Fear.

Fighting challenges our desires for comfort, certainty, and safety. It puts to trial our need to preserve and protect in exchange for growth through glory. We avoid feelings like discomfort, doubt, and the strongest of those that is undeniably key to our species' survival: Fear.

Fear is our hard wired, soul crippling instinct. It can be our friend or our undoing. It’s not about eliminating it, but finding out how to adapt and navigate its all-consuming maze. For many, fear sharpens our senses and lend to our courage. For the unlucky few, fear will consume a person entirely.

Ava J. Francey's fears were put to the test as she stepped up to contest Sarah Leone for the inaugural WCMT Jr. Batamweight title. Ava was caught between the external challenge in her opponent and an internal battle with herself. The fight was a five round bruising with Ava on the receiving end of much of the punishment. Her emotions became more visible over the course of the fight. Her facial expressions displayed her need to muster the courage to continue a fight she was losing.

Some would call this display “heart”. I saw this as a showcase of bravery. For with heart, one plays a fool’s game on the belief that the odds of winning might increase due to a lucky shot. Ava was clearly down in the scorecards, and yet proceeded to see the bout to the bitter end. As I watched her face wince and teeter between survival and resolve, the only time a smile was shown was at the the last bell. Despite of her fears, Ava went the distance - an achievement that not one person could deny her of that night.

Sarah’s ascent is a testament to the upcoming talent in the stateside Muay Thai scene. Her displays in the ring are vicious and unrelenting. Yet in the moments before her hand was to be raised as the winner, she took a beat to offer a comforting embrace and a walk around the ring holding Ava’s hand up high. The need to be a killer had faded in favor of compassion. An empathetic display of appreciation for Ava who, despite of fear, chose to persist.