Mixed martial arts has long attracted a wide variety of people into the cage, from Olympians to a PhD in Theoretical Computer Science to an ex-garbage man. The last one is GSP.
South Africa’s first female professional fighter, EFC Worldwide flyweight champion Danella Eliasov is a practicing psychologist at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital. For her next title defense, she faces Micol di Segni.
The Italian di Segni trains at Hung Mun Camp in the quiet leafy lane of Via Riverona, just a stone’s throw from the Vatican in Rome. She is on a four-fight win streak, most recently at MMAF (International Mixed Martial Arts Federation) Championship this past July in Vegas during UFC International Fight Week.
Di Segni, also known as Eden Von Hell, is a Suicide Girl. She has 57,00 followers on Instagram, and is one of the most popular adult models in Europe.
Simon Stephens has the story for eNCA.com.
I’ve spoken to EFC management who seemed a tad unaware of Di Segni’s pursuits outside of the cage, yet they rightfully remain committed to her as a contracted athlete and respected world champion who they expect to throw bombs at Carnival City on the 3rd of October.
Whatever your proclivities or moral stance, it can do no harm to South African MMA that a high-profile foreign model has chosen to compete here. And whilst it may concern those who refuse to condemn the legion of drug cheats, match-fixers, philanderers and domestic abusers who continually pollute commodified human competition, I’m liberal enough to appreciate a professional athlete of her calibre, willing to sacrifice her somewhat profitable features in a cagefight in South Africa.
Mixed Martial Arts and combat sport have always been accompanied by issues of objectification and sexualisation since the first sweat-soaked short-wearing athletes evolved to the current small and tight vale tudo spandex. Put this fashion into a context of bodily contact and grappling and you can understand why the sexual metaphors continue to harangue the sport, whatever the participant’s gender.
Take it outside the cage by just a few inches and note the scantily-clad women parading round cards with a smile and wink for the baying punters.
Still not bothered?
Here you have a woman, completely confident of and within her body, in total control of the limits and statutes of its public display, who also happens to be a kickass fighter.
I can’t wait to see an athlete of Di Segni’s reputation matched-up against an undefeated Eliasov on the main card of EFC 44 on the 3rd of October during which an unprecedented three championships are up for grabs. It would be a huge shame that comparatively acceptable behaviour outside of the sport not only overshadows the back-breaking training and talent of a great fighter, but also that of 23 other folks leaving it in the cage that night.
I welcome that by her very presence here, Micol Di Segni is raising questions about feminity, sexualisation and objectification in a country that continues to horrifically fudge its answers to all. And that’s a powerful thing for a sport to do for a nation.
Benvenuto guerrierodonna.
Micol di Segni
Danella Eliasov
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