ORLANDO, Fla. - Caitlin Sammons embraces being in the spotlight while she's fighting in the cage.
- Sammons is 1-0 as a pro fighter
- Moved to Orlando in 2002
- Signed to IFC
“The 'lights, camera, action' doesn’t really bother me as much," the 25-year-old said. "Because when I’m in there, I just kind of zone into what I’ve trained so hard for.”
She's trained to be here: knocking on the door of MMA stardom, a winner of her last eight fights (seven amateur, one professional). She's also the No. 2-ranked pound-for-pound fighter among all women in Florida per Tapology. But it wasn't always that easy.
“She had her first amateur fight, which she lost, and it’s been her only loss since," her coach, and owner of IronLife Athletics, Aaron "Coringa" Conway said. "And I think that fueled and drived her to train harder than anybody.”
But it wasn't just that 2015 loss to Hannah Goldy in her debut that lit a fire. It was an encounter with Conway when she was just 18.
"It was just during the workout, I think I had not even been there a week yet. And he just started calling me 'Ginger,'” she said.
“'Ginger' was kind of the obvious choice," Conway said. "Red hair. Freckles. The attitude. She’s very nice, but when she’s in training, she’s not very nice.”
According to Conway, fighters aren't given their names lightly. But they also don't get to choose them.
“It’s not to give them a funny [sic], or make fun of them nickname," he said. "It’s their persona. It’s who they are. And 'Ginger' is definitely 'Ginger.'”
The term often carries a stigma describing someone with red hair, pale skin, and freckles, and Sammons interpreted it no differently.
“When he first gave me the nickname, I was very offended by it. That’s a very negative connotation, you don’t call a redhead a 'ginger.' That’s offensive," she said. "Then I just decided to accept it, and let it become part of my persona.”
Not only has she accepted it, she's embraced the mantra.
“Violence doesn’t sideswipe me, getting cut or KO’d doesn’t scare me," Sammons, who is signed to Invicta Fighting Championships, said. "I do this sport, which a lot of people would think you don’t have a soul for doing it with how violent it can be.”
But beneath the rugged exterior is a soul, one passionate about her craft, and thankful for receiving a persona that has helped elevate her.
“My coach gave [the name] to me, so it represents the bond we have," she said. Conway noted she's the most intense trainee he's had, and he could see himself handing the gym to her down the line. And if he does, nothing will change.
"People try and say 'ginger' in a bad way I guess, I think it’s funny. ‘Ok? And?' I am a ginger!” she said.