Glena 'Heartless' Avila said on Jan. 29 in an exclusive interview with Long Island MMA Examiner Eric Holden that the documentary about her life as a single mother/MMA fighter is scheduled to be released at the Sundance Film Festival this summer.
Avila's film, Fight Dreams, has a trailer available for viewing on YouTube. The film chronicles Avila, a single mother in her mid-30s, making a surprising meteoric rise through the mixed martial arts world, as she decides to risk it all for her shot at the big time. MMA fans can visit facebook.com/fightdreams to learn more about the movie.
Avila is busy training for an upcoming fight that she hopes will happen in April, but she generously took out a few minutes of her time to weigh in on some of the most controversial topics in MMA today. Here's what she had to say:
Q. Invicta FC 4 recently featured several wardrobe malfunctions. Leslie Smith had a nip slip, and Alexis Davis' thong popped out. Do you do anything special to make sure you avoid having a wardrobe malfunction inside the cage?
Avila: Yes! I'm a little uh....top heavy so for me layering up is key. I usually wear 2 sports bras to keep the twins from making a surprise appearance!
Q. So you are 37 years old, but you only started competing in MMA in 2009. Do you regret not starting sooner?
Avila: Hah thanks for bringing it up! Actually I don't mind talking bout the age thing. I don't regret anything. Everything happens for a reason and I'm here at exactly the best time.
Q. Not many female fighters continue to compete in their late-30s. Do you expect to keep fighting until you are in your early-40s? How many fights do you have left in the tank?
Avila: As how many fights I have left, well let's just say that I'll continue to compete until one of these whippersnappers proves I have no fight left. Consider me the blonde female Rocky! Hey yo Adrianne!
Q. Do you think there will ever come a time when it won't be taboo for men and women to fight each other in a cage?
Avila: No. Not because one is better than than the other but because it makes no sense.
Q. Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano both posed nude for ESPN the Magazine. Would you ever consider posing nude?
Avila: Hmmm, would I consider it? Sure, absolutely. But not sure if I'd do it. There would be a lot to consider. I don't think any less of Carano or Rousey for doing it. It's a personal choice. I think sex appeal can be useful for marketing a fighter but it's not necessarily the only way to be marketable.
Q. Are there any rules in MMA that you would like to see changed?
Avila: I think I'd be more specific about how the judging is done. Plus I think the sport would really benefit from a Federal Commission where the rules stay the same from state to state and it would simplify keeping track of fighters' records and such.
Q. Is there anything during training that really gets on your nerves?
Avila: I love to train, and I love to compete. I guess if I have to pick something, I don't like poor sportsmanship, and I don't care for gym bullies either.
Q. When is your next fight?
Avila: I don't currently have one scheduled, but fight promoters listen up, I'm hoping to be back in the cage around April, so call me!
Q. Most MMA promotions have ring girls. Should one of them switch it up by hiring ring boys?
Avila: Honestly don't mind either way. It's their job to be attractive to the crowd not necessarily to the fighters. So far I've only had ring girls for my fights and the crowd always seemed happy but if for some reason there were ring boys, I'd be the last to complain.
Q. Where can MMA fans check you out online?
Avila: Find me on Twitter @MMAHeartless, or my Facebook fan page. Also check out Fight Dreams, due out this summer!
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