TRAINING: Get up with a morning routine of coffee and quiet. Head to the Muay Thai gym for intensity and drills, or hit the track for speed and agility. Some days I lift heavy, some days I work on endurance and my fast twitch reactions. All the while, diet and physiology are dialed in. Nights I have grappling and hand fighting and I close my evening in the sauna. I mix in physical therapy, hyperbarics, and have many more recovery and stability techniques that keep me fresh and right physically and mentally throughout the week. Sundays off.

When and why did you start training for fighting? I've been training since middle school. I was a college wrestler. After I was done competing I heard about BJJ and fell in love with the sport. I took my first MMA fight in 2007.

What ranks and titles have you held? I was the #1 ranked 125-pound fighter in the world in 2011. I hold the Fight to Win 125 & 135-pound titles, the Ring of Fire 125 & 135-pound titles, and I was the only female American that qualified for ADCC in 2011.

Do you have any heroes? My husband Mauricio Zingano, my son Braydon, Coach Sakmongkol and all my teammates.

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? It’s a big opportunity and I'm looking forward to the competition.

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? Cumberland College and MacMurray College

What was your job before you started fighting? Student

Ranks in any martial arts styles: Purple belt in BJJ

Favorite grappling technique: Whatever is availabl

Favorite Striking technique: Muay Thai

• Pro since 2008

• Five wins by knockout, three by submission (armbar, anaconda, RNC)

• Has only gone the distance four times

• Owns KO wins over Carina Damm and Takayo Hashi. Decisioned Barb Honchak in 2010

• Her husband, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Mauricio Zingano, passed away in January of 2014