How did you get into the world of MMA?
-I first started when a good friend of mine asked me to fill in for her at a waitressing job she was doing at Wemberley arena. I owed her a favor and was free on the day so thought why not? When I got there I realized that the job was at a MMA show called Cage Rage which at the time was very well known and the biggest MMA show in the UK. I had actually grown up watching boxing in London's York Hall with my granddad and had watched a friend fight a few times actually on Cage Rage so I already had an interest in the sport. When I watched Cage Rage before I had actually thought to myself that I would love to be a ring girl but wasn't quite sure on how to get into it. Anyway when I arrived at Wemberley arena the owner of Cage Rage comes up to me and asked if he could have a word (my first thought was maybe I was in trouble!) and then he told me how one of the ring girls had not turned up and that he had chosen me to be the new ring girl! Six years later I am still the official ring girl for UCMMA (previously Cage Rage) so I guess you can call it fate! I also ring girl on shows all around the world and have just been made the official ring girl for ADFC in Abu Dhabi as well as UWC and XF3 which are both in London! Guess you could say my plan to take over is coming together!
Who is your favorite MMA fighter?
-There are so many talented, young and up-coming fighters that it is really hard to pick names. I guess you could say my all time favorite would have to be Royce Gracie. I think without the Gracie's MMA wouldn't be how it is today. Royce is always in Dubai and is actually a personal friend of mine and I have to say his speeches on how to be the 'perfect wifey' are always very entertaining. He's a great guy.
Tell us more about your move to Dubai and Contender MMA.
-I decided to move to Dubai when I meet my boyfriend (Tam Khan who is also an MMA fighter) about a year ago. It was a scary move because obviously with my modeling background I would literally have to start again as there is no market for the lads magazines in Dubai. Although there is a lot of modeling work out here I have actually just shot for my first front cover in Dubai which will be released in April so that's pretty exciting. Tam had plans to open the first MMA dedicated centre in Dubai and really wanted me to be a part of it. The gym opened at the end of October 2010 and the response has been amazing. The gym holds regular seminars for big fighters like Anderson Silva, Wanderlei Silva as well as Royce Gracie. We have also had the likes of Jean Claude Van Damme and Amir Khan train here. It really is an amazing gym and Tam and the team are truly pioneers of MMA in the UAE.
What are the strangest and sweetest comments MMA fans have said to you?
-Wow, in the long time I have been on the MMA scene there are so many! It's always a pleasure to meet fans and I try and have a picture or speak to as many as I can. I get people asking for autographs quite a lot which is a great honor and I really appreciate everything like that because I know they are the people that keep me in the magazines and keep me known. A strange request was when a guy once asked me if I would ring girl at a small contest he was holding in his garden and he offered me £1,000 to do it. That was a bit of a strange one!
What is something most people don't know about you?
-Ummmmm there's lots of things, I'm a mysterious girl! A lot of people don't know that when I was younger I was actually really into singing. I have been in two girl bands, one of which we went to record an album with Whitney Houston's brother Michael and actually got to go to Whitney's house. That was pretty amazing! Another thing people don't know is that I trained in opera for four years (shocking I know!) and that I am also fully qualified to teach acting. Oh and I used to be a clothes stylist too!
What are your hobbies and how do you spend your free time?
-I have to admit I'm a bit of a party animal! I love being out with my favorite girls and dancing the night away! I am also a major shopaholic, Love anything that involves me being pampered and have actually just found a new love for yoga (I am actually hoping to take a course this year to become a teacher). I also have plans to open up my own clothes boutique in the UK at the end of this year. I guess you could say I like to keep busy!
Are you single?
-At the moment I am really happy with my boyfriend of almost a year Tam Khan. I guess being a fighter and me being a ring girl it's a perfect match and we have loads in common. He's a great guy who I'm sure is going to go on to do BIG things for MMA in Dubai.
What do you look for in a guy?
-He has to have a good sense of humor. Eye contact is a must.....and to be honest I am a bit of a sucker for the whole 'tall, dark and handsome' scenario...I am 5ft8 myself so over 6ft is perfect. Oh and he has to have a silly side! Life's too short to be full time serious!
What are your turn-ons?
-I love nice eyes and a good smile is always a plus. Oh and guys that smell good. Amen for men always is a winner!
What are your turnoffs?
-Dirty finger nails and I don't like guys who look like they don't know how to take care of themselves. Obviously I don't want someone who takes longer to get ready than me but a presentable well groomed guy is always good.
What would you say is your best feature?
-I actually think my stomach. It's pretty flat and people always compliment on it. But I have to admit most guys actually compliment me on my bum!
What are your future plans or dreams in life?
-Like I said earlier, I am planning to open my own boutique at the end of this year as that has always been a dream of mine. I want to take my yoga teaching course and just go as far as I can with my modeling and ring girl work. I am also looking to get back in TV presenting this year and have some big things in the pipeline. Hopefully you will be seeing a lot more of my face in 2011.
Thanks for your time Laura it was much appreciated and always a pleasure talking with you. Be sure to say hello to Laura on Twitter and keep up on the latest of this international MMA babe.
