SPORTS
Dominating a man’s world: MMA champion Stephanie Mankin on her undefeated career and what’s next
Mixed martial arts (MMA) is one of the most popular and fastest-growing sports on the planet.
But before the superstardom of female fighters like Ronda Rousey — who built a million-dollar empire off the back of the fight business — women in the sport faced a near-impossible challenge to succeed in what was very much considered to be a man’s world. Stephanie Mankin is proof of that.
Now, Mankin, 39, reflects on her amazing journey from a teen prodigy to an undefeated champion and shares the life lessons she learned as one of the first women to break through the ranks in MMA before stepping away from the sport undefeated.
Source: Stephanie Mankin
“I was most certainly treated differently because I am female,” Mankin told SportsReport+. “And it continues to this day.”
Mankin trained in MMA at an early age and was recruited by Randy Couture, one of the UFC’s most famous fighters and tied for the record of most wins in Heavyweight Championship bouts, when she turned 18. She signed to CrossFire MMA, a leading fighting company representing some of the biggest names in the sport, but the enormity of her accomplishments and opportunities it gave her didn’t dawn on her until later in her career.
“I actually never entered the sport thinking about being one of the first women and what this would mean for women in professional sports. I had a supportive circle and just plowed forward,” Mankin said.
Source: Stephanie Mankin
“I had a handful of people, both men and women, on my side from the MMA community. My reaction was to push and fight harder just to prove people wrong.”
As she was rising through the ranks, Mankin disrupted the gender norms of combat sports at the time. It was at a moment in time in MMA where female fighters weren’t given the same recognition and opportunities as they are today — with big franchises such as the UFC headlining a women card for the main event.
“I am able to say that I am undefeated in a sport that once wouldn’t even give a woman the time of day unless being sexualized for the purpose of financial gain,” Mankin said.
“I can say I was one of the first to break down those barriers for women to fight. What I managed to do in the MMA world has impacted me and done as much for me as I have done for the sport at the end of the day. I never planned to be a fighter. The journey is one-of-a-kind. My current ranking still holds undefeated.”
Source: Stephanie Mankin
Asked what advice she would give women with dreams of entering a field dominated by men, she said: “In my opinion, women who may have dreams of entering a field predominantly made up of men but are afraid of being treated differently need to realize their worth.
“Stand up and do whatever you have to in order to be seen. There will always be that feeling of fear or nerves. I think everyone has these feelings; it’s what makes us human.
“If you don’t fight through it, you will never know how high you can rise. You may trip and fall along the way but by getting up and keeping it moving it makes you stronger.
“Women can leverage their unique skills and experiences to be successful and prove naysayers wrong with silence and action. Being a smart and outspoken women can be just as powerful as being a woman of action.”
Source: Stephanie Mankin
Today, Mankin is an advocate for healthy living, regularly talking about the importance of fitness, nutrition and mental, physical and spiritual wellness. She is also a motivational speaker with plans to begin delivering speeches to battered women living in shelters.
“Some of the most important life lessons I plan to share with women that have been battered or abused is first and foremost don’t ever think of yourself as a victim; you are a survivor!” Mankin explained, while opening up about her own personal horrors.
“People have preconceived notions because I am who I am that people don’t ‘test’ me. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. I almost lost my own life not so long ago due to a man who wanted to assert himself with a female fighter.
“It is because I am trained and know how to fight that I was able to break free and can sit and tell the story today. It is not acceptable to feel you must live in fear or be struck by anyone. Everyone is entitled to their personal space. I believe every woman should know some form of self-defense and never be afraid to use it if a situation were to arise.
“Women need to know their worth and know it’s OK to walk away from an abusive situation without fear of repercussions. Part of my goal during my journey is to pay it forward to causes such as this so no woman is in fear of not having a safe space.”
Source: Stephanie Mankin
What’s more, since Mankin put down her fighting gloves, she has turned her hands to fashion design and is known for her work in the fashion industry as the “Fighting Fashionista”.
“This nickname comes from the fact that I am a fighter and that my family are the Dubinskys, who played a key role in [Manhattan’s] Garment District,” she revealed.
Inspired by the works of Alexander McQueen and Christian Dior, Mankin insists: “My style is unique in the sense that I can go from sweats and gym clothes to a full on elegant and formal appearance. I have always designed my own clothing as my family has quite the history on influencing the garment industry. As of the current moment my personal clothier and I are simply focusing on this seasons’ ensembles for myself. After that I am open to other avenues making my designs available to the public.”
As Mankin reflects on her own achievements, she admits: “I have learned firsthand it is true that whatever you put your mind to you can accomplish. Don’t ever let someone tell you because you are a woman you can’t do something. And most importantly never be afraid to push boundaries or try and break barriers if it is something you are passionate about.”
Source: Stephanie Mankin
“I was most certainly treated differently because I am female,” Mankin told SportsReport+. “And it continues to this day.”
Mankin trained in MMA at an early age and was recruited by Randy Couture, one of the UFC’s most famous fighters and tied for the record of most wins in Heavyweight Championship bouts, when she turned 18. She signed to CrossFire MMA, a leading fighting company representing some of the biggest names in the sport, but the enormity of her accomplishments and opportunities it gave her didn’t dawn on her until later in her career.
“I actually never entered the sport thinking about being one of the first women and what this would mean for women in professional sports. I had a supportive circle and just plowed forward,” Mankin said.
Source: Stephanie Mankin
“I had a handful of people, both men and women, on my side from the MMA community. My reaction was to push and fight harder just to prove people wrong.”
As she was rising through the ranks, Mankin disrupted the gender norms of combat sports at the time. It was at a moment in time in MMA where female fighters weren’t given the same recognition and opportunities as they are today — with big franchises such as the UFC headlining a women card for the main event.
“I am able to say that I am undefeated in a sport that once wouldn’t even give a woman the time of day unless being sexualized for the purpose of financial gain,” Mankin said.
“I can say I was one of the first to break down those barriers for women to fight. What I managed to do in the MMA world has impacted me and done as much for me as I have done for the sport at the end of the day. I never planned to be a fighter. The journey is one-of-a-kind. My current ranking still holds undefeated.”
Source: Stephanie Mankin
Asked what advice she would give women with dreams of entering a field dominated by men, she said: “In my opinion, women who may have dreams of entering a field predominantly made up of men but are afraid of being treated differently need to realize their worth.
“Stand up and do whatever you have to in order to be seen. There will always be that feeling of fear or nerves. I think everyone has these feelings; it’s what makes us human.
“If you don’t fight through it, you will never know how high you can rise. You may trip and fall along the way but by getting up and keeping it moving it makes you stronger.
“Women can leverage their unique skills and experiences to be successful and prove naysayers wrong with silence and action. Being a smart and outspoken women can be just as powerful as being a woman of action.”
Source: Stephanie Mankin
Today, Mankin is an advocate for healthy living, regularly talking about the importance of fitness, nutrition and mental, physical and spiritual wellness. She is also a motivational speaker with plans to begin delivering speeches to battered women living in shelters.
“Some of the most important life lessons I plan to share with women that have been battered or abused is first and foremost don’t ever think of yourself as a victim; you are a survivor!” Mankin explained, while opening up about her own personal horrors.
“People have preconceived notions because I am who I am that people don’t ‘test’ me. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. I almost lost my own life not so long ago due to a man who wanted to assert himself with a female fighter.
“It is because I am trained and know how to fight that I was able to break free and can sit and tell the story today. It is not acceptable to feel you must live in fear or be struck by anyone. Everyone is entitled to their personal space. I believe every woman should know some form of self-defense and never be afraid to use it if a situation were to arise.
“Women need to know their worth and know it’s OK to walk away from an abusive situation without fear of repercussions. Part of my goal during my journey is to pay it forward to causes such as this so no woman is in fear of not having a safe space.”
Source: Stephanie Mankin
What’s more, since Mankin put down her fighting gloves, she has turned her hands to fashion design and is known for her work in the fashion industry as the “Fighting Fashionista”.
“This nickname comes from the fact that I am a fighter and that my family are the Dubinskys, who played a key role in [Manhattan’s] Garment District,” she revealed.
Inspired by the works of Alexander McQueen and Christian Dior, Mankin insists: “My style is unique in the sense that I can go from sweats and gym clothes to a full on elegant and formal appearance. I have always designed my own clothing as my family has quite the history on influencing the garment industry. As of the current moment my personal clothier and I are simply focusing on this seasons’ ensembles for myself. After that I am open to other avenues making my designs available to the public.”
As Mankin reflects on her own achievements, she admits: “I have learned firsthand it is true that whatever you put your mind to you can accomplish. Don’t ever let someone tell you because you are a woman you can’t do something. And most importantly never be afraid to push boundaries or try and break barriers if it is something you are passionate about.”
