Look out Justin Bieber. MMA fighter Jessi Brennan-Dalton is gunning for you and she's going to kick your ass! When asked to name an annoying celebrity that she would like to go a few rounds with in the cage, Canadian pop star Justin Bieber topped Jessi's list.
"I would like to go a few rounds with Justin Bieber. I would put him in a headlock and noogie him until he agreed to treat women better and stop being such a punk."
Smart money says the MMA fighter over the annoying pop star in two rounds.
Jessi Brennan-Dalton is an up-and-coming MMA fighter with her eye on inking a contract with the UFC by her 25th birthday. Not only can she handle herself in the cage, but she brings a marketable look to the table, a valuable commodity in today's world of social media likes and sharing.
Following is our Q and A with Jessi.
How tall are you, how much do you weigh and what is your weight class?
I'm 5-4.5, I walk around at about 135 lbs to 140 lbs and my weight class is 125 lbs.
Date of birth?
January 24, 1992
What is your profession?
I'm a dog groomer by day and an MMA fighter by night! I keep the furry, four-legged of Vernon, BC clean and stylish!
Do you remember the first time you were punched in the face and what that was like?
I don't remember the first time I was punched in the face, but I remember the first time I took a serious hit in the cage. Luckily it was only on the forehead, but it was quite hard and it made me really angry! I tend to be an emotional fighter so all I could think about was getting her back!
When was your first fight, where and what was the outcome?
My first fight was against Veronica Charters in Merritt, BC through the Unified Combat League. I won by TKO in round one.
What is your fight record to date?
My fight record to date is two wins and a draw.
What motivated you to train and become a fighter?
Like a lot of people in this sport, I started off in karate. Some of the boys and I would go to class early and "rough house" on the big crash mat. I heard about an MMA club in town and decided to give it a try and I was hooked!
How easy or hard is it for you to get fights?
It hasn't been too difficult to find fights so far. I think agreeing on a weight has been the more challenging part.
Are there enough local women out there to keep you fighting in British Columbia?
I've only had three fights and I only know of a couple other amateur women in the area. It may be challenging to find fights down the road without having to travel outside of the province.
What is your sports/athletic background?
I've been doing sports all of my life. I started off in gymnastics, ballet, tap dancing, and jazz at four-years-old. From there I moved into soccer, volleyball, basketball, and then karate in my last year of high school. When I discovered MMA, I quit karate and started bodybuilding alongside of my new found passion.
Favorite fighters from both the men's and women's side?
I don't really follow men's MMA, but from what I've seen of Chael Sonnen he puts on a good fight, he's charismatic, and I can appreciate a good sense of humor. For the ladies my favorite fighter is Leslie Smith. I don't think that girl even knows how to frown, and she's incredibly tough.
Have you ever had a real life encounter where you had to use your fighting skills?
I've never been in a real life situation where I've had to use what I know. The thought does cross my mind though, when I'm possessed by road rage.
Where can we see more of you?
You can find me on Facebook at my public page,
Jessi Brennan-Dalton; make sure to like me!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jessi-Brennan-Dalton/1525937347693762
Do you have a sponsor or anyone in particular you would like to thank?
I would like to thank JH Construction and Excavating LTD. for their contribution. The owner of the company, Jason Hadath, is a valued member of our team at Intrepid MMA and his generosity is greatly appreciated. I would also like to thank Pauline Davidson at Davidson Photography for doing such awesome work with me! Pauline is a great photographer who works in the local circuit. She often volunteers her time at events which shows how truly passionate she is about MMA, fight photography, and supporting the local fighters. I owe my biggest thanks to our coach, Richard Dubois at Intrepid MMA, for making all of this possible for me.
See footage of Jessi fighting in the ring
http://youtu.be/GHwou81zEZk
