MMA star Amber Stautzenberger weighed in on a wide variety of topics in a Jan. 23 interview with Long Island MMA Examiner Eric Holden, including wardrobe malfunctions, soccer kicks, sex appeal and Ronda Rousey.
Stautzenberger, who fights Summer Artherton on Jan. 26 in Fargo, North Dakota, generously took out a few moments of her time to weigh in on some of the most controversial topics in mixed martial arts. Here’s what she had to say:
Q. Since most MMA promotions have ring girls, do you think one of them should mix it up by featuring ring boys?
Stautzenberger: I’m indifferent, but they did have ring boys at one of my past fights in Louisiana. They just wore fight shorts and acted goofy.
Q. Invicta FC 4 featured a couple wardrobe malfunctions. Leslie Smith had a nip slip and Alexis Davis’ thong popped out. Have you ever had a wardrobe malfunction in the cage? Do you do anything to prevent it from happening?
Stautzenberger: Smith kept fighting, and I would have done the same. Fortunately, I have not had a wardrobe malfunction. I am totally against wearing a sports bra only because I fear it would happen. When I fought Lylna Thao, her hand went up my top, but all was safe. Since then I only wear high coverage rash guards.
Q. Ronda Rousey recently jokingly challenged UFC star Bryan Caraway to a fight, and Invicta’s Ediane Gomes famously fought a man in her homeland of Brazil. Do you think there will ever come a time when men will fight women in a cage and it won’t be considered taboo?
Stautzenberger: I don’t think there should be male vs female MMA fights. WNBA and NBA are separate as well as other sports. Not to say we can’t be in the same promotions. I just feel men and women are built differently, though I do think there are a few females that could kick some guys’ butts.
Q. Desert Rage MMA recently had a two-on-two MMA match. What do you think about that?
Stautzenberger: I hadn’t heard of it, but that’s sounds like tag team wrestling. I like one-on-one. If you lose, you can only blame yourself, no one else.
Q. Invicta’s Bec Hyatt recently said that one of her biggest fears is losing control of her bladder if she gets knocked out in a fight. She said she has seen fighters pee themselves after getting knocked out. Do you think that is a real thing that actually happens?
Stautzenberger: A guy crapped himself at a small BJJ tourney once (body triangle) back in 2005 I believe. It happens. I just hope not to me. Handle your business before you fight!
Q. Ronda Rousey recently posed nude for ESPN the Magazine’s Body Issue. Would you ever do something like that?
Stautzenberger: I don’t think I would pose nude. That’s just me. I draw/paint nude models as an art, but I couldn’t sit and pose nude, especially knowing I teach and my kids would see. As for using sex appeal, no matter what, people always judge on looks or like ‘pretty’ fighters, actresses, and so on. It just all depends on how you represent yourself that matters. I don’t want to get offered fights because I’m ‘pretty’, but rather for my skill in fighting. Rousey looked great though, and not slutty at all. Props to her. She has skill so why not flaunt the bonus features.
Q. What do you think about real-life ‘feuds’ in MMA? Is it good for the sport?
Stautzenberger: It’s not my thing to feud. It’s a sport. I’ll show my skills in the cage. Both sexes get into it just as much. The DFC card I will be on, I saw two of the adult male fighters constantly putting each other down on Facebook.
Q. You have a fight coming up against Summer Artherton. How do you see it panning out?
Stautzenberger: It should be a great battle, both on the ground and in the standup.
Q. Do you think soccer kicks should be allowed in women’s MMA?
Stautzenberger: I have always hated soccer kicks and stomps to the head in PRIDE. I still think it’s so dirty when I see the old fights, so I think they should stay out. Elbows are dirty enough. I love them though. Hah.
Q. Any shoutouts?
Stautzenberger: I want to give a big thanks to NOKOUT, Ammunition to Go, M. King Construction, and Michelle Holcomb from INOVA Richardson. Thanks to everyone who helped me train, and my gym Mohler’s MMA.
