On Tuesday July 9th 2013, I finally managed to get a Skype Interview with one of the most talked about female mixed martial artists to make an impact on the scene ‘Rowdy’ Bec Rawlings; I personally had been following Bec since 2011, but to everyone else I guess the turning point in ‘Rowdy’s’ career would have been January 5th 2013 when she fought Carla Esparza for The Strawweight Title for female promotion Invicta FC.
Bec is now due to take on Japan’s Mizuki Inoue in her 3rd fight for Invicta FC Promotion on Saturday July 13th.
Thank you for your time in this interview only days away from your fight. How’s your training been going for this fight camp?
It was flawless, I started 8 weeks out like I always do, everything went to plan, I travelled a lot for this training camp as I went to some different academy’s. I trained with Danny Galvan on The Gold Coast, Ricky Budgen at Empire Martial Arts, Gamebred Crew at Gamebred Combat Club and my usual gym Impact MMA. We have a good little fight team going on, also a few midgets my size so was a very good camp.
Is there anything different you’ve implemented into your training game this time?
Yes we’ve brought in swimming, it works hard on the body and good for the cardio, also a real challenge for me as I’m hopeless at swimming. (laughs)
So you’ve learnt how to swim now then?
I could float (laughs). I could survive if I fell out of a boat, but I wasn’t very good at competitive swimming, but I’ve definitely improved in that area.
What would you say is the best thing about fight camp?
Sparring, I enjoy sparring, I enjoy punching people in the face (laughs) MMA rounds are the best.
What would you say is the worst thing about fight camp?
No Nutella, No Cup Cakes.
Can you tell me about a typical day for you, from the time you wake up to the time you go back to bed?
I wake up at 6am, depending if the kids want to sleep in or not, I will get them organised, get them breakfast, showered, dressed, depending if they have school or not, if they have school then I will be dropping them off at school, if not then I will be taking them along to my morning session which will be either strength training or conditioning such as hill sprints, stair sprints so I usually drive them along with me, then we usually head home.
I will get them organised with lunch things like that, then I will eat myself, whatever I can eat, normally chicken and broccoli (Laughs) I then try to chill out with the kids till my next session that night and depending if I can get a babysitter or not I might take them to the night session, which is BJJ, wrestling or striking which is pretty hectic if I bring them, as I have to get them organised before I go, get them in their pyjamas, make sure they’ve had their dinner etc.
Once I get home that gives me some time to myself to eat, shower, sit down but it’s not the end I then get all my media and all my sponsor requirements out the way , so night times are kind of chilled as the kids are sleeping but it is also still work as I do all my media requirements etc.
Mizuki Inoue has a kickboxing record of 4-1 and MMA record of 5-1, what can the fans expect to see from you this time?
They can expect to see what they normally see. I’m going to be punching her in the face really, really hard (laughs) and then we will go from there.
I never have a game plan, I just go in there and fight, just do what I do, just train to cover all bases. I will just be going out there, listening to my corner, doing what their telling me to do.
My head coach (Malcolm “The Big Croc” Vanderrar) just playing it by ear, we never go out with a strict game plan, normally if I do have a game plan it is to punch them really hard, make them not want to be there anymore.
Being such a young fighter, do you think Mizuki will come into the fight with no fear approach? Also on that flip slide, some fighters fear being knocked out; you got that out the way in your first fight, so do you feel you have the upper hand, so to speak since you have experienced what that feels like and have a no fear attitude?
Yeah definitely, being a 18 yr old you are fearless, but she is fighting in a whole different country, she’s really young, she’s coming to a different country, she’s fighting a tattooed, blue haired freak, (laughs lots). I definitely think I have the upper part with experience wise in America and the fact I have been knocked out. I go into the fights knowing what it feels like to be knocked out and I’m completely okay with that; as long as I go out there doing what I want to do and putting it all on the line, I don’t care of the outcome.
I don’t care if I get knocked out or choked out unconscious, I’m going out there, I’m going to punch her in the face and I’m going to have fun doing it.
You’ve also fought in America (which will now be your 3rd time), do you feel, this plays to your advantage? I read in an interview that Mizuki had done, that in her fights the crowd don’t make any sound at all; firstly I could never imagine that; secondly, well we know Americans are a very ‘Rowdy’ bunch (see what I did there – lol) do you feel that this also plays to your advantage being as much an entertainer and a fighter?
Yeah definitely it’s going to be a huge culture shock, like in Japan there very different culturally when they are watching the sport, there very quiet and respectful. It might be a bit of a shock to her but also she may enjoy it. I love the crowd, I love hearing the cheers and stuff, she may enjoy it, it may help her to fight better or to push harder so I don’t think it’s a advantage or disadvantage, it just depends on how she takes to it and how she reacts to it.
Speaking of your 3rd time, if I recall correctly, it was a 3 fight deal with Invicta you signed too, if so, now that this is your 3rd fight, what is next for you? Have you re-signed with Invicta? If so can you tell me what deal you have signed too?
Yes I originally signed a 3 fight deal, which this is my 3rd fight, and today I have just signed a new 6 fight deal again with Invicta, so you will be seeing a lot more of my face around, you will not be getting rid of me anytime soon.(smiles).
Who would you like to face next at Invicta? Would Joanne Calderwood still be an option for you?
Yeah definitely, I’m keen to fight Jo Jo, I think she is not so keen. I think, she thinks, she is better than me and above me so I’m looking to prove her wrong.
Since gaining your 2 yr visa for the USA will we see a move to the states for you at all?
I’m pretty happy in Australia, that’s where my family is and my huge support base, but anything could happen. Invicta might want me to move over you never know, so you will have to wait and see, it’s not definitely out of the picture. I’m looking to come over to the states for training at different gyms and stuff but Australia is my home, it’s where my family is, so I reckon I will stay in Australia, but I will be coming back to America for a few weeks or even a month, we will just have to wait and see.
Going back to Carla Esparza fight, at the time what were your own personal reasons for stepping up in that fight?
I’ve never turned down a fight so of course I’m going to take it (laughs). It was a huge opportunity, win, lose or draw, I knew it was going to do good things for my career, which, is my number one priority to put food on the table for my two little boys, so it was definitely a huge step in my career; it was the right choice.
Going back to Jasminka Cive fight, was it hard going into that fight with a lot of genuine hate for her and controlling your emotions?
No not really, I’ve learnt to be humbled a lot in this sport. I know to go out there and fight with no emotion, the only thing that was going through my head was to go out there, go do my job and prove to Jasminka I am better than her, and my 24 hr Facebook training is still going to kick your ass (laughs). It was definitely a fun fight, a good camp, a good lead up to all the media, all the interest on that fight was amazing. I had good fun with it; it was definitely an awesome fight and we squashed the beef in the end after I proved my point well and truly.
I’ve noticed you’re sporting a new hair colour – bubblegum blue, is this anything to do with The Smurfs at all?
Just random, I walked into the hairdressing warehouse picked out a colour I like and walk out with it.
As MMA is now starting to gain a lot of recognition on the big stage over in Australia, are there any female’s that we should be keeping an eye out for?
Yeah there not very active at the moment, there still trying to get fights at their weight, but I’d definitely be looking out for Shauna “Little Thunder” Carew who I train with at Impact MMA, she fights in the Atomweight division, and I know Claire Fryer who was quite active a few years back has come back into it, so she maybe one to keep an eye out for coming back in to the sport again.
You have so many tattoo’s, what age did you get your first one and what was it?
I was 16 years old and it was a Tramp Stamp on my back, which I now have covered over (really laughs) it was like tribal with a dragon head, so I had that covered over with Roses and a Grenade which really suits my personality because if you pull that pin and I will explode!
3 FUN QUESTIONS
If you could change 1 rule in MMA what would it be?
Lay and Pray
Ice lolly or Ice Cream?
Ice Cream
If catering came in and you hosted a dinner party, which 3 guests, dead or alive would you invite and why?
My Little Pony, Mini Mouse and Conan the Barbarian, as things would get messy.
Finally, who would you like to Thank?
Americana mma, Alchemist management, Impact MMA, Gamebred Combat Club, Empire Martial Arts, Mal Van, all my training partners, my friends and family for looking after my babies while I’m away.
You can keep up-to-date and follow Bec on her Twitter @RowdyBec
To order Invicta 6 log onto www.invictafc.com all details are there on how to purchase on either U Stream or if you’re lucky enough to be in America or Canada selected Satellite/Cable companies are showing this event and being part of History in the Making #WMMA
Five Rounds with Emma 
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