How to Train as a Female Ultimate Fighter

Ultimate Fighting is a male-dominated sport, but that doesn't mean there aren't any female fighters. You can train as a female Ultimate Fighter in the same way as a man does, although you want to be sure you're in a supportive environment.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Gym
• Trainer

1. Look for a gym in your area that trains in mixed martial arts and caters to a female crowd. You can really train at any place as long as you feel comfortable there. Some larger cities have gyms that will only take female clients.
2. Ask about a free introductory class at the gym. You want to be sure that you are comfortable at this gym before you pay the membership fees.
3. Focus your training on one or two fighting styles. If you want to train as a successful fighter, you need to be able to defend against both standing and grappling attacks. You should be an expert in one style but have a working knowledge of many others so that you can anticipate your opponents.
4. Spar with another woman fighter. It's important that you get practice fighting against women because there are no mixed fighting leagues. If you are the only female fighter at your gym, then try to spar with a man who is close to your weight class.
5. Include cardio and weight training as part of your Ultimate Fighter training. You need to build muscle strength and flexibility and keep yourself in excellent health. Do cardio every day that you train, but you only need to work with weights three or four times each week.

Tips & Warnings

• Certain locations will have more opportunities for a female Ultimate Fighter to compete. California is home to several amateur leagues, although professional fighters compete across the globe.
• A female boxing or kick boxing league can be a good alternative if there are no mixed martial arts competitions near you.
• Some female fighters teach self-defense courses or run their own gyms while they continue to train to compete professionally.
• Double check any supplements that you take to be sure their use isn't banned by fighting leagues.