It's a Mad Mad World!

 

Every few months FightsWeWant.com features interviews that focus on up and coming talent in combat sports in our “On the Rise” section of the blog. Of the five we have done so far, three have been female of which 2 have been under 18. The fact that you have these ladies getting into the sport at a young age is just another example of how much this sport has grown in recent years. In our continued effort to help support women in combat sports we are happy to share our latest interview with a very talented young (12 year old) fighter by the name of Mad Mad Madison. In just three short years, Madison has garnered over 60 martial arts awards such as the 2010 USAKA National Kickboxing Champion, AMMA National Champion and is also an undefeated cage fighter with a 3-0 record just to name a few.

FWW: This is Rich Serpa from Fightswewant.com and we are here today with Mad Mad Madison. Madison, thanks for spending time with us today, we are happy to have you.

MMM: You’re welcome.

FWW: Before we get into anything else, we have to ask you how you got you name Mad Mad Madison?

MMM: Well, I got my name when I was really little. I had really curly hair and it reminded my parents of a mad scientist and they would call me that. So I thin of it as I was born to be a fighter because that’s my name now.

FWW: When and why did you start taking Karate?

MMM: I started taking karate when I was six. My mom had gotten diagnosed with cancer and I was really really down at that time. We had kept going past the Karate place and I kept asking if I could try it. She said ok because she was hoping it would help to maybe get my mind off of things. So that is how I got started.

FWW: Excellent. Tell us about how you came to begin training MMA and cage fighting?

MMM: I started training a few years after I had begun teaching karate. I enjoy it because its different.
 

FWW: I understand you built up a record of 3 and 0 but unfortunately the state of Indiana where you currently live has since outlawed it in 2010. Is this something you want to continue to do but just look for fights out of state?

MMM: Yes, we are trying to find fights that are not too far away. So I still want to cage fighting and I plan on continuing to train so that I can fight in my home state when I am old enough.

FWW: I would imagine it is difficult alone finding sparring partners let alone someone to fight.

MMM: Yes, it is.

FWW: Now the fights that you had, did you fight girls in the cage?

MMM: Two of them were female and one was male.

FWW: Really? That’s impressive. How did you win those 3 bouts?

MMM: The first two fights I won by decision and the third one I submitted my opponent with a Kimura.

FWW: Very nice, very nice. And I also understand that you are also training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ).

MMM: Yes.

FWW: Who are you learning that from?

MMM: One of my students, Anthony Cruz, who I train in Karate started training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and I asked him if he wanted to help me. So that is how that started.

FWW: Tell us about your experience in becoming the 2010 USAKA Kickboxing National Champion.
 

MMM: It was ver different but the girl I fought was my age and around my weight. It was really exciting and it got me interested in kickboxing. So I started training in kickboxing as well.

FWW: Did you have to fight multiple opponents the same night of did you only fight the one girl?

MMM: I only had to fight the one girl.

FWW: How many rounds did you fight and how many minutes were each round?

MMM: I had 3 rounds and they were a minute and a half each.

FWW: How often are you training these days?

MMM: I am training 4 days a week. Teaching classes and then doing a workout.

FWW: When you train are you training in multiple disciplines?

MMM: The first class, it is a little bit of everything. There is a little bit of Judo, Jiu Jitsu, Karate, you know, stand up and ground.

FWW: Have you done any wresling?

MMM: No, I have not.

FWW: Ok, we have to get that going.

MMM: (Laughs).

FWW: Madison, if you would, tell us who or what inspires you?

MMM: Well I really think my parents inspire me a lot. And, the people at church inspire me a lot too. Because they keep me going and they help me out a lot.

FWW: That’s great.

FWW: And what do you like to do for fun?

MMM: I like to do tractor pulls with my dad and my grandpa. And I like to go fishing and hunting with my dad. And I love to go shopping with my mom and swim with my brother.
 

FWW: OK, Awesome. Are you training for anything now? What is on the horizon now for you?

MMM: Yes, I will be competing in the Tae Kwon Do Junior Olympics coming up in New Orleans at the end of the month. I will be participating in point sparring and Olympic sparring. And on August 20th I have a kickboxing/Muay Thai match coming up in Dayton Ohio.

FWW: Where can people go if they want to find out more about you or where you might be competing next?

MMM: Well they should go to my website www.madmadisonfights.com and that has a lot of information about me.

FWW: Ok, do you have anything else?

MMM: Yes, they can also go to facebook, twitter and youtube.

FWW: Well Madison, thank you very much, it was a pleasure speaking with you and we look forward to seeing more of you in the not too distant future.

MMM: Thank you, we really appreciate you doing this.