Cynthia Calvillo Says Jiu-Jitsu And Brawling Brothers Inspired MMA Run
Cynthia Calvillo Says Jiu-Jitsu And Brawling Brothers Inspired MMA Run
Rising UFC newcomer Cynthia Calvillo reveals her inspiration for becoming a mixed martial artist.
For FloCombat via AG.Fight
Cynthia Calvillo is all about keeping it moving.
The Sacramento-based strawweight made her debut as a MMA professional fighter on August 27th, 2016, and won an impressive victory by knockout. Since then, the athlete has not rested. Throughout eight months, the american made three bouts, won all of them, was hired by the UFC and participated on the last two big events held by the organization - where she was able to defeat both opponents.
Now, with the eyes of the media towards her, the jiu-jitsu ace guarantees there is no pressure over her shoulders and the answer for her success is the hard work done at 'Team Alpha Male'.
With only eight months fighting as a professional MMA athlete, Cynthia is more secure in her skills than many veterans with years on the sport. And according to the UFC fighter, this confidence comes naturally once you are prepared for all adversities.
Besides, making part of 'Team Alpha Male' has helped the jiu-jitsu ace to maintain a high level on her training sessions.
"The team, the training and the preparation make a difference on your confidence," Calvillo said. "If you work hard, you don't have to worry. When my training partners have a fight I always tell them I'm not wishing them 'good luck' because luck is required by those who do not practice. As long as you are prepared, you will remain confident. We train in one of the best teams in the world."
Calvillo had her first contact with martial arts through jiu-jitsu, before migrating to MMA. And, surprisingly, the 29-year-old athlete had no experience in fighting or any other sport whatsoever. Her inspiration for starting a career at mixed martial arts came basically from BJJ and from brawls held with her brothers when a child.
"I started training jiu-jitsu six years and a half ago, maybe seven," Calvillo said. "It was something very natural, maybe because I am kind of strong. I can roll with my eyes closed, I love it. When I started I was 23 years old and had no experience in martial arts or any other sport. People always ask me if a practiced any sport before MMA, but, basically, I was beaten by my brothers when I was a kid."
Calvillo participated in both UFC 209 and 210 with only a month and a couple of days in between to prepare herself. Last Saturday, the American submitted Pearl Gonzalez with a rear-naked choke and achieved the fifth win of her career. And the rising of the jiu-jitsu ace got the attention of Dana White, who declared himself a fan of the strawweight.
"When I first met Conor McGregor, I thought, 'I don't know if this guy can fight, but if he can throw a punch he will be a rockstar,'" White said during a press conference held after UFC 210.. "With Ronda Rousey I had a 45 minute meeting where we decided to start women MMA. And I feel pretty strongly about this one [Cynthia] too. I think her performance was awesome tonight. I love the way she eats pressure.
"The first time she came to the UFC she performed very well and then tonight she goes against a bigger, stronger woman with a long reach and a lot of experience and she conducted herself as the badass that she is. So, I'm very impressed with her performance and I'm a fan."
Cynthia Calvillo is all about keeping it moving.
The Sacramento-based strawweight made her debut as a MMA professional fighter on August 27th, 2016, and won an impressive victory by knockout. Since then, the athlete has not rested. Throughout eight months, the american made three bouts, won all of them, was hired by the UFC and participated on the last two big events held by the organization - where she was able to defeat both opponents.
Now, with the eyes of the media towards her, the jiu-jitsu ace guarantees there is no pressure over her shoulders and the answer for her success is the hard work done at 'Team Alpha Male'.
With only eight months fighting as a professional MMA athlete, Cynthia is more secure in her skills than many veterans with years on the sport. And according to the UFC fighter, this confidence comes naturally once you are prepared for all adversities.
Besides, making part of 'Team Alpha Male' has helped the jiu-jitsu ace to maintain a high level on her training sessions.
"The team, the training and the preparation make a difference on your confidence," Calvillo said. "If you work hard, you don't have to worry. When my training partners have a fight I always tell them I'm not wishing them 'good luck' because luck is required by those who do not practice. As long as you are prepared, you will remain confident. We train in one of the best teams in the world."
Calvillo had her first contact with martial arts through jiu-jitsu, before migrating to MMA. And, surprisingly, the 29-year-old athlete had no experience in fighting or any other sport whatsoever. Her inspiration for starting a career at mixed martial arts came basically from BJJ and from brawls held with her brothers when a child.
"I started training jiu-jitsu six years and a half ago, maybe seven," Calvillo said. "It was something very natural, maybe because I am kind of strong. I can roll with my eyes closed, I love it. When I started I was 23 years old and had no experience in martial arts or any other sport. People always ask me if a practiced any sport before MMA, but, basically, I was beaten by my brothers when I was a kid."
Calvillo participated in both UFC 209 and 210 with only a month and a couple of days in between to prepare herself. Last Saturday, the American submitted Pearl Gonzalez with a rear-naked choke and achieved the fifth win of her career. And the rising of the jiu-jitsu ace got the attention of Dana White, who declared himself a fan of the strawweight.
"When I first met Conor McGregor, I thought, 'I don't know if this guy can fight, but if he can throw a punch he will be a rockstar,'" White said during a press conference held after UFC 210.. "With Ronda Rousey I had a 45 minute meeting where we decided to start women MMA. And I feel pretty strongly about this one [Cynthia] too. I think her performance was awesome tonight. I love the way she eats pressure.
"The first time she came to the UFC she performed very well and then tonight she goes against a bigger, stronger woman with a long reach and a lot of experience and she conducted herself as the badass that she is. So, I'm very impressed with her performance and I'm a fan."