Let The Butterflies Fly

Ringkasan

Combat Confidential #029 - Alexa Pagaduan Let The Butterflies Fly Get to know amateur MMA standout Alexa Pagaduan in this Combat Confidential special recording from Belfast’s Girwood Community Hub! A personal trainer and coach at Phantom Gym, Alexa shares her journey, from her…

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Go back. Let's go. All right, everyone. Welcome back to Combat Confidential. Um, today we are live on location at the Gerwood Community Hub in I almost said Dublin. Um, in uh Belfast, Ireland and it is Ireland. So today's guest, um, one second, let me attempt it and then you can scald me for butchering it. Um, Alexa, I got that that part right. I'm known for ruining names, so apologies. Um, and I know you said it to me earlier. Uh, Pakadan. >> Yes, perfect. Well done. >> Is Is it all quickly like that or is it >> Yeah. No, no, no, that's fine. It'll it'll do. >> Okay. Uh, Pakadan, does that get uh butchered a lot? Oh, all the time. All the time. >> Cool. I'm glad I got it. U Okay, so Alexa, you are an amateur MMA fighter. You recently had your pro debut or excuse me, amateur debut. It was with um uh K uh >> uh >> No, no. Uh the promotion was it Kate War? >> Oh, Clown Wars. >> Clown Wars. I get those two mixed up all the time. It's just it's the CW. Um, where are we at? >> You fight at a Phantom? >> I do. Yes. >> Um, which is great. It's an awesome gym. >> It is. >> Um, you're a personal trainer and a coach. >> I am. Yeah. So, I've been doing that for the past, I want to say, three years now. >> Okay. >> Yeah. And I love it. I love it so much. I love being able to help people the way like fitness has helped me. >> That's awesome. Um, all right. Look, uh, we're just going to kind of go into here. mix it together. Just a few little uh icebreers here just to kind of get myself and everyone watching a chance to get to know you a little bit better. So, um first thing that comes to mind uh you don't have to think about it too hard, but uh yeah. Uh I got 10 of them here. So, I think I know the answer to the first one. Uh coffee or tea? >> Coffee definitely. Yeah, tea does nothing for me. Well, coffee doesn't either, but like it's better than tea. >> Coffee doesn't do anything for you. >> Not anymore. No. >> How much do you drink? >> Huh? >> How much do you drink? Oh, I want to say like three cups a day. Three, four. >> Not a lot. It's not a lot. >> Yeah, I guess. >> I I used to work in the um when I used to work I work from home full time. And >> um when I used to work in the office, it was free coffee and it was really good coffee. Um and I would literally drink like 10. >> Yeah. See, if it was free, I'd probably It'd be a different story. >> Yeah. Um I drank that stuff all the time. I loved it. >> All right. Sorry. Uh next one. What's the last thing you Googled? >> Last thing I Googled? Oh, I don't know >> who I was. Who is this guy in front of me? >> The last thing I Google Oh, do you know what it is? I went on chatbt to be like, "What questions are they going to ask at an interview?" That's what I did. >> Awesome. Um, all right. Shadow boxing. Fun or awkward? >> Fun. I like it. Yeah. Yeah. It's awkward like watching myself back though because I'm like I'm fighting like thin air but like No, but it's I enjoy it. Yeah. >> I always hate it. >> Really? Yeah. >> I don't like it. And I I hate it even more when there's a mirror in front of me. >> Oh yeah, definitely. >> I just I feel awkward and like >> I don't know. I don't I don't like the way I move. And >> maybe that just comes from um >> not being very good at it. >> Uh solo travel or a group trip? >> Solo travel. >> Really? Have you done that before? >> Yeah. No, I I feel like I've done more solo trips than I have group trips. It's hard to to like plan stuff with my friends, you know, that way. But solo trips are so nice. It's like that only time that you can kind of spend time with yourself. >> Yes. >> Which I really like. >> Absolutely. Um, what's the best compliment you've ever received? >> The best compliment? That's a good question. Um, I love I love when like when we're in the gym or something and we're training and someone's like, "You're a beast." Like, I love that. I love it. Right on. Um, do you believe in aliens? >> I do. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. 100%. >> Any uh any specific hot take on them? >> Do you know what I feel like? I feel like aliens aren't what we think they look like with like the massive heads and the massive eyes. I think they look like us, but like maybe like an extra eye or like another arm or something. >> I I I'm I'm I'm of the belief that it's like a fourth dimension or a higher dimension type being. >> Mhm. Um, that's what I think. Is that true? I have no idea. >> We'll find out one day. >> Uh, next question. Uh, favorite female athlete outside of combat sports. >> I don't know. I actually don't think I have an answer for that one. >> No. >> No. J. Well, see, again, I'm bad with names, but there's this one girl who does track running. >> Okay. >> I can't remember what her name is, though, but she's brilliant. Like I see like clips of her on stuff on social media and she Oh, she's so inspiring. Like >> I like um speaking of like track and field like the uh uh like the the shot putters and the um like the what's that thing called? The >> the spear thing that they're throwing. >> Yeah. >> Um >> watching them do that is pretty cool cuz like it it it doesn't look difficult but it's not easy. You know, they make it look because they're so good at it, they make it look easy. Yeah. >> And then uh the women who do the the shop put or it's not I don't think called a shop cuz it's like on that long uh wire rope thing for them. Um but no, they're like they're jacked. Insane. >> Yeah, it is. >> Especially when you like run yourself, you're like, "How the [ __ ] did I do that?" >> Yeah. >> Um do you prefer training in the morning or the evening? >> Um that's depends. Gym in the morning, like MMA training in the evening. >> Oh, really? >> Yeah. Okay. >> Get the weight out of the way. >> Right on. Uh, hoodie or a jacket? >> Say that again. >> A hoodie or a jacket? >> Hoodie. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, a hoodie. Zap are just annoying. >> Um, what's a smell that brings back a memory? >> The smell. This is really weird. The smell of petrol. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. It reminds me of back home in the Philippines. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I don't know what it is. >> Just out in the air. Yeah. And probably all the >> unregulated um exhaust fumes in the air. >> Yeah. The pollution. Um, all right. Cool. That's the end of that then. So, let's get right into it here. Um, so where did you grow up and what was your childhood like? >> So, um, I moved here with my parents when I was about 4 months old. So, I'm I'm not really like I don't know too much about my Filipino kind of side. >> Do you speak to >> I can understand it. I can't like form a proper sentence though. Um, so I'm pretty much raised here in Ireland um in Dublin. So growing up I grew up in Jimna which was all right at the time like so I was born in 2004 like it was kind of tame. >> Whereabout in Jimna? >> Uh Ratch Road you know >> never mind. Um >> um my wife used to uh stay at you know the children's hospital. >> Oh >> directly behind it. >> Yeah the children's hospital. >> Ah near like um what's it called? >> There's a park. Yeah right there. >> I know what you're talking about. Yeah. No. Oh yeah, it was quite tame when we came like when I was born and stuff and then growing up. But I remember my parents like telling me all sorts of stories when they like first moved there. It was like crazy. >> Yeah. >> Mad stuff perhaps going on. >> Yeah, it was man. Um sorry. So um you moved you said four months. >> Four months old. Yeah. >> Um what was it like you know or growing up in like Germany? Where did you go to school? >> I went to school in Assumption Secondary School. That's also in Germany as well. Um it was an all all girls school. So it was rough. I think it's a little bit worse than like an all boy scale in a way. >> Yeah. >> Cuz like >> people are just so much more bitchier. Everything is just like >> people women. >> Women. Yeah. That that too. >> Whereas I feel like men are kind of like if they have a problem with you, they'll say it to your face. But everything is like said behind your back in an all girls school. Do you know what I mean? Um so you're kind of left thinking like oh like people out to get me like you know >> everyone hates me. Yeah. Yeah. Um uh so like childhood like what was it like for you specifically kind of growing up in you know in Dublin >> like with your parents? Uh so your parents obviously uh you know they were they're from the Philippines. Yeah. >> How old were they when they uh moved here? >> I want to say maybe like 2 three years before I was born. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So my mom was working as a nurse and then my dad was working as a chef. >> Okay. Uh well, they're still working as a nurse and chef. Um so yeah, and then I came when I was born then. >> Sorry, I'm like lost track for a second. Uh what was I saying? >> Uh growing up here. Yes. Uh so growing up in Dublin was weird cuz I had like a lot of Irish friends. >> Okay. >> And stuff and I didn't really have a lot of like Filipino influence other than my family. >> Yeah. Um, so I felt almost kind of like not Irish enough or not Filipino enough in both communities. So I didn't really feel like I belonged anywhere in that sense. And then that's obviously in MMA that completely changed. >> Uh, what kind of kid were you? >> I was very shy, very shy, very quiet. Um, I was very creative as well. >> Yeah. >> Like I I really liked like art and music and that kind of thing. So like when I found MA it was like a complete shocker to everyone else you know >> uh role models as a kid who who would be growing up like who would be your biggest role model? >> I didn't really have like I guess a role like I wasn't like I'm not super close with my family so I I can't really say my parents or anything. >> I would say one person that like stands out would probably be my is it primary or secondary school? primary school. No, hold on. Secondary school. My secondary school teacher, her name was Miss Connealy. Oh, I loved her so much. She was the only like teacher that like kind of treated me like a human being and like believed in me >> and kind of like let me express myself creatively. Um, which I really appreciated her for. And she always knew whenever like those days when I was just not feeling okay, you know. Yeah, >> that's cool. It's good to have um >> excuse me. It's good to have a uh someone like that outside of your immediate family. >> I think all kids should have that one person. >> Yeah. >> Um you know that kind of support or influence or whatever that's not >> in your house. >> Yeah, definitely. >> Um what what subject did they teach? >> English. >> English. Okay. Um, was there a particular moment in your life when you kind of realiz or when you had like a thought to yourself that maybe like your path was a bit different from everyone else? >> Um, yeah. I mean like in school like I didn't really like I didn't I really kept to myself a lot. >> Okay. >> Just because I had like different goals to everyone else. I feel like not in like a cocky way or anything but I felt kind of like ahead of everyone else in that sense. Like I definitely matured faster than a lot of people. Like while everyone was out drinking at like I don't know 16 17 like I was already like planning on >> starting up my own business for personal training and stuff like you know that kind of stuff. So I guess that would be >> So that came early then. >> Yeah. Very early. >> Even though you don't you said you didn't like uh um like what' you say like fitness or like you skip gym class. >> Yeah. That was when I was like young young maybe when I was like 12ish 12 14. >> When did you have the realization that you know like being like a PT or a fitness coach or like that was what you wanted to do? >> Yeah. So when I was going through my fitness journey um like I said like I learned a lot from it like I learned how to like take care of myself. I learned how to kind of just treat my body right for once. I didn't realize how bad you don't realize how bad it is until you're out of it. You know what I mean? Um, >> did you learn that in school or was that like outside of school? >> Outside of school, I kind of just learned on my own. >> That's something that like they really don't teach us in school, like how to really kind of take care of your body and whatnot. Um, >> which is kind of surprising. And then especially considering a lot of the like >> epidemics >> um that are happening in the, you know, societies across the world, it probably beneficial. >> Yeah, definitely. Um, what was the question again? >> Sorry, I I didn't mean to interrupt you. No, it's okay. Um uh you're you're saying that uh uh uh how you found um like PT uh physical training or uh personal training. >> Yes. Okay. So yeah, so after my whole fitness journey and stuff like that, I obviously really I got into the gym. I was going like twice a day every day. Like I loved it so much. Um and I was like, you know, I think I want to turn this into a career. I just don't know. I don't know exactly how to do that. My first like I guess you call a dream would be like to set up my own gym, but I was young like I didn't know what the [ __ ] I was doing. So I was like, you know what, baby steps, let me start as like a personal trainer. So I looked into courses and then I qualified or I completed my course. Then that's when I kind of started doing my own business. I started in commercial gyms and then I slowly took myself out of that and now I'm renting my own space, doing my own clients and then hopefully over time then I can hopefully open a gym one day. >> That's cool. Do do you ever have um any like you're young? You said you're 20. >> Yeah. >> Like uh is there ever any like what do I want to say? Like uh you ever get a client and they're like kind of look at you like >> you're how old and you know and you're telling me what to do kind of thing. >> Yeah. No, I remember I had this one client. I told her my age and she left immediately. Really? >> Yeah. She asked for her money back and everything. I was like, "What? >> It's crazy." Yeah. >> That Yeah, that's >> it's a different world, you know. Um and I think kids say kids, uh young adults, especially like if you have a an entrepreneurial mind. >> Yeah. >> Um >> it's 20 now, I think, is different from like 20 20 years ago. >> Yeah, definitely. Um that's crazy. >> Um okay, so talk a little bit about your journey into combat sports here. So um what what was your first kind of uh like tiptoe into combat sports? Because I know you do Muay Thai, kickboxing. >> I do K1 K1 and just full MMA and then I did jiu-jitsu before that as well. >> What was it that kind What did you start first? What did I start first? I started What are we talking like when I started doing everything? >> What What was the first your first experience? >> Boxing. >> Boxing. >> Yeah. >> How old were you then? >> I would have been 14, 15. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I think I just like it interested me. >> Did you have anyone that was like, "Hey, you should try that." Or you just kind of >> No, I just I I don't know. I've always been like attracted to combat sports, especially in the Philippines. Like we look up to Pacquiao. We look up to Pacquiao so much. Like so seeing him I was like I really want to do that but like my parents are so traditional. >> Sorry I didn't mean to interrupt you. Go ahead. Your parents traditional. >> Yeah. Very traditional. So girls shouldn't be doing that. Like stop. >> Um so I never really got a chance to do it. You know what I mean? But I would always like watch from the stands. Like I remember there's a boxing club in Drim now that I really wanted to go to and I was like [ __ ] it. >> When is that the boxing club? >> Yeah. >> So I went down one of the days but I was too shy. I was too quiet. So, I just sat there watching all the boxers and then one of the coaches came up to me and was like teaching me a little bit. I want to do this, but I just I didn't have the the confidence back then and then I got introduced or reintroduced to it again or just combat sports in general about two and a half years ago and then that's when I kind of consistently kept going. >> Um, going back to Manny Pacquiao, is there like a female version of him? >> Hopefully me one day >> soon. >> Yeah. I mean, we'll see where where this takes me. >> Right on. Are there any like high level elite Filipino or Filipino athletes? >> Um, again, I'm really bad with names. Not in like combat sports, but I know there is one in what is it? Olympic lifting. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I just can't remember her name. So bad with names. >> I'll Google it later and >> maybe put it around here. Um, so what would uh Okay, so your you said you went to the the boxing gym and you just kind of sat sat there. >> Yeah. >> What was your first like real um your first time in a gym? Like your first real time to go train. What was that like? >> Actually, tell me about like the leadup like walking into the gym, getting to the gym. What was that like? >> Yeah, so basically when I started MMA bas I'm trying to think of a better way to wear this. Sorry. Um, so I was introduced to to MMA by a friend and sorry, I'm trying to think of a better way to wear this. I'm like stuttering. >> I'm I'm listening. Keep going. I just want you to >> Yeah. Yeah. Work away. >> Screen. >> No worries. >> All right. Sorry. Um, go ahead. >> MMA. So, um, my first experience with MMA, so I started college about 2 and a half years ago, around the same time I started MMA, and they had I go to TUD. >> Oh, okay. >> Yeah. And they have the one in Angel Street. >> Okay. >> Very small. But, um, >> they had a MMA society. >> Oh, really? >> Yeah. And they had like a women's self-defense kind of part of that society. So, I decided to join it one of the days. And I was like, "Oh my god, I love this. I love it so much." And I just haven't stopped training since that day. Um but when I was in that women's self-defense when I was like I can't I can't learn here because these women like they're too scared to like fall. They're too scared to get hit in the face. So then from there then I um went to the proper classes and I again I loved it. I love just like I don't know it felt like dancing almost like you know especially cuz growing up shy and stuff like I was scared to move my body and whatever but like here no one cares you know you can make all sorts of faces you want. You can move however you want. Like >> was was your was Phantom the first gym? Yeah. >> You went to? >> Yeah. So that's where the uh MMA society was as well. >> Okay. Okay. Um so like that first day you went in there was was there like were you nervous or >> um I just didn't know really what to expect. Like I don't know. >> Like I didn't really know what MMA was going. Like I knew what boxing was and kickboxing but I didn't really understand MMA at the time. Um, it was definitely intimidated like a bunch of big guys in the gym. Like I was like, "Whoa." Like >> that quickly go right away. >> What do you mean? >> Like uh any nerves or like your intimidation? Like did that quickly go away for you? >> Oh, definitely. Cuz the first person I met like when I came to the my first class was my current coach at the minute, Henry. And oh, he's just so friendly. Like I love him so much. So like quickly I was like, I'll be fine here. >> It's very counterintuitive for someone who doesn't know what it is. uh you like comment like you know they just think everyone's fighting everyone's kind of like a big yeah you know everyone's mean everyone you know everyone wants to fight and it's not like that it's some of the most humble people >> and generally the really aggressive ones get weeded out >> that's it that's it >> that's cool um so you've been training there >> two years two and a half >> two and a half yeah going three >> very good um was there anything that surprised you like stood right out to you right away that like wow this isn't what I was expecting surprised. The one thing that surprised me was that there were like if any girls at all at the gym like I was fully prepared to be like the only girl, but there were a few. >> Okay. >> Um still not as many as you'd like. Do you know what I mean? But um it was it was it was nice to see that like there were other girls out there with the same mindset as me. >> Very good. >> Yeah. >> Um know that's actually one of my aims with this podcast is to like I said, I have two little girls. >> Yeah. And you know, I'd like them to be confident in life. Um, and I'd like them to uh, you know, to have strong, powerful women to hook up to. So, it uh, I don't have as >> I don't have enough women on my show as I would like. Um, >> but, um, it's that's what I like to do. I want to boost as many women as I can to give them a, uh, uh, you know, people to look up to. And then um um to show other women that like you know it's not as scary as uh you might think it is or it's probably a lot different than whatever it is like you know you're thinking about in your head. I know for me my first day in the gym it's totally different >> um than uh what it actually is. >> Um >> do you feel any pressure to like prove yourself cuz you're a girl? >> Definitely all the time because like in the gym like the men are obviously going to go easy on you. You know what I They don't take you as seriously. Like it took me a while to like like to get everyone in that class to like actually take me seriously. I feel like >> Well, I don't know. Like I feel like they were just like tapping me almost, you know, when you're like spiring and stuff. >> Yeah. They don't they don't they go very easy. >> What do you I taboo. What do you weigh? >> You What do you fight in? Your weight? >> Uh I like fighting at 65. I walk around at about 68. >> Yeah. Mo say most of the men are Well, that's not bad. Uh I'd say most of the men are probably in the 70s. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> That's not a I mean that's big enough, but like it's not a huge weight disparity. >> Um >> but yeah, I mean and then probably most I would assume a lot of them might be doing it longer. >> A lot of who? >> A lot of the men in the gym might be doing Yeah. So like it just comes with the territory. >> Yeah. Like in Phantom like the PE a lot of the people there like that's what they do for a living. Do you know what I mean? Yeah. >> Okay. So, >> um, sorry, back back to like proving yourself like, um, you know, what do you think that's more something you put on yourself or do you think like it actually comes from um the not the gym, but like kind of like um MMA as a whole, like that because you're a woman, you got to, >> you know, make yourself stand out or prove yourself to, you know, that you are capable of doing this. Definitely a bit of both. Okay. >> Like >> obviously as a woman you have to work twice as hard cuz our bodies don't work the same way that men's do. And then for myself like >> I guess I just want to be able to like show myself that I can I can do anything. >> You know what I mean? Like there's so many moments in my life where I felt like at my lowest or at my weakest and I just want to be able to like look back at like these fights or these training sessions that I've done or these camps and be like well you went through that. You can go through whatever else life puts you through. >> You find it difficult to get matched up. >> So hard. So hard. >> That's a common theme in this country. >> Especially at my weight, too. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I would definitely be considered like a heavy weight for sure. >> Yeah. You're an outlier or you're on the upper end of the spectrum there. Um where are we at? What do you love most about training? And then uh yeah, what do you love most? >> What do I love most? the social aspect of it. >> Um, like I don't go out that much to be honest, >> like on nights out and stuff. Yeah, that too. I can't afford to go out. >> Um, so training is kind of like where I get that social aspect from. And like I find it so hard to find people with the same mindset as me outside of training. So training has that exact like we everyone in training like >> is there for the same reason and that's just to get better. And I love that I can bond with different types of people from different corners of the world about that one thing. >> Yeah. And then you're doing something difficult. >> Yeah. >> Together, which is always bonding. Yeah. >> You know, like you have that >> that one thing that everyone can kind of relate with. It's so easy to relate or to connect with people when you're doing something hard together. >> Yeah, definitely. >> Versus something easy that anyone can do. >> Um that's cool. Uh Um, do you see yourself as like a role model? >> Um, >> I don't know. I haven't really thought about it. Like I'd like to think that maybe over the course of however many years that I do this um that I can inspire some young women out there. >> Well, before this we were talking. You said you were going to the States at J1 and you're going to teach boxing. >> Yes. >> I I definitely think uh >> I hope so. Yeah. >> I definitely think you will. Um, if you don't see yourself as a role model, um, which is, what am I trying to say? Um, you may not see yourself as a role model now, but I'll tell you, you're going over there teaching, just imagine your first day when your coach came to you, you know, you probably didn't know, >> probably didn't know him or anything about it, but you immediately looked up to him, >> you know what I mean? So, it's going to be the same thing. Have you taught you teach before or have you like taught boxing or anything before? >> I've taught like boxer size classes and stuff, but not to kids. So, this will be my first time teaching. >> Oh, then you're definitely I think it'll be very rewarding for you. >> Yeah, I I'm I'm actually so excited to do it. Yeah, it'll be good. >> That's cool. >> It'll be a bit of a culture shock, too. >> Americans. Yeah. You know, >> um what what what's your proudest moment so far? >> Proudest moment? Um so, I have a few, but I just want to think of something that stands out. probably taking the risk to like set up my own business. I'd say that would be my proudest moment because I had to give up a lot for that. You know what I mean? Like whole going out thing and like kind of doing things that like 20-year-olds are meant to be doing. Do you know what I mean? Um but at the same time, I'm like happy with the way things have turned out at the same time. Yeah, >> that's great. Um how do your parents feel about you? It's mad though cuz like when I first started training I told them they kind of just laughed at me like a this isn't going to last that long like every other sport that I've done before. Um and then there was a brief moment where I weren't sorry there was a brief moment where I wasn't like speaking to my parents. So they didn't know I was competing at all for like a year I think. >> And then it was my last fight in Belfast. They came to that one and they were like what the [ __ ] >> Really? >> Yeah. They were like shocked. Um, they were like, "I did not know this is what MMA was." They finally were like, "Whoa, like this is actually kind of cool and that you do this." And they were like, "I didn't know women could do this." And all that was Oh, it was crazy. It was nice to see their faces and like um in the crowd and stuff, which is good. Yeah, >> that's great. Um, what was I going to say? Do you have any other like family here or is it just your parents? >> Uh, my parents. I have a younger brother as well. Okay. >> He's 18. >> What does he think about all this? Uh, I don't really talk to him about this to be honest. I know. Well, like every other guy, he watches the UFC, but I don't think he's into like training. >> No. >> No. And then I have auntie, uncle, and a cousin up in Wikllo >> or down in Wikllo. My uncle's a massive UFC fan, so I love talking to him about it. So, >> yeah. >> That's cool. Is that is that a goal for you to >> UFC? One day. One day. One day. >> You can do it. >> Definitely do it. You can do it. Yeah. >> Yeah. No, 100%. If I put the work in, put my head down. >> Absolutely. >> I can see it. The end is in sight. >> Um, so you're you're actively training to compete. >> Yes. >> Right. Um, do like what what is it that kind of like really kind of motivates you to go kind of to train every day? >> Um, same thing that I said earlier like I just want to prove myself. >> Yeah. >> To myself. I want to prove to myself that like I can do anything and I can get through anything. Not only that, but also like the people in the gym. Like we're all like a big family. Do you know what I mean? I don't want to let these people down. I want to make them proud. I look up to my coaches so much and I genuinely want to be like them one day, you know? So that that's definitely one of my biggest motivators >> is my coaches. >> Very good. Um so you you have like long-term plans. >> Yes. in MMA. >> Um, what is it? Um, skip that. Uh, how's your relationship with training uh changed since you started? >> Since I started, so when I started, I was probably going maybe like three days a week. >> Okay. >> Whenever I could fit it in with work and stuff. Um, I was just doing MMA back then and then over time I transition uh, sorry, transi I can't speak right now. I transitioned into jiu-jitsu. >> Okay. >> Which was great. I did a couple competitions there. I did grappling industries and all of that stuff in the Irish Open. And then I hurt my shoulder. So I took a break from jiu-jitsu. >> Everyone hurts their shoulder and it never gets better. No. >> Um, but yeah. So I injured my shoulder. I took a break from jiu-jitsu and then that's when I started K1. >> Okay. And again, I haven't stopped doing that since. I love it so much. I think I prefer it to grappling now. >> Yeah. >> As well. >> Um, but in terms of training now, I I try to train every day as much as I can. Even on the weekends, if I can even get like a run in, a couple spars in, I try to do that as much as I can. The more the better. Um, but since my last fight camp for uh Clan Wars in Belfast, I don't think I've had like a proper break since. Really? >> Yeah. Cuz it's just fight after fight after fight. Um, and then Yeah, >> it's good. Keep up the momentum. >> Yeah, that's it. I'm going to lose it now when I go to America. >> No, you won't. Definitely. Especially if you're training or if you're teaching. >> You'll be you'll be good. At least you're not doing like a a job working for like a restaurant or something. >> Yeah. >> Um, when was it that you thought like you could make a career out of fighting? >> The last fight definitely. Yeah. It was just I don't know. I love the feeling of like >> I don't know the feeling of just being on stage. I think that's what it that's that's what did it for me >> and the crowd. >> I just I I when I was on the stage, I kind of I felt like sounds really cringe, but I felt like I belonged there almost. You know what I mean? >> Um but yeah, that's definitely the moment when I was like I could see myself going pro. Like I could see myself doing this long term. Yeah. >> What was your walk out song? >> Cutting here with Nelly. >> Oh, it was so good. It was so good for the nerves, too. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> How do you know that song? I feel like that's well before your time. >> Before my time. Yeah, >> that makes me feel old. I remember when that song came out. Um, dayto-day wise, you know, what has combat sport done for you? >> I've It's definitely taught me a lot of resilience 100%. like and like it's taught me to kind of take accountability for a lot of things like like I'd say before MMA and stuff I'd be the type of person to like make a lot of excuses and stuff like oh I'll train tomorrow I'll do this whatever but um with MMA discipline >> yeah definitely like MMA has taught me to like kind of shut those thoughts out it's also taught me to kind of like manage like stressful situations better like my anxiety and instead of seeing it as something to run away from. I can use that stress, use that anxiety to my advantage basically, >> which I really like. >> Awesome. Um, do you feel any pressure like as a woman to live up to like a certain image like on social media or just in general? I guess >> definitely. I feel like a lot of women, the reason why a lot of women don't go into like sports like this or hobbies like this is because they're too afraid to not look feminine. Yeah. >> And that was definitely one of my fears as well. Like I remember first few months of training like I didn't want to punch like a certain way in case I looked like masculine if that makes sense. Um so I definitely think there is that that pressure but once you get over the fact that it doesn't make you any less of a woman like I think that's when you can fully kind of feel comfortable if that makes sense. >> Yeah. Um do you think like there's a lot of female fighters who I don't know. I know like maybe this has to do with like trying to be juggle femininity in like a masculine sport, but I like I know like there's a lot of them like on social media who would be I don't know how to say it like a barely dressed. It's like, you know, and and I see it like it feels like it's across the board, you know, like is there any do you feel any pressure to, you know, to like show yourself off in that regard or like or no? I guess um like cuz for me like I have two little girls. I don't want them to feel like if they want to do that, >> fine. But um you know like I don't want them to feel pressured that they have to do that in order to excel or to advance. >> Yeah. >> You know what I mean? Like so I guess that's my question to you is that um >> like is there any like social pressure or do you feel pressure to like gain >> like a social media following um you know you know by doing stuff like that or >> Yeah. No, there's definitely like a pressure. There's definitely I feel like there's like a standard that you have to kind of >> like live up to almost on social media. Like you have to show >> more of yourself than you want. Do you know what I mean? >> I try not to do that as much as I can because I feel like my skill will kind of speak for itself. Excellent. >> Hopefully. >> Um and I I don't like that there is pressure for women to do that. >> Yeah. No, like it is it is frustrating. It's like men certainly don't have to do that. Yeah. you know, and they can 100% get over um skill alone. >> Um, and it it is uh I don't I don't want to think that it would be uh something women might be pressured into doing especially by like you know management companies like oh you need to up your followers or some you know and the easiest way I think for >> you know you got a lot of hungry men out there that are scumbags and what and you know so like that's just an easy way to to do that and I If you're comfortable with it, sure. You know, by all means. But I don't want women to feel pressured into that, >> especially my girls. Okay. >> Yeah, of course. >> Let's talk about your last fight. >> Cool. >> Your amateur debut. >> Yes. >> Um first of all, how did you get matched up? How did you like put your hat in the ring? Like uh was uh it brought up to you saying that maybe you should uh try competing or were you like I want to compete? coach put me in. >> So, ever since I started training, well, not ever since I started training, but like >> maybe a year in since I started, my coach has been putting my name down for that for that promotion. And every single time I've never been matched up or I've been matched up with someone with too much like way more experience than me. >> Um, and then finally after ages, I got matched up with Gemma. So, I was like, "Thank God." Because I was waiting so long for this. >> Yeah. >> Um, but yeah, that's pretty much it. He just kept putting my name in like show after show after show. >> And you fought at 65 or 64? >> 68. >> 68. >> 68. So this is the heaviest I fought at. >> Okay. Is that um Do you have like a ideal weight that you want to fight in? >> Uh not really. Like I feel good at 65. It's the only like weight that I've really ever fought at other than 68. >> Okay. Although if like my coach were to text me tomorrow and say, "Listen, you're fighting at 50 or 55 or whatever it is." Like I'm not Yeah, >> that would be tough. >> It is mad, but like I wouldn't shy away from it as long as I had enough time to prepare. Like >> Yeah, >> definitely. I'm open to any weight. >> Yeah, I wouldn't Sorry, I didn't mean to just eye you up like that, but like I wouldn't um 68. I wouldn't have guessed that at all. I would No, not at all. Um I would have >> maybe upper 50s. >> I'm quite dense. Yeah, I say that too. I say that too. Almost almost 120 kilos and we'll go again. >> Um but yeah, anyway, um so your first fight there. So you got the uh you got the go ahead, you got the um the the nod saying that you were going to fight. Yeah. >> Um did you know your who your opponent was right away or? >> Yeah, straight away. So he sent me your Instagram, had a little stalk as you would. Um yeah, no, definitely. That's when the nerves kicked in was the very beginning and which was good because then I could kind of manage that like >> and it was it was a debut for both of you correct? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Um >> so what did anything change in like your training when you got that uh formal matchup? >> Yeah. So I was just training more pretty much >> training every day. Like before that fight I was pro I was taking breaks you know if for recovery and stuff but like since I got matched up I was training flat out like every single day. Maybe taking one day off on the weekend. >> Yeah. >> For recovery. Um but that's Yeah. Maybe training twice a day. I was trying to stay consistent with the weights as well cuz I I'm shocking at that now. Like I never get them in. Um but yeah, so trying to stay consistent with weights and stuff. >> You could be like um Craig Jones. He never does uh weights. >> No. >> No. But he also does the juice. So >> Oh, yeah. Which is >> I don't know about that. >> No. Yeah. Don't do that part. But uh yeah. Um sorry. No, it it it just uh I I only bring that up because I don't like doing weights either and he's my excuse for not doing weights because he doesn't have to. He's the greatest out there. >> Um so fight week, what was fight week like? >> Fight, sorry. Uh fight week was good. Fight week is really good. I feel like I managed my like the nerves really well. I definitely managed the nerves really well and it was just such a super chill week. Taking it so easy. Um I didn't have to cut weight, which is great. I could eat like whatever I wanted. So, that really helped as well. Um, >> that's always a huge plus. >> And like because I wasn't training as much the week of the fight, I I I had plenty of time to kind of visualize and, you know, kind of prepare mentally, I guess. Yeah, >> that's good. >> Um, what was the the venue like when you got there? >> Venue was huge. I was not expecting it to be that big, but it was a great setup for like >> Yeah. Um they are that's a heck of a first uh of a debut because there's a lot of smaller shows where >> um like even like today here we're at uh Gladiator in Belfast. It would um >> like this is a great show and everything but like it's not on the same scale >> as um >> as as Clan Wars was. Um >> and uh you know so to have kind of have that experience right away is you know a lot of folks don't even get that in their first couple pro fights. >> Yeah. >> You know um you know so like down in Dublin you have uh or in the in the south here uh there's Cade Legacy and then there's uh Premiere um EFC and then there's a couple down in Cork. But none of those would be on the the same scale, >> especially like production wise and everything. You know, it it it's very reminiscent of uh you know, UFCish, you know what I mean? That very high production value. So to get that right away is probably really good for uh for nerves to get that uh taken care of. Um because if you if you were to start on like start on like a smaller show and then move up to that, it might be a little more intimidating. >> Yeah. 100%. Um, so flight day, you show up. Um, get your wraps on. How was it getting your wraps on? Because I remember when I when I first got my rap, I thought it was I just thought it was cool to, you know, have your hands professionally wrapped and um, how was that whole experience for you? >> I was so like calm the entire trip down up until I got my wraps done cuz that's the first that's probably the first time I saw Gemma. >> Yeah. >> Walking like this was the first time I'm in the same room as her. So I was like, "Oh [ __ ] so this is real. I was like, I'm actually going to fight in a couple hours, you know what I mean? Um, so that that was probably the one moment where I actually felt like kind of shaken. >> Okay. >> But after that, everything kind of settled down. I kind of got used to the the venue that we were in. I was like, "Right, you know, there's nothing I can do to like change the situation. I'm just going to like I'm I'm in full full control here. Opponent out of the way. Like this is me versus me." Do you know what I mean? Yeah. >> That's cool. Um, okay. So what um how early on were you in the fight? >> You were in like four fourth or fifth fight, correct? >> Yeah. So I was at the fifth I think the last prelim. >> Yeah. Okay. Um >> they call you up. You have the stewards call you up and then you're waiting behind the >> um behind the stage. Were you guys kind of positioned opposite of each other or was it like kind of just staggered next to each other on one side of the cage? Me >> or on the backstage? Yeah. You yourself and Gemma. >> So she went out first I believe. And then I went out. So we didn't see each other until we were in the in the ring. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Um what was it like kind of walking out on the you had the little runway to the stage and then you have uh Nelly blast him. What was that like? >> Oh, I loved it. I loved every moment of it. It was great. It was Oh, I'm so glad I picked that song cuz I feel like if it was anything else I would have like [ __ ] myself. But I had so much fun just walking up seeing the crowd like Oh, it was great. >> That was cool. Was it uh you were the last prelim. Was it pretty packed in there? Yeah, it was packed enough like Yeah. >> Um, okay. So, you get in the cage. Uh, referee locks the door. >> Um, they're getting ready to start the fight. What's going through your head? >> I'm feeling good. I'm feeling good. I'm feeling calm. I'm feeling confident in like like the show that I'm about to put on. It's always for me it's always when they lock the cage that the noise is like Yeah. I don't know what it is about that, but that really gets to me. But I managed to kind of >> Does Phantom have cage? >> No, no cage. But we have like a what you call it? >> Uh, I can't I can't remember. Sorry, my brain's not working right now. Um, what were you saying? Oh, yes. Yeah. No, feeling really calm except that one moment where they lock the cage and then as soon as I'm in there, I'm like, you know what? Breathe. Breathe. It's fine. My coach gave me this really like this quote that kind of helped me through the entire camp. I was like, I'm feeling really nervous for this. Like I don't know like if this is like right, whatever. He was like um what was it again? It's okay to have butterflies. Just let the butterflies fly. And that was the only thing running through my >> Let the butterflies fly. >> I think that's going to be the name of this podcast. >> Oh, I like that actually. >> Um that's cool. Uh >> so for me my all right first of all u I had I did I've done a couple like ultra amateur events >> um but for me my first time in like I couldn't hear anything >> like it was s like I mean it was loud you know everyone was cheering but I couldn't hear anything like it just you know went silent in my head and I just you know kind of went to work. >> Yeah. Um, and then, uh, funny, I've said this before, but, um, um, >> you know, because I'm used to sparring and like in sparring you don't really kind of hit full power, you know, you know, punch or kick or whatever. I totally forgot that I could like go full steam. >> Yeah. >> And then it was only that finally my coach's voice broke through the silence cuz I heard him screaming. He's like, "Hit him, hit him, hit him." Um, so was it did you have what was your experience like you know ref bell starts like you know were you just straight in there? Did you have any you know did you go deaf or you know what I mean? Like what was it? What was that the first 10 seconds? What was I like? >> Yeah, it's the same with any other competition I've done. Like everything just goes quiet. The only voice that I can hear is >> whoever's in my corner. That's it. which I I love that I can do that that I can kind of cancel like all the background noise from which I was kind of afraid of because like you're I'm fighting in this girl's hometown like God knows what people are going to say about me. You know what I mean? It's >> your hometown too. >> Belfast. >> Oh, sorry. Never mind. >> You know what I mean? Um so yeah, that was like another thing that kind of shook me up a bit. A little sorry, shook me up a bit. Um but thankfully once I was in there all I heard was Henry. Um, which kind of helps with the nerves as well. Calms me down a lot like >> I know. >> Yeah. >> Um, >> so okay. So it it went to a decision, correct? >> Yes. >> Yes. Um, so you went all three rounds. >> Yes. >> So first of all, like that's um for me that's a win. >> Um I I know it didn't I know it didn't uh the fight itself didn't go your way. Um but uh like you win all three rounds, you know, and like that's with uh three five in or uh three threes. >> Three twos. Yeah. Three twos. >> Three twos. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Okay. Still either way. Um you know, to to go all three rounds like it auto, you know, better than submission in my opinion. You know what I mean? >> But uh like you know, you're waiting at the end uh for the decision. Um, what was that like? >> I thought I had it genuinely. Well, no. Well, there was obviously doubts going through my head like did I do enough? What? Like, you know, but my coach was telling me in my ear was Alexa, you have this. You have this. And then obviously my hand didn't get raised. Um, but yeah, so I was a little shocked. Um, but then watching the fight back, I'm very happy with my performance. And yes, like I do admit there are a lot of areas that I could improve on, but again, I I don't see it as a lose at all. Yeah. >> Yeah. I thought I did very well. I thought I fought very well. And the one thing I wanted to see in myself with this fight is how I would handle like a massive crowd. And I thought I I thought I did quite good. >> Uh was was there like a key takeaway that you have walking away from that? >> Um a key takeaway or >> just anything like something that sticks with you? I think I think during camp, like everything I did during camp, just do that exact same thing again. I think I handled camp very well. >> I didn't let the nerves get to me. I managed everything quite well. Um, so I'll just do that then again for the next one. >> Did you think you were fairly and equally matched with Gemma? >> Yeah. No, she was she was very good. Yeah, >> that's great. Um, so your future here fighting uh we what are you uh I think we briefly talked about this before, but uh like I'm confident you have your name in all the buckets right now trying to uh uh get matched up again. Um is there a specific uh promotion or location that you want to fight on next >> again? Like I can't be picky. It's hard for me to like find promotions. I'm just going to take whatever opportunity kind of lands on my lap. But like ideally, I'd love to go on Cage Warriors. Cage Legacy would be amazing. Um, but then again, I'm happy. I'll take anything. >> I'll take anything. >> Um, what about back to uh like jiu-jitsu training? >> Are you >> um would I go back to like like full jiu-jitsu? >> Well, not not like full-time, but like uh like outside of like jiu-jitsu for MMA. >> Um, it's just not my sport, I don't think. Okay. >> You know, I I just prefer striking a little bit more. I still train it, you know, to to to make sure I have my grappling down for MMA, but like I don't think I do like full jiu-jitsu. >> What's your favorite submission? >> That's a good one. >> That's a really good question, but I don't have the answer to it. Hold on, give me a sec. Let me >> um favorite submission. >> Would you ever train in the ghee or have you ever trained? >> Oh, I don't like training in the ghee. I hate it. I've only transition I've only recently transitioned to no ghee. >> You have? Yeah. And do you prefer it? >> I I don't know. Uh I still think I prefer the ghee. >> Oh, what belt are you? >> Blue. >> Oh, it's the world's most mediocre blue belt. Nothing fancy there. Um but yeah. Uh my favorite like pretty much any kind of collar show. >> Oh, nice. Nice. I'd say now that I think about it, I think my favorite is the dar. >> Oh, okay. >> I like the dar. >> Fancy. >> Yeah. Yeah. Know I love the dar. I saw a uh Instagram. I can't remember who it was. It was a uh it was a it was like a a inverted like Dar choke. Um I can't even remember how it was done now. Um but it was like it wasn't um you know how your typical Dar is like it was completely backwards. >> Oh. >> Um if I can find the uh the video of I'm going to >> insert >> insert here. Yeah, exactly. Exactly. Um >> all right. Uh look, I really appreciate your time. Uh bearing with me today. Uh it's been I feel like one calamity after another on my part. Uh starting from uh the wrong location >> to uh you waiting on me to set up and that taking forever and then this damn thing cutting out in the middle of recording. and I really appreciate it and no worries at all. You know, thank you for coming all the way up here uh to have a chat with me. >> No worries. Thanks for having me. >> Is there anything you want to shout out? Uh first of all, shout shout out your uh your business. >> Yes, shout out my business Alexa Fitness. If anyone's interested in losing weight or getting stronger, getting fitter, just text me. >> Um your is that you have your own Instagram for that or is it just is it your personal one? >> Yeah, so Alexa P Fitness. Okay. for my business. >> Everything will be down linked below there. So, uh yeah. Um anything else? >> Um shout out to my coaches Henry Fipe and Peter Carr. Um love you. >> Right on. Look, uh I really appreciate it. Um I'd love to have you back after your next fight or maybe even just before it or something. We'll work something out. Yeah. >> Um we'll do it a little bit closer to home this time. >> Lovely. >> Um all right. Excellent. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. confidential. Let's go.