Love & BJJ: Alexis Davis married to her coach
“At home, we try to separate ourselves from the gym, but if there’s something we need to do we can jump right in and train together. It’s a wonderful thing.”
Alexis Davis, who fights UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey in the main event of UFC 175 on Saturday, enjoys an unusual relationship for a fighter and coach.
Jon Jones and Greg Jackson aren’t married:
Chris Weidman isn’t married to Ray Longo:
But Alexis Davis and her BJJ coach Flavio Meier have been married since just after Davis beat Rosi Sexton by unanimous decision at UFC 161 on June 15, 2013.
Case Keefer has the story.
It has its highs and lows, but we’re really good at separating what we’re doing inside the gym and home life, said Davis. You have to have that balance. Home is your little sanctuary where you’re not even focusing on the fight half the time.
Meier glows over being along for the ride. Two years ago, he had only ever watched Davis on television, mostly during her run in Strikeforce.
Even before I met her, said Meier, I thought she was an amazing fighter.
Always seeking new training options, Davis showed up at Caio Terra’s jiujitsu gym in San Jose, Calif., on a random day in 2012. Meier, a first-degree jiujitsu black belt, was one of the coaches on duty.
We started training together and fell in love, Meier said succinctly.
A year later, they were wed.
Davis said the process of training for Rousey began long before Davis got the official call to book the fight four months ago. Meier mixed Rousey-centric drills into Davis’ training right after the Eye victory.
Davis’ strong showings in those sessions convinced husband that wife was ready to pull off one of the biggest upsets in UFC history.
At home, we try to separate ourselves from the gym, but if there’s something we need to do we can jump right in and train together, Meier said. It’s a wonderful thing.