Astrid: How long have you all been in MMA?

Lana: I have been fighting mma professionally for just under 2 years. I also fight no gi professionally, my last pro tournament was Abu Dhabi, in which I finished a highly contested 2nd in my division. The core of my mma is built around my proficiency in Brazilian jiu jitsu. I received my blue belt from Relson Gracie.

I relocated to Northern California last year where I currenlt train under Sergio Silva of Open Door Brazilian jiu jitsu and received my purple belt over 8 months ago. I currently teach mma, bjj, and gi jiu jitsu out of at Krav Maga in San Francisco. I am managed by "the first lady" of mma, Phyllis Lee.

Lana: To say that I have one constant role model is not accurate. I appreciate people of passion who go to all ends to achieve what they want. I am attracted to and fall into what most people would consider an obsessive compulsiveness, if you look at the very best athletes and competitors this is a common trait we all share. Its as if we are totally submersed in our sport/discipline and obsess over it constantly. I replay my best moments over and over in my head to prepare for upcoming fights.

In speaking of role models, I think it is important to talk about fighting and what fighting is. To me, I fight for athleticism and to entertain, the most important being athleticism, I try to be the best. the other way to fight is for freedom and home. In 2004, a close family friend, Jerko Zovko, was killed in Iraq. He was of the first casualties of the war.

Since that time, I dedicated every win and every title to him, his family, and everyone else serving our country and others. Anyone who gives their life out of duty to their country is a personal hero. If you believe in something, then you put your life on the line to die for that cause, what greater victory is there for you?

These are better than role models, they are my HEROS. When I compete, you will see on my back a slogan,"Heroj Zivi Zuavjek", which is respectfully in Croatian (for the Zovko family) for "A Hero Lives Forever". In upcoming events, I will continue my tribute to Jerko, his family, and all service people by putting it in English for the world to see.

Lana: This answer is point blank : because I believe in Belinda Dunne. She is a woman who put her money where her mouth was and went out and DID what other people have been talking about for years. She started a women's fight organization.

 Regardless of who does what now, Belinda is, and was, the first to do this. Many people will try to take that credit, but right here right now its history being made. I trust in Belinda's vision, and know firsthand that she is a promoter that cares about her fighters and the professional image they convey.

She is trustworthy, and anyone in the fighting business knows what snakes and sharks most promoters are, there are a few respectfully great show promoters like "Art of War" and some other cards that are not so big who treat their fighters with respect, but for the most part, you have to watch your back. Belinda is one of those great promoters, who, as I see it, will only become greater with more exposure.