By TXMMA Staff | Hannah Robinow
Challenger Amy Coleman seeking to provide a stiff challenge for the hometown favorite at LAS 16
HOUSTON, TX, July 10, 2014 – This weekend’s Legacy Amateur Series 16 matchup between Colbey Northcutt and Amy Coleman should be quite the competitive fight. The defending women’s 125 lbs. champ, Northcutt comes in with a lengthy background in full-contact karate and a developing ground game. Meanwhile Knoxville, Tennessee native Amy Coleman has accolades of her own. Affectionately dubbed “Donkey Kong,” she will enter the cage on Saturday with a 5-1 amateur record with multiple finishes to her credit. Three of Coleman’s wins were by TKO, two via submission, and she has one split decision on her résumé. Coleman has already worn championship gold as an amateur fighter. She won 3FC’s 135 lbs. title beating Sharvonda Jackson by armbar in the first round. The entire fight was 44 seconds long.
Coleman favors a game a tough, grinding style mixing in opportune striking with the threat of submissions from the top. At Cage Brawl 8, she ground and pounded fellow bantamweight Katie Dorman from mount, achieving a TKO victory following a well-timed single-leg 1:05 into the second round. TXMMA’s conversation with her revealed an athlete whose valiance in the ring is rivaled only by her dedication to the sport of MMA. She will be pitting her hard-nosed style of fighting against Colbey Northcutt’s versatile attacking style. This is what she had to say:
Legacy Amateur Series 16 Interview – Amy Coleman (Shield Systems)
Coleman: I grew up in an extremely competitive family both mentally and physically and that attributes a lot to my toughness. They have always supported what I want to do with my life with the understanding that I go after it with all I have. That definitely plays a role in my drive. I am the type of person that likes to dive in head-first and not look back. Passion, and no doubts.
TXMMA: What inspired you to pursue a career in MMA?
Coleman: Having done martial arts since I was 5 years old competitively, it seemed like a great fit. I have a 3rd degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and a 1st-degree black belt in Judo, so I was no stranger to competition. When the team I am with now, Shield Systems, moved into the gym I was working for at the time, I tried their classes and loved it. The atmosphere is contagious and the training is top notch.
TXMMA: What’s one element of your game you’ve been working on in preparation for your fight against Colbey Northcutt?
Coleman: Colbey is a tall karate fighter. She is six feet tall, which is pretty unique to the 135 lbs. division so I have had to change the size and style of sparring partners. I’m not a stranger to karate style fighters, so having tall partners is the biggest change.
TXMMA: Who have been your mentors/had the most influence on you as a fighter?
Coleman: My coach, Ben Harrison has had the most influence on me. He has molded me into the fighter that I am and without him, I wouldn’t be this far in the game. My teammate, Scott Holtzman has also taken me under his wing and let me follow in his footsteps.
TXMMA: What’s your ultimate goal in your fighting career?
Coleman: I want to make my way to the top. I know the road is long and bumpy and that I have plenty of room to grow, but I think my team, my tenacity and my skill sets can get me there.