UFC fighters motivate local teens in community visit

Luke Rockhold (center) and Angela Magana (right)

Two Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighters, Luke Rockhold and Angela Magana, have taken part in the Be Cool Project and shared their mixed martial arts (MMA) careers and personal experience, as well as their opinions on drugs, with a group of teenagers.
Rockhold told the young people present that MMA teaches people “about life and discipline”. “It really teaches you a lot about yourself. You are going to push through your breaking point and (…) take yourself to another level and be a better person through [practicing] martial arts,” said Rockhold.
Starting his training in Judo when he was young and then proceeding to various other martial arts styles, Rockhold said that he always loves watching “movies where they beat the bad guys.”
The UFC fighter said that his motivation to become strong was to protect his family and friends, and later decided to pick up MMA fighting as his career.
Magana revealed that some of her motivation was also drawn from movies. “My favorite movie was “Bloodsport” by Jean-Claude Van Damme. I watched that when I was about five years old… From then on I always knew, in my soul, that I would be a fighter,” Magana said.
Being the only female in her school’s boxing and wrestling team, Magana said that she “has been through a lot as the only female.” “But I never let anybody put me down. I have to believe in myself. You always have to believe in yourself before anybody can,” she said.
Moreover, the two MMA fighters shared their thoughts and experiences with drug addiction.
Angela Magana disclosed that she was born addicted to heroin due to her mother’s drug habit. She later lost her mother to a drug overdose. “Seeing that, I have decided I don’t want to do [drugs]. But of course [the] temptation is always there,” Magana said.
She has advised people to look for hobbies in sports or arts to avoid having copious amounts of free time.
Rockhold also told the teenagers to stay positive and focus on what they want in their life. “Find out what you want and give it all. That’s what life’s about,” he said.
The two fighters later spoke to the media on the sidelines of the event and continued to share their opinions regarding the drug problem among teenagers.
“A lot of times people use [drugs] to cover up part of themselves that they don’t like. [If you are in that situation, you should] get some help and figure out what it is that you don’t love about yourself,” Magana said.
Rockhold stated that trying drugs “is not cool.” He also pointed out that staying in a positive environment like the Be Cool Project, where people are inspiring each other and pushing each other to do their best, is helpful in avoiding drug problems.
The Be Cool Project is a centre set up by the Association of Rehabilitation of Drug Abusers of Macau. It organizes various activities to promote anti-drug messages.

Michael Bisping

Le and Bisping promise fierce fight tomorrow

Cung Le and Michael “The Count” Bisping, both prominent UFC fighters, have pledged that their battle tomorrow night will be spectacular.
During Cung Le’s last visit to Macau, he was coach for the “Ultimate Fighter: China” tournament. This time, he’s excited to be in the thick of the action, where he will fight Michael Bisping.
“I am [fighting Bisping] in Asia and I want to represent the Asian people in the best way I can. I think, being a five-round main event, it’s going to be very challenging and very tough, especially because Michael is known for his cardio. I would like to let everyone know that I still can push the pace

Cung Le

and I will let the kicks fly,” said Cung Le.
Meanwhile, Michael Bisping described Cung Le as an “exciting fighter.” “I like the way he fights. He uses a lot of flashy moves, spinning kicks, spinning back fists [and] a lot of good kicks. I do a lot of the same stuff [he does]… I feel like Cung Le is the perfect opponent to bring out the best in my fighting ability. So we are going to see a lot of great action,” he said.

João Pedro Lau