Fiona Muxlow

By Joshua Molina

Australia’s Fiona Muxlow will step inside the cage this Friday to battle the second most famous women’s fighter in the world – Cris Cyborg – at Invicta FC 5, live on InvictaFC.com from Ameristar Casino Hotel in Kansas City.  Like Liz Carmouche against 135-pound UFC champ Ronda Rousey, Muxlow has the potential to rewrite the script of women’s MMA with an upset victory over the powerful Cyborg.

Invicta FC signed Cyborg to an exclusive deal, but most observers believe she is on a crash course with Rousey one day if the two can agree on a weight class.  Muxlow, who was a replacement opponent for injured Ediane Gomes, is coming off a submission loss to Marloes Coenen, and will be looking to shock the world against perhaps the most feared women’s fighter in the world.

Full Contact Fighter’s “The Daily Takedown” columnist Joshua Molina caught up with Muxlow to get her views on Cyborg, how she plans to defeat her, and the state of women’s MMA.

FCF: How do you plan to be successful against Cris Cyborg?

FM: We’ve established a game plan. There are things that I can do really well that will work against here. I’ve been training really hard for this fight, harder than any before hand. I’ve been in Thailand training full time at Tiger Muay Thai and MMA in the lead up to this. This is her first fight back after her suspension so there may be some ring rust, but I’m not training for that.

FCF: What do you think of Cyborg and her suspension for performance enhancement drugs?

FM: I don’t know the lady. We only met briefly once at the IBJJF worlds last year. I, in no way, condone the used of PEDs. It’s cheating, but she has served her suspension, so (she) is free to compete again.

FCF: What are the keys to defeating Cyborg?

FM: Not being overwhelmed by the Cyborg mystique and not getting caught up in the hype. It’s going to be a war. I need to stick to my game plan. I’ve been training hard for this.

FCF: What do you think of the state of women’s MMA in the United States? Does it have a future beyond Ronda Rousey?

FM: It seems to be growing everyday more and more. I see by social media women’s fights added to (different) cards. Ronda Rousey has definitely been an ambassador, not only for women’s MMA, but for MMA in general. She has helped to take it into many mainstream news outlets. Does women’s MMA have a future beyond Ronda Rousey? Hell yes. There are that many good female fighters out there and they are beginning to get the recognition they deserve.  I also feel the the ladies of Invicta FC, both the fighters and the organizers, have done a lot to secure women’s MMA well into the future.

FCF: Can you please talk about your background and how you got into MMA?

FM: I started training martial arts when I was in university although my original system was a little more traditional. It was still a mixed system, with standup, takedowns and ground work. As the sport of MMA evolved so did the club I was at. I then moved interstate at the end of university.  I spent a two year period only doing BJJ. But returned back to my university town and took up MMA again in addition to BJJ and Sub grappling.

In 2007 I qualified for the ADCC world submission fighting championships – and actually fought a transgender grappler there, so Fallon Fox is not the first. The next month I made my MMA debut in New Zealand.

Email Joshua Molina at jmolina@fcfighter.com