Stumbling upon some Ronda Rousey fights in 2015 lit a fire in Michelle Montague to pursue MMA.

The New Zealand fighter is among the top athletes who have won awards at the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation MMA awards.

Montague was nominated and won the Best Female Athlete and Best Performance categories.

She earned the Performance of the Year accolade with this sensational armbar at the 2020 IMMAF Oceania Open.

Fight News caught up with Montague to see how she got into the sport of MMA.

Check out the interview below.

Where did you grow up?

I am born in raised in rural Matamata, in the mighty Waikato of New Zealand.

How did you get into MMA?

In 2015, I stumbled upon some early Rousey fights on YouTube (between rugby trainings haha) and was just like - I NEED TO DO THIS SPORT!

So as soon as I was back in NZ, I went down to Core MMA and did every class on offer morning to night each day for a month and next thing I was having my first fight soon enough!

What is it about MMA you like so much?

I love the way it’s like a physical puzzle. You can have the right pieces but you need to make them fit.

So each discipline within MMA is addictive in itself and then joining it altogether is the really satisfying part. 

When did you make the transition from New Zealand to working in IMMAF?

I took part in my first IMMAF event at the Oceania champs in 2019. I wanted to go to the world champs in 2018, but broke my leg in wrestling training early on that year so that goal was no longer attainable. 

How does it feel to be able to step into an IMMAF? Is the feeling different than stepping into a New Zealand ring? If so, how?

The IMMAF cage has for sure got it’s own feeling about it - but I’ve only fought mma in rings in nz, not cages. So yes, very different as you can imagine!

The spacial awareness, wall work and even the way to walk in is different.

The IMMAF worlds walk out is pretty surreal and no other amateur even would compare to that exact moment, in my opinion.

What do you have planned for 2021?

I plan on qualifying for NZ Team for wrestling at Tokyo Olympics at u68kg. I plan on fighting at 6x IMMAF champs at either feather/light weight.

I plan most importantly on finding more balance in my life and being able to commit to full time training for the first time. 

What advice would you have for anyone looking at getting into MMA?

Find your local MMA or combat sports gym and just give it a crack. Ask questions. Be open minded and open eyed to all of the disciplines.

Oh, and of course -  join a wrestling club! haha. 

Besides MMA, do you enjoy any other sports or activities?

Oooh yes yes - I love our Viking Kayaks for fishing, adventures out in nature, sky diving/adrenaline junky activities, and rugby will always be on my mind too!

How does it feel to be nominated  and win in this year's IMMAF awards?

I felt so honoured to be nominated and to even take the award home from the immaf awards! I actually couldn’t believe it, because it does come from each country’s one vote..

I’m proud of my team and of myself, I think that was a special year for us all.