• Name: Marie Colangelo
• Age: 23
• Height: 5'2.5"
• Weight: 140 lbs.
• Training: MMA, Grappling, Boxing, Muai Thai, Judo and Wrestling.
• Strengths: Perfectionest & Independent
• Weaknesses: Food & Love
• Fighting Strengths: Determination & Heart
• Weaknesses: Dieting & Hard Headed
• Educational backround: I graduated high school a half of a year early (cause I'm so smart lol) in 2000. I took a year off and went back to a community college where I was planning on majoring in Photography. But I dropped out 2 semesters later cause I didn't realize in high school just how much I was right when I said I hated school. I'm just glad that my career now doesn't require anything more than a high school diploma.
• Occupation: I'm working in corrections, but looking to move over into DEA.
• Website: www.MarieColangelo.com

- Lacey Sachet/Team IronLife.com: You're never too old to finish a college degree.. if you think about it Marie, once you retire from fighting photography would be the kind of career keeping you in close contact with the fight world and you'd be getting paid for being there. What's down the road for you as far as future goals?

Marie Colangelo: No, school isn't for me. I've hated school from preschool through my senior year. I took a year off and went back thinking I might like it, but I was wrong. Photography has always been pretty natural to me so I don't feel a need to go back for that. Now I work for the sheriff's department in Detroit and am pretty content with it. I guess maybe one day you might see me up against the cage with a camera in my hands but it would be for the love of the sport rather than a job. As for the future, I'll tell you when I get there.

- I hear you.. I pretty much live in 'today' myself. As far as school goes, it's true.. you can be successful without going to college. Where were you born and what's your life been like up to this point in time?

I was born in Detroit, Michigan and raised in the suburbs just outside of Detroit. I talk to my parents a lot now that I'm living on my own and love them to death, but growing up, I was never close with my family. Everyone just seemed to have their own thing going on. My older brother and me were always left to take care of ourselves for the most part. We did what we wanted when we wanted. We got into a lot of trouble and loved every minute of it because we were free. Everyday at school was a battle. Before school, during lunch and even after, all I seem to do was fight. Sometimes I would even get caught up in the heat of my brother's battles as well. I fought my way through school, not because I had to but because I wanted to. Fighting has just always carried an interest to me. Once I hit high school, I smartened up a little and only fought when I had too. That's when I began my life as a fighter.

- Is your brother a fighter too?

Kind of. He did karate before. I think he got his purple belt or something. Since September of 2000, he's been serving in the Us Army in the 82nd Airborne. The only fighting he does now is over seas.

- That has to be tough on you knowing what's going on overseas. Your brother's a brave man.. I'll keep him in my prayers. You mentioned you had alot of freedom growing up. If you decide to have a family of your own someday, will you raise your kids differently and what's your personal philosophy?

Kind of but not totally. I'll give my kids all the freedom they want as long as it's not endangering their lives. Kids are going to do what they want and when they want regardless. The only thing I would do differently as a parent is to be there for them and show them right from wrong. I know they're going to drink before they're 21 and I know they're going to experiment with drugs. I also know they're going to have sex before they're 18. But one thing I will do is making sure that I'm involved in their lives and letting them know they can talk to me about anything.

My personal philosophy: I say to myself whenever something happens is that whatever happens, happens for a reason. This gives me hope if something bad or something painful happens, that it's only happening because something good will come out of it later on. It kind of falls into the same line as, "Sunny days wouldn't be special if it wasn't for rain. Joy would feel so good if it wasn't for pain".

- I think the most important thing to a child is knowing they have someone who loves them enough to invest the time into giving them boundaries and they feel protected. Do you have any other hobbies or unique interests other than fighting?

Usually fighting takes up most of my time, but from time to time, I like to get away for a day or two and just chill. During the winter, I like to snowboard a lot. I picked it up about 3-4 years ago and have loved it ever since. Photography is another interest of mine. I've just always been really good with the camera. Sleeping an eating have always been favorites too. Oh yeah, and I like going to the gun range too!

- What guns have you fired off so far?

So far all I have shot is a SIG 229 and a 226. Both pretty good guns. I'm sure I will get my fair share of firing off more as my career goes on. I don't know why, but I really want to shoot a bean bag gun. I think it would be pretty cool. I want to get hit in the body by one too. I know it would hurt like hell, but I still think it would be fun. I'm just sick and twisted when it comes to pain, haha.

- *lmao!* I've gone clay pigeon skeet shooting a couple of times and shot other guns too, but this one time some guy offered to let me try out his shotgun and I should have figured something wassup by the smirks on everyone's faces. The kick from that thing picked me up off the ground and I couldn't hear for days. It was like a cannon! Snowboarding fun.. I learned to snowboard a little during a ski trip to Utah a few years ago, mainly because I was afraid to ski their advanced runs with my friends. They've got REAL mountains out there! It was also the first time I'd been to a half pipe competition.. I've become a real fan it. Have you tried out any tricks or given the half pipe a go yet?

No, haven't tried any of the rails or pipes just yet. I was going to try them last time I was on the slopes last FEB but me and my friend ended up getting kicked out of the park before that could happen. For sure this coming year though I will be hitting them up. I've done basic jumps off of snow mounds but that's about it so far. I plan on being on my board this coming year at least every other weekend.

- You'd probably be good at surfing too. What sports (other than fighting) do you enjoy watching and just being a spectator?

The only other sport I can sit and watch is Hockey. But I think that's because there is a lot of fighting in it. I’ve never really been a big sports nut. If my hometown makes it to the championships, like the Detroit Pistons, then I will watch the final games of that. But other than that I don't really watch TV period.

- Now we're talking.. Hockey RULES! As a spectator, which fight style has made an impression on you?

I really like the stand up game because anything could happen at any time. Plus is has less stalling than the ground game and more opportunities to see blood. And everyone knows that the crowd loves to see blood. I can't really say that any of the styles have really left an impression on me though. What I do like, is when fighters get their opponent to fight their game. To me, that's talent and style.

- So you must have some favorites.. who's your five favorite female and male fighters?

Females: Tara Larosa (MMA), Jennifer Howe (MMA), Roxanne Modafferi (MMA)& Erica Montoya (MMA)

Males: Frank Mir (MMA), Randy Couture (MMA), Deigo Sanchez (MMA), Robbie Lawler (MMA) & Matt Hughes (MMA)

- Roxy is one of my favorites too. How long have you been practicing MMA, grappling, boxing, Muay Thai, Judo, wrestling and how long have you been strength training?

Grappling (10 years), Boxing (6 years), Judo (9 years), Muay Thai (2 years) and MMA and Wrestling have been a mixture of training and playing around with. Just got serious with them about (2 years) ago.

I been messing around with weights since I was a little kid cause no one told me any better. I started making them a serious part of my training my senior year of high school. So for about (6 years) now.

- Strength training should be taught in girl's gym classes starting in Junior year in high school so they learn first hand that it's important to do. Since you have a good feel for this given your experience, which form of MA would benefit the average women to learn for protection purposes?

Honestly, grappling/bjj. In most situations when a women needs self defense it's for an abuse or rape case. With knowing grappling/bjj she would be more comfortable on the ground and could stay more calm. This would give her a chance to catch a choke or break a limb giving her enough time get away.



- That makes alot of sense. What advice would you give a girlie new to fighting?

Just that its a rough sport but once you stick with it, it becomes part of your blood. Its addicting. Don't let anyone discourage you from doing what you want. Training is going to be hard and fights are going to hurt, but the high you get off it all pays off in the end.

- Okay, let's fantasize a little It's 10 years down the road & you've become the baddest female fighter out there. Of course you're a millionaire now. What charity do you think you would contribute to and why did you pick that particular charity?

A millionaire from fighting?? Yeah, it must be a fantasy. If I came across a lot of money, I would contribute to a Children's Hospital.

Do you really need a reason?

- Nope.. but, I will say that's really sweet of you. Fighting has always been a part of your life and you have it down to a science, but everyone needs someone to keep them motivated. Who motivates you to stay on top of your game?

I'm a very stubborn person. And there hasn't been any one person who has kept me motivated before. What motivates me is when people tell me I can't do something or I won't do something. I'm always the first person in line to prove them wrong. Since I've been with Eastside, I've calmed down a lot. My teammates push me hard and push me even harder when I get tired and want to stop. But they do it in a positive way rather than all the negative that I have pushed through in the past. And now, I'm more willing to listen rather than get mad about it. I definitely have to say that my team now is what keeps me motivated.

- What's your weekly training schedule look like?

Well, I train 6-7 days a week depending on if my body needs a rest or not. I don't look at my training schedule for the week but as each day comes and what I feel like doing that day. If I start to think of all the things I "have" to do, then it becomes a demand and it's not fun anymore. So I never really have anything set as far as what I'm going to do for the week. But here is a list of the things that I do when I work out: Weights, lots of conditioning, bag work, swimming, running, sprints, med ball, plyos and all my other drills and fight training I do with my team. There might be more stuff, but I can't think right now.

- Spontaneity keeps thing interesting in life.. I suppose training would get tedious doing the same thing week upon week after awhile. What's one piece of advice someone has given you regarding fighting that really stands out in your mind?

Relax and take your time. Back to the time I fought Leka. I was really happy and excited going into the tournament. And every time, I start to rush things. My coach at the time was sitting along the mat which I was competing on. He could pick up every time when I would start to rush. And every time, I would hear him telling me to relax and take my time. It helped a lot and I was able to and back down, take a breath and relax.



- It's got to be hard to be patient when all you want to do is get the job done. I was checking out your fight record at your website. Your Judo & submission fight records are very impressive and so are your list of accomplishments:

- Which of your past fights is your favorite and why?

There's a few matches that really stand out in my mind. One of my favorite judo match would have to be a match that I fought against a black belt. I was competing as a green belt at the time. I was really sick with strep throat for two weeks before the tournament. I was still pretty sick the day of the event but was determined to compete anyway. I went into the match and fought the best I could. Not really being able to breath and being really weak from being sick. I fought a really good match but ended up losing with a pin toward the end, but it didn't matter to me. For being as sick as I was, she went through a battle with me to get that pin.

The other one that really standing out in my mind was the last judo tournament I competed in for a few years. This match I was again a green belt going in and competing against a 2nd degree back belt. Never did figure out what came about me in that match. I was very aggressive and just kept attacking. I got a couple take downs, an arm bar that got stood up and even turned out of a couple of her throws. It was during one throw that I felt a sharp pain shoot across my upper peck and shoulder. I thought it might have been just a pulled muscle and continued to turn out of the throw and get back to my feet. I finished the match a minute or two later with an armbar. As I was walking off the mat with the gold medal around my neck, I fell to one knee is sheer pain. I ended up at the hospital with a fractured collar bone, and strained every muscle from my upper peck, over my shoulder and down the right side of my back. All that mattered to me was that gold medal that I wore proudly.

My favorite grappling match was when I fought Leka in the 2003 Arnold Gracie Championships. I came into the tournament as an underdog with no one knowing who I was. I went in with the determination to just have fun. I didn't care if I lost by points because I knew I was going up against the best in the world. I just didn't want to get tapped. I ended up surprising everyone that was there watching, including myself, by sweeping through my division like it was nothing. I met Leka in the finals. I went the distance with her with an ending score of 0-0 but with me leading with all the advantage points from various attempts and positions I had put her in. Before I knew it, the round was over and the ref was raising Leka's hand in victory. I looked just as puzzled as everyone else around me. Then out of no where, the crowed started booing loudly and swearing at the ref for his call. I was discouraged that I lost the belt and prize money that I earned but was immediately enlightened by the crowd's response to that call and felt a smile lifting my face as I was walking off the mat. I realized that I came into the event not knowing where I stood as far as skill goes and with no one knowing who I was. And in the end, I earned the respect of everyone that was surrounding the mats. It truly was a great feeling.

- It took a class act to walk off the mat accepting that with a smile. Something else happened to you recently regarding a scheduled fight that still has me shaking my head. You were conditioned and mentally ready for a fight scheduled for the KFC in Kentucky. Your opponent weighed in, but didn't show for the fight. Six other women were given the opportunity to fight you & all turned it down after seeing you. That has to be the crummiest thing in the world to have happen after you've put the time into training, traveling, and psyching yourself up for battle. Personally, I think anyone who is on a card to fight and backs out should have it go against their record as a loss and by giving their opponent the win by forfeit. Other than being disappointed, how much does it cost you financially when something like this occurs?

I was pretty bummed out but I realized that it's just something that happens. I was definitely more prepared for that fight than any other match that I have done. Everyone knows that fighting doesn't pay the bills. Luckily enough, our gas and hotel was paid for that weekend. The only thing that came out of pocket was food and well, having a good time.

- That's true, at this stage of the game fighting doesn't pay the bills for you.. so how do you go about obtaining sponsors? Do you approach them or do they offer?

Well, the thought of sponsors never really crossed my mind until the Arnold Gracie Championships 2003. I did so well during my matches, that I had sponsors come to me.

Bloodline Fight Wear and Female Muscle both wanted to sponsor me. Sad to say that neither of the two sponsor me now. After seeing that people were interested in me, I began to be more open minded with people. I put together a promotional CD with all my fight information and typed out a letter basically telling them who I was and what I was looking for. I send out 50-60 letters to a bunch of different companies each year. Some would reply back and some would not. Those that did, "Detroit Remedy" and "Full Contact Fighter" became my sponsors. "Genesis Nutrition" and "Real Fight Gear" I picked up through word of mouth from other people I know. I put out letters every year in hope of getting new and more sponsors. The hard part now is trying to find sponsors that want to pay out cash.

- It's like a part time job.. you just have to keep plugging and promoting yourself. What's on your fight schedule horizon?

I have a MMA fight scheduled for August 13th in the Kentucky Fighting Challenge. I'm suppose to be fighting another local chick. The next day on the 14th, there is going to be a pro grappling tournament held by the same promotion. I will also be competing that. August 26th I'm suppose to be fighting MMA in Texas. I haven't heard to much on it yet, but am sure things are going to pull through and I will be taking my first trip out to Texas. After these fights are out of the way, I want to fight at least twice more in MMA and finish out 2005. I also want to hit up Grapplers Quest in Las Vegas as well. I think 4 MMA fights and 3
grappling tournaments for this year is good for now. Next year will probably be filled with more excitement. I just got off to a late start this year.


- You mentioned in a previous answer that your teammates keep you going strong. What made you decide to represent the Eastside Combat Club ~ Team MASH?

I've always heard great things about Team MASH. All the guys on the team were pretty good friends and always stood by each other in training and their fights. Not to mention they are bad ass. I used to watch them train, but never took that step forward to train with them even though it was offered. For a while, I was floating around to different schools to get my training in. I finally realized that if I wanted my fighting to go any where, that I was going to need a team to back me. I got word that Brendan was going to be starting up a sister team to MASH. Once the team started rolling, I showed up and started training. Right away, Brendan and the rest of the guys took me in as part of the team. It was probably the warmest welcome I've ever gotten from a team before.

After that, I knew I was on the right mats with the right guys. And now, I'm a proud team member of the Eastside Combat Club.

- Brendan {Seguin} seems like the kind of guy that takes pride in the things he does. It's good to hear you put yourself in a position to benefit from that positive environment to train in. Good luck with your training and future fight endeavors Marie.
You got it going on!

~*~

Anyone wanting to follow Marie's fight career can check her out at her website or in the profighter forum {Lil Katia} at Ironlife.com.