See fighters with the moms in their corners

5月 09, 2010

Fighter moms suffer plenty, from driving their young kids to karate lessons to watching them get beaten up in the Octagon. But they also inspire, nurture and support like no one else in the world. In some cases, they're even the reason these guys go pro -- DaMarques Johnson's mother Kelly, literally made him learn to brawl.

In some cases, they're even the reason these guys go pro -- DaMarques Johnson's mother Kelly, literally made him learn to brawl.

"My mom got me in my very first streetfight ever in the 4th grade," she says. "A kid was chasing me home from the bus stop, and she found me crying and asked what was wrong. Turns out she worked with this kid's father, so she drives me to his house. His father answers the door and proceeds to get the ass-chewing of his life. Then she tells the dad that if his son is so tough, he should get outside and fight me like a man.

"I got an ultimatum from my mother: 'You can either fight him right now, or you can fight me once we get home.' Being that my mom was undefeated in her record against me at the time, I took my chances with the bully.' " The rest is history, with DaMarques going on to be a finalist in season 9 of TUF and scoring Knockout of the Night at UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi.

This Mother's Day, we've decided to showcase some of the unsung heroines of MMA -- the mothers behind the men who fight.