For one night, CFA 11's Fallon Fox hopes fans focus on fight skills, not gender

Fallon Fox knew her story and unique place in women’s MMA was bound to spark some debate, condemnation and even hate. But for one night, as her next fight is broadcast to a national TV audience, she hopes fight fans will simply focus on her skills.

Fox (2-0), a transgender fighter who underwent gender reassignment surgery in 2006, meets Allanna Jones (2-1) on Friday at Championship Fighting Alliance 11, which airs on AXS TV from BankUnited Center in Coral Gables, Fla.

Fox fights in CFA’s 145-pound women’s tournament, which awards the winner a healthy $20,000 check. Usually, such a bout (and such an event) would be an unlikely pick for a TV slot. But AXS TV Fights CEO Andrew Simon said the combination of Fox with the Travis Wiuff vs. Mike Kyle heavyweight headliner led to a multi-event deal that kicks off with Friday’s event.

Now her bout is just a few days away, following few months of debate as to whether Fox should even be allowed to fight women. Rarely, though, has the discussion ever focused on the 37-year-old’s skills. But that’s starting to change now.

“It’s about time for that, right?” Fox told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio). “I don’t think many people have seen my skills. There are a couple videos out there, but now you get to see a lot more of what I do.”

She knows it’s also a big opportunity for opponent Jones, who’s 2-1 as a pro after a long and successful amateur run.

“Allanna Jones, I think she brings a lot of heart to the table,” Fox said. “I remember the last fight I watched of hers with Kelsey De Santis, and she just like really took it to her. She’s got pretty decent standup in the way of her boxing. I don’t know much about her kickboxing, but her boxing is where she focuses. So that’s what we’re going to have to deal with.”

Fox has been on a whirlwind media tour this week. Speaking to both mainstream and MMA-specific media, she’s answered questions primarily about gender and less about her fighting style. Additionally, among fight fans, she knew her story could overshadow her actual fighting ability – and would lead to some criticism.

“I realized this was a possibility,” she said. “I realized that could happen. So I’m dealing with it.

“I just tend to focus on the fight. I don’t pay much attention to them.”

Fox said her story has led to conversations with other transgender athletes, including those training for MMA. She’s obviously the highest-profile one right now, but she thinks others could soon share the spotlight. Whether she wanted the role or not, she’s become an ambassador for transgender athletes.

But on Friday, for one night, she hopes she’s instead judged on her fighting style. And if victorious, and though time isn’t on her side now that she’s in her late 30s, Fox hopes this one nationally televised fight is just the beginning.

“I just want to go as far as I can,” she said. “What I would like to happen, I’d like to fight top-ranked competition. I’d like to fight the higher-ranked competition, those women who fight in the UFC or Invicta or even here with the CFA. Wherever the top-ranked competition is, let’s do this.”

For the latest on Championship Fighting Alliance 11, stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of the site.

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