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Forget cosmetics and lift up the weights: Female MMA fighting got a physical makeover last night on Lisa Ling’s CNN special.
Lisa Ling, female reporter of CNN’s “This is Life,” tackled the stigma head-on with thorough reporting and physical combat, literally wrestling female MMA fighter Malinda Diffee to the ground.
Malinda, nicknamed “The Diva,” is a proud fighter and single mother of 16-year-old Brianna, a dedicated supporter of her matches. When Ling asked Malinda how MMA has changed her as a woman, her response was as spot-on as her martial arts moves.
“People I think get the image that you’re aggressive or you want to hurt somebody, but it’s like my everyday life I never think of hurting another human being,” she told Ling on CNN. “I don’t like seeing people in pain. So it’s not about that, it’s about pushing yourself as far as you can go.”
The show shadowed a collection of impressive women MMA fighters, including Andrea Rivera and Cara Strona. While all of the women come from different backgrounds, one fact is certain: They all love the inclusive MMA culture and community.
Forgot to DVR the show? The episode will repeat on Oct. 16 11 p.m. EST and 8 p.m. PST. If you can’t wait that long to watch a detailed look at the lives of these strong women, check out the clip above or stream full video on CNNgo.
You can also tune into “This is Life with Lisa Ling” every Sunday at 10 p.m. EST or 7 p.m. PST to watch inspirational Ling explore more unconventional lifestyles and diverse communities.
