Michaela Petaroudi is enjoying the “personal journey” that is mixed martial arts ahead of her upcoming fight this Saturday at Badmofo MMA 5.
BMF 5 is set to take place tomorrow in the Metrodome in Barnsley. The New Life Gym representative is scheduled to face Lindsey Payne in her second amateur bout following her 2022 Almighty FC contest with Nicola Knight.
The 32-fight card boasts amateur and professional MMA bouts, alongside boxing and kickboxing action. The first fight is scheduled to go down at 3pm, with the doors open at 2pm. Unmissable action.
We had the pleasure of speaking with Michaela Petaroudi ahead of her second bout. Check out what she had to say below.
Interview With Michaela Petaroudi
What sort of mental state are you in, having made your debut last year on Almighty and experienced the rawness of the competition for the very first time?
My experience on Almighty last year was a great way to start my fighting journey. It is different from sparring in the gym and fighting in the octagon so that first insight on how an actual fight is, how to manage a fight camp, as well as the fight itself was a valuable experience that has now contributed to a smooth, successful fight camp, and solid preparation for my next fight, this Saturday.
Almighty FC, 22 against Nicola Knight, didn’t go your way, but you gave a great account of yourself for someone who’d never stepped in there. Reflecting back to your debut, did everything meet your expectations, did anything catch you by surprise, and you always felt something in there in order to come back and go again?
My fight against Nicola was a great experience; I have learned a lot from it. She is an experienced fighter, and I am glad I got to face her. Since then, I have taken this fight as a learning lesson; there were no surprises as such, but I did find out more about the fighting style I am comfortable with and the adjustments I would like to make for my next fights. I really enjoyed the experience, and I have since then been looking forward to stepping back into the cage and showcasing my new skills.
Michaela Petaroudi on Amateur MMA Debut
Have you watched your fight with Nicola back, and how many times? Despite the result, what are some of the things you were left pleased with about the performance that really made you feel proud?
I have indeed watched the fight again, just once, as I felt very present during it and remember it quite well to this day. Overall, I was pleased with my performance, I thought it was a close fight against a skilled and experienced opponent, so I am happy with how it went. That being said, there is always room for improvement, and I have been working hard to develop and polish new skills that better match my fighting style.
Having spent over a year out now, was there any reason behind the long break, and have you been consistently in the gym since then?
Training is a lifestyle for me, so despite not competing in MMA for the past year, I have been active in the gym, always learning and developing my skills. It can be difficult finding opponents in my weight category, so I am glad that Lindsey took the fight. Outside MMA, I have competed in the Europeans in Jiu-Jitsu in the summer, so I am trying to keep competing and take each opportunity as it comes, whether that’s MMA or not.
Saturday night’s Fight
I believe your opponent on Saturday night, Lindsey Payne, has also just had the one outing. Have you managed to watch any footage of your opponent’s only fight to implement a game plan, or is it just a case of getting out there and working on bettering yourself and showcasing the new skills you’ve learned in your time outside of competition?
I have watched Lindsey’s last fight, she does look like a very skilled fighter, so I look forward to facing her. In terms of my game, I am approaching every fight as a personal journey. My goal is to step in there and show the best side of myself, regardless of who my opponent is.
Featured image credits to DN4 Photography
