Issue 112

March 2014

The first-ever female winner of The Ultimate Fighter admits she just can’t keep her mouth shut. So, FO tuned in.

You reportedly once fought shortly after being hit by a car. Can you explain what happened?

“Yeah, I was supposed to fight in Alaska but I got hit by a car five days before. I was the designated driver for my girlfriends and a car with a group of dudes in came creeping by cat-calling me. I didn’t pay attention and was looking down and they passed by a parallel parking spot, but decided they wanted it. If a car was behind them they wouldn’t have been able to reverse but they hit the brakes, reversed to the spot and didn’t recorrect the wheel, slammed on the gas and flew over the curb, and nailed me.”

You recently won the women’s bracket of the 18th season of The Ultimate Fighter. What was your biggest misconception before going into the house that was squashed once in there?

“I never imagined there’d be so many issues with the people in the house. I’m an easygoing person and I thought I’d make long-lasting friendships, and it was the opposite. But that’s the nature of the sport, we’re ultimate fighters, not girls that sit around and braid each other’s hair.”

Who is the one person you want to get locked in the Octagon with and why?

“Deanna Bennett, because I lost to her after taking a fight on short notice and cutting a ton of weight. If I’d been more prepared, I’d have won.”

Even though you were in front of a national audience every week on TUF, sometimes the picture they paint of you isn’t completely accurate. So, what’s the one thing you’d want the world to know about you that hasn’t been made public?

“There’s so many (laughs), but maybe the one thing would be that I’m an amazing cook and I enjoy doing things for other people, such as cooking.”

You were on Miesha Tate’s team, but opposing coach Ronda Rousey invited her mom on the show and you had a number of questions for her during her time there. What was she like?

“Ronda’s mom was cool because of the accomplishments she’s been through in her life. It was neat to listen to her stories and learn more about what her life is like.” 

Ronda was upset on TUF when you beat her number-one pick straight out 

of the gate and seemed to take a great deal of joy in it. You not a big Ronda fan, then? 

“No, it was nothing like that. It was just that Ronda and her girl were trying to rip my dream apart. So it was better them broads crying rather than me.”

Ronda Rousey recently declared she’s a massive fan of Fedor Emelianenko, but we hear you’re a big fan of his too. What drew you to Fedor?

“He’s a freaking legend. He throws bombs, he’s coming to kill. He goes after it at every opportunity. He’s a real fighter.”

In your own words you had a “big mouth” growing up. What was the most trouble it ever got you in?

“I remember my mom would always say, ‘What goes on in this house, stays in this house,’ like they say about Vegas. But I didn’t get the concept – ever. And still to this day, I’m spouting off when I shouldn’t be. For example, on an episode of TUF, I state I’d be crushed if Dana was telling Raquel Pennington the same thing he was telling me (that he was rooting for her to win the show). I shouldn’t have said that (laughs).”