can play a part. Non of that's going to stop me winning though.

Realistically your 4 fights away from being the UFC champion, your already being talked about as one of the favorite by the media and some of the other girls on the show have named you as being the most dangerous how do you feel about that?

It's keeping me focused to keep getting better. I'm trying not to think about the belt right now, il take it one fight at a time. I respect the other girls views, there won't be an easy opponent in the house though. Every fight I have is the hardest most dangerous opponent I've faced to date. The way MMA is any girl on the show could win.

It's been common in the past for European fighters to relocate to the USA or elsewhere to train after signing for the UFC is this something you might consider?

No. I love my team. I can't explain it but we are doing something special here. I've heard people refer to there team as family and stuff but with the dinky ninjas it is like a family. I get great coaching there, I've got great training partners. I've spoke to some of the other female fighters around and I'm in a better position than them with coaches and training partners close to my size and weight. If we are away anywhere il drop into places to train, we have Florida booked for a family holiday later this year il find some where to train, James wants to head to Dublin to train at John Kavannaghs SBG soon too, but il always do my fight camps back home.

With an undefeated record and some great performances under your belt who can argue with that, as the saying goes if its not broke, don't fix it. Joanne thanks for you time, i look forward to watching you on TUF and speaking to you again, anyone you'd like to thank?

Everyone at the Dinky ninjas and Griphouse gym, my coaches James, Paul McVeigh, Garry Christie and Guy Ramsay. My sponsors Martial arts Life, Sandee, physioeffect, SAS nutrition and funky gums. Thanks for the support on Facebook and twitter I really appreciate it!

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