Well, I got home late last night from Kansas City (again, I have to say what an AMAZING experience that was! I will never forget it and will be forever grateful that my coach always has me prepared for whatever opportunity may arise). This morning I woke up and had a fitting for a news segment I'm doing later this week, and then I headed straight to FusBoxe Mixed Martial Arts for training. Absolutely no rest for this girl! I'm slated to fight again October 13th, 2012 at The Grizzly Rose against 4-1 Stacy Sigala out of New Mexico. Stacy has recently posted that she plans on coming right out and knocking me out, so I'm looking forward to the opportunity to show her the mistake in under estimating me.
"Love what you do and you'll never work a day in your life", right? :) I love my life.
Thank you to everyone that has supported me in the last few years and who continue to support me now. I could never have done this without my coach Michael Sullivan. His continued patience and belief in me has made me the athlete I am. My entire family at FusBoxe has always stood behind me and helped push me in training. My parents and my boys for all the patience, tolerance, support, and encouragement. Addison Sports Management and Media for everything they've done. And Intimidation Clothing for their recent sponsorship! My fans, your cheers drive me. And always, always, always to each of my past and future opponents. This journey would have no path if you didn't get in there and compete with me. Thank you.
Thursday, September 27th, 2012 we drove out to Kansas City, MO for my boxing debut against Molly Magness. The weight cut was difficult! Sticking to my strict diet, and starting my weight cut a day early, I still found myself having to cut weight on the long drive out to Kansas City. Once there, despite driving out with the heater on wearing thermal underwear, sweat pants, a long sleeved shirt, AND three sweatshirts (yes boys, I was the most desirable thing you've ever seen walking around in my Marshmellow Man looking outfit) I still had to spend a couple hours at the local health club sweating the last few pounds off in the sauna. Ugh... but weigh ins found me right on spot with my weight after cutting a total of 21 pounds in less than two weeks.
After weigh ins I had discussed with the promoter my desire to call out the winner of the female 135 lb title bout the following night for the next show on November 30th. I was in for a surprise the next day!
Arriving at the venue, we found out one of the opponents of the 135 female title bout had been picked up that afternoon for shop lifting (WHAT?!?!). Turns out she was stealing a dress from JC Penny's to wear that night (insert eye roll, followed by a disapproving groan). So one person's bad decision turned out to be an open opportunity for me. The promoter asked my coach if we knew of any 135'ers that could take the fight on a last second notice, at which point my coach pointed at me and I smiled and accepted. They moved my boxing match to an exhibition match in order to allow me to take two bouts in one night under the sanctioned rules.
So 12th fight of the night had me facing Molly Magness, Kansas City's "hometown rising star". It was a good fight, but in the end Magness out pointed me and won to a split decision. Well, good sportsmanship or not, that had me fired up! LOL I did NOT drive all that way to lose to a split decision to the home town favorite. I was bound and determined to make sure there was absolutely NO question about who won in the next fight.
I was given two fights and one intermission to rest before I was up again as the Co-Main event against Molly Welsh (yes, two Molly's. I will CERTAINLY never forget that name). It was quite the experience to walk out a second time and hear the shock and support from the crowd that I was fighting again. What a rush I get when I hear the crowd cheering for me!
The bell rang, we touched gloves and Welsh started out the fight with a left round house kick to the body. I was angry already, and that hit just the button. We clenched up fairly quick and she delivered several knees right between the legs before the ref had a chance to warn her. That pushed any last button I needed pushing and I delivered a few solid knees back myself before we separated from the clench and I landed a series of clean strikes to her face. I was angry, tired from my first match, and in no mood to drag this one out for ring time, so I drove her across the cage where I ended the fight with continual hooks until the ref called it at 1:24 of the first round.
I cannot begin to explain what a wonderful experience fighting twice in one night was. Wow! I learned a lot about myself and what I'm capable of. Hands down, that was the BEST experience I've had so far in my MMA journey.
While FusBoxe is the home of pro fighter Todd Meredith and other talented male athletes such as Bo Yurko, Joe Gustafson, Cody Moore, Cameron Sandoval, Eubaldo Lovato, and many more men not to be taken lightly, the ladies of FusBoxe have always had a strong reputation. Home of the Sambo Angels, we are grooming up our next group of women who have recently starting hitting the competition scene.
Melissa Bennett, Lyanne Aragon, Katie Thompson, and Jackie Billotte are all training hard as a team as they pursue their individual journeys. Bennett has already won her first kickboxing match and took gold at her first grappling tournament as well. Aragon, Thompson, and Billotte have gotten their first grappling tournaments under their belt as well, and now prepare for not only more tournaments, but their first chance in the ring as well.
We upped the training tonight and I couldn't be more proud of those girls for rising to the occasion! I can't wait to see what they each produce from their efforts!
Maureen "Baby Face" Riordon will be making her boxing debut Friday, September 28th, 2012 at Harrah's Casino in Kansas City, MO against 1-1 Molly Magness.
"I'm very excited about this fight. I have plans to turn pro in the near future, but was really hoping to take a boxing match before I did so. I love competition and am looking forward to expanding my competitive experience. As a pro fighter I will continue seeking MMA, boxing, and kick boxing match ups as well as competing in as many grappling tournaments as I can fit in. :)
Thank you to Benjamin Nogueras with Blue Corner, LLC for inviting me to fight on his upcoming promotion, and thank you to Molly Magness for accepting the match up!" ~Baby Face
Baby Face Maureen Riordon, one of the FusBoxe and Legion MMA Sambo Angels has had an amazing career sinse beginning training in 2010. The up-and-coming MMA superstar has placed Gold in 7 nogi grappling competitions, taken a draw in her first thai fight fought on Muay Thai Mahem on June 25, and won her MMA debut by brutal GNP on July 16. Baby Face is currently scheduled to fight on Aug 12 2011 on RMBB card in Sheridan, Colorado.
I am personally very excited to see the growth of this young fighter who the question was asked, Is she the future of female MMA in Colorado?
