With a fight scheduled for January 27th at LFA, Akel Rocha enters the final stretch of preparation

Manaus (AM) – In the mixed martial arts (MMA) scene in Amazonas, a figure emerges who not only enchants the public, but also challenges stereotypes: Akel Rocha is a young fighter determined to conquer her space in the competitive world of fighting.

At 22 years old, Akel Rocha is a reference, bantamweight champion of Arena Strikers Combat and has on her resume titles in Campeonato Amazonense in all ranges of jiu-jitsu. The Amazon native was inspired by her family to play sports since she was a child, and at the age of six she was already at the gym and in social projects alongside her father, being known as the “master’s daughter”.

“My whole family is into jiu-jitsu, this is our martial art. My father, brother and uncle are black belts and so am I. Early on, my family didn’t like me fighting, and because I was a woman, my father thought I might get hurt. Over time, I gained my space inside and outside the house and today I count on the support of my family in all my struggles”, he reported.

The fighter is heading towards her tenth fight, which already has a date set: the challenge will be at Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA), an event that takes place, this time, in Cajamar (SP), on January 27th. Her opponent will be Nicoly Pedroza from Pernambuco.

Achieving victory at LFA 175 could not only elevate Akel Rocha’s status on the international stage, but also bring her closer to her dream of competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

“I have been preparing a lot for this fight on the 27th to end with my hand raised. Certainly, the LFA is one of the events that are showcases for the biggest in the world, which is the UFC”,

explained the Amazonian fighter.

Heading to UFC

The athlete’s goal is to reach the most famous octagon in the world and, to this end, she has been training her skills to strengthen her performance within competitions. Since the time her father trained other fighters, Akel wanted to be the protagonist of fights, nurturing the dream of building a career, until becoming UFC champion.

Participating in large-scale events allows the athlete to be known internationally, both by the media and the public. During her career, the experience of her opponents and gym teammates contributed to Akel’s training. Currently, she is part of the Carioca Academy and trains alongside fighters who participate in major events, such as Ketlen Souza, “Esquentadinha”, who is from the UFC, and Day Cardoso, who is part of One Championship.

“As the fights go by, the level of difficulty and experience of my opponents increases. Consequently, I needed to open the doors to other teams and other types of training. This exchange of experience is always great, because as my goal is to be there, I have someone who can measure my skills and I can evaluate the progress of my training,” she said.

Local support

The Amazon native has also fought in events such as Jungle Fight, one of the main events in Brazil, and in cities such as São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The possibility of participating in important events encourages supporters, as well as contributing to the development of sport in the State.

“Shopping São José has supported me since the beginning of my career and in my first MMA fights. It not only shows this support with the athletes, but also with sporting events that are always taking place in the shopping center, not only valuing our sport in the city of Manaus, but also the fighters from the East Zone. I always have the pleasure of attending events, of attending, there are always great fights, always valuing the people in our area”,

highlighted the athlete.

In addition to being a professional fighter, Akel teaches jiu-jitsu classes and mainly targets women. “We always hear throughout our lives that we have no talent for fighting, that we have to have strength, we have to have this and that, and that’s not true,” she declared.

Representativeness

In advice to women who want to enter the world of sports, looking for a safe and reliable gym is the main step to starting training. A greater female presence in martial arts contributes to breaking stereotypes.

“I always say that to be good at beating a woman, she doesn’t need to look like a man. I’m feminine, I like Taylor Swift, makeup, and the way I express myself doesn’t interfere with my ability to do the sport I practice”,

Akel said.

The female presence in MMA continues to challenge limits, consolidating itself as a dynamic force on the global sporting scene, especially when considering that, in 2023, it will be 10 years since the first female fight in the UFC, 20 years after the organization was founded in 1993. As more athletes break barriers, the presence of women in the octagon is not just a reality, but a celebration of resilience, skill and achievement.

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