When Anna Elmose got the call to fight for the UFC at just 3-0, it was a dream come true. The former fighter always knew she would end up in the UFC, but didn’t think it’d be this early in her MMA career.
Her UFC tenure didn’t go as planned – losing her first two fights, Elmose then decided to retire shortly thereafter. But “Panda” insists she’s 100% happy in retirement and wouldn’t change a thing about her time in the cage.
The Sprawl caught up with Elmose early in 2017 to talk about everything from her personal life, to her fighting career and what’s next.
You recently retired, what was the reason behind that?
I always used Martial arts and the fight situation to get a release from bad feelings. In the last few years a lot of stuff has happened to me in a positive way, and during my last fight I came to realize that I no longer have my edge and will to fight. I am in a happy place in my life and I don’t have no more bad feeling to get me in “the zone”. Fighting Amanda Cooper was just like a lazy sparring session for me, I couldn’t get my pace up and I had no adrenaline rush whatsoever. I have the skills to do great in UFC – and my shape was perfect – but I lost my fighting heart. It’s that simple.
Not too long before you retired, your coach also retired, did this influence your decision at all?
My decision about retirement was clear right after the fight. So that has not been a factor in my decision. My coach did work full time with martial arts for 25 years and he feels it’s time to do something else, that is totally his call. He is also my beloved husband, so don’t be surprised if we have some babies.
What are you going to be doing now? Coaching? Or something else?
I have worked all a long as a full time real estate agent, so my life is gonna continue as before, just without the competitions and fight camps. No, I don’t want to coach as I feel it right now. I don’t even want to do martial arts at all. I want to do something, but I haven’t figured out what.
Are you happy with what you achieved in your MMA career?
Of course my dream was to be number one, but without the will to fight that’s pretty hard to achieve. My two losses are both in the UFC. One against the woman who will fight for UFC title at 145lbs next time and then I went down two weight classes to 115 lbs and fought a heartless, but tight loss to a TUF finalist. All my wins are by KO. Yeah, it’s okay, I don’t want to fight anymore. I know am pretty badass as it is.
I probably beat everyone in sparring but I don’t want to be world champion in sparring.
As of now you are retired, but do you think there is a chance you ever step back into the cage?
No, that is never going to happen.
If you had a message for your fans and supporters, what would you say to them?
I want them to know that I got all of your positive and lovely messages and support, and that I really appreciate all of them.
