Irish atomweight Catherine Costigan (5-0) is excited to take on Amber Brown (4-1) in Invicta 13, set for the Cosmopolitan Casino in Las Vegas on July 9th. In fact, she asked for the fight.
Invicta’s Catherine Costigan talks selling fights, superheroes, and being a true martial artist
“I think Amber Brown is ranked number four… whether she’s deserving of it we’re gonna really find out in the fight,” Catherine said. “I think she suits me. I think it’s gonna be a really interesting technical bout, and if I work my strengths, which I know I will, then I’ll come out the victor.”
Invicta 13 is set just before the huge UFC fan expo that weekend which will feature the much anticipated title bout between her fellow countryman Connor McGregor and Jose Aldo. Costigan used this fact to try to sell and hype the fight earlier on before the match was actually set.
“There are a lot of Irish supporters coming over, so it’ll be like fighting in front of my home fans. It’s a big advantage for me,” she said. “But it doesn’t matter whether the crowd cheers for you or boos for you. You want them to say that was a great fight.”
It takes two to tango and make a great fight, but one more party needs to be present: the fans. Fighters doing self promotion and selling the fight is so important.
“It’s your job. It’s not just go on the mats and hit the pad, although that is a huge part,” Catherine explained. “The other part is to make fans invest in you and want to actually see you fight. Through your words and actions a lot can be done to sell a fight. Work well with media and do those interviews. Connect with fans, give them time. They’ve spent the money on that ticket- that’s the only reason I’m there. So I want them to feel good about spending that money and then give them the fight of the night. I think we owe that to the promoters as well – to hype that fight up. As long as the trash talk is kept respectful, I don’t see a problem with it.”
Big trash talkers tend to be more successful.
“The proof is Connor McGregor. It’s not that he walked into the championship, but he set it up. Ronda, same thing. Set it up. Started with the whole thing with Miesha Tate and she got what she wanted. Clever marketing. It’s going there and asking for it.”
Catherine started kickboxing when she was 14 years old.
“When I was a kid I was quite shy. I was the only girl around the neighborhood. My brother and I used to beat the crap out of each other and it toughened me up.”
Her father was really into Bruce Lee, and the martial artist became a big influence on her. “I was interested by watching how Bruce Lee defeated bigger opponents with intelligence and smarts. Reading comics, I like the idea of a superhero that fights for truth and justice. My favorite hero is Superman. The man of steel fights for people who can’t fight. He’s always straight and true to what he means, and stands up to people. I think that’s a necessity these days that is quite missed. I do feel that we get a chance when we get in the cage be a superhero in a sense. That’s what I’ve always liked. I think that’s what pushed me into it.”
Catherine was the only girl in the gym for eight years. Her coach started watching UFCs and Vale Tudo events in Brazil and saw the potential for future development. They ran the first MMA show in Ireland in 1999, despite people around them calling them mad. Her coach Dermot McGrath said, “I think it’s going to be really big, Catherine, and I’d like you to give it a go and see how you feel.”
“I was resistant because I loved striking,” Costigan admitted, “but when I took a guy down and tapped him out the first time, I got up and thought that it is a mental challenge, like playing a game of chess. One wrong move and you lose. With the right moves, you feel the victory. As a martial artist you need to always challenge yourself. I think you can play safe and that’s fine but I don’t think it’ll ever bring you the true confidence or reward that you feel in the mats. If you don’t play safe and you go out and chase that challenge you defeat it – that monster inside you, that fear- that’s the best way you can be as a martial artist and through MMA, everybody can do that.”
Catherine has been training with coach Dermot for 17 years. She now teaches classes at Pankration Kickboxing Academy and runs the gym with him. “He knows my strengths, and if I’m having a bad day he knows how to pick me up. If I question anything, he’s always there to rebuild my confidence. I also have coaches all over Ireland and all over the world. I’ve brought (UFC and Cage Warriors vet ) Rosi Sexton in to really work on my whole game especially the ground aspect. And loads of others!”
Catherine’s professional goals are to become the best – world champion!
“I feel I will be the world champion by 2016. And the main thing is to have the challenge, and if I don’t have that, there’s no point. Hopefully if Dana White looks enough at the Atomweights he may put them in the UFC. We just need to prove to him that we belong. Personally, I think I’m in the best place I’ve ever been, which is to be happy in life. You don’t need money. You just need true happiness and to be with someone in the right way…not questioning everything like ‘do I have to go shopping and spend 500 euros to make myself happy?’ or buy a big fancy car or house. Over the years I’ve really learned that that’s not important at all.”
When Catherine isn’t training to be a world champion, she is trying to relax and recover from that effort.
“If I’m not on a diet, I love to go to the cinema,” she said. “I love movies . I love to go walking my French doggie. He gets the same Mohawk hair cut as me before my fights. I don’t really have a huge amount of time, so most of my rest days are walking, chilling out, laughing as much as I can.”
Catherine’s preparation for her upcoming Invicta match is simple. “My preparation is always I look at my weaknesses,” she explained. “Never actually the strengths of my opponent. I just see where my gaps are and I make sure that they aren’t there by the end of the camp!”
Costigan faced a lot of physical challenges on the way. She injured her neck and was misdiagnosed. For about eight years she suffered from severe pain, still training and competing. Eventually, it was discovered she had some crushed vertebrae and could have possibly been paralyzed. She had neck fusion and it took two years to fully recover.
“It was so bad I couldn’t sleep at night,” the Irish fighter admitted. “After each fight I thought I’d just keep going and going but eventually we did find out through having other surgeries and got it sorted. It’s not a problem anymore. But I am the first woman to come back from a neck fusion in MMA. I like being the first at things.”
MMA is Ireland has experienced a big surge in the last two to three years.
“Years ago when I would tell people I’m a pro cage fighter, they wouldn’t have a clue or they’d say ‘that’s very barbaric.’ And now it’s my local post man said to me “ I heard you’re famous! You’re a cage fighter!” I’m not famous, I’m just trying to do something I love and bring it to the highest level, but yes, Connor has really helped a lot in Ireland and a lot more opportunities have opened up. But I think Ronda opened it up for women’s MMA as well, and gave me more opportunities than just Connor.”
Watch Invicta 13 live on UFC Fight pass, or at the Cosmopolitan Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on Thursday, July 9th. If you’re coming for UFC Fight week, come a day early! Follow Catherine Costigan on social media: Twitter: @alphafemalewar. Instagram: alphafemalewar
Below is the finalized entire fight card:
Featherweight Title: Cristiane Justino (13-1, 1 NC) vs. Faith Van Duin (5-1)
Bantamweight Title: Tonya Evinger (15-5) vs. Irene Aldana (5-1)
Atomweight Title: Herica Tiburcio (9-2) vs. Ayaka Hamasaki (11-1)
Bantamweight: Pannie Kianzad (7-0) vs. Jessica-Rose Clark (5-1)
Atomweight: Amber Brown (4-1) vs. Catherine Costigan (5-0)
Strawweight: Amy Montenegro (6-1) vs. Jamie Moyle (2-0)
Featherweight: Marina Shafir (1-1) vs. Amber Leibrock (0-0)
