Michelle got her start in martial arts at 10 years old after watching her older brothers – her role models – fight. She fell in love with the art at an early age.

To Michelle, the sport was “BOTH POWERFUL AND BEAUTIFUL AT THE SAME TIME.”

Throughout her years of fighting – going on to perform at the UFC level – the sport taught Michelle how to stand up for herself, not just in the ring but in all aspects of her life. She admits her biggest struggle has been overcoming her own self-doubt – that fear we all share in one way or another – not being good enough. Learning how to harness the nerves she feels leading into a big fight and transforming them into energy has given Michelle an unbreakable confidence to be fearless in her art.

Becoming a mother in the middle of her career sent Michelle’s warrior instincts into hyper-drive! Parenthood brought an importance to her life pursuit like nothing she had ever felt before – and it made her stronger than ever. Michelle’s life mission is to show her daughter that dreams are worth fighting for! 

Having won – and lost – in front of millions of people, Michelle’s most important life lesson is to “LET SETBACKS BECOME THE WIND THAT STRENGTHENED THE ROOTS OF THE SOUL."