Jessica Rakoczy has a chance at a double dose of history Saturday at The Ultimate Fighter 18 finale and though she has been living and training in Las Vegas for more than 12 years, her story is one Canadians can get behind.
The Hamilton Ont., native is set to face Julianna Pena in the finals of the women’s tournament and with a win she’ll become the first ever female TUF champ as well as the first “Ultimate Fighter” hailing from Canada.
Watch the entire TUF 18 finale Saturday on Sportsnet 360 starting at 8 p.m. EST and watch a bonus prelims on sportsnet.ca at 7:30 p.m. EST
Her path into MMA was unconventional and inspirational.
Rakoczy, 36, had a terrible childhood—her mother died when she was a teen and she grew up with an abusive stepfather—yet she persevered and thrived at the highest level of combat sports.
She overcame life’s early hardships to win multiple world boxing titles including the WBC Female World Lightweight Championship prior to making her MMA debut in 2009. It’s not often pro boxers successfully transition to MMA, and on paper her MMA resume is far from impressive.
But following the first two fights of her career—disappointing stoppage losses to Michelle Ould and Zoila Frausto Gurgel—she has shown consistent improvement through her individualistic training camps.
The single mother isn’t a member of any MMA team, instead opting to train with her coach—kickboxing champion Dewey Cooper—at his house or at the Mayweather Boxing Club, which is home to boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather, Jr. She also learns her jiu-jitsu at the gym of world champion Robert Drysdale.
Her path to the TUF finale was that of an underdog.
She was the oldest, smallest and least experienced fighter on the show, yet she finds herself one win away from a six-figure UFC contract.
“I’ve had boxing titles, but this is the best opportunity that I could ever have in the fight game,” Rakoczy told sportsnet.ca in a phone interview.
Rakoczy submitted Revelina Berto to earn her spot in the house and TKO’d veteran Roxanne Modafferi in the quarterfinals before beating Raquel Pennington by unanimous decision en route to the finals.
“She’s come around a lot,” her TUF 18 coach Ronda Rousey said. “I would say that she’s the most improved fighter on the whole show.”
Pena has opened as a 3-to-1 favourite, but if you think that will deter Rakoczy, think again.
TUF is a show that does more than develop talent and market the UFC brand. It affords athletes like Rakoczy an opportunity for a better life. Rakoczy teared up several times throughout the season when talking about her son, Jesse, whom she left with her aunt while the show was being filmed. She sacrificed time with her young child for the opportunity at hand and that can’t be overlooked.
The popular UFC reality show is a grind. No contact with family or friends for six weeks, no TV, no music, no cell phones. Only training, maintaining your weight and trying not to lose your mind while sharing a house with 15 fellow professional cagefighters. Making it through a stint on TUF is one of the most difficult things an MMA athlete can endure and Rakoczy being able to do all that while away from her son shows the mental fortitude she possesses.
“I know what it’s like to be a fighter and the sacrifice it takes,” Rakoczy said. “This has been such a blessing. It’s such a huge opportunity.”