Bare-knuckle boxer Tai Emery made headlines earlier this month when she flashed the crowd after picking up a knockout victory.
The Aussie impressed many in her Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship debut landing a stunning right uppercut followed by a left hook to take down her opponent, Rung-Arun Khunchai, in the first round at an event in Thailand.
The Thai fighter couldn’t get up and was counted out, sparking wild celebrations from Emery, who appeared to be a bit overexcited.
Emery lifted her top, exposing her chest to the audience, shocking BKFC commentator and UFC veteran Chris Lytle, who quipped, “Interesting celebration, never seen that one before.”
Footage of his win and unusual celebration quickly went viral with left fight fans asking, “Who is Tai Emery?”
So talkSPORT caught up with her to find out more…
“I’m just a worker,” she explained.
“I grew up in Australia, in a town where you could cycle to the town pool, jump in streams and live like that. So I was kind of wild, which helps these days- this.
“I’ve been a magazine model since I was 19/20 [years old]. I have been published internationally. That’s why I really feel like I’m putting on all my old hats right now. Obviously you have the OnlyFans coming out and I’m using all the modeling skills.
BKFC fighter Tai Emery flashes the fans after the first round stoppage. #BKFCThailand3 pic.twitter.com/7BmkDSJdaK
– Best MMA Tweets (@BestMMATweets) September 7, 2022
Not only was the 35-year-old a successful model before switching to bare-knuckle boxing, but she also played American football in the Legends Football League, formerly known as the Lingerie Football League.
“I am an athlete and I come from American football. It’s at seven, it started as a halftime show at the SuperBowl,” Emery added.
“You used to have Playboy bunnies and movie stars, but now the sport has condensed into an actual sport rather than a model gimmick. You wouldn’t survive – you have to be an athlete to to be in the LFL.
Although Emery insists her post-fight celebration at BKFC Thailand 3 was unplanned, she reflected on the problems she would have for doing anything risky after the fight.
“It was a whim, but I’m a little snotty and I like to say and do things to get people up,” she admitted.
“At the moment, yes! Did I need to know if I was going to be imprisoned again in Thailand? Yes absolutely.”
After starting his new career in legendary fashion, the new BKFC star promises more knockouts and crazy post-fight celebrations are coming soon.
“I think I would love to fight in Thailand in December. I think it’s a great time to get a bit more experience under my belt because I’m still a football player in my eyes.
“My celebrations, as long as I knock out girls in the same technical way, I’m going to do whatever I want. All that I want!”
Shortly after her emphatic victory, it quickly became clear that Emery had a relationship with adult film star Kendra Lust, whom she couldn’t appreciate more for his financial help during fight camp.
“She has a number of sponsors that she takes care of,” Emery told us of Lust.
“For me, I was denied sponsorship at a few gyms… They said no and it came back to me that it was because of my image. Someone kind of suggested contacting Kendra Lust and I thought ‘Oh my God, we’re following each other, why not?’
“I asked Kendra if she would sponsor me, and she sponsored me, and it was enough money to get me through from when she sponsored me to the fight.”
The former American football player couldn’t be more grateful to Lust for trusting her and giving her the opportunity to turn her life around under the BKFC banner.
“I didn’t even have a fight locked up and she wanted to make sure I could fight,” Emery revealed.
“To me, it means so much more. I’m sure every fighter has been in this position. It’s all well and good when you fight, but what about when you don’t fight? Who will help us stay on top?
“I just changed my life and she helped me do it. There are a number of people who helped me get here, but Kendra was the last person to give me hope and make me think “I can f****** do this shit! “
Ebanie Bridges is a qualified math teacher, became a bodybuilder and is now a world champion boxer who loves Leeds, sells her socks and wears lingerie to weigh herself in