Invicta’s Catherine Costigan talks selling fights, superheroes, and being a true martial artist
Irish atomweight Catherine Costigan (5-0) is excited to take on Amber Brown (4-1) in Invicta 13, set for the Cosmopolitan Casino in Las Vegas on July 9th. In fact, she asked for the fight.
“I think Amber Brown is ranked number four… whether she’s deserving of it we’re gonna really find out in the fight,” Catherine said. “I think she suits me. I think it’s gonna be a really interesting technical bout, and if I work my strengths, which I know I will, then I’ll come out the victor.”
Invicta 13 is set just before the huge UFC fan expo that weekend which will feature the much anticipated title bout between her fellow countryman Connor McGregor and Jose Aldo. Costigan used this fact to try to sell and hype the fight earlier on before the match was actually set.
“There are a lot of Irish supporters coming over, so it’ll be like fighting in front of my home fans. It’s a big advantage for me,” she said. “But it doesn’t matter whether the crowd cheers for you or boos for you. You want them to say that was a great fight.”
It takes two to tango and make a great fight, but one more party needs to be present: the fans. Fighters doing self promotion and selling the fight is so important.
“It’s your job. It’s not just go on the mats and hit the pad, although that is a huge part,” Catherine explained. “The other part is to make fans invest in you and want to actually see you fight. Through your words and actions a lot can be done to sell a fight. Work well with media and do those interviews. Connect with fans, give them time. They’ve spent the money on that ticket- that’s the only reason I’m there. So I want them to feel good about spending that money and then give them the fight of the night. I think we owe that to the promoters as well – to hype that fight up. As long as the trash talk is kept respectful, I don’t see a problem with it.”
Big trash talkers tend to be more successful.
Catherine started kickboxing when she was 14 years old.
Her father was really into Bruce Lee, and the martial artist became a big influence on her. “I was interested by watching how Bruce Lee defeated bigger opponents with intelligence and smarts. Reading comics, I like the idea of a superhero that fights for truth and justice. My favorite hero is Superman. The man of steel fights for people who can’t fight. He’s always straight and true to what he means, and stands up to people. I think that’s a necessity these days that is quite missed. I do feel that we get a chance when we get in the cage be a superhero in a sense. That’s what I’ve always liked. I think that’s what pushed me into it.”
“I was resistant to MMA at first because I loved striking,” Costigan admitted, “but when I took a guy down and tapped him out the first time, I got up and thought that it is a mental challenge, like playing a game of chess. One wrong move and you lose. With the right moves, you feel the victory. As a martial artist you need to always challenge yourself. I think you can play safe and that’s fine but I don’t think it’ll ever bring you the true confidence or reward that you feel in the mats. If you don’t play safe and you go out and chase that challenge you defeat it – that monster inside you, that fear- that’s the best way you can be as a martial artist and through MMA, everybody can do that......”
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