Fighters are responsible for a lot more things than perhaps meets the eye. On the surface level, they’re responsible for providing for themselves as anyone is in their profession. Others may argue that they’re also responsible for the entertainment of their audiences as performers and public figures. But it can go much deeper than that whether it be from representing one’s family, country, or gym.
When you’re fighting, you’re fighting for a purpose. A select few may have spotlights magnified upon them from the starts of their careers whereas others really have to grind and work their ways into it. Everything is situational and for Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia’s finest in Megan Anderson, it’s almost like a never-ending battle in and outside of the cage.
Having begun her career somewhat later than most in the modern era of MMA in November 2013 at age 23, she did so instantly in a unique position as a 145-pound featherweight competitor.
Since August 15, 2009, the weight class has been essentially viewed as ‘Cris Cyborg and everybody else’ due to the Brazilian’s incredible dominance throughout her career. Only recently has she fallen from her perch thus giving the division a new chance to breathe and develop as it’s slowly been doing over her reign.
As Anderson was coming up, she had all the makings to be the next, or perhaps the first, big threat to Cyborg.
With that ever magnetic spotlight firmly fixated on the big fish in a small pond, Anderson was able to find herself noticed quickly and has really risen to fame over her still young and expanding six-year career. She’s become as versatile outside of the Octagon as she is inside of it, growing up as a person and a martial artist.
“I guess,” Anderson told BJPenn.com in regards to it being not surprising how fast she’s grown as a figure in the sport. “But a lot of people don’t do that, so I can see kind of like the ‘why’ it could be surprising with me cause a lot of fighters don’t really do a lot of extra stuff outside of fighting.
“A lot of people watch my life. That’s that. A lot of people are critical of what I do. So there is that too. But, for the most part, I try not to notice it.”
Continued: Megan Anderson and the featherweight torch | BJPenn.com
