MEGAN ANDERSON
W
hen Invicta FC
featherweight Megan
Anderson journeyed to
America for her debut
fight in the promotion, she was given
a massive opportunity to further her
career when she was invited to join
Glory MMA & Fitness — located in
Kansas City, Missouri.
“The opportunity came through my
management at Posterboy Fighters,”
says Anderson. “I had planned to stay
for two-and-a-half weeks after my fight
on Invicta 14 and train at Glory MMA &
Fitness, as my management also manage
many of the fighters there — including
gym owner James Krause — so they
were able to set that up for me.
“While I was there, my work visa
ended up getting approved and they
then gave me the choice to either gohome or stay and train in Kansas City
full time.”
Anderson found herself at a
crossroads equal parts daunting and
exciting; go back to the comfort of
Australia and continue the training that
had got her as far as Invicta FC, or leave
everyone and everything behind and
move to the other side of the world.
“It was an extremely difficult
decision,” says Anderson. “It was made
even harder by the fact that I really
wasn’t able to properly say good-bye to
any of my friends and family face-to-face.
“I essentially moved to a place
where I knew no one. I moved into a
fighter house where I was the only girl
as well. I was living with people I didn’t
know and I now had to get to know
them and get used to a different way of
life and training.”For most people the thought
of turning your whole life upside
down would be too overwhelming a
challenge, but in a few short sessions
at Glory MMA & Fitness, Anderson was
convinced she’d made the right choice.
“It was a combination of how
welcoming everyone was at the gym,
the level of training, as well as the level
of athletes training there that won me
over,” says Anderson.
“My manager Scott Cutbirth and
James Krause really made me feel like
this was where I needed to be and that
I’d be a great asset to the gym, and I felt
that they can take me far in my career.”
Another factor that influenced
Anderson into making America her new
home was a disappointing debut outing
for Invicta FC. Considered the favourite
against Cindy Dandois at Invicta FC 14,In fighting, the heights to which you climb often relate less to your natural ability
than to the sacrifices you are willing to make. Talent alone may win you a fight, it
may make you the best fighter in your area or even your state, but to be considered
one of the best in the world, you have to be willing to sacrifice. In September of 2015,
Australia’s Megan Anderson demonstrated just how far she was willing to go to be
considered an elite fighter, leaving everything behind in her pursuit of greatness.
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