“They said to me, ‘We want to prepare for your career,’ and I said, no, I won’t do that. I want legitimate fighters who have been training for as long or longer. I can’t beat a girl who’s only been fighting for eight months.
Having hit a deadlock in boxing, Long was still training, but it looked like his fighting days were over. She was approached to fight in Strikeforce, and although she declined the offer, she eventually made her professional MMA debut on August 15, 2009, deciding Avery Vilche at the age of 45. Six years later, at 51, she dropped to 2. 0 with a victory over Mixia Medina.
Yes, Long hasn’t stopped being a fighter – and a pretty darn good one at that. I ask the 56-year-old if she wished she had come ten years later to reap the benefits of being an elite competitor in the UFC, where the playing field has been leveled for all fighters. in terms of salary and opportunities.
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“There’s a part of me that wants that, but, at the same time, I’ve been fortunate enough to get some media coverage and be able to fight on ESPN and pay-per-view events, as well as Showtime.” , she said. “In this regard, I have helped to make women better recognized and I am grateful that I was able to do that and help in any way, especially to see some kind of equality when it comes to their women. purses and the fact that they sacrifice. as much as any man does and maybe more to do what he does as a profession. It has been a lopsided story the entire time with almost every occupation where both men and women work in the same field – men are generally paid more.
Long has helped break that wall in mixed martial arts, something key to highlight as we close Women’s History Month, and for those who haven’t been exposed to her pioneering work, YouTube is at a click, and you can see what’s exciting. style that nicknamed her “the princess of pain” and the “queen of wickedness”. But his style was not designed to present a spectacle for the fans; it had a deeper meaning than that.
“I’m basically very, very shy and I was completely abused and horribly abused by my boyfriend / trainer,” Long said. “And I did it despite what he said and despite what he did, despite everything and all the obstacles he put in front of me. In my mind there is nothing he can do once I’m in the ring and alone. There is only me, so I can count on myself and count on myself. And that’s where I did the best. It wasn’t that I wanted to go there and do a show. It was that I was totally free to express myself as I wanted. And that’s the only time I really had to do that.
To contact Kathy Long for questions or seminars, email her at [email protected]
