Amanda “Mad Dog” Lino will make her debut as a professional female Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC) fighter this coming weekend at EFC 38 Fight Card in Durban.
She will face off against Irish fighter, Stephanie Qualie who is a former boxer and brings her boxing technique to the EFC.
The Courier caught up with Ballito’s mixed martial arts (MMA) star at the EFC Durban open workout that took place at the Wave House, Umhlanga on Saturday, March 28.
Lino said she was ready for the challenge and has been training four hours a day and against men 20 kilograms heavier than herself.
“Qualie likes to stand and box but I like to exchange punches too,” said Lino.
Lino’s strategy will be to take it as it comes, apply lots of pressure and to make sure she is the one dishing out the punches.
She has dropped to the flyweight category and is in great physical shape after having cut about six kilograms in one and a half weeks for the upcoming fight.
“This is my biggest weight cut so far and I cannot wait for weigh-in so that I can start eating,” said Lino.
MMA fighters typically cut weight before weigh-in to make it into the lowest weight category possible and then eat as much as they can after weigh-in to gain some weight advantage.
The event takes place on Saturday, April 4 at the Durban ICC and the main card events will be shown on ESPN.
Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news.
Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here, or if you’re on desktop, scan the QR code below.
