Dealing with trouble aggressively helped turn life around for UFC fighter Valerie Letourneau
Valerie Letourneau, nicknamed Trouble, overcame some early trouble in life to become one of the top MMA fighters in the world.
Currently ranked No.9 in the UFC women’s strawweight division, she challenges for the title in the co-main event of UFC 193, the first UFC program to feature women’s title fights as the main and co-main events.
The historic card will occur on Nov. 14 from Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, Australia. It is the first UFC event in Australia and expected to be the highest attended show in UFC history.
After upsetting Maryna Moroz on Aug. 23 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, Letourneau (8-3) will face undefeated champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk (10-0) at UFC 193. Then in the main event, bantamweight champ and pro wrestling fan Rowdy Ronda Rousey, also undefeated, battles top contender and unbeaten The Preacher’s Daughter Holly Holm (9-0).
An inspiration, Letourneau proves dedication and hard work pays off, earning this title shot as an underdog -- after 16 years in the sport -- on one of the biggest UFC platforms -- UFC 193.
Someone with ADHD, Letourneau found it difficult in school and even a challenge dealing with people growing up in Montreal. Not one to sit still, the slightest annoyance triggered her aggression, her anger. The knowledge and treatment for ADHD is better today than when she struggled with it.
Constantly in trouble as a youth, she turned her life around through kick boxing in a mandatory program at the juvenile detention center. The athletic endeavor helped her physically and mentally -- attitude, discipline, focus. It gave her a positive outlet for her aggressiveness, and she enjoyed training and competing, learning from her coaches and respecting them and her opposition.
She continued to develop and progress, learning other forms of mixed martial arts. It’s been quite the journey, and listening to her story and how she’s turned her life around, you want to root for her.
Letourneau, 32, now trains at the prestigious American Top Team in (South Florida) Coconut Creek. She looks to join welterweight Robbie Lawler as the only champions in the ATT family while becoming the first Canadian strawweight champ.
Letourneau is also a single mom, supportive and loving of her daughter, Gabrielle, 12, who would rather ride a horse than an opponent. That suits Letourneau fine. Like any good mom, she just wants her daughter to be happy and do something she loves.
The philosophy is working for Letourneau, who found something she loves to do, which led to this co-main event opportunity at UFC 193.
And that makes her very happy.
http://www.ufc.com/event/UFC193
Watch UFC 193 on pay-per-view.
FS1 will show the prelims, and the UFC Fight Pass covers the earlier opening bouts.
- The Valerie Letourneau Story
For the entire video interview
YouTube jim varsallone (jimmyv3 channel)
Twitter @ValTroubleMMA
American Top Team is at 4631 Johnson Rd. in (South Florida) Coconut Creek, 33073.
For information, call 954-425-0705.
http://www.Americantopteam.com/
http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/fighting/
YouTube jim varsallone (jimmyv3 channel)
This story was originally published October 28, 2015 at 4:34 AM with the headline "Dealing with trouble aggressively helped turn life around for UFC fighter Valerie Letourneau."