Undefeated American MMA fighter Natalie Salcedo revealed the personal journey that led her from military family roots in Kansas to Colorado’s fight scene. She also shared how a simple fitness decision transformed into both a professional career and a marriage ahead of her atomweight MMA clash against Japan’s Chihiro Sawada at ONE Fight Night 39 on Friday, January 23, at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
The 33-year-old fighter opened up about leaving home in her early twenties to seek new experiences. Ultimately, Natalie Salcedo stumbled upon martial arts through a desire for positive health changes.
Natalie Salcedo brings a perfect 4-0 professional record into her second ONE Championship appearance following her impressive September 2025 debut submission victory over Argentina’s Macarena Aragon. The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt will face her toughest test yet against the 28-year-old Sawada, a former Shooto Champion.
Natalie Salcedo Explains Decision to Leave Military Family Home
Growing up in a military family in Kansas, Natalie Salcedo made the bold decision in her early twenties to relocate and create her own path. The American fighter explained how seeking different experiences and opportunities motivated her move to Colorado, where she would eventually discover her passion for combat sports.
“I just wanted something different. I wanted to do something else, experience something else in the world. I had friends that lived there, I applied for a job, and then I got a job working for Progressive [insurance company]. And I was like, ‘Ok, well, I’m gonna go do this,'” Salcedo said.
Her willingness to take calculated risks and pursue new experiences created the foundation for eventually competing at the highest levels of mixed martial arts. The move to Colorado provided opportunities beyond what Salcedo initially envisioned, setting in motion events that would fundamentally change her life’s trajectory.
Natalie Salcedo’s Fitness Goals Lead to Discovering Martial Arts Passion
Natalie Salcedo revealed that her entry into combat sports stemmed from straightforward health and fitness motivations rather than competitive aspirations. She described how joining a gym for recreational purposes unexpectedly awakened a deeper passion for martial arts.“
I just wanted to do something fun and fitness-related. I wanted to make some positive health changes. I started doing Muay Thai there just for funsies, just for fitness and for myself,” Salcedo explained.
The casual approach to training shows how professional fighting careers can develop from simple desires for self-improvement and physical fitness. Her Muay Thai foundation provided striking skills that would later complement her Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training, creating the well-rounded game necessary for mixed martial arts success.
American Fighter Reveals Meeting Future Husband at Training Gym
Beyond martial arts skills, Salcedo discovered personal fulfillment when she met her future husband Benjamin Westrich, who owned Warrior Fitness Center where she trained. The American fighter described how their relationship developed naturally through their shared martial arts passion and gym community activities.
“Maybe a few weeks into training there was when I met him. Over time, there’d be different group activities that everybody was going to, so we just started hanging out and became friends. And then, eventually, that became a relationship,” Salcedo said.
The organic development from gym acquaintances to romantic partners highlights how martial arts communities create connections beyond simply training partnerships. The combination of personal happiness and professional success positions Salcedo favorably heading into this critical matchup against Sawada.
ONE Fight Night 39 airs live on Prime Video on Friday, January 23. The action begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The event is free for all Amazon Prime subscribers in the U.S. and Canada.
