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Pankration, one of the first fighting sports in history, is gaining popularity in several states including California, Louisiana, Nevada, and Wisconsin. With no striking to the neck and above, it’s a milder form of MMA.

With the rules in place, many young competitors have taken up the sport. One of the champions in the California kid’s division is seven year old Aalijah Pineda. She is 15-3 in the sport and will be defending her 50 pound title this weekend.

Wombat Sports got a chance to talk to Pineda about being in Pankration and her motivations going into the sport.

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Wombat Sports: How did you get into pankration?

Aalijah Pineda: I got into Pankration from Jiu Jitsu. I competed a lot in Jiu Jitsu competitions and my current MMA coach saw me and he told my dad that I had a lot of fight in me and that he should bring me down to train sometime. I’ve been training and competing ever since.

Wombat: What  do your friends think of you doing it?

Pineda: My friends all think it is cool. Most of my friends are from A-Team Jiu Jitsu so they dont mind the fighting. Some of my friends come to watch me fight.

W.S.: Do you see more girls like yourself taking it up?

A.P.: I don’t see a lot of girls fighting Pankration or even training MMA like I do. I see a lot of girls doing Jiu Jitsu but not the striking. I wish there were more girls though.

W.S.: Who are some of the fighters you look up to?

A.P.:  I love all women fighters because they are the reason it is ok for me to fight. I trained with Cris Cyborg for a short while so I love her. My first favorite fighter was BJ Penn which is where I got my Prodigy nickname so those two for sure.

After that the fighters I look up to now are Ashley Cummins, Miesha Tate, Michelle Gutierrez, The Lybarger twins, and Janet Martin who gives so much for women fighters.

W.S.: Are you looking into fighting in other states?

A.P.:  I would love to fight in other states. If somebody would set up a fight with somebody in another state I would definitely love to do it. For Jiu Jitsu, last year, I traveled to Las Vegas and Hawaii. This year I am going to Las Vegas, Arizona, Chicago, and Hawaii; maybe New York at the end of the year for Jiu Jitsu. So I love to fight out of state.

W.S.: What was it like winning your title?

A.P.:  Winning my Title isn’t like on TV. I don’t get a belt. But it was great because the boy I beat was a boy that had beat me in Jiu Jitsu so he was good. I submitted him with a guillotine. I was really excited and proud of myself. I trained so hard to get ready for this fight.

W.S.: Tell us about your match coming up?

A.P.:  My fight coming up is probably my toughest fight so far because I have never really watched him fight. So I don’t really know what to expect. I know he won the 60lb division so he can’t be that bad. I challenged him because I have beat everybody in my division and most that were in the 60lb division.

Fighting kids that are good is what makes me bettter. I train with kids that are bigger than me and hit harder than me like Brent Reed. I train with guys that are bigger and better than me in Jiu Jitsu like the Kade and Tye Ruotolo, Allysa Wilson, Courtney Cardoza, and Olivia Murray who school me everyday.

I know this boy wont have skills like the people I spar everyday so I’m confident for my fight. I think I will give up some size because I wont reach the 60lb weight limit. I am 54 lbs today. So my game has to be on point to win. I have trained harder for this fight than any other fight. I want him to defend me the whole fight.

W.S.: Anyone you’d like to thank?

A.P.:  I definetly have to thank a lot of people. My coaches Ali Saleh, Chris Ruotolo, CJ Herrera, Brian Reed, all of my teammates.

Also would like tot thank my family, MMA Elite’s Rob Fleites, MMA Elite ( Alden and the whole MMA Elite Family), Dizz from Talk MMA.

FIGHT CHIX who has supported womens fighting for a long time, LIRA BROS CLOTHING, Step In the Cage, and of course you guys for everything you do for womens MMA!

I go to church, so of course, thank you Lord!

 

You can learn more info on Aalijah Pineda by going to Aalijahpineda.com and follow her on twitter @ProdigyPina.

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