Fighter Babe Maureen Riordon Makes her Pro MMA Debut this Friday

Fighter babe Maureen "Baby Face" Riordon makes her professional MMA debut this Friday night for Resurrection Fighting Alliance 16 in Broomfield, Colorado. We recently caught up with Maureen prior to her big fight this Friday for the interview below.

How have you been and what's new since we last interviewed you?

-Busy! I've been very busy! It's been a while since our last interview and a lot has happened. Most significantly obviously has been my professional debut in kickboxing for Glory World Series back on May 3rd earning the win via knockout in the third round, and my upcoming professional debut in MMA for RFA on July 25th at the 1st Bank Center in Broomfield, CO (which will be televised live on AXS TV!), and then my professional debut in boxing as well just a few short weeks after that in Quebec, Canada for Nordic Coliseum as the co-main event on the first all female, all pro boxing card! So yeah...busy says it best.

Tell us about your upcoming fight, who you are fighting and where?

-I will be fighting 3-1 Marion Reneau who is actually stepping in for Lauren Barefoot who I was originally supposed to face, but who unfortunately received a pretty bad injury in training a couple weeks ago. We'll be facing off on the main card of RFA 16 at the 1st Bank Center in Broomfield, CO, just a few blocks north of my house actually, so quite literally in my home town.

How was this training camp and did you get to train with anyone special?

-Camp has been great. With little time between fights, we transitioned straight from my kickboxing camp for Glory right into the MMA camp for RFA. As always, I have done the majority of my camp right at home at FusBoxe Mixed Martial Arts in Westminster, CO under Michael Sullivan with the rest of my team. I've been pretty lucky to have some great teammates who have really stepped up to the plate for me in this camp. I also had the immense pleasure to head up to Saskatchewan, Canada to train with Charmaine Tweet who is also in camp right now preparing for her upcoming fight on Invicta FC 8 against Veronica Rothenhausler. That was actually my first time ever branching out from home during camp before, and I have to admit when I first accepted the invite to head up there, it was with more of the idea that I would be there to support Charmaine and help get her ready for Invicta, but I wasn't really sure how much I would be able to take away from it since it was only a five day trip. I just wasn't sure if that was realistically enough time to be able to not only be introduced to some new concepts, but be able to drill them enough that I would be able to retain everything and bring it home with me. Char and her coaching staff are great though and I actually got a lot out of the experience and have been seeing the pay off in the last couple weeks since coming home. We're actually in the middle of discussing how we can meet up to combine our camps more often.

Do you have any fight day rituals or superstitions?

-Hmmmm....well for superstitions, I HAVE to have a pedicure and it has to be a new pedicure specifically for that fight, or I'll lose. LOL Actually, I don't really buy into the whole superstition thing, but we have joked that the only two losses I took were also the only two times I was trying to be a cheapskate and didn't treat myself to a new pedicure because both times I had just fought a couple weeks before hand. With all the superstitions that seem to be accepted in athletics as totally normal though, I enjoy being able to use the excuse to justify getting my feet touched :) As for rituals, not really...I insist on waking up naturally as opposed to setting an alarm, and I like to be able to have time for breakfast and lunch (there have been some fights where I had to check in too early to allow for lunch and it always made me feel rushed for some reason), otherwise once it's time to head to the venue I throw on my headphones, and completely tune out from everyone and everything around me until after my hands are wrapped and it's time to warm up.

How did you get your fight nickname “Baby Face”?

-Actually the fight name came from my very first interview. Leading up to Muay Thai Mayhem for Ring of Fire in June of 2011, Matt Sierra from, at that time, MMA Meltdown called me the "Baby Faced Killer" in his write up after finding out my actual age. Everyone that read the article thought it fit well and it just stuck.

Any predictions on how you see your upcoming fight unfolding?

-No predictions at all. I know very little about my opponent, which is the way I like it, so I can just focus on showing up the athlete that RFA slated for this fight. I know she is an established pro at 3-1 already so I expect her to show up calm and ready, and I believe the majority (if not all) of her wins have come via TKO, so while I don't have any predictions of where either of us will take it, I think we are both going to show up ready to put on a great fight for everyone watching... so don't miss it ;)

If you could have one dream fight with anyone, who would it be and why?

-I have been asked this question a couple times and I always hope I don't disappoint the interviewer or the fans with my answer, but I don't actually have a dream fight. It's very important to me that all of my opponents are legitimate and that I'm not fed any cherry-picked fights, and I don't like taking what I consider to be "legalized bar fights" when fighters are scheduling grudge matches to settle a personal issue (I think it's unprofessional and harms the long term viability of the sport), but aside from that I don't focus on specific names. I enjoy taking the "one fight at a time" approach and just want to see how far I can take this. I would hate to disrespect any of my opponents by suggesting there is someone else I would rather fight than them.

What is your greatest achievement or proudest moment in your fighting career so far?

-My greatest achievement in my fighting career so far is actually what my career has allowed me to do outside of the sport. I spend a lot of time using my name in fighting as a way to reach out to people and get involved in the community in the hopes of making a positive impact in my lifetime. It's actually where my long-term goals lie and why I fight. I want to introduce myself to as many people as possible to increase my chances of being able to make a positive, lasting impact on as many lives as possible. My passion is in teaching and guiding and I have always wanted to enjoy a career in motivational speaking and writing. So my fight career is just the platform I reach out from and when I eventually retire from fighting, I will use everything I have gained through my career to transition smoothly over to the next stage of my career.

Speaking of your endeavors outside the sport, tell us about Team Baby Face Heroes.

- The Team Baby Face Heroes is the group of people in my fan base and support team who join my efforts to do good in our community. From donating filled out valentines so I could take plenty to the kids at Children's Hospital, to purchasing tickets to my fights to be donated to youths who otherwise couldn't go, we raise money each fight and I choose a new youth organization to then sponsor with the raised funds. For Glory Team Baby Face Heroes we donated tickets to youths and any proceeds I stood to make from the ticket sales went directly toward sponsoring a local age’s 6-7 girls softball team. For RFA 16 almost everyone who has purchased tickets from me has donated their $1 change (tickets are $29, $39, or $49) to the Team Baby Face Heroes fund to be used 100% in a sponsorship for the next chosen youth organization. I feel overjoyed every time I see how big of a response I get from those who want to be a part of Team Baby Face Heroes and everything we're about. I can easily say it has been by far, the most enjoyable part of my career. So for anyone who is interested in finding out more, you can find me on any of the social networks Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and you will easily find more information about the program and how easy it is to get involved. Even a "like" and "share" goes a long way toward helping us spread the word about what we're trying to do.

Lastly before we let you go, any shout outs you would like to make?

-Always, always first and foremost to Michael Sullivan. We have been through quite a bit together and he has always been that one person who believed in me and despite the number of coaches and past teammates who told me I didn't have what it took to go anywhere in this sport, he saw something in me and was willing to take the time and patience to teach me and allow me to express it. He's been there through every fight camp; he's been in my corner for every fight, and he is the only voice I allow in my head on fight day. I don't ever see that changing. An additional thank you to my team at FusBoxe, and especially Johnny Argrow, Brooke Pelton, and Jesenia Rivas because they have sacrificed a ridiculous amount of their own training time and even their personal time to help push me through this camp. Team Tweet for everything they did for me in Canada and my sponsors Super Tees, Fossil Fuel Energy, Synapse Physical Therapy, Golden Bear Bikes, Delmy Gooch Photography, and the JTA Group.

Thank you very much for your time and good luck on fight night Maureen! Click here to purchase tickets or contact Maureen directly so you can contribute to Team Baby Face Heroes otherwise tune into AXS TV Friday night at 10 pm ET.

The Softer Side of Maureen Riordon

MMA fighter Maureen "Baby Face" Riordon recently teamed up with Images by Blair for some beautiful pictures captured outside of the cage this time. Maureen already has a big 2014 planned with her professional boxing debut on January 25th for Airtight Promotions in Denver, Colorado followed by her professional MMA debut on March 29th for Cage Campaign in Pueblo, Colorado. For more on Maureen be sure to like her Facebook page and follow her on Twitter.

Fighter Babe Maureen Riordon Returns Tonight

Fighter babe Maureen "Baby Face" Riordon (3-2) returns to the cage tonight to square off against Tabby Patterson (1-0) at Gladiator Fighting Association in Topeka, KS. For more on Maureen read our first feature here and check out her awesome website.

Fighter Babe Maureen Riordon Returns to the Cage this Saturday

Fighter babe Maureen Riordon (2-1) returns to the Cage this Saturday to take on Stacy Sigala (4-1) at Sparta Combat League in Denver, Colorado. This 29 year old, self employed mother of two boys ages 10 and 5 enjoys the busy lifestyle. Outside of Maureen’s MMA career she is a massage therapist, bookkeeper and certified kettle bell instructor. Post fighting career she plans to go into motivational speaking and help others take risks and pursue their goals regardless of their fears or doubts society might impose upon them. We managed to obtain a few minutes from Maureen’s busy schedule for the insightful interview below prior to her upcoming fight on Saturday.

How did you get involved in MMA and how long have you been training?

-I actually stumbled on MMA by accident. I had never done anything athletic before in my life (unless you count skipping up and down the soccer field holding my friend's hand at the age of 7 athletic) and was going through a stressful time of my life that caused me to look for something..."new". A friend of mine suggested I take up kickboxing simply for the fitness aspect, so I found myself at FusBoxe Mixed Martial Arts. Within two weeks I was completely in love with the training, starting prepping for a grappling tournament, competed for my first time three months later, and I've been hooked ever since. Best "stumble" I've made so far in my life!

Where are you currently training, and what's a typical training week like for you?

-I train at FusBoxe Mixed Martial Arts in Westminster, Colorado. A typical training week runs pretty balanced between conditioning, instruction, and application. We're a Sambo based gym (and no, that doesn't mean we only train leg locks), so my training is pretty well rounded. I train practically every day but Wednesdays, but the intensity of the training depends on whether or not I have a fight coming up. My biggest struggle in training is actually taking time off to rest and recover. I love the training so much and it’s become such a big part of my life that unless I take off to the mountains to run or climb, I'm typically right back in the gym the day after my fight.

Tell us about your upcoming fight, who you're fighting and where?

-October 13th, 2012 I'm fighting 4-1 Stacy Sigala out of New Mexico at the Grizzly Rose in Denver, Colorado for the Sparta Combat League promotion. I prefer to not know much about my opponents prior to entering the ring or cage with them. That is my coach's job. He does his due diligence and looks up my opponents and designs my training camp accordingly. My job is to train. He tells me what to do, and I do it. I trust in him to know my opponent and prepare me for her.

What is your best experience as a fighter? What is your worst?

-You know I would have to say the same experience (so far) was both my best and worst. The loss I took in February of this year was probably my best and worst. I had done really well competitively, had a winning record, and came from an undefeated female team. Unfortunately I had a lot of personal things going on in that camp that affected my mentality which ended up losing the fight for me in the end. The feeling of losing was horrible. I replayed it in my head, beating myself up over it, again and again and again the weeks to come. Absolute worst experience, however, because of how it affected my mentality and training, hands down I would say it was also my best experience. I learned more from that one loss than I have learned from any other aspect of my training or competitive experience so far.

What advice would you give to other women who are reading this interview and want to get started in MMA?

-No matter what your background is, if this is something you want and you have a passion for it, pursue it. The training might not come as easy to you as it does to others (I personally have to try much harder than many of my teammates because it just doesn't come as easily), but if you love it, if you have a passion for it, I'm a strong believer that you can accomplish anything you want to. The whole hokey saying Mom used to tell you growing up that you can do anything you put your mind to, is actually true. You just have to be willing to work harder than others might need to. It’s a fast growing sport, so jump on the wagon now and ride along as it picks up momentum!

What are some of the hurdles that you think Women in MMA need to overcome before Women's MMA will be considered a top level sport like Men's MMA is today?

-This is so difficult to answer. Honestly, I think plain and simple we just need more competitors that are willing to take it seriously. There are quite a few women in the amateur ranks that I think do this more as a "bucket list" thing than as a professional pursuit. Until we have enough serious competitors that dependable match ups can be created in abundance, we will continue to struggle with being taken seriously. If you want to be treated as a professional, you need to behave as a professional. However, I think we are quickly on our way! The female fights have always stolen the show so the struggle isn't due to a lack of appreciation for female fighters. With promotions like Invicta FC stepping up and allowing women the opportunity for more exposure, I think the sport will pick up its momentum as well.

When do you think we will see women divisions in the UFC?

-I really have no guess on this one. It could be months, or it could be years. I think it really just depends on the mood of one person, right? LOL however, recent comments have hinted that Dana White is warming up to the idea.

What or who are your inspirations in MMA and life?

-My inspiration in life comes from my boys. The drive to make them proud to have me as their mom is my inspiration. Looking back, I have no clue what drove me in my earlier years prior to having them. Showing them that taking on a unique pursuit in life is extremely important to me. If they grow up to work in a cubicle because that is the life they want for themselves, than I'm happy with that. But if they want to pursue something else, I want to show them that it’s possible. And that personal journey, that unique pursuit for me is my inspiration in MMA. It’s quite the roller coaster!

Who are your favorite MMA fighters?

-My teammates, not because I'm biased or think they are better than anyone else, but because I am personally invested in each of their personal journeys. The success of their journeys is as important to me as my own is. I see their everyday struggles both in training and in their personal lives, and watching them overcome those and step into the ring, the cage, or onto the mat is so much more rewarding than watching ONLY the finished product of a fighter I don't know.

How do you enjoy your free time when not training or fighting?

-Ok, so outside of my fighter exterior, I'm a COMPLETE nerd. I adore reading and writing. I actually just finished writing my first fantasy novel and I am pitching it to an agent as soon as I get done with this fight.

Of course we have a few questions for the male readership as well.

Are you single?

-No LOL, I'm very happily committed to my mate.

What do you look for in a guy?

-Common goals and interests that we can support each other in, a success oriented mentality, a positive outlook, an entrepreneur mindset, active, healthy, rugged, capable, and funny. He HAS to be able to make me laugh. Make me laugh and it’s like a get out of jail free card from any argument :)

What are your turn-ons?

-A good smile, great sense of humor, and a positive outlook.

What are your turnoffs?

-Bad hygiene, negative mindset, and egos that can't be checked at the door.

What would you say is your best feature?

-Hmmmm...I think it all depends on preference, but I would say my eyes. I've always been complimented on the color of my eyes.

Any future plans or dreams?

-I want property in the mountains as soon as possible. I'm not a city girl. I hope to get my book published. And post fight career I would like to get into motivational speaking.

Any shout outs you would like to make?

-Always, always, always to Fusboxe. My team there is my family. To my parents for all their support, there is no way I could do this without them. My boys for their support as well and understanding when we have to postpone ice cream stops because Mom is cutting weight. And above all, to Michael Sullivan for being my confidence when my own is lacking, my balance when I'm feeling unstable, for driving me, supporting me, teaching me, and believing in me. I couldn't ask for a better coach, best friend, or person to turn to when I'm feeling lost.

Thank you very much for your time Maureen and good luck on fight night! For the latest and greatest on Maureen visit her website, blog, Tumblr, Facebook and Twitter pages.