With help from mental coach and new gym, Lateesha Mohl is a changed fighter
Lateesha Mohl has taken a liking to fighting. Despite not having a winning record, Mohl continues to battle through adversity, and put her best foot forward in search of that next big win.
I logged on social media earlier this week to discover that Mohl has accepted not one, but two fights, in just a matter of weeks.
With an amateur record of 1-6, Mohl has not tasted victory in mixed martial arts competition since April 2016. The 22-year old waitress has however twice found victory while competing in Muay Thai, and will return to the ring two times in the coming weeks.
Mohl takes on Brittany Giles this Saturday, November 17 for Revolution Fight Series. The fight goes down at the Winchester SportsPlex in Winchester, Virginia.
She then bounces right back, taking on Madelyn Grimaldi for USKA Fights on December 8 in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
I wanted to find out a little bit more about what makes “The Honey Badger” tick.
MyMMANews – Help me figure out your thought process in why you have back-to-back fights booked, not knowing really the outcome or what will happen in the first fight? Hopefully you escape without injury or any suspensions, but why agree to two events booked so close together?
Lateesha Mohl – “So how I see it is…. MMA fights, not that Muay Thai fights aren’t dangerous, but the rule set for Thai fights as an amateur, the likelihood of getting hurt is less than that of an MMA fight. I feel like I have a higher chance of getting hurt in an MMA fight than an Muay Thai fight. Not to mention, I’ve had two Muay Thai fights before with this promotion and I fought really tough girls in both of them. At worst I came out with a couple of black and blue marks. I am already in shape. I’m not going to work so hard to get into the shape that I’m in now, take two months off and then I’ve got to start it all over. I’m already in shape. I’m going to go do this fight. Regardless of the outcome, as long as I don’t break a bone or get suspended for some stupid reason, I’m still going to do the next fight. I just don’t think it is that big of a deal. I’d rather just do it.”
Mohl, who normally fights at strawweight, will take this upcoming bout with Giles at a catchweight of 120-pounds. The upcoming USKA bout will be back down at 115-pounds. Despite the need to drop in weight, “The Honey Badger” assures MyMMANews that she will be able to enjoy a good Thanksgiving meal.
LM – “I’ll be alright. I’m actually having a hard time keeping weight on now. I don’t know if it is because I’ve been working out a lot or what. I’m not too concerned. I’ll be alright at Thanksgiving and than after that I will probably just start watching what I eat again and cut as I need to.”
One might look at Mohl’s 1-6 amateur MMA record and be quick to write her off, but if you watch her fights and take a look at the record, all but one of the five losses came by way of decision. She is not being finished, but yet has not been able to pull the trigger and get the win for herself. Mohl believes she has learned quite a bit about herself after taking a step back to assess the losses.
LM – “I’ve learned a lot. The first couple of fights I was at a gym, I don’t want to say ‘wasn’t legit,’ but there was nobody there helping me, pushing me. Then Ephrata Martial Arts took me in about a year ago and they really fine tuned me and helped me out, but there was still something missing. Then I found out after my last fight that I was struggling with adrenaline dumps during my fights. So for the past two months or so I’ve actually been seeing a mental performance therapist and she has been helping out. Basically, I was losing my fights mentally, and that is why I was losing my fights. It’s true. I agree with her on everything she said about that. I’ve been taking therapy sessions. I’ve been doing exercises and taking those into the gym. I joined Gracie 717 about a month ago so that is my new home now. I’m noticing a difference so I’m excited to use that new mentality in this next fight. I think it is going to help me. I’m going to use Ephrata as a cross training gym. I love it there. I don’t not want to be a part of it. I just needed that next step, that next level. I’m over at Gracie 717 now with Zak Kelly and Damione Puopolo as my coaches.”
MyMMANews – This weekend you are taking on Brittany Giles in a short notice fight. What do you know about her?
LM – “We were actually on the same card about a year and a half ago I think it was. She fought the first girl I fought in Muay Thai. I know she did win against her in a split decision, and I did watch that fight. Brittany’s other win is against one of my friends, Maria, who is pretty tiny. I’m surprised they actually fought each other. They are not near the same weight class. I know Maria put up a good fight in that one. I don’t know. I’m excited. I think this going to be another challenge for me, but I’m confident, and I think it is a good matchup.
MyMMANews – What about December 8, Madelyn Grimaldi?
LM – “I honestly have no idea. I don’t know and I don’t really care. Not that I don’t care, but I asked my coach Zak about it. I was like, ‘what do you think?’ He was like ‘it is amateur dude.’ I was like ‘yeah, you’re right, whatever, I’ll do it.’ I haven’t looked into her. But it probably going to be the same game plan. It’s a kickboxing match. I know we have to wear head gear which I am dreading but that is about all I know about that one.”
Purchase tickets for Lateesha’s USKA fight here
MyMMANews – What is your plan moving forward? You are doing both MMA and Muay Thai. You will have more than 10 amateur fights under belt. Is there a plan in mind for turning pro?
LM – “I definitely want to go pro someday. That is the plan. It’s more for me than anyone else, but I want to get my MMA record looking a little better. Again, that comes down to the mentality. There are a few things I need to tweak. After these kickboxing fights I really want to focus on MMA over at Gracie 717 because I know they have a really good MMA program. I didn’t get to go through their MMA camp because I was in my Muay Thai camp. It was hard to watch them do all this cool stuff that I couldn’t do and learn. I really want to focus on that after these fights, get my MMA record better. Get my confidence up a little and then eventually, I would love to go pro but I’m not in too much of a hurry.”
MyMMANews – Lastly, you have a sponsor in Kentucky Hemp Works. I see your posts. What is their product doing for you? How is it helping you with your training?
“I actually didn’t know what it was at first. I had a foot injury and the owner of the company went to the same gym as me. She gave me this oil to try and three days later, and I’m not kidding, was completely healed. There was nothing wrong with it. I was like ‘this is crazy.’ What it does for me is I have arthritis in my knees and my elbows. I don’t have cartilage so ever since I started taking it, I don’t get that aching arthritis pain anymore. I used to have headaches every single day of my life. I haven’t had a headache in about four months now. It helps me sleep. I suffer from minor depression and I definitely suffer from a lot of anxiety. It definitely helps with that, chills me out. It’s all around great. I definitely suggest that people try Kentucky Hemp Works, especially those with arthritis. It’s just wonderful.
