21 year
old Lucy Payne will be fighting in the biggest fight of her career when she
takes on Tiffany Van Soest at Lion Fight 10 on July 26th in Las Vegas. The fight will
be broadcast live on AXS TV and the winner will walk away with the Lion Fight
women’s world featherweight title. There has also been a little back and forth
talking amongst both camps since January.
Lucy was
kind enough to take time from her busy training to talk to Muay Thai Authority
about the upcoming fight.
MTA: Lucy
you have a big fight coming up against Tiffany Van Soest at Lion Fight 10. How
has training been going?
Lucy: Really great, I work lots as a beautician so can’t get into the gym as often as I’d like to but I am very focused for this fight, training very hard and really looking forward to my American debut.
MTA: There was some back and forth talking between your camp and hers before this fight. What lead to that?
Lucy: Its such a shame but it looks like I’m heading for a career where lying and corruption are writhe much like Julie Kitchens. In my opinion, to be beaten in competition isn’t half as distressing as the politics that go on before and after a big fight like this. I have seen and have copies of the emails that lost me the opportunity in January because I was “too tall” and I know for a fact that Nathan sent the emails to tiffany and everyone else who verbally attacked him about it so its obvious that telling the truth isn’t a priority with their camp as it is still being denied fully.
MTA: After her fight against Alexis Rufus Tiffany called you out, what were your thoughts when she did that?
Lucy: I was very pleased and respected her highly for it. Call outs are healthy for the sport and helps negotiate the best fights. Nathan and Julie always talked of America and how great the people were and how accepted they was out there, so I have always wanted this fight.
Nathan rates Tiffany very highly as a strong, skillful fighter and I want to test myself against the best fighters in the world.
MTA: What do you think about Tiffany as a fighter, any strengths and weaknesses you see?
Lucy: To be honest, I don’t do any checks on my opponents; I don’t read their fan pages or Google them or anything like that. Nathan has a game plan and that’s what I’ll go with. I’m a very disciplined fighter, train very hard and I will concentrate on making weight and performing well. Tiffany is an obstacle in my career and I intend to hurdle her to achieve my goals. If I fall flat, then so be it but at least I now have the chance to prove myself.
MTA: You will be fighting in Vegas and the crowd will likely be on her side. Does the crowd support have any type of affect come fight night?
Lucy: Not really, I would like a few cheers of support but it’s not important. My main worry is that I get to fight under the same set of rules as my opponent unlike Julie v Miriam where only Julie was told she couldn’t elbow downward but Miriam clearly wasn’t. This kind of mistake is not at all fair and I just want to win, lose or draw without controversy as I’m sure Tiffany does.
MTA: For fight fans not familiar with you can you let them know a little about yourself and your fighting style, what can they expect?
Lucy: I only train Muay Thai and have done since 14 years old so my style is purist to the sport, I have fought K1 style, but only at a higher weight so I’m not sure what my true strengths are under those rules. The American fight fans can expect a very tough fight with 2 outstanding females at world level under full rules, there will be action and there will be blood spilled.
MTA: You train with Julie Kitchen, how is training with a legend like her?
Lucy: Julie is a fantastic person inside and outside the ring, very professional and a fantastic sparring partner for me alongside being a true friend. She has now separated from Nathan and lives /works in Holland but is still involved heavily in the sport through “Enfusion”.
Lucy: Really great, I work lots as a beautician so can’t get into the gym as often as I’d like to but I am very focused for this fight, training very hard and really looking forward to my American debut.
MTA: There was some back and forth talking between your camp and hers before this fight. What lead to that?
Lucy: Its such a shame but it looks like I’m heading for a career where lying and corruption are writhe much like Julie Kitchens. In my opinion, to be beaten in competition isn’t half as distressing as the politics that go on before and after a big fight like this. I have seen and have copies of the emails that lost me the opportunity in January because I was “too tall” and I know for a fact that Nathan sent the emails to tiffany and everyone else who verbally attacked him about it so its obvious that telling the truth isn’t a priority with their camp as it is still being denied fully.
MTA: After her fight against Alexis Rufus Tiffany called you out, what were your thoughts when she did that?
Lucy: I was very pleased and respected her highly for it. Call outs are healthy for the sport and helps negotiate the best fights. Nathan and Julie always talked of America and how great the people were and how accepted they was out there, so I have always wanted this fight.
Nathan rates Tiffany very highly as a strong, skillful fighter and I want to test myself against the best fighters in the world.
MTA: What do you think about Tiffany as a fighter, any strengths and weaknesses you see?
Lucy: To be honest, I don’t do any checks on my opponents; I don’t read their fan pages or Google them or anything like that. Nathan has a game plan and that’s what I’ll go with. I’m a very disciplined fighter, train very hard and I will concentrate on making weight and performing well. Tiffany is an obstacle in my career and I intend to hurdle her to achieve my goals. If I fall flat, then so be it but at least I now have the chance to prove myself.
MTA: You will be fighting in Vegas and the crowd will likely be on her side. Does the crowd support have any type of affect come fight night?
Lucy: Not really, I would like a few cheers of support but it’s not important. My main worry is that I get to fight under the same set of rules as my opponent unlike Julie v Miriam where only Julie was told she couldn’t elbow downward but Miriam clearly wasn’t. This kind of mistake is not at all fair and I just want to win, lose or draw without controversy as I’m sure Tiffany does.
MTA: For fight fans not familiar with you can you let them know a little about yourself and your fighting style, what can they expect?
Lucy: I only train Muay Thai and have done since 14 years old so my style is purist to the sport, I have fought K1 style, but only at a higher weight so I’m not sure what my true strengths are under those rules. The American fight fans can expect a very tough fight with 2 outstanding females at world level under full rules, there will be action and there will be blood spilled.
MTA: You train with Julie Kitchen, how is training with a legend like her?
Lucy: Julie is a fantastic person inside and outside the ring, very professional and a fantastic sparring partner for me alongside being a true friend. She has now separated from Nathan and lives /works in Holland but is still involved heavily in the sport through “Enfusion”.
It’s
devastating for any of their close friends to have the knowledge that their
split was due to pressure, lies and politics surrounding the sport but it has
had no bearing on my training with either of them or Touchgloves gym in
general. I can only clarify what anyone who is a realistic Muay Thai fan would
say...Julie Kitchen is the true “Queen of Muay Thai”, some hated her for it and
built their successes by manufacturing a win either by bending the rules or
weigh ins to suit but the fact remains that no-one who beat her would rematch
her and yet she offered rematches to everyone she beat. As a world level
fighter, this says a lot to me and I am someone who is proud to follow in her
footsteps.
MTA: Can we get a prediction for your fight with Tiffany?
Lucy: If it goes 5 rounds then I guess Tiffany will win because she is signed to the promotion etc, etc, but I will be intending on a stoppage win regardless. I will do my best, if that’s not enough then I will congratulate Tiffany fully and get back to training whatever weaknesses I expose to her. I am 21 years old so have a massive future in the sport regardless of what my fight record becomes. Some people in Britain are insecure enough to use my losses as a 16 year old against me to promote themselves but in a way I’m glad I’m not undefeated as I have learned so much from my losses and improve from them. Julie and Miriam are 36 years old and still the worlds best so I have a few years to develop yet.
MTA: Any words for your supporters?
Lucy: Thank you so much for your continued support and thanks to my sponsor “The Allotment”. I am very proud to be in Vegas fighting on such a prestigious show for their version of a world title and I will bring my a-game to give the fans my all in the ring.
MTA: Can we get a prediction for your fight with Tiffany?
Lucy: If it goes 5 rounds then I guess Tiffany will win because she is signed to the promotion etc, etc, but I will be intending on a stoppage win regardless. I will do my best, if that’s not enough then I will congratulate Tiffany fully and get back to training whatever weaknesses I expose to her. I am 21 years old so have a massive future in the sport regardless of what my fight record becomes. Some people in Britain are insecure enough to use my losses as a 16 year old against me to promote themselves but in a way I’m glad I’m not undefeated as I have learned so much from my losses and improve from them. Julie and Miriam are 36 years old and still the worlds best so I have a few years to develop yet.
MTA: Any words for your supporters?
Lucy: Thank you so much for your continued support and thanks to my sponsor “The Allotment”. I am very proud to be in Vegas fighting on such a prestigious show for their version of a world title and I will bring my a-game to give the fans my all in the ring.
First off, best of luck to Lucy in her upcoming fight with Tiffany. It will be the toughest fight of her career and being a heavy underdog I admire her confidence. But I need to comment on the ongoing controversy involving Kitchen vs. Nakamoto. I work for the WCK and I was present at the rules meeting when it was explained that it was full Thai rules, meaning downward elbow strikes were legal. If they were not paying attention in the rules meeting when this was explained it can only be their fault. We have offered to make the rematch and Miriam's camp was open to it and Kiereon of CSA even posted that they would give the rematch. Given the fact that Julie went and fought for another promotion at the end of last year (and I hear she is retired) and that Miriam is currently under contract to Invicta a rematch at this time is not going to happen. If things change anything is possible. Now with this being said, I think Ms. Payne should focus on her upcoming fight and not worry about what happened in the past.
ReplyDeleteI'm very excited about this fight, huge props to Lion Fights for putting it on!!!
ReplyDeleteI also feel I need to comment on the Kitchen vs Nakamoto controversy. I'm a photographer and promoter of female fighters. I too was present at the rules meeting, stood right next to the Kitchens. I can confirm that Nathan Kitchen pulled Bob Chaney aside right after the meeting to clarify downward elbows. "Are downward elbows legal?", Bob said "No". I don’t for one minute think that anything was underhand, I believe Bob misheard "legal" for "illegal". Nathan definitely said "Are downward elbows legal?" and Bob definitely said "No". I asked Nathan why he asked, and he pointed out that they were illegal in the MPL and he wanted to be sure. I don't believe it was a wise move for Nathan to ask AFTER the meeting, especially as it's bitten him in the ass. As for a rematch, I think EVERYONE would LOVE to see that. Unfortunately Miriam's camp didn’t respond to any of the Kitchen's emails regarding the matter (probably due to MMA commitments).. But the Kitchen's wanted to arrange the rematch and just gave up waiting.
With all that said, I really hope that this whole controversy doesn't mar Tiffany and Lucy's fight, they deserve better than that, they are stars in their own right… and its now their time.
thank you rew for stating the truth about the situation.
ReplyDeleteit would not be to much trouble for bob chaney to come forward and admit this mistake as with regards to the rematch (which wasnt honoured) its done and dusted but the truth is important to me as julies coach and just because time has passed does not mean the situation should be swept under the rug.
i also fail to see how lucy is the heavy underdog having established herself with 20 wins and not once choosing her opponents to suit.
if this is dime a dozens opinion then thats fair enough, but someone who backs up liars like kiereon dosent really count anyway.
if lucy brings her a-game then tiffany is in for a shock and she will be the person who is boo hooing. nathan.