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| Photo courtesy of MMAJUNKIE |
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1. Can you talk about how you got involved with MMA? What was the process like?
Alyssa: I was wrestling in college, right out of high school, and I was at a CC so it's a men's team and the lowest weight class was 125. So I trained and competed a little with them but my shoulders were giving out, so my brother said "do jiu jitsu". I was hesitant at first because I am such a fan of wrestling and the grittiness of the sport. I started training and teaching kids wrestling at a local gym and three months into training I had my first amateur fight, and fell in love! 8 months after that I had my first pro fight!
2. This won't be your first fight for Rizin. What was it like fighting for them the first time? Also, how did it feel to fight inside a ring?
Alyssa: Holy Shit, talk about being thrown to the wolves! I was sent over there to lose, and I used that to my advantage. My coach Josh who has fought for Pride, knew what to expect. Me on the other hand had no idea I'd be fighting in front of 20,000+ people until we landed in Japan! I absolutely loved the experience with RIZIN and the Japanese fans, they love and appreciate us as athletes. I received gifts, was asked for my autograph, asked to take photos, I mean they know the sport and appreciate it. Fighting in a ring was a lot better than I expected, I actually like it better. I used it to my advantage!
3. What are your thoughts on the tournament? How did you find out you were going to be part of it and what would the $90,000 grand prize mean to you?
Alyssa: My thoughts on the tournament is "Alyssa Garcia the first ever RIZIN Women's GP World Champion" has a nice fucking ring to it! I'm going in there with confidence, knowing these women all want it, maybe as much as me but not more than me! I train hard, I'm still young and fairly new to the sport but I'm using that to my advantage. They hit me, I'm going to hit harder and faster! I'm very appreciative of this opportunity and when RIZIN asked us to be apart of it about a month and a half ago we jumped on no questions asked! That 90k prize is obviously something we could all use, but it's also a symbol that I'm headed in the right direction. I was working three jobs before I go this RIZIN GP call, so it would help a lot. To be fighting for a check that big says I'm closer and closer to being a full time fighter and all this hard work is paying off like I knew it would.
4. You will be fighting Olivera out of Brazil. What are your thoughts on your opponent? How do you see the fight going?
Alyssa: Olivera, she's tough. But I've fought tough, and won. Besides Rena and I, she's the nest toughest girl in this tournament. So to have her first round is nice. Once I get past her, it's a smooth path to the finals. She knows I'm a wrestler and I know she's a Muay Thai striker and I know what she'll be looking for. She's never fought a real wrestler and she will feel the difference
5. If you win your fight, there is a chance you'll face Kanna Asakura again. Can you talk about your first fight with her and how you see a potential rematch going? Does anyone else in the tournament stick out to you?
Alyssa: My fight with Kanna was a fight where all odds were against me. I was coming back from a year and a half, I was fighting in the biggest arena of my life in front of her fans, and we knew why we were being sent over there. I stuck to the game plan and everything went as planned, I should've finished that choke in the first round but I believe it was ring rust holding me back. I no longer have ring rust so there's no reason for me not to finish that fight if we meet up again.
6. You're coming off of a loss. Can you talk about anything you've changed or adjusted going into the tournament?
Alyssa: Yes, my last loss was me beating me. That armbar was not there, I was safe and got cocky, excited, I thought "let's be flashy" so I picked her up and slammed her, and lost position! I gave her that armbar. The changess I've made are my mindset. Play it smart, relax, and execute.
7. Is there a story behind the nickname "Tiny Tim"?
Alyssa: I was at one of my very first wrestling practices in high school and dislocated my knee! I had chopped all my hair off, I looked like a little boy. With a gimp knee I still went to practice to watch the practices and learn a little something by watching. I was like 4'10 so my crutches were too big, so I could only use one crutch. So picture, my little boy hair cut, a knee brace, and one crutch, My coach called me Tiny Tim from Christmas Carol limping into practice, and it stuck!
8. Can you talk about what its like to train with Josh Barnett? Also, can we expect to see you rocking the singlet again?
Alyssa: Training with Josh is a lot like eating veggies, you hate it but if you want to be the strongest kid you gotta do it! I'm just kidding, it's amazing. The dude's fight IQ is of the charts sometimes. He's made me into the fighter I am in such a small amount of time. He's really upped my fight game, my wrestling and my mentality to the next level. As much as that big ol nerd, is a big ol nerd, I love him and the UWFxUSA team and training with these monsters and weirdos has been one of the greatest things I've been apart of. Well you'll have to wait and see about the singlet, I like to keep secrets! ;)
9. Outside of MMA what kind of stuff do you like to do? Do you have any hobbies ect?
Alyssa: I mainly just work and train. I'm a big fan of films, I'm a bit of a movie buff. I like good reads too, mostly novels and my comics. I'll be taking some comics with me on that long ass flight to Japan! I like music and collecting music when I can. but everyone knows one of my favorite hobbies is pissing off and annoying Josh any chance I get! It's just so funny!
10. Is there anything that you would like to say? Anyone you would like to thank?
Alyssa: I'd like to thank my friends and family who understand and support why I never have time to see them! I'd like to thank Manny, of Tanler pest control who's supported me since the beginning, Rick Alarcon of ATTC who's helped me so much along the way, Jose Camacho of Damage Control who's been with me for a long time also and been an important part of my camps! Defila who's making my awesome fight gear and made that awesome singlet last Rizin event i was in, and CMMA who's let the UWFxUSA team get so much work in there consistently.
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