What are you trying to convey through your role as coach in MMA Academy?
Morgan Charrière MMA is a highly technical sport. Since they are amateurs, they do not yet have very long practice time on the mat. They lack experience. For some, it would only take two sessions, and others two months. Everyone has their own way of learning. With Taylor, we are at the very high level, so it stings us when we see certain things! We have a professional requirement that we try to apply.
What do you think of the level of the participants?
I am impressed with the level they have. They put a lot of commitment into the fights. They're not afraid to go out there and put their physical integrity on the line. That's respectable.
Morgan Charrière shares more about her role in MMA Academy
When you see these young amateurs trying to climb the ladder, does it remind you of your beginnings?
I really identify with stress management. They never had cameras in front of them. There, they are filmed all the time and it's a big shock. At first, they are not necessarily comfortable, but gradually, they get their bearings and let themselves go.
Could you have participated in MMA Academy at the start of your career?
I don't know. It’s a lot of risk but also a great opportunity. When I was younger, I think I would have done it!
“The media want to understand why MMA is so interesting“
How did you react when M6 contacted you?
I hesitated. MMA has only been legal in France for four years. Before, there were a lot of setbacks with the media in our community. We weren't particularly respected. The angles chosen were not what MMA stood for. We are always very suspicious. We saw things that made us look like savages in a cage or in cellars… They were going to find the local idiot who did MMA to put him on TV. As a result, we were confused about the filming conditions. We were careful.
Are you surprised by the enthusiasm there is for MMA in France today?
It's becoming more popular, so people are interested in it in a good way. The UFC has come to France several times, we have good fighters who perform in France. It's no longer fashionable to bash MMA. The vision of MMA has changed in France. The media now want to understand why this interests so many people and provokes so many reactions. There’s some good in it!
