Impressive, how long has it been since then?

Oh man I think that was like… like when I was nineteen or so.

And since then you've had all sorts of ups and downs, right? Any noteworthy accomplishments?

Well… I did beat the previous champion in a rigged match. For context, this was going on when I was about twenty years old. I was already a rising star in the MMA world and I was doing pretty well. Then one day I’m scheduled to take on someone more popular and the higher ups want me to throw the match.

They say I’d be paid handsomely for it. Even my coach said I should do it. But I didn’t and won anyway.

Wow, didn't expect to hear about corruption behind the scenes. But you stuck to your guns anyway! I'm guessing that the story isn't over yet though...

Not even close... After that, I’m going home at night. Suddenly I get jumped by this gang and they proceed to beat the shit out of me. You could tell the people in charge didn’t like my choice. I know because my coach was one of them.

After that, I kinda shut down. I didn’t trust anyone. Focused on my career. But those pricks weren’t done with me yet. Ever hear about that MMA champion about six years ago? Left the league because she was too injured to continue?

Can't say that I have, sports like these haven't grown on me until recently... but I'm guessing that was you?

Yeah. This is the rigged match I was talking about earlier.

Well, the big guys upstairs didn’t think I learned my lesson. So they stuck me in the cage with the current champion at the time. And it was brutal. I was thrown around, beat up, she didn’t even get any penalties for moves that would get her disqualified. That bitch kept beating the shit out of me even past the round’s time limit. She even went between the legs!

Sorry for bringing this up. How did you win then? Sounds like all the odds were stacked against you.

So for how I won, I guess something in me just snapped. Running on rage and adrenaline, I guess I pushed back. I started beating the shit out of her instead and before I knew it… she was unconscious. Bruised up and bleeding. I didn’t register the bell ring until the referee came in and declared me the winner. Next thing I know I’m hearing the crowd cheering for me and the former champion being carried out in a stretcher as I’m given her title. Last I heard after that, she retired because of what I did to her… I don’t even remember what I did to her, but the big shots were so worried that they may get find out for rigging it, so they let me keep the title. Saves them money, lawsuit, and a swat team raiding their houses.

Well that's an interesting behind the scenes story. So why the sudden shift? Sure it was 6 years ago, you probably lost that title. But in spite of all that, of the enemies you made, it sounds like you had a good thing going for you. What changed?

Well actually I held my title for four years.

Impressive, but it sounds like you're dodging my question.

Yeah. As for your question, I wasn’t exactly healthy back then during my reign. I was self-centered. Didn’t let anyone get too close. Spelt focused on my career as I continued to use a brutal style combining my speed, my physical strength, and even my acrobatic history. Hell, I think I’d make Shayna Baszler look merciful in comparison.

But that’s not saying I don’t have scars on my own. One match for really intense and my back actually got scratched up pretty bad by the cage fence. The guy I was facing, yes my league had intergender matches, actually managed to get my back scraped against the fencing. I still have the scars on my back.

What changed? When did that mindset switch?

Well, it was sometime after my mixed match that gave me my scar. I, realized that I wasn’t alright. Mentally and emotionally speaking. I went to therapy even. I faltered a little in matches but I kept strong. And then I left sometime after my fourth title match when I was twenty-four.

I joined the wrestling world again. I wanted to start fresh and kinda, be away from the person I was back then. And honestly it was a refreshing change. I made friends, I started opening up again. Even friends with that guy who sliced up my back. And it’s been like that for the past two years.

We're all happy to hear that. Tell us, how different is wrestling from MMA? Did it take some adjusting when you first started?

Oh it was definitely taking some time to get used to it. I got lucky in my early days of my career swap thanks to my strength and speed alone. Which also kinda… lead to my greatest downfall: using energy too fast.

Do you still struggle with that? Or have you managed to regulate that in the past 2 years?

I’ve managed to use my energy sparingly as of late. Still a bit of getting used to compared to like say… five rounds a match.

Any other challenges you've faced lately? New rivals? Old enemies?

Eh, not really. I’ve had my fair shares of wins and losses. Been making friends though. And I’ve been getting some good deals.