It didn't matter what Sinead Kavanagh said when she walked up to the gym doors.
She wanted to scrape, no matter if she was a young, tough girl from Dublin or an experienced fighter trying to make the transition to MMA.
Consider her boxing beginnings, where a wise old coach advised her to get lost.
Kavanagh was interviewed by News Ireland's boxing podcast The Rocky Road to share her story from pre-teen hardchaw, to thirtysomething mauler looking for world titles and big-money bouts.
She said, "There was a boxing group right across the street from my ma's when we were kids. I wanted to box." I was so excited that I decided to go over to the boxing club, but at that time it wasn't permitted for girls to box.
"I walked into, and Peter Perry, my ye man, ran after me, saying, 'Get your f*** away, they don't accept girls!' I can still remember running off, crying. You know, I was about eighteen or ten years old.
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"There was a Karate Club there on different days, like a Tuesday or a Thursday, so I joined karate for a few more years.
"I joined that boxing team, then after a few more years, CIE Boxing Club. It was crazy, mad times. I had to fight some guys to get in the club.
Let's say it was a decade ago, and Kavanagh was still rocking up at Straight Blast Gym, determined after becoming increasingly disillusioned in boxing to try mixed martial arts.
John Kavanagh, the gym boss, set the challenge again.
She stated that John just gave him a list, and he said, "I recommend you do this," and I took it from there.
"I went down to show him that I was willing to do this. If I leave, he won't give me his time. This is what a lot people do.
"They come in and think they want it. But there is so much to learn that they will just leave.
"So he gave the classes to me and once he realized that I was interested, I went to the pro-team and we took it from then on."
Kavanagh, who has a 7-3 record now as a pro MMA fighter after a 3-1 start in amateur, is looking to win a world title against Cris Cyborg later this year. She hopes that she will be granted the green light soon.
She fought alongside Katie Taylor and Kellie Harriman in Irish boxing, but she left feeling like the sport had sucked her once too often.
She stated that she was quiet as a child, but it is important to be attentive to the quieter ones. Nobody could look at me with a cross-eyed expression or say anything. I was well-known for my ability to throw a few digs.
"I was raised in Inchicore. It's a beautiful area. It's a beautiful place. There's my ma. I'm now in Ballyfermot.
"I had to put in the work. Although I was able to learn my skills, it was hard work in boxing. I didn't receive anything.
"I have many stories of boxing. I was a five-time senior champion. I was able to go away and do other things, but there are still dark areas in boxing. "Looking back, I don’t know why I kept going to boxing. Kellie was right there with me during the worst of it all.
"We were being looked over, and they weren't bringing us away because they didn’t want anyone on the women’s team.
"It was only one to two people allowed, and we weren’t, which was very disappointing." We wanted to train and have this as a part of our lives, but it was not allowed.
Taylor was the leader in women's boxing Ireland, but Kavanagh finished two years after failing make it to London 2012.
She said, "I was training when Katie did not even have a bleeding medal. I can recall sparring Katie many years ago. At the beginning, Katie (Murphy) and Alanna (Murphy) were there, and I went to the Stadium to spar with them.
"And then, sure enough, I was not allowed to spar with them again. I was not allowed to go down there to train again. It was the way it was. It was . I was trying to make a living doing something that I love."
Kavanagh doesn't remember her national service well, but her time as a Drimnagh club coach Tony Davitt delivered five national Elite titles. They will always be part of her.
Davitt, a Meath legend, has trained hundreds upon hundreds of champions. However, no one has won more seniors than him. She added that she still talks to Tony and still enjoys the banter. Tony is my hero. He gave me hope. He took care of me, picking me up and giving me training. He gave me the spark to believe that I could do anything, that I could achieve this.
"He just kept my motivated, you know?" He kept me motivated by taking me to training camps, and then bringing me all over the globe to train. Tony was a great mentor and friend. He was so kind to me.
"I needed him, and he was amazing. He took me to America, New York, Vegas, and other places that I never thought I would be able to see. He took me there. John Kavanagh was an amazing man who led Conor McGregor to both UFC titles simultaneously.
She said that she was tired of boxing and was fed up with everything associated with it. It was irritating to me. It was up to me to decide if I wanted to give up or move on. So, I decided to do the opposite. "I went to John’s gym, and that was it. Every coach that I have had throughout the years has given me a special bond.
"I have always felt connected to my coaches, because they understand how hard I work. They know how hard I want to succeed and are always there for me.
"Every coach I've had has mentally motivated me to do better every day. Every coach I have had was special, and I will always remember them.
Despite her success with MMA, Kavanagh still sees boxing as a sport and believes that she has the mentality and focus to win titles.
She stated that she believed she could easily switch back. I am a great boxer, and that is what makes me win fights in this MMA.
"I feel like I have a greater sense of myself. I feel more at ease in my head and body, and that I am at the top of what I do. Yes, I think I would make some money if I returned and could smash heads!
It helped her to be able to use her fists when she went into the SBG in 2014 to begin anew. But jiu jitsu proved to be a different challenge. It was a lot of work learning about takedowns, chokes, and blocks. Kavanagh stated that he found it very difficult. It was hard for me to grasp the jitz. I was confronted with top fighters, and they were just bleedin’ smashing me.
It was difficult at first, with the wrestling and all, but I persevered. All the pieces come together, and I'm now ready to take to the ground. I'm happy enough that I know what I should do.
"The jitz was hard. There's so much more. You thought you were going to submit sweeps. They'll just f your back.
It's a wonderful sport. It's a great sport. I would rather train in a jitz than a boxing gym.
It's incredible. It's amazing. It took me three years to master it. It took me three years to get the hang of it.
"Especially if they are bigger than you and just maul you, they sit on you, can't get off you, they're using all your might to get off of you. It's hard work.
She still prefers to use the old methods of winning, despite learning new skills.
Kavanagh stated: "I still like the knockout with my hands. It must be. It's impossible to beat, is it?
It's especially impressive with the 4oz gloves. Even more so with the 4oz gloves.
Cyborg is the target, and the Dubliner is pursuing her.
She stated, "I want that title." I want to prove that I can compete with the best. It's possible. Cyborg can't be beat by anyone in this division, but me.
"She doesn’t like being hit and she doesn’t like boxers. And I can bang, and my boxing skills are on point. She is a formidable opponent. Amanda Nunes would be proud.
"I would keep my jab up, only heavy shots, and try to take her head off. If she challenges me, she'll turn into a wrestler. She will try to knock me out. When she digs in my head, she won't be able to stand by me.
"That's all I can see. She is trying to bully and intimidate me. I just see her walking on to my right hand and saying goodnight.
