Erin McDougall Ready to Experience Her MMA Debut
Whether it’s through blogging, interviewing, hosting events, modelling, or just kicking it with her second family at Canadian Martial Arts Centre in Lethbridge, Alberta, you’d be hard pressed to find a more diversely involved contributor to the sport of mixed martial arts than “McDoogs”.
Coming up later this month, Erin will add another tool to her belt, as McDougall makes her amateur mixed martial arts debut at Prestige FC III vs. fellow debutant; Tara Letendre.
Erin was kind enough to give us some of her time ahead of the big fight, which goes down Oct. 21 from the Casman Centre in Fort McMurray, Alberta.
AddictedMMA: When it comes to the Canadian MMA scene, you’re well known as a multi-talented contributor who seems to have everything going for her. To what do you attribute your success in the MMA industry?
Erin McDougall: Well, the Canadian MMA scene really isn’t that big… maybe that’s why I’ve been successful. But I think entering into the scene as a fighter, on top of all the other roles, has really helped. People seem to take you a little more seriously, if you compete. Or at least that has been my experience.
AMMA: People check you out at the Erin McDougall Experience, but now that you’re working on your own clothing line and making your MMA debut, are we witnessing more of the “Erin McDougall Evolution”?
EM : The clothing brand has been a project I have been working on creating for a while now. It’s not something I want to throw into the industry, until I know it will be just right. And unfortunately, it’s been pushed to the back burner as of lately. With training full time there isn’t much time for anything else, apart from sleeping and eating. When the timing is right, it will happen.
And I like this, “Erin McDougall Evolution” thing! Very nice. The way I see it is this: If you’re not growing, changing and expanding, then what are you doing? It’s what life is about, in my opinion. Always grow.
AMMA: Speaking of your evolution in this game and your overall MMA swagger; what is your inspiration, Erin, and how did you get initially addicted to the sport?
EM: My inspiration in general comes from my passion, and from the positive people I surround myself with. For this fight camp in particular, my best friend Deirdre has been the largest source of inspiration. She is battling cancer (she's already completed six rounds of chemo, and almost five weeks of radiation), and she goes to war with it everyday, with the best attitude you can ever imagine. If I think about how bad it sucks when I get beat up at the gym, or how tired I am of training, I stop and think of her and remember that *this* is supposed to be fun… that I am blessed everyday with a healthy strong body… and if she can battle, everyday, the way she does then there is no reason I can’t do what I do. She is the definition of a fighter. A real fighter.
As for how I originally got addicted to the sport, I am not ashamed to admit that I am a product of TUF! I watched the first season back in the day and loved it. My boyfriend (now ex) started to train, and so I tagged along for kickboxing classes. From there, it was a snowball effect and has become a full lifestyle for me.
AMMA: How has preparation been for your MMA debut with head trainer Lee Mein and the entire team over there at CMC?
EM: Lee Mein and the boys at CMC are beyond amazing. These guys are my family, in every sense of the word. I would not be able to get where I am without them. The preparation has been hard, but that’s expected. I’m the only girl on the team, so I am always sparring, rolling and training with bigger, faster or more experienced guys. But I truly would not have it any other way. I trust them, and there is nowhere to go, but up!
AMMA: What finally triggered your decision to step in there and compete in MMA?
EM: Being involved in the MMA community, I realized you will come across a lot of critics, a lot of mean people. I wasn’t prepared for that when I first started. And I was quite the softie. I couldn’t understand why or how people could be so malicious to someone they have never met. After a few attacks, I said to Lee how upset I was that these people were judging me the way they were. He responded with something like, “Well, they don’t see you train... they don’t know that you know more than the average MMA blogger.” That point was all that needed to be made. I realized I had a lot more of “me” to showcase. Not just to hush the critics, but to prove to myself that I really was capable. And I think with this realization, I was ready for the next big step. My whole life I have been an athlete, I've been competing in sports for as long as I can remember... It was just a next logical step to grow.
Lee says to me, “No comfort zones allowed” ...From the first time I heard that line, it stuck. And here we are.
AMMA: Do you know much about your opponent, Tara Letendre, and are there any things in particular you’re expecting from her come fight night?
EM: I don’t know really anything about Tara. But I am expecting her to bring the heat, ya know? Girls are scrappy… fighting like they’ve got a chip on their shoulder, so I expect it to be a pretty fast paced brawl.
AMMA: Is there a dark side behind that stunning smile of yours, perhaps one that will come out on Oct. 21 when you step in there?
EM: A dark side? Haha… no, no dark side. I’m just lucky to be blessed with athletic genes and a bit of a stubborn need to prove myself capable.
AMMA: Switching back to another facet of your life, I’m curious as to which one of your tattoos means the most to you, and on the flipside, which fighter in all of MMA has the best tattoo in your opinion?
EM: My tattoos are great, aren’t they!? One of my sponsors, Evan from Ink Addiction, has done some unreal work on my body. The flowers and vines sleeve is my favorite. And it’s not even complete yet. But I think it’s beautiful.
As for which fighter has the best tattoo, I don’t know that I can name a favorite! There’s a lot of really great work out there…. My girlfriends at galsguidetomma.com do a pretty awesome feature on fighters and their tattoos. They’ve showcased many different fighters, with different tattoos, that I didn’t even know existed! (Check the site out if you haven’t; my girls are awesome!)
AMMA: Anyone out there you want to give a shout-out to?
EM: I definitely have shout outs; some truly amazing people surround me! TapouT Canada and Ink Addiction tattoos are my sponsors, and I am grateful to be tied to such respectable and honest businesses.
Lee Mein and the guys at CMC, who take such good care of me, in the gym as well as out. Like I said, they are my family and I could not improve, grow and learn at the rate I do, if it weren’t for them.
Also, Jason Day and the guys at Tactixs gym in Vancouver BC… when I am out there, these guys are fantastic to me, always putting in time to make sure I have what I need.
My girlfriends and my family are huge supporters of my dreams, and they've been with me every step of the way, and I know they will continue to be so.
And of course all my supporters, friends and connections online. My Facebook and twitter people are awesome! It's amazing the love you can feel from people who have never even met you... Thanks guys!
AMMA: Last but certainly not least…Erin McDougall, aside from MMA, what are you addicted to?
EM: I am addicted to Ice cream!
Thank you for the time, Erin, and all the best in your upcoming MMA debut vs. Tara Letendre at Prestige III, this Oct. 21 from the Casman Centre in Fort McMurray, Alberta.
Addicts, you can check Erin out at…
http://www.erinmcdougall.com/
http://blog.erinmcdougall.com/
http://www.facebook.com/erin.mcdougall.experience
www.mysexyliciouslife.com
and…
on Twitter @iMcDooogs
Published by Calvin Cooper - Wed, 12 Oct 2011 20:18
