While former UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey is arguably one of the most decorated judokas in the history of the sport, but not everybody wants to be compared to the former champion. Stephanie Egger is a good example as she prepares for Invicta FC 20 tonight.
“I think (Rousey) is a great fighter, but I won’t be a copy of her,” Egger said. “I’m my own person. I’m Stephanie, and I try to go my own way. But I thought she’s a great fighter. Also in judo she was good, and in MMA, she’s a great fighter. I respect her in MMA and in the sport, but I think we are a little bit different in our personalities. She’s a little bit louder than me.”
Despite getting ready to debut in the leading women’s MMA promotion, Egger says that she’s not feeling any pressure heading into her bout.
“I think it’s easier because I already felt the pressure,” Egger told MMA Junkie. “I know, ‘OK, I can handle it.’ When I get nervous, I know it’s not worth being nervous. And I think that helps a lot because you know the feeling of pressure and nervousness. It helps that you’ve had that 100 times before.”
Egger may be one of the best when it comes to the world of judo, but she was looking for a new challenge-- one that came in the form of MMA.
“I stopped with judo, and I looked for a new challenge or a new sport,” Egger said. “So I started with grappling, and then I liked it very much. I started also with boxing and then I said, ‘OK, I will try MMA.’”
Invicta FC 20 takes place tonight from the Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Missouri with Tonya Evinger and Yana Kunitskaya headlining.
