MMA Recap

Recapping With Nicole Pesqueira - Women's MMA Is Awesome

by Brent Todd - 12-02-2009

You may not know who Nicole Pesqueira is right now, but you will in the future.  Pesqueira has been training in mixed martial arts for the better part of four years and has had an amazing journey since the beginning.  Her goal is to be able to compete in a mixed martial arts fight, and she is on her way to do it.  She is such a hot prospect that without having a single fight under her belt, she already has sponsors lined up.  It isn't easy for a female to participate in a male dominated sport, but Pesqueira is confident that women's mma will get to a similar level of respect and acceptance.

Pesqueira started training four years ago.  Her story is very different from the traditional fighters' stories.  She didn't grow up wrestling, or doing sports.  She explains in her own words how she got into mma.  

"I get this question a lot and I don’t think anybody really ever is prepared for the answer I give.  When I was 19 years old I was in an extremely abusive relationship.  The dude was very controlling as well as physically and mentally abusive.  He even ended up raping me several times.  After I finally got the strength to leave him I made a promise to myself that I’d never let anyone hurt me or take advantage of me like that again. So that is my fuel for training hard. People ask why I’m so passionate about it and train so often. This is why.  Most don’t understand but it’s become my strength, therapy and empowerment.  We joke that “Muay Thai saves lives” but it’s really is true.  I also tell my jiu jitsu instructor on a regular basis that if it wasn’t for the dojo that I wouldn’t know where I’d be. "

With that self made promise, Pesqueira has worked on her Muay Thai skills the most.  Four years of training under Krisna Kim has paid off, as her striking is her most deadly weapon.  It is also her favorite part of her training.  "I’ve been training kickboxing/Muay Thai for about four years and Brazilian jiu jitsu for about a year and a half.  I have a love for stand up. Full on sparring is my favorite aspect of training, however I love it all. "

For Pesqueira, the training isn't just to keep herself safe anymore.  Now she is looking at actually fighting.  But her coach says that the sport isn't quite where it needs to be just yet for women's mma, especially in the amateur ranks. 

"You know, I have fought him on this for a long time but all his points are valid.  He states that the weight classes aren’t as defined as the men’s.  If you look at Grappler’s Quest, they have a weight class of 150 or 155? (I can’t remember) and up.  Are you kidding me? That’s worse than the heavy weight weight class for men! Haha It’s not as popular amongst women yet so the pool is smaller which means you usually have some beast kicking major ass and beating up their opponent.  He also said, that women really can’t make a career on it unless you’re Gina Carano or Cyborg so he thinks it’s just not worth it.  I think his opinion is changing on the subject though, because he keeps saying we can compete in smokers and pankration tournaments.  I figure if we prove ourselves on that level then we will have opportunities on the professional fighting level. "

But there are changes happening, and Pesqueira, thinks that someday sooner rather than later, the landscape will have changed enough that more women will fight professionally.  Pesqueira isn't looking at turning fighting into a career any time soon.  She has a career and is working on her master's degree.  But if given the chance, she would jump all over it.

"Pro? I go back and forth on the subject.  I mean, I’m an educated woman. I work full-time and I’m even working on my masters.  I’m starting my career so I’d be okay with not having a professional fighting career but if the opportunity was there then I think I’d jump on it.  I love fighting so if I could do this on a professional level it’d be cool.  I’m not betting on it though. I know there are some really awesome female athletes out there and sometimes I wonder if I can compete at that level if I’m already having major shoulder issues at the age of 24…  "

Pesqueira has tried to have an amateur fight or two, but injuries keep preventing her from being able to compete.  Most recently her shoulder was starting to have problems and it had many doctors confused, as the treatments they were giving, just weren't working.  On November 25, she went under the knife to repair her shoulder, which actually is caused from a bicep tendon issue.  The hope is that this surgery will allow her to train, without feeling the pain she has been feeling.  Pesqueria explains her shoulder problems, "Well, what’s really irritating is that nothing snapped or cracked when I “injured” my shoulder.  I was working takedowns on a Sunday with my instructor and it was irritated but nothing I couldn’t work through.  The next day I woke up in excruciating pain and could not move my arm at all.  I ended up seeing several doctors and getting several opinions, MRI’s, cortisone shots, physical therapy…you name it…I did it! Apparently, genetics is not on my side. I always joke about my football player shoulders being a pain in the ass but now they really are. I had arthroscopic surgery on my shoulder on July 23rd. They found arthritis, bone spurs and a worn labrum.  They shaved the bone down and cleaned out the arthritis.  They did not want to do the shoulder stability surgery that would prevent more wear on the worn labrum because they knew I didn’t want to be out of training for a year.  For the past 2 months, my shoulder started hurting really bad again again.  I was referred to a new doctor who said I have a bicep tendon issue.  I go in November 25th for them to anchor it down.  If I’m still experiencing pain after that heals, I will have to go under for major surgery to have them stabilize the joint which I’m praying I don’t need."

There are a large number of "boys" who just don't get the women's aspect.  Many of these "fans" will get up and leave during a women's fight because they think it isn't as entertaining.  Or they will gawk and make lewd comments based off of a female fighter's looks.  But this attitude motivated Pesqueira.  She knew she had to prove herself to her teammates.  She has put in the time and forced the guys to give her respect.

"I enjoy watching women’s mma.  It’s neat to have some female role-models in the sport.  They get me hyped to train hard.  I get irritated because men can be pretty lame on the subject.  I’ve encountered guys hooting and hollering at the girls as they are fighting. I’ve also seen guys go and leave to get beers or food while the ladies are fighting.  Not to mention the awful pick up lines they use because I train. Ugh! Sorry for the rant…but women’s mma is awesome. I wish I could see more of it in more organizations."

"I don’t think there’s extra pressure to do well, but you definitely have to prove you belong there.  It took me awhile to gain the respect of a lot of the guys I train with.  I think they wanted to see that I wasn’t just a “mat bunny” or one of those who thought they could train because they saw it on Spike TV one time.  I definitely think I’ve proved myself. Those guys have turned into my brothers and I love them all."

But as she said, the landscape is slowly changing.  And she keeps a level head about different organizations.  When asked about a women's only organization, she stated, "No. I think that’s kind of cheesy. That reminds me of those powder puff leagues for football or whatever they were.  granted, I don’t want to fight against guys in the cage or anything…I think we should all just co-exist and fight in the same organizations. There’s plenty of room for both genders."

And she elaborates as to what it would take to bring women's mma more mainstream.  "I think that if the UFC ever allowed female MMA it’d pick up really fast.  I think in the next 10 years we will see it pick up because more and more organizations are having female mma matches and the sport itself is just becoming more mainstream."

Even though she stated she isn't sure if she would ever be able to make a career out of this, she would jump at the chance for a women's version of "The Ultimate Fighter".  "If my shoulder was better then hell yeah! why not? I’d be that crazy broad that you’d love to hate on the show. Haha "

In her downtime, she likes all kinds of out door adventures.  She has a pitbull named Tito that she takes out hiking running, and what not.  Her favorite cereal was cocoa pebbles, but now she says she eats "all the fiber healthy crap".

Pesqueira would like to thank the following: "I’d definitely like to thank my future sponsor, So Cal Felons for the sweet t-shirt they made me for grappler’s quest that I am too injured to compete in. Λ I’d also like to thank the great John De La O and Thomas Kenney who put up with my complaining and teach me sweet jiu jitsu moves! I’d like to thank my best friend and muay thai instructor, Krisna Kim, who pushes me to train hard, puts up with my complaining, talks shit to me, and keeps me emotionally in check. I’d also like to thank all my training buddies who support me, teach me, and help me to be the best athlete and person that I can be."

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