.png)
A Slice of Humble Pie with P2
🥧 A podcast where we curiously explore nutrition, fitness, mindset, sports, wellness, & beyond. ☕️Host @parastoobadie
A Slice of Humble Pie with P2
A Fighter's Life, from Amateur Hopeful to Professional Legend: Souris Manfredi
What if you had to start over in a foreign country with a dream to be one of the best in a highly competitive sport?
Join us as we sit down with Souris Manfredi, an incredible professional fighter from France, who shares her extraordinary journey from discovering MMA in Romania to making a name for herself internationally. Souris opens up about facing skepticism and poor physical condition when she first started training, then pushing through these barriers with sheer determination and the critical support of her manager and coach, Charlton Henri.
From navigating financial struggles to securing a breakthrough sponsorship from a French clinic, Souris' story is one of resilience and innovation. Listen as she recounts her move to Thailand, where she had to find creative ways to support herself, including starting a guest house for fighters. We dive deep into the harsh realities of balancing training with financial stability and the strategies fighters can use to build their careers and attract sponsors.
Souris also sheds light on transitioning from Muay Thai to MMA, highlighting the cultural differences and unique challenges of each sport. We explore the pressures of maintaining a social media presence as a professional athlete and how shifting perspectives can turn it from a burden into a powerful tool. Through personal anecdotes, Souris reveals the importance of motivation, adaptability, and creativity when facing obstacles. Don’t miss this heartfelt conversation that offers a rare glimpse into the life of a professional fighter.
Click here to connect with Souris on Instagram souris_manfredi_
Souris' record:
🔺BKFC THAILAND FIGHTER-2W-2KO-1L
🔺MUAYTHAI-LETHWEI RECORD-45F-33W(20KO)
🔺WORLD LETHWEI CHAMPION WLC
Website: https://parastoobadie.com/podcast/
Email: asliceofhumblepiewithp2@gmail.com
Instagram: @asliceofhumblepiewithp2
Welcome back to A Slice of Humble Pie. I'm your host, pitu. I'm a nutrition and fitness professional, a lover of pie and a curious human on planet Earth. Today's episode is about a fighter's life from amateur, hopeful to professional legend. Our guest today is Suri Monfredi, who is a professional fighter originally from France. She started traveling in her early teens and stumbled by an MMA class in Romania and hasn't stopped training since Now, at 36 years old, suri is a pro MMA fighter currently based out of Pattaya, thailand, at Raage Fight Academy with longtime manager and coach Charlton Honree.
Speaker 1:She first arrived in Thailand in 2016 and has fought all over the country in various stadiums. Her athletic career includes many competitions in boxing, k-1, muay Thai, bare knuckle left way, bjj and MMA. She's had 60 plus professional fights and multiple belts and multiple promotions across the world, including many belts in Thailand, a European and French title in Muay Thai, and she was the first woman Left Way world champion Damn. Suri is ferocious, focused and an absolute badass. In my experience, she's also kind, caring, passionate and humble. Her no bullshit attitude is partly because she's French, but also because she holds you to higher standards. She holds you to higher standards. I have no business being in the same room as her, but she never looked down on me and demanded me to rise up. It's been a privilege to be here and train with her and to have many, many conversations.
Speaker 1:This conversation we decided to record. Suri had a couple of topics she really wanted to touch on for this episode. Obviously, I have many, many more questions about her incredible and fascinating life story and I hope that I will have the opportunity to have her on again where she can share more of her tales. But let's start here. It is with great joy that I get to introduce you to Suri. Let's get right into it. How did you get started in fighting?
Speaker 2:I was traveling through the world and I was in romania. I had to spend the the winter there and I was like, what can I do? And I always wanted to do some boxing or whatever. And I found the mma class and I did one class and since that I At first I didn't think about fighting, I was just thinking surviving, after training or while training.
Speaker 2:But I fell in love with the sport and let's say, maybe one year and a half after I was back in France and I first had a BGG competition because I was doing BGG and Muay Thai I was just like, OK, I'm going to give it a try. It has no idea behind. I liked it and then I asked my Muay Thai coach if I can as well do a Muay Thai fight and he was like yeah, yeah, yeah, sure, and I did it and then yeah, here I am.
Speaker 1:That's awesome, your story is fascinating and so obviously you kind of fell into fighting. But was there anything that you wanted to do before you picked fighting, given the upbringing you had? Was there any career aspirations you had?
Speaker 2:No, that the upbringing you had Like. Was there any career aspirations you had? No, I First, as a child I did judo and I did a lot of competition, but I always wanted to do some boxing or kickboxing but for many financial reasons I never did. So it always been there but that's it. And when I started to work I realized very quickly that I would not work. I mean, the 9 to 5 are traditional. So I started to travel and to and then, I don't know, when I had this opportunity to train, it just clicked. I don't know what to say. I was like not in a shape. I was like you know, I was more doing party and using alcohol and drugs at that time. So the training it was like very hard. Just even running in the gym was hard. But I don't know, maybe because it was that hard that it kind of clicked, I was like I will never stop to do it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that it's cool to hear how you got started. So, still being in that time, what was some of your favorite memories from when you first started?
Speaker 2:that's gonna be weird to say so. But, um, I was in romania, right, uh, training at first with some very big dude. I was the only woman I had like a fine care called a lot of piercing and you know, I because I had no physical condition, I think no one took me even serious. You know, because I had no physical condition, I think no one took me even serious. You know, like people was like, yeah, maybe she's going to train for two or three times and I was really this kind of woman that no one wants to train with because I was not in shape. I had no knowledge about nothing.
Speaker 2:But this is exactly in my head. I was like I want to be to a certain level that everyone wants to train with me because I'm that good and I want to be at that level that I'm kicking the ass of everyone in the gym. That was first like what I had in mind. I was not even thinking about training or fighting. I mean, I was not even thinking about one day I would fight. I was just like I want to be better in the gym, one of the best in the gym.
Speaker 1:well, I can say firsthand that you achieved that because, like no, I ended up here honestly because one of my one of my friends recommended specifically you and so far I can say with like full acknowledgement, you're my favorite, favorite person I've trained with so far. Thank you very much. No, like legendary, legendary. I appreciate it Absolutely. So at the very beginning, when you were talking about how, hey, you weren't in shape yet, you didn't really have any of the skills. So those are a couple of challenges, of course. But then, like, how did you even get yourself to a level to somewhat start even thinking about amateur fighting? So what were some of those challenges?
Speaker 2:well, I don't know, at that time I, except like being in shape and having like a little level, I I didn't see or perceive the things like challenging. It was just like into the flow, like you know, because I didn't know that I can be good, that I can have a shape. Because, you know, at first, you know, you think, okay, I'm going to have a little shape, but I did not quit smoking, drugs and alcohol, I was still doing my thing. So, you know, it was just like, yeah, I'm into the flow and I'm enjoying the things. So, and when I left Romania and went back to France, maybe the biggest challenge for me was to find a gym that I liked, because you have many gyms, but it was so different than from Romania. And when I found a very good one, I was so happy and every time nothing was really challenging.
Speaker 2:At that time it was just like enjoying what was happening.
Speaker 2:And then when I asked for the first competition, when I did the first Bejiji even though you know I had a lot of stress, because no one wants to get to a competition and lose it, you know, but it was just fun. Somehow I had a little bit of pressure, but it was just like I don't mind if I, I don't mind really much the end result, I just want to do my best, you know. And when I had my first Muay Thai fight, I had a lot of pressure, because it's different, the ring, you know, it's not like you have a mat you can tap out. I mean, it depends on the mentality, but that was not the mentality. So what was challenging is I did a shitty fight, really like some amateur can do. Sometimes you could even say it's a draw. And it was a shitty fight and I knew I could do a hundred times better. And this is exactly why I asked to fight again after that, because I was like there is no way I'm fighting again like that and I never did a shitty fight like this.
Speaker 1:I guess everyone I've talked to has said that their first few fights are all like that right, because you have to sort of figure out everything A hundred percent. I mean, I'm still new to this. I've only had a couple, especially nowhere near your caliber, and my first one I just remember freezing and my coach was like just jab, and I remember fully yelling what the fuck is a jab? Because I was so panicked and so I can imagine to me, as long as it resembles the sport, it's a win, because then you can build from there.
Speaker 1:It's an introduction, okay. Now we're going to move forward to actually into the fight line. Let's talk about life as an amateur athlete. Yeah, so, at the very beginning, what are some of the realities that amateur fighters face?
Speaker 2:so at the beginning it was still in France. I'm going to talk about my, of course, please, it's easier. So at that time I was still making money by everything's left, right, whatever, and you know it was amateur, so I didn't have to train so hard, but I was anyway already training very hard, like twice, even sometimes more than twice a day, because, I don't know, I wanted to be like good, but I had no money pressure because it was just like I still had some time to make some cash side. And then, after a few fights and good results, I decided to move to Thailand. But I was still, like you know, in this transition between amateur and professional. So I moved to Thailand with just a little saving of money.
Speaker 2:But at the beginning I didn't know, I wanted to stay in Thailand. So I arrived and after two months my actual coach, the Charlton that we have, uh, he was like, ah, you could stay here and we could build your career to, to get to the world championship. And I was like, yeah, okay. So I call my, yeah, okay, so I call my my flatmate and I say, okay, you know what, you can just throw everything that I have away or burn or whatever. I will never come back and I never came back and I had just a little of money. So at that moment I had to find money to be able to stay.
Speaker 2:Because let's get back almost nine years ago in Thailand, most of the women's fight was not on TV, so it was only on small stadium and the purse was really, really little, even for a good level, and I was not even at that level. So my purse was like in between 1500 baht and 2005, which is, uh, 40, $40, something like this. So it was even for Thailand. That's not enough for a living right. Even at that time I was paying the gym and etc. My flat. So I had to figure it out because I was at this level.
Speaker 2:I wasn't doing amazing, very visible flights, so I couldn't find any sponsors. So I rent a house with a lot of rooms and I make a guest house for fighters. So people were paying the room and I was cooking for all the fighters. So that's how I was able to fight probably twice in between twice and three times the amount to make a little bit of money. And then I was cooking and dealing the guest house. It was not a lot of money, but enough to survive.
Speaker 2:Then I was getting better and better and making some results and I was at that time very lucky to find a amazing sponsor that gave me like a one year money to be able to live for one year. That was good. So I was still having the same money, like maybe 2500 baht a month a fight, but at least I had this money and plus to help me to carry on my my future right. Yeah, but if, if at that time I wouldn't have like the meeting with this private clinic in france that gave me a lot of money, it would have been very hard to to be able to perform, because it was I was cooking twice a day for the fighters, I was cleaning the. You know, I was just cleaning this and training like crazy, because at that time we were training like literally in between six and seven hours in the gym twice a day. It was hard as fuck.
Speaker 1:So it was, uh yeah, intense absolutely to summarize, then you were your first job is to train, especially if you're you know you're at the beginning of your career, you're trying to develop a name for yourself, so you're fighting all of the time and then you're trying to find different ways of making money. So you had a small amount of savings. You came with yeah, but then it's like and especially nine years ago was still, you know, different like right now we have a little bit more explosion with online resources. But then you are creative. You're like okay, what are my skills? Like you mentioned before, you're a really good cook. Great, what's practical, what are my skills?
Speaker 1:And you sort of built a small community and brought in some funds and then you started to outsource because it's not sustainable, you're going to get exhausted. And then you built a career enough that you were able to get sponsors exhausted. And then you built a career enough that you were able to get sponsors. So, before we talk more about that, uh, you mentioned a few different pieces of advice for amateur fighters. So how do they, how do they even get to the point to have a conversation with sponsors? What are your recommendations for building their name? How many fights should they do?
Speaker 2:like, please expand on that so the thing is at that time, um, I was a friend who came from France training with me and she was staying in my guest house and she was saying like yeah, you know, actually, if you find an association that can help you because in France that's how it works If you have a company, you need to pay taxes every year, like everywhere in the world have a company, you need to pay right taxes every year, like everyone.
Speaker 2:But instead of giving the money to the, to the state, like for the tax, you can give like 60 percent to an association for whatever, like sport or for cooking, whatever. And she was like maybe you should try to reach to some people where you just summarize in a project, well, like who you are, what's your story and what's your goal, what you are aiming in the career and what you need to aim your goal. So I did like a huge folder and then I started to send to some different people, and then I got to send to some different people and then I got a very like a positive answer. So they give like the money to as a gift to an association and then I get back the money. And so this company paid only 40% of tax because 60% was given and anyway this money is supposed to be give to the state. So it's even nicer like given because you have to pay those taxes. But instead of paying the tax to the state, you can give it to people that need it for whatever reason.
Speaker 1:So, yeah, that's creative.
Speaker 2:So you reached out basically for a win-win yeah, you need it somewhere yeah, so and again, it's anywhere money that they have to give. I mean, if you can choose in between giving your money to the state or to a nice project, what would you do if you have to give this money anyway? I mean, the choice is easy, right, yeah?
Speaker 1:but that was that worked, because you reached out and you put yourself out there, right so if you're at an amateur level, there's a lot of pressure on you if you're trying to grow because, like the finances trying to train, you had charlton, I guess, from the beginning. But if you don't have that relationship with the coach, it's like how are you getting, how are you getting fights? How are you getting paid?
Speaker 2:exactly yeah, yeah and uh, I mean I was lucky because charlton, we always had like a very trustable relationship and he's really clear with money and everything. But I mean many gyms, uh, they don't tell you the truth about what you are like winning as a, and they already take a certain person before to tell you oh okay, then that is your person, I take 10% or 20%. So maybe at the end the guy the gym takes 40%, saying they only take 20%. This is in many places like this in Thailand, especially when you're a foreigner, because they suppose that you have more money to be able to come and to train and to pay the gym. So I mean, with Charlton it's never been like this. I mean it was always clear. He showed me the screenshot, the conversation with the promoter.
Speaker 2:So this is also super precious. When you can't really relay on your team because you have some doubt, this is also like kind of a parasite, you know in your brain. When you don't have to, when you don't stress about how that maybe is kind of, uh, taking money on my side, you know. You know what I mean. It's kind of a shitty relation. I never had this. So this, for that I'm I'm super grateful, that's awesome yeah, I can imagine.
Speaker 1:I've had other conversations where it's like that is an added pressure. It's like you're already trying to train. It's already hard enough.
Speaker 2:You're trying to survive and then like the relationships around you either support you or break you down and it's like added mental load that you don't need as an athlete, but I mean when, when you are training in Thailand, you would meet a lot of fighters that had horrible stories with them, Like really, this is not like a very exceptional story. Like you would meet a lot, a lot, a lot of people, especially people that have been around a bit.
Speaker 1:There is a lot of nasty stories, like really, and when you don't speak a language, I mean it's also easier to, yeah, to follow you right, and that's some of the negative sides, for sure, that we don't always talk about, because there's like a glory to being a professional fighter, but I think people forget the layers of crap that you may.
Speaker 2:Yeah you have to go through and I mean, uh, I don't, I, I can't say, I can't really compare with the, with the rest of the sport, because I only did, like uh, boxing or muay thai or whatever, but the level of the crap is extreme, like really uh, I don't know how it is for the other sports, but I had like, since my amateur journey crazy story like even a friend was telling me if I would have witnesses what happened to you, I would not believe it, that is true.
Speaker 2:And I was like, yeah, and I'm not the only one, I mean just like one in the middle of hundreds thousand people, yeah, anyway.
Speaker 1:Do you think some of those were just just just the layers of being an amateur athlete, as a foreigner, or also because as a female athlete?
Speaker 2:No, because you know what? Even now, I'm a professional. You think when you reach to the level of being professional, it's going to be less, maybe less creepy, less crappy I don't know how to say but believe me, even from very big, famous promotion, they are really literally acting like groups. I don't know that's the word Crocs, crocs, yeah, I mean, it's really the. You need to understand that it's a business fix and it has money in this business, but nobody wants to share the money, so you have like you are like a fish, uh, in the middle of shark, so you need to really protect your ass and be well surrounded because, uh, yeah, it's nasty work, like boxing, and it's not about being a.
Speaker 1:It's like in every level yeah, we'll get into the higher levels in a second, but so the players you were talking about were, you know, from managers to the actual gym, to the promoters, matchmakers, the matchmakers. So there's a lot of moving pieces.
Speaker 2:Because everyone wants a part of a slice of the cake, right. But some people are really not honest and you know they don't mind, like uh uh, stealing from fighters. Really many, many actually and and it's.
Speaker 1:It's unfortunate because this events wouldn't happen without them, without the fighters, but, like you mentioned, there's volumes of people trying to make it, so they're like next fish?
Speaker 2:yeah, you don't want you, you don't agree with those shitty condition. Oh man, it's like thousands of fighters in the world.
Speaker 2:So next, and sometimes you must accept things to be able to later say no, because that's your, uh, that's your recall, that's the, that you are the fighter, so you don't have to each hit anymore, but sometimes you can't so pick your battles yeah, but it's also, I would say that's where a good manager is kind of driving you, like sometimes you must say yes to some things and sometimes you must say no, but as a fighter you don't really know what's the best sometimes for you. So a good manager will just drive you where the best is for you as a fighter, for long journeys, long careers, journeys.
Speaker 1:That makes sense. Not just the manager, but the support network that you need so you can focus on the fighting part. Because if you have to wear all of the hats at the same time, they aren't. No the mental load that that takes but it's also to be to be.
Speaker 2:If you are your own manager, promotion don't take you seriously. It's like you go to a, a trail and you have no, uh, lower right. You are defending yourself by yourself. What do you think the judge thinks so? Do you think like you need sometimes, I mean, even if you have the best speech, la la la, sometimes it's just like the way it is. You have to right. So, yeah, you need for many promotion. You're going to get fucked up in a way or another if you don't have any manager because that's the way it is.
Speaker 1:So I mean you already started talking about it, so let's dig deeper. You've had your life as an amateur and now as a professional. For many years Did some of those challenges at the beginning stay, or what has shifted? So we we talked briefly about you know, the finances, the support, the frequency of fighting like what are those elements that have changed and how is your life now as a professional amateur?
Speaker 2:so compared to a mature. So, first of all, the main mentality through the world about women fighting changes. So now people are craving about women fights, so you can see a lot of fight on tv, which means the purists are really better. So this is the first thing. And because it broadcasted a wide world, then you can be seen by many promotion and make yourself seen by the rest of the world. So this is the big thing.
Speaker 2:So, obviously, because my level I am like, uh, in a high level, uh, I have better bursts than than I used to have. But, okay, back in the days I was fighting a lot like a lot, a lot, a lot, a lot maybe, as I said, like once I fought in 35 days five times, which is insane. Nowadays I'm not doing any more Muay Thai, so I switched to MMA and it's a fucking pain in the ass to find a fight. So it's not only because it's Asia, thailand, but it's also because it's like in boxing they want to have like a perfect record. So many women don't accept to fight you because they're afraid of blah, blah, blah. So it's like so now, okay, let's say my purse are better, but I'm fighting less, like maybe sometime I think last year I maybe fight two or three times in a year, so my purse are better. But at the end, like, because you must understand, like I only get money because I'm fighting, I don't get like a salary because I'm training, right, I don't have so every month. I'm like everybody else. I have to pay my rent, my food if I want to have some extra fun or whatever. I mean I'm like everyone, right.
Speaker 2:So if I, to my level, like, let's say, if you get like three thousand, between three thousand and five thousand euros or dollars, it's not to be a good purse. But if you fight only twice or three times a year, it's like okay, maybe you make in between ten and twelve thousand dollars a year. Yeah, I mean who lives on that? Right? I mean I'm not saying you cannot, because I'm living on that and I mean I'm not the only one and I I'm not the the baddest person who gets money, right, I'm still having like a good purse compared to many fighters I gave you even know, like world champion in the biggest promotion that get really bad first, like you would think how they get maybe 25 000, I don't know, they really get like shitty purse, but because, whatever the reason. But so the thing is I can see improvement in many ways, but in other like the money issues is still the one like I'm struggling with the money issues.
Speaker 2:Okay, when I'm fighting only twice a year or maybe three times a year, if I don't have fight, then I can't promote myself for sponsor, because what am I going to sell? Like just my face or my nice way of talking? No, that's not what the sponsor they like. Most of the time, sponsors sponsored you because you make result, you I'm not talking about the end result, but just uh, okay, you have a fight, you can promote the brand, you can promote while you are training. But if you don't have this, so it's harder to find. So you only find sponsorship for like, maybe for a fight, like for the camp.
Speaker 2:But how many fighters at the toughest level do we know are sponsored by the biggest brand, sport or whatever in the world? Like, how many fighters are sponsored by Cocaca-cola or nike, or not much. So that means uh, even if you are top of level, you won't get like a monthly salary by a sponsor. So most of the sponsor, they sponsor you because they like you as a person, as a fighter, or they like your journey, your character. But, being honest, most of them they're not going to make any money out of they, just sponsor you, they help you.
Speaker 2:But okay, maybe the brand is going to be seen on TV et cetera, but I don't think they have so many feedbacks from that. I don't think they get so many money unless you are already as a sponsor, like coca-cola, nike, whatever. So, yeah, it's a hard circle. I mean because if you don't want to work on the side, like I do, because I don't, I don't want to work. First of all, I mean, don't get me wrong, I my, now my, my sport is my job. But, uh, I don't get me wrong. Now, my sport is my job, but I don't want to do something besides, because I know I won't have energy enough to train and to perform during the fight or during the training. Right, I'm going to be too much divided inside while I'm working.
Speaker 1:So yeah, For sure that part, especially because, as a professional, at this point it is your job. You're a professional athlete. You're literally eat, sleep, train, repeat. There isn't time to be able to execute some of the other things. And so if you are working, you're sort of straddling two worlds where you're exhausted all the time but you can't be at your best at either of them. You're exhausted all the time but you can't be at your best at either of them. And we were talking about seasons. So you live here, but I know you have some colleagues and peers that do the whole seasonal thing. Well, they go back to France or Canada or wherever they're from, and then they'll just do whatever they have to do to make as much money as possible and then come back, which I understand.
Speaker 2:For financial purposes. But what are some of the downsides to that? If for your fight career specifically, if you do that, that means, uh, if you are in your peak of your physical I mean not of your career, but on your physical if you stop training for six months to make, to save as much as you count money, then you got six months when you don't perform because you are just working. Then you get back to thailand, uh, for a year with the money saving. But you need to get back in shape. So why, uh, this time you're making money, you cannot.
Speaker 2:I mean you can try to find sponsors for the future, but it's really hard when you don't make any, any, any fight, any training. I mean, of course people can help you, but you know it's just this circle. So that means maybe for a year, but when you have a fighting career it's short. So let's say, maybe you're going to fight for 10 years, but if you take off almost one year every two years to make money because, let's be honest, if you start around 18 or 20, in one year you're not going to be able to be one of the toughest fighters in the world. So that means maybe in three, four years. But, as I say at first you need to eat shit like you're not going to make money, so you need to have money on the side. So if every two years or every year you come back for six months to make money and then you get back in shape, this is so wasting time In a career. It's a wasting time that you can't get back.
Speaker 1:It sounds really disruptive because you're, like you mentioned you're in this cycle like a hamster wheel and I'm curious, I am a little gerbil like a hamster wheel, yeah, and I'm curious, I'm, I am a little gerbil and hamster wheel. Uh, I'm curious as you're describing the finances. How is this for your head space? Because, like, mindset and mental health is really really important first of all, just, you have to have another level to get to actually fighting, but just just the basics of goal setting for anybody doing sports, like how do you maintain any level of motivation, motivation or consistency when you have all these disruptions, if you have?
Speaker 2:but personally, I mean, I cannot speak for other, but I, I also have my own belief, like I'm always thinking, trying to be positive and to trust life. Just, it sounds whatever it sounds, but it's true, because in my life I always had like, when I was at this border, like I don't have any more money. How do I do like, suddenly, either an id came up which helps me to make money, either money came up by a way or another. So I I kind of I decided just to trust uh, life. But yeah, okay, sometimes I cannot sleep because I'm like, but I don't like this because I mean it's, it's gonna sound super simple, but it's true. If you don't have any money, or not enough money, the fact that you are thinking about it for hours doesn't change the situation of that you don't have money. So very often I'm like, yeah, don't fucking waste your mental about that, but there is a point there and you need to act right. So that's where I mean you need to be a little genius to find things little genius.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you're a little genius, well, you get creative with it. And then, um, yeah, I guess. I guess it still means like, try to find something that's sustainable, because if fighting, especially at a pro level, is your top priority, you can't be pulled from all sides. You're finding a way to make sustainable money so that you could actually focus on the training. Because if, like for you, like, I love that, that you have that positive outlook. But, like you said, there's some realities that, no matter how positive you are, it's like well, I still have to eat, and and if you're not and this is the reality of some fighters, where you know you're in that survivor mode, how are you supposed?
Speaker 2:to. I'm in many fighters like, uh, me, I used to cook for fighters, yeah, but then I don't know, I kind of lost it because I don't know, yeah, online getting older, so it's just making me more tired to cook and do what. So I mean I know I have talent for different things that I can propose like I could be, like I could teach muay thai as a private book. I could also make like a real sport massage, because I have also I'm gifted for that. But some of the fighters that I know that stay in thailand.
Speaker 2:They are doing like stuff on the side, like we got this fighter here who is giving a lot of pp, but I mean I'm sure he's kind of exhausted because he's training like a, like a beast, for two hours and then you know when, when we all go to eat and rest, he has to give maybe two hours of pt because he needs to make money. And I mean it is exhausting, is exhausting when you're old farts, when you have to be focused and when you want to give quality time to someone that pays you to learn something. You cannot just be like and watch your phone. You need to give quality things right, and so that means for two hours. He's not resting, he's not eating. You know, he's just like trying to survive. I know other fighters that they were doing pictures like modern pictures, but that's more money. I mean, at the end it helps them to survive. But we are only talking about surviving, like being able to train and to eat and to pay your rent, no extra, nothing.
Speaker 1:You know so which the question I have now. So my brain, obviously, as you know. So what's the question I have now? So my brain, obviously, as you know, I always think the other extras like it's like hey, performance, nutrition, uh, recovery, right, which is, in this world, luxuries if we're talking about surviving, but if you're trying to really perform as an athlete, part of the conversation. So then I'm especially in a sport that is um, full of risk. What is? I don't know if you face this, but what are some realities of athletes when you have things like injuries and needing doctors and physios, like how do you navigate the stressors of that?
Speaker 2:yeah, that's what happened to me lately, like I had a injury that, uh, with this injury I couldn't. I was able to train a bit, not the way I wanted, but I couldn't fight because that would have just made it worse. So, like, uh, for three months I couldn't accept anything. So I had to pay everything because I don't have insurance. So that's a personal choice to not have insurance, I'm not gonna complain about that. But uh, so you have to pay like the full price of everything, but that's that's what I had to cancel fight that could have helped me a lot with the money and blah, blah, blah.
Speaker 2:And then that's where I realized like, oh man, like maybe my next fight is in six months. I just ending money and I don't make any. So that's the moment I need to, to work, to find something. And uh, but at the same time I really don't want, because it's like I just want to train, I just want to do my job, right, but it's so when I'm saying this I want to sounds like someone complaining because I anyway I choose that life. I mean, no one is forcing me, but it's just like I, while I was thinking all of this lately, I just notified like it is not about the who you are in the sport, because I, I just noticed that many, many top fighters are kind of struggling in a way or another as the or they don't make, they don't save any money. It's like, okay, they are capable, like me, to leave to do, but we are not saving money. So, uh, if tomorrow I, I have an injury that stopped me forever, it's kind of, oh, I have to start over to make money from something else, you know. So it's just.
Speaker 2:Sometimes it's uh, it's either way. Sometimes it gives you a lot of energy. Okay, I'm gonna, I'm gonna make it. I'm gonna, because this is also we need the heart, because if everything is easy, then there is no motivation. Right, of course, it's give a motivation, but sometimes it's also discouraging. Just like the fuck, this, this sport, it has money. How can it be like we are so many fighters in a high level that don't make so much money? I mean, and again like, because I know many people in the sport like I can, I know some fighters in the very toughest that they don't make, uh, so much money either, and you're like well, so when and some of that is unknown to the public, of course, because, like there's a lot of assumptions, people just assume, like when you're a pro fighter but there is also a taboo, I mean.
Speaker 2:I mean while I'm talking, you know it's a kind of shame things, because the point is not to sound like this is very, because I'm not, this is very. They still love what I'm doing, like I would not change my lifestyle for nothing, you know I. But it's just, it is a like a taboo, because, yeah, money is always a taboo, and I mean when, when you are like uh, when you achieve so much in your sport, uh, you want to say that you are making your life uh good, but when it's not the case, there is a little shame like that's why, also, we don't talk. But this is why so many fighters has to do things on the side, like and, yeah, I think now the pay with a woman is more uh, we are not still the same, but it's more like uh, equal than it used to be, like um, because I know what my teammates are making and I, I know what I'm making.
Speaker 2:So I would say like back in the days, yeah, it was really unfair, but nowadays it's more equal. So it is not about gender things now anymore well, that's positive.
Speaker 1:So that's one thing that's grown. But then the reality still that even as an amateur or as a pro the majority of athletes, unless there's a few in the top percentage you're still in that survivor bubble where you're trying to figure out, like how do I fund this life? And there is not that it's like you mentioned complaining. You know every single choice we make has some pros and cons and like these are the realities you're facing. So there is no like you know it single choice we make has some pros and cons and like these are the realities you're facing. So there is no like you know it's not a complaint, it's reality.
Speaker 1:And the um, the shame part. That part breaks my heart because it's like we have made so many things a stigma, especially in athletes, where it's like you're supposed to have all of these things figured out just because you're good at a certain sport, but like you're still a person and you still need all of these resources and it's like you're allowed to have guilt and shame and have other conversations and it's like being able to rely on your teammates when you told me that, uh, it's not only in boxing or whatever, it's on every level of sport this is horrible.
Speaker 2:But you know what was my first thought? It was not like how this is horrible.
Speaker 1:I was like, yeah, at least it's like I'm every sport I'm not the fucking only one, fair enough, because I I can imagine that, being a pro fighter and knowing what it takes, like you're, you have to, you have to put on blinders to focus because you can't you can't be paying attention to everything all the time.
Speaker 1:Like you're, like, hey, I literally have to fight for my life because there's a danger to this sport.
Speaker 1:Um, but that, looking at it from across the board, like, yeah, it's like all athletes, regardless of their sport, they're facing similar challenges because there's all these fundamental things of being human first, like you're navigating your obligations, travel, your upbringing, your mental health, your physical health, like gaining different stuff, and then you have the sport and then you have all the politics, the administration of every single sport. Yeah, but the, the shame. But what's unique to fighters is that you are tough, like literally, as you said, like you have to be, like there's, there's a way of training where you have to do some crazy crap because, like, there is serious consequences if you're not prepared. But it's also created very tough people that sometimes will put on that you know that shell that won't necessarily will have the shame and they'll internalize it, won't seek support, won't get the help, from my experience anyway. So like do you relate to that and have you noticed that in your peers, where they'll try to fight the war world by?
Speaker 2:themselves yeah sure, but uh, I mean that's, I mean, I that's what I'm doing anyway, so that's, that's uh yeah, yeah, yeah 100, but I mean, it is what it is, the world is.
Speaker 2:Uh. I mean you can cry about the state and the shape of the world, right, but it doesn't gonna change that. So better accept it and just, yeah, do deal with that uh, the best you can, and uh, yeah, follow it, I would say, but again, it's just. There is a this balance. It's hard to find because for me I I really try to not complain most of the time, uh, about things that are unfair or fair. I try to avoid those where I just try to find motivation.
Speaker 2:I'm not only talking about sport, I'm talking about everything in general. You know are facing a situation. At the end, we don't mind if it's fair or unfair, it is what it is. So you have two types of person, right. The one type of person who is complaining, crying and saying, yeah, the world is unfair. Or the people who are like, yeah, let's use that as a fucking motivation and I'm going to use that to build something. So this is the mentality that I developed while living and so I took it like this as well for the sport. But there is sometimes like, right now, what I'm facing is because I switched sports and it's like I'm not fighting as much as I would like and it's like, ok, first time ever, not first time. It's like, oh, this is bringing me back like I was a matcher. So I need to to be more creative, not only just to train, because, yeah, I cannot, I cannot anymore, I just do that. So it's kind of yeah.
Speaker 1:I cannot. I cannot anymore. Like just do that this. So it's kind of I can't. Yeah, I can, you've had a really long career too. Like look reflecting on the past 10 years, and so I can. I can appreciate how, like the things you did at the beginning, you know some of them sure, we bring with us, but you can't go backwards because the whole point was to move up in level. Yeah, you would assume that when you move up in levels that you don't regress to a point yeah, that's what I felt like lately.
Speaker 2:This is kind of a confusing moment because normally you don't regress like this and I can't say my boxing level regress. So it's like it's just because I switched sports and then I have to prove everything in the new sport. But to be honest, I didn't expect that in MMA people are so picky about fighting. I mean, because my Thai mentality is when you reach the level that a promotion calls you to fight a very good fighter, you're kind of proud of that. I mean, you don't accept a fight if you are 100% to be smashed, because this is stupid. But if you are ready, this is amazing. You know, whatever the end result, promotion are not looking really about the end result. Promotion are looking about the quality of the fight, if it's entertaining, if it has heart, if it has action. But in MMA I mean, of course, course promotion are looking for that, but fighters and management are looking for the fucking perfect record. So they are all fucking picky about opponent and right it's you're.
Speaker 1:You're navigating different waters being in MMA now. But yeah, that's what I love about Muay Thai is that it has this like very different culture where there is like just growth, there's like celebration, like it's not necessarily obviously it's a competition, but it's more about the art, the art of a limbs itself, like the actual art of the sport, versus like who won, who lost, like that part isn't necessarily, yeah, as emphasized, especially being here.
Speaker 2:I guess, like it's more that, just like you you said, you learn it's an honor to even be considered being with some other fighters because at the end, of course, everyone is remembering only the result, but I mean the promoter, they are looking about the quality of the fight in itself. I mean, you see crazy. I mean the multi-fighters. Some have more than 300 fights. Of course they don't have a fucking perfect record, they maybe have a 60 loss or whatever, but if you are only looking about that, then so many fights that could be amazing for the crowd are missed, because if you only pick up the fight that you're sure to win 100% because of your perfect record until you arrive to the top 10.
Speaker 1:Right, yeah, sorry. Now you mentioned that you are facing, like you said, you're struggling, trying to figure out your way in this new sport and that you know you had an injury and the navigating sponsorships. So one other things we were talking about within barriers is obviously the change from nine years ago when you were cooking for athletes is that there is other things you could do to gain money but live this life we were briefly talking about. You know, we're on a podcast right now, so we're talking about technologies and monetizing. Um, so what are your thoughts on that?
Speaker 1:like a lot of I'm like that's such a loaded question where there is hold on, let me rephrase that so you have, like you know, some people that have to sort of rely on other creative ways, like you were saying, being a little genius, like cool, I'm going to monetize my instagram, make some extra money, but then like, how does? How is your relationship with social media technology?
Speaker 2:and like, yeah, so if I wouldn't be a fighter yeah, I would not have a phone.
Speaker 1:So I think that's fair enough summarize that throw the whole thing out well so yeah cool, yeah great.
Speaker 1:Summarize it yeah. So it's not for everybody. So some people can, and some people do really use the various technology tools we have to monetize and that's how they're creating, like you know, their cv and their. But at the same time, I think that's a lot to demand because it's still a full-time job. I think we've just named it something different. We forget how much emotional output and time we still put on some of these devices. I mean doing it. It takes a lot. People underestimate. Like just one episode takes me hours of editing, putting together, preparing, and so that's exhausting for other reasons, because you're just replacing one type of job with just maybe something else. But it still is the same loop we were talking about, where it takes away from your time of preparing and fighting and resting yes, it is.
Speaker 2:I mean, um, I'm not, uh, I'm not even close to uh, to the time you spend on your job, but, uh, just only having like ig pages and trying to, time to time, uh, just giving some information about my fighting career, but just also just entering to life a fighter, because it takes you know you're talking about, with the promotion, with your coach and everything I mean the time you spend on social media. It's already a lot for me, so, and it's already to me, a wasting time. That's what I'm feeling Like a wasting time that well, that's what I'm feeling like a wasting time that I I would never get back, neither so, and I don't like it. But now the thing is why I keep having this is, uh, I'm not complaining, it's just like nowadays, if you are a fighter, you need to sell yourself. Yeah, so you can't be like. Uh, if you want to reach like the best level, you can't be. You need to have like, at least time to time to post a reel, whatever, people need to know that you exist and what's your style, what you can sell the some fighters.
Speaker 2:I mean, I understand that, uh, you don't need to be the best fighter in the world to make money and be asked for the promotion just because you are kind of viral on social media. But again, you can't pretend to be a butterfly if you are a wasp, right. So I'm not going to force myself to do things on social media. I mean, it's going to be seen that it's fake, that it's not. I'm not good for that and I don't want to begin and I'm not going to pay to get to school for that. You know, I just just don't like that. So I'm using the minimum because it's a need for my career, but that's it.
Speaker 1:But even though I found it already too much honestly, I've shifted my relationship with social media a lot. So I started I have a comms and business degree and I started my life doing social media for my government department and I used to hate the personal side so much Similar things you said, but not even from the athlete perspective. Why are we on here? Why are we talking about this? And so what shifted it is? I started to see it as a tool instead of what I have to do and I'm like well for me, I would like to have very interesting conversations with fascinating people, and I started to sort of change my relationship with it.
Speaker 1:So I don't really care about a lot of things expected For me.
Speaker 1:It's like I've had the opportunity to meet people because of it and I can have cool conversations, learn their stories, and that's how I perceive it.
Speaker 1:So it's like what frustrates me sometimes is going down the rabbit hole of like at some point we've gotten so so playing that game that it took away from the essence that all I want is to learn someone's story, have a conversation and a tool that helps me connect the world, because, especially I mean we're in Thailand talking right now, you're from France, I'm from Canada and part of me even getting anywhere was because I started to just sort of reach out. So that's helped me and that's what I'm trying to do more because I actually enjoy the conversation part. So if I can play a role in helping like leverage, you know, like you were saying, every we have like team, so you have like Charlton, you have your resources and you can't be everything to everybody. But if you have your support network and if we can all help each other out and then leverage that community, then at least we can get more word out, support more athletes, because it's impossible to do on your own, that's exhausting.
Speaker 2:No, and anyway it's not. That is not even interesting, because I mean we are social humans. We are social people, so we need each other, and I mean sometimes it's nice to be lonely, but it's even nicer to do things with people that you like. Life is a journey. It's a more beautiful journey if you are surrounded by people, right?
Speaker 1:We've spent some time talking about challenges, so I want to you know you mentioned you're positive, so let's wrap up the end of our our hour together, but maybe talking about what you have to look forward to you're like oh, don't ask me that right now your face. So they're like okay, we won't go there, don't think about the future, everyone, we're here, right now yeah, what's exciting for you right now? What's driving you at this moment?
Speaker 2:wow, good question. I don't know, to be honest, I don't know. I I am in this moment, I'm like I don't know. To be honest, I don't know. I'm in this moment, I'm like I don't know what to do. How can I do some kind of? I mean I'm excited whatever is coming on my way.
Speaker 2:I know in maybe a month or two I will have a fight, so that's enough to excite me, but I think I kind of I am now at a moment that I feel there is a junction, so I need and have few direction and I don't really know what to do. They are all interesting, but they are all very different, so I need to take a decision kind of soon. Anyway, that's cool, I mean, because I don't know. I really think that what is the worst in life is when nothing is happening, at least, even when things are not going the way you want at first, at least things are open and this is the pleasure of life. I mean really, I was thinking about that while you interview me, like it was like yeah, maybe you're not very 100% happy with things going on right now, but at least things are moving, so yeah, yeah, enjoy that beautifully said.
Speaker 1:Yeah, the, the feeling stagnant and stuck is just a hard place to be, but if you're taking any step forward in any direction, at least you're going somewhere at some point. I mean, I'm excited for whatever you have coming up, but like you've built, like as a fighter, you've had an incredible wild resume already. So if that's what you continue building, great um, especially in MMA, because you're more into that now. But like everything else you've had from, like the coaching aspect, you know you can always go there and just that's what I've experienced the past three months being here.
Speaker 1:Like I'm not just saying that to know butter you up, but no, seriously, like you're very gifted and the part that I really appreciated was your passion for it because you can. You can feel the difference. Like you're, especially as a female athlete, that's, a coach, high caliber. There isn't that many high caliber in the sport, so that part was super exciting. So, like you know, I know you'll build from that and whatever you choose to do with it after whether you decide to follow up with social media or just, like you know, hire a bunch of people to follow, do things for you.
Speaker 1:I know you're going to build a lot. It's not just the ends, just because, like, if you like the fighting part, I mean like the athlete part after, it's like what do you do in the future? You've built a whole world from it. Like you said, no matter which direction you choose, it's going to be the right choice, like you mentioned previously, because the universe gives you what you can.
Speaker 2:Yeah, exactly, exactly, at least a hundred percent.
Speaker 1:So yeah, just enjoy that awesome so is there a last uh golden nugget or advice that you have for our listeners that maybe are aspiring at fighter's life?
Speaker 2:I think but it's not only for fighting or training. It's like the best advice I could give is, when you feel something and when you feel the urge to do the things, even if it sounds creepy, crazy for others, uh, if you feel that, just do it. That's it. I mean, I have a crazy lifestyle really. It wasn't easy all my life, but I had the feeling like even my closest friend or family they always say don't do that. Don't do that because they not because they did not believe in myself, but just because, uh, they don't know shit, they don't know you, they don't know what you're capable. If you feel something, just do it. Don't listen. Other and many people are just jealous because of not of your plan, but because of your courage to do things differently. So, yeah, do things to what you think I don't know I love.
Speaker 1:No, that's awesome. Take the courage, yeah, you know.
Speaker 2:Take the leap, yeah well thank you so much for your time this thanks to you and thanks uh to all the people that listen to no, honestly, it's a fascinating story and, uh, really, really excited that you shared it.
Speaker 1:Thank you, thank you. Thank you so much for listening and I invite you to please rate and share with your peers. It is with your support that I'm able to have these types of conversations, and it couldn't happen without you. Also, suri's Fight is coming up. She's accepting sponsors. If you liked her story, if your values align, please reach out. Her details are in the show notes. Thank you again. Catch you next time.
