Kayla Weed, W.F. West High School’s first-ever female wrestler in 2014, was declared victor in a mixed martial arts (MMA) match against Rose Fujinaka Saturday night in front of a sold out crowd at the Muckleshoot Casino in Auburn.
Fans cheered loudly for Weed, throughout the crowd of over 1,600 attendees.
“I’ve never fought in front of a sold out crowd before, so that was a really neat experience,” Weed said. “I’m so blessed that I had so many people come out and support me tonight, after such a long journey back it means the world to me.”
Weed began training with coach Jeff Hougland at Combat Sport and Fitness in Enumclaw last August and this was her first fight back since giving birth to her daughter Mia just over one year ago.
“I’ve come back from two really hard surgeries, pregnancy and tons of just speed bumps in the road,” Weed said. “I stayed consistent and I stayed true to myself and I got the win tonight.”
The result of the fight was a unanimous decision in favor of Weed after she controlled the match, took down her opponent and pummeled her with a flurry of fists.
“I took her down and dominated her, which was the plan so I’m really proud of myself,” said Weed. “It’s months and months of hard work … getting beat up, but staying consistent, being resilient and keep showing up, and that’s what happened tonight.”
Beyond the mat, Weed continues to seek competition. As a Southwest Washingtonian, she doesn’t have to go far to find it.
In a pre-fight interview on Carroll’s Corner MMA Podcast, Weed described her other passions, including hunting for pheasants and salmon fishing on the Columbia. With her boyfriend and members of their families, she described it as “so much fun,” because “they fight like hell.”
“It’s a fight with the fish, it’s engaging,” Weed told The Chronicle.
While she admits those passions are “a lot easier and tastier” than MMA, Weed said “winning a fist fight is the most amazing feeling.”
