Train hard, fight easy

If I was ever stranded in a dark alley late at night…I would not want to face Amanda Lino. But, then again, if I ever needed muscle, I’d want her on my team. In just four years Amanda, also known as ‘MadDog’, has made her definitive mark on the local, and international Mixed Martial Arts scene. I chatted with Amanda about life outside the cage and why fighting is not just for boys.

When I first sit down across from Amanda, I am struck by how chilled she is – a far cry from the unbridled rage she
appears to exhibit when she fights. “I get that a lot,” Amanda laughs when I mention it. “Many people meet me outside the cage and then wonder how I get so pumped up for a fight. It comes down to how I feel just before I step in…I’ve trained so hard, put my body through so much, that losing is simply never an option for me. I’ve been hit by men who weigh 120kg. It’s going to take a lot to knock me out.”

Amanda has always loved a good fight, she says. “I got into my fair share of trouble as a child. When I came to Ballito
four years ago, I was overweight and wanted to get fit. My brother Richard was already involved in MMA and I thought I’d challenge myself. Being a natural brawler definitely helped.” Despite displaying an unmistakable talent Amanda found that she was one of very few female MMA fighters in the area, which meant fights were few and far between. “I would sit at the small, amateur competitions and just wait for my name to be called. It was a long wait but I refused to get discouraged; if anything, it became an advantage because I got the chance to hone my skills. When I got my first fight I was more than ready.”

Amanda remembers only two things from her first time in the cage: nerves and adrenaline. “It’s like jumping out
of an aeroplane. It’s wild, but I’m used to it now. Your first fight drains you very quickly but afterwards I just wanted
to get back in and go another round!” She catapulted to the top of MMA rankings rapidly – winning the Featherweight Amateur World Championship in Las Vegas was a blur. “It really only set in when I came home, because none of my coaches and family were in Las Vegas with me. I only went for the experience, so winning was a wild dream come true.”

Currently ranked first in South Africa and second in Nevada, Amanda has spurred growth in the female MMA ranks.
“More and more women are starting to realise that the cage is not just for guys.” For those who think ‘girls shouldn’t fight’ Amanda has a few words: “Before you cry female, try martial arts out. It’s not just fighting; you learn valuable fitness and defence skills, which every woman needs today. Your perception will change if you just try.” She is the only female at her dojo. “Initially, the guys were scared to hit me but now…it’s like they’ve forgotten I’m a girl!” After a few rounds you should catch what Amanda calls ‘The Bug’. “When I teach MMA, I teach discipline. It’s not about who can hit the hardest. There’s nothing to fear.”

When she’s not in the cage Amanda calls herself a homebody, happy to watch old movies for hours at a time.
In the future, she wants to concentrate on raising the profile of MMA in South Africa, especially among women.

Images: Gavin Higgins