Before Shamir Peshewa returns to the cage for the seventh time at APEX Fights 12 on Saturday night, she spoke with ProMMANow.com.
What is it that’s attracted you to MMA?
I got into MMA when I was about 9-years-old. It was UFC 3, so I may have been 10, but I thought it was the coolest thing ever. I’m super into comic books and video games, and these fighters were very similar to superheroes to me. My dad ran a wrestling promotion, so I’ve always been around combat sports, even if they were fake, like wrestling. I knew that girls trained, but I didn’t have a place to train. I played roller derby for seven years before randomly finding Knoxville Martial Arts Academy and started learning jiu-jitsu and kickboxing. Eventually I decided to fight.
How excited are you to fight again on Saturday night?
I’m so excited. I’m getting married in October, and I was wondering if I’d get another opportunity to fight in 2016 or not.
Is your fiance also involved in martial arts?
We actually met in jiu-jitsu class (laughs).
Some people go their whole life, but you’ve obviously decided to go the other route. What do you think it is, at the end of the day?
I love challenges. I’m continually growing and trying to overcome things that I couldn’t previously do. That’s what drives me. I don’t ever want to be stagnant, and MMA doesn’t let you remain stagnant. It’s thrilling to me. Anything can happen.
What are your expectations for Saturday night?
I want to be able to go out there and show the progress that I’ve made. I think it’s kind of silly to make too many predictions going into fights. It’s smart to have a game plan, but I don’t really have any expectations but to go in there and put on a good fight. Win, lose or draw, I’m in there to put on an exciting fight.