SO PROUD OF MALAYSIA'S ATHENA

I'd like to dedicate this post to one special fighter who displayed to the world that day what fighting your heart out meant. I've never seen anything like that and I felt her spirit that day. I am so proud to have her represent our country. Straight from my heart, this girl gets my full respect!

Ann "Athena" Osman 

Athena is the goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, warfare, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, and skill. After getting to know Ann, I understood why her coach gave her this name and I must admit, she lives up to the name Athena. Her spirit and commitment serve as a great inspiration to me and I am so proud to have known this lass.

I first met Ann when she came for a media workout session with all the Malaysian media in KL who were excited about our very first female pro-MMA fighter representing our country in the One FC cage. Ann truly is the perfect personality to do the promo activities because she is so bubbly and she speaks so well! Plus, she is such an angel, truly a kind person who has all good things to say about everyone, even her opponent. She doesn't trash talk but only gives motivational speeches.

I saw her train with her coach AJ Pyro and was just too impressed with her strength, but not so sure if she really has what it takes to win in the cage because I heard of how good Sherilyn Lim, Ann's opponent from Singapore is. And also, Sherilyn works in a gym, which gives her an added advantage. Ann might lose training hours because she has to juggle work still.

Then I was lucky enough to be given an opportunity to go to Sabah to assist in a documentary on Ann Osman. In Sabah, I saw how hard Ann trains and I was so impressed with how committed she is. Really. She juggles so many things in life it puts me to shame. She has training, her job, her boyfriend, her family... you really don't understand how some people do it. Geez...and despite the fact that it was so near to her fight, she still accommodated our shooting schedule and work with us on the documentary. That, I really appreciate.

So we spent a few good days with her and her gym mates, trainers and manager, Emily at the Borneo Tribal Squad. Love them all really. The energy disseminated from this team is really very positive and you can really feel their spirit burning every second you spend with them. It's a completely different vibe. AJ's training is hard and intensive, and he is a really strict trainer. AJ's serious face might cause people to misunderstand him but I think he is a damn good coach who gives his students NO EXCUSE to be lazy. He also ensures that they have just enough rest, but nothing more. From what I observed, the training routines he puts them through is really kinda nuts but I must say, they are really good for conditioning.

I also thoroughly enjoyed watching them train MMA and had fun joining in their Yoga (didn't know what I was doing trying those flexi stunts, putting myself in awkward positions that makes me look like a turtle), Box Chic and Muaythai classes. Ann was a machine and when I saw the way she was training, I really thought to myself that Ann might really have a good chance of winning.

Ann Osman and her coach, AJ Pyro, also a ONE FC fighter

Fast forward 2 weeks and Ann was weighing in and facing off with Sherilyn at the ONE FC: Total Domination weigh-in event last Thursday. Despite the stressful day cutting weight, Ann still looked hot when she made weight (easily). I have no doubts really that she could do it. Just the week before, she showed me what she's been eating - tuna and celery - for days. I am really not sure if I could do what she's doing really. She is a star!

Friday night came so soon and the entire stadium was cheering once the girls were on. Of course Sherilyn had home advantage with all the cheering but Ann, she fought like it was her last fight. I knew she was good during training, but that night in the cage, she still managed to shock me with her even more impressive performance. You know when one fights with "heart", people can see and feel it. I felt Ann's spirit that night when she was in the cage. She fought hard. She had done her awesome take downs, and she also managed to work her grinding when she was on top...

Their fight was so intense and both girls were so equally matched that they completed all three rounds and moved into the judges' scorecards. To be very honest, I thought Ann had it, because I was once told that "takedowns" would score a lot of points - not so much the injuries inflicted or the number of times one succeeded in overcoming a takedown. Plus, Ann did really well controlling her clinch. That was why I was confused and dumbfounded really when they announced that Sherilyn won because she had better ground and pound. Really? Okay, I guess it is not for me to judge since I don't know enough about the sport yet. But sorry, I can't help but feel that the decision is biased. And I was so upset really it was beyond words! I was also furious because Ann had worked so hard and if she really deserve the win, it is really bad to rob her off that victory just because her opponent had "home advantage".

There were a few sports journalists who thought Ann had it, but then some people also told me that it was close but Sherilyn did more significant punches and knees, which scores her points. Oh well, whenever it goes to the judges' scorecard, issues like subjectivity will definitely pop out. Whatever it is, I think for most of us, Ann had won. Just sucks that her record won't say so. And with all due respect to Sherilyn, I still think Ann fought with more spirit that night.

At the end of the day, we are just proud to have Athena. As a Malaysian, I feel so proud to have this lady represent my country that night. I seldom say this but I really admire this lass. Can't wait to see her next fight and the next time, I know she will be even better and will get back the win that she deserves! But don't let me tell you how awesome she is, see for yourself how she fought that night and tell me if she deserved the win! Click here to watch the fight.

If you are in Sabah, check out the Borneo Tribal Squad MMA Gym in which Ann trains in. They are a bunch of great people and their classes are fun! I had had the chance to be part of the gym for 2 days and I had a great time.

Borneo Tribal Squad MMA Gym

Add: Lot 2-3, 3rd Floor, Block I, Lintas Square, Jalan Lintas, Kota Kinabalu

Tel: 010-931 7869 

Facebook page: Click here