Invicta’s Medeiros: I feel 27 not 37

Kaline Medeiros didn’t start fighting professionally in mixed martial arts until she was 32. And she went just 1-3.

Then she turned things around, winning three in a row, before losing Chelsea Bailey early in 2015, and then winning four more in a row. Friday night she fights Manjit Kolekar at Invicta FC 19 in Kansas City, live on UFC Fight Pass.

Kolekar is 9-0, but all her fights have been in her native India, where the level of experience in the sport has not caught up with the USA.

I think that anyone who steps into a cage today is well prepared. She has a great record, said Medeiros to Matt Erickson and Christian Stein for MMAjunkie. Unfortunately, I didn’t find much more information about her. I expect a good fight against an experienced opponent. I hope we have one of the best fights of the night. I don’t simply look to win, but I also concern myself with the way I win. I look to fight in a way to make the fans happy. I have no problem having little information about her.

Medeiros trains ground fighting with Daniel Gracie and standup with Mark Dellagrotte and will take it where ever it goes.

I have two games – on the feet and on the ground, she said. So to me, it doesn’t matter where the fight goes. Within the first few minutes, I’ll know where the fight will take place.

I’ve always been very eager to learn. Everything’s happening at the right time. I’ve improved a lot after finding the right team. All my skills have been further developed. Being dedicated, and in a great team, explains all my recent victories. I never stop believing.

Age doesn’t matter. What matters is how we feel physically. I feel like I’m 27, not 37. I see myself fighting MMA for at least another four years. I feel great.

Image courtesy of Invicta FC and Esther Lin.