Troy Shantz
Sarnia’s Bobbi Jo Dalziel is the number one female lightweight mixed martial artist in the world.
The Lambton College grad claimed the top spot by defeating former champ Jozette Cotton in a unanimous decision on Oct. 14 in just Dalziel’s third professional match.
“Nobody would fight her. So when they brought it to me I thought, ‘Might as well,’” she said.
“If you’re going to get anywhere you’re always going to want to fight someone who’s better, to challenge yourself.”
Dalziel, 30, lives and trains in Sarnia where she works as a massage therapist.
Catching up with her during a training session at We Are Fitness in Point Edward, the top-ranked fighter in the world comes across as calm, polite and unlike some MMA athletes - including her last opponent - avoids talking trash.
She took up kickboxing while attending Lambton College as a way to stay fit.
“The trainer who ran the club said I should take it more seriously,” she recalled.
Apparently, she took the advice to heart.
In her first amateur and unsanctioned match the 155-pound Dalziel faced Detroit fighter Franita Gatherings, a much larger opponent.
“She was supposed to weigh in at 175 but she was clearly over 200.” Dalziel recalled.
“I remember getting my hands taped and thinking, this is the weirdest thing.”
The fight was scheduled to last three round. Dalziel ended it convincingly at the 1:17 mark.
“I was hooked after that,” she said. “I wanted to get better. I wanted to do better. I wanted to perform better.”
Dalziel, who trains primarily at We Are Fitness and Ironworks Gym, amassed a 6 – 2 record as an amateur. As she got better she took the sport more seriously and decided to turn pro two years ago.
“You’re going to go to venues that are more serious,” she said. “It’s more professional. You don’t get people who are just out there swinging for the fences.”
In her professional debut Dalziel defeated Tamikka Brents by technical knock out. Earlier this year, she beat Andria Wawro with a knockout kick just 30 seconds into the match.
Though at the pinnacle of her weight category, Dalziel said she wants to shed some pounds and compete as a featherweight (145 lbs.)
That would bring more opportunities for matches and fresh challenges, she said.
“If I’m going to do something, I want to go hard,” she said. “It’s pushing yourself to your breaking point and seeing what you can do.”
