We chatted to Manuela Marconetto, one of GB’s top women Mixed Martial Arts cage fighters.
What Is MMA?
First of all, MMA – Mixed Martial Arts, is a combat sport that emerged in the 1980s in Japan with the birth of the promotion named “Shooto.” Later on, the sport would explode when “WOW promotion” and “SEG group” produced the first-ever “UFC 1 Tournament” event in 1993. At the time, the UFC (UFC is an acronym standing for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, an American mixed martial arts organization), was a home of style vs. style matchups, and the primary mission was to determine which martial art and which fighter were the best in the world.
MMA combines techniques from various striking and grappling arts like boxing, wrestling, and BJJ (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu). Muay Thai, an integral part of modern MMA fighting, focuses only on using all limbs as weapons to fight in the standup. The emphasis is on hard kicks, basic boxing, and fighting at close range using elbows and knees. The first female MMA fight in United States held on March 28th 1997, by the International Fighting Championships was between Becky Levi and Betty Fagan.
We caught up with Manuela to learn more about this fascinating sport that women are now gaining ground in.
How did it all start for you?
I was born in Italy but now I’m based in England and pursuing a career as an MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) fighter. I train MMA out of Great Britain Top Team in London with Brad Pickett. I also train at Durrant’s Gym with Jon Durrant for striking in London. My division is as Strawweight Cagewarriors Southeast Champion and I’m a boxing champion for The big Uk legacy. I’ve always been competitive, even from the womb I was born as one of three monozygotic twins.
I was very active as a little girl, very intuitive and creative, however I was very shy. When the ice was broken, I was able to be myself. I skied from three to 15 years of age, did ballet at the age of four, played football, basketball, water polo and tennis too.
I started Muay Thai, K1 at the age of 21 and I have been doing it for 3 years mainly for fitness. At 26, I turned to MMA, and completely fell in love with it. I have also been lifting weights for many years and I have done CrossFit and a bit of triathlon with my older brother.
How are you doing so far?
I am ranked eight in the UK and soon enough I’ll secure myself a spot among the first three.
As a pro now, I’ve fought very strong opponents around the world, for instance in Canada, Miami and Malta. My last opponent was ranked amongst the strongest prospects in Europe. At the moment, Mixed Martial Arts is not an Olympic sport, but it will soon be, let’s give it a few years.
This is an extremely creative and fascinating sport. It’s is very demanding in terms of psychological and physical energy. You have got to really be determined and willing to sacrifice, but that’s what it takes to reach your goals in life anyway. However, it has been rewarding to me until now.
Tell us what you do to maintain your fitness and skills.
I have a brutal routine. I train five to six times per week, twice sometimes three times a day! Monday to Friday at 10am – 11:30am with GBTT as well as other sessions which involve strength running, pads, and grappling. I usually do my running and training with the team in the morning and the other sessions in the afternoon.
I track my food, and the macro splits change based I how many times I train and what volume I am doing on any day. I eat most of my food in the evening after all my sessions as I train best when I am fasted, which is when I do my strength session. When I have to lose weight, I just reduce my calories.
Determination, setting up small goals daily and consistency is the key to my success.
What would you have done differently and why?
I would have listened less to the people who said I was only wasting my time and tried to drag me away from what my passions are. I would have loved to have the chance to move to England earlier and to of met my coaches earlier. I would have loved to start MMA sooner and also found gymnastics at a younger age as it makes you a better athlete.
What’s your favourite cheat/Treat meal?
I have a full list of that! But let’s say a burger with sweet potatoes fries and as dessert Sicilian brioche with ice cream. My diet is very strict, so these types of meals happen no more than one day a week, and certainly not every week (maybe every 2 weeks or when I’m craving it).
What’s one supplement that you could not live without?
Multivitamins.
What would you have done differently and why?
I would have listened less to the people who said I was only wasting my time and tried to drag me away from what my passion. I would have loved to have the chance to move to England earlier and to have met my coaches earlier, started MMA sooner. Also finding gymnastics at a younger age makes you a better athlete.
It’s not just about seeing the beauty in the martial arts but also about being ready to be injured (most of the time) and not giving up.
Who do you look up to in the fitness industry?
Everyone on my team, they are inspirational.
You may also reading about Olympic Judo medalist Ray Stevens and The Ray Stevens MMA Academy
