‘Getting punched in the face is a walk in the park’: Hong Kong’s Ramona Pascual on training for her MMA title fight

Ramona Pascual will make history next Saturday when she becomes the first Hong Kong woman to fight for an MMA title. But the 28-year-old is hoping that her career in the cage ends up leaving behind a far larger legacy.

“Globally the sport is taking off, but in Hong Kong not so much,” she says. “When I tell women what I do they are concerned more than they are excited.

“That’s kind of the culture here – girls shouldn’t be fighting, or doing contact sports. They don’t like to have people come into their personal space much. Ironic given how crowded the city is, but hopefully I can help change that mindset.”

She’s doing a pretty good job, with a 2-0 MMA record that boasts two KOs.

Pascual will face Singapore’s Jennifer Leigh Norris (2-0) for the IMPI World Series title at the top of the card at Wan Chai’s Southorn Indoor Stadium. It will be the first time a local woman has headlined an MMA event in Hong Kong.

“The sport is still in its infancy here and it will take time,” says Pascual. “But events like this will show people more about the sport and the more success we have the more fans will come.”