Haha..yes I will never tell my age..Sometimes this sport makes me feel 50 though, very hard on the body especially in my joints.
What is your pro/ ammy record??
My amateur record is 2-1
How did you get the name “Lil Bully”??
I got the name Lil Bully because its exactly what I am. I grew up being bullied ironically but that wont happen again At the Boneyard the guys will tell you that I’m alot stronger than they expected by looking at me,and pretty vicious .If you cant technically get what I want, I’ll strong arm ya where I want you .I’m not known to be very suave in what I do on the ground...thus came about the bully.
Tell our readers about the injury you recently suffered and how it happened??
I was injured training for my Pro debut, some of the most fierce conditioning I was ever put through. I not only completely tore my forearm muscle but I also dislocated my patellar. I tried wrapping and babying the injuries to get through camp, but then came to the realization that it was stupid to go into my Pro debut with injuries, I promised myself to never go into a fight again if I wasn’t 100% physically as well as mentally.
How did it make you feel that you had to pull out of your fight with Katie Merrill??
It sucked to pull out of a fight in general, forget the fact it was my Pro debut and for a title belt. You know I was the first female to fight MMA in New England, cant change that fact. I definitely believe I helped get it going for women here in the Northeast. I pushed for my first fight with only 7 months of training, I begged for it. Only right I should have opponent for the first women’s title, just my opinion. I felt bad for Katie, She’s a cool chic, I would never let someone go through that kind of training and wuss out on them...ever.
-Travis-Tisha you did not wuss out so don’t ever think that. Injuries happen in this sport all the time.
What are your plans in the future for MMA??
My plans for the future are get training again, get better and fight my long overdue debut. I’d like to be sort of an ambassador for women’s mma. Help young, serious up and comers in the sport, from mental training, sponsors, promoting themselves properly in the sport etc .I actually have plans on my own gym. I have some other things in the works right now but I cannot let the cat out of the bag just yet.
How do you handle being a mother of three and your career plus MMA training all at once??
It’s not easy managing it all, which is why I cant fight every other month. My camps and what I do to make the best out of my time getting ready for a fight is strategically planned. I work as a trainer so I make my own schedule. I’m pretty much able to be a full time fighter..you have to know how to manage your time properly. It will never be easy...nothing good comes easy.
-Travis- Soo true Tisha! You gotta work hard for what you want in life.
As a fighter what would you say are your best skills in the cage??
My best skills in the cage...well I consider myself pretty well rounded. I have all the heart in the world. I’ll go wherever the fight goes .I can shut off everything when that cage closes. The person in front of me is just in the way of my next step. I’m still learning, I don’t think I’m a badass in anything. I just think I want it more than most. If I fight someone with similar experience, the person with more hearts going to win.
Can you tell our readers about what you do for a living??
How does it make you feel knowing you help people stay in shape??
I love being a trainer...I hate when people aren’t doing everything I know they can though. I look at some of my clients and I know what they can be and I really want that for them. I take my job seriously and I want them to see and feel change inside and out. I’ve done it naturally after three children, no excuses. There is no magic pill its hard work.
Can you give our readers/fighters any advice in staying in shape and tips on cutting weight?
If you want to stay in shape..eat smart. I don’t care for diets...clean eating small meals 5-6 times per day..cheat here and there, pushing too hard right away causes people to give up..you also need to switch up your workouts, you will plateau if not..you have to challenge your muscles every now and again so they work harder. The smartest and healthiest way when knowing you have to cut weight is to try and stay no more than 10-12 pds over your fight weight, you’re a fighter so you should be taking care of your body all of the time.
What was your reasoning for turning from fitness model and focusing on MMA??
I never really left fitness modeling, its just geared more towards modeling mma apparel etc..I left fitness competitions because fighting seemed more rewarding and it was. Mixed Martial Arts plays a huge part in my healing process, I needed to release all the pain I was holding inside from my past.
I understand you do some writing as well? Can you tell us some more about it?
I have been writing since the first grade, children’s books at first and poetry, then geared towards fitness and competitions. I had articles published in numerous large fitness magazines. I had my own column on Bodybuilding.com called..Ask A Fit Mom, you can still read them all there. Now my writing is mainly about mma. The training and everything in between. My book is about my life, it reveals something I’m living with everyday that probably only 6 people in the world know about and my day to day struggle with it, as well as my journey with mma, the ups the downs, different places I have trained, the fighting reality show I did, the injuries, getting ready to fight, journaling how I felt day by day and more and of course my everyday life..mom, wife, trainer...everything. I need to find someone who wants to publish it, the end date for it is marked for after my debut.
-Travis-Come on publishers, talk to Tisha, this is gonna be a big seller for sure.
What is your training routine?
My training routine when in fight camp is strength training and some form of aggressive cardio 5 days per week. Conditioning 3x per week and fight training and classes 6x per week which include boxing, muay thai, bjj and wrestling. I train 2x per day six days a week leading up to the fight.
Who is your favorite MMA fighter Male and Female??
My favorite fighters are GSP and Megumi Fugi.
Are you worried now that Zuffa bought StrikeForce that they might get rid of the women fighters if they merge with the UFC???
Sorry to burst anyone’s bubble but sadly enough I think when the contract is up with Strikeforce, so will the women’s division, that barely exists as it is.
-Travis-I hope this is not true but unfortunately I agree with Tisha. Although there is a women’s fight coming up on Strikeforce real soon!
Thanks Travis for this interview hope to see u from inside the cage soon..my shouts go to..The Final Rd mma show and everyone there, ecs Rick O.Pease and Keith Hayes, Don Sitters, Lead Creative Group, Tussle,Cage Candy, Knuckles USA, Housecat mma, Fight Chix, Grit Mouthguards, Never Surrender, betancourt nutrition, Boston Brawler, gurl fytrz, Defense Soap, 666 fightwear and all my faithful friends and supporters and to of course Western Mass MMA.
Thanks Tisha for taking the time for this article. We really appreciate it. Anyone who knows any publishers, hook Tisha up!! We hope to see you in the cage real soon.