Danella ready for her dance with destiny

Fighting psychiatrist not playing mind games before EFC bout

HISTORY will be made next month when South Africa’s Danella Eliasov and Zita Varju of Hungary will fight in the first Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC) women’s flyweight division fight.

The bout is set to take place at Carnival City on February 21 and Eliasov was humbled by the opportunity. “Although there is real pressure to perform, it is also been a long time coming for women fighters to compete so I’m really honoured.”

Eliasov has been practising Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) for five years and would have never dreamed she would be making her professional debut.

“I only started taking the sport seriously in 2008 and dabbled in Thai boxing. It was a natural progression and because I enjoyed it so much, fell into it.”

Eliasov made her amateur debut fight in 2010, which then also was the first women’s amateur bout and is one of the most highly experienced female amateur athletes in SA.

Although she does not know much about her opponent, she is ready for the challenge. “My coaches have watched her extensively and I’ve only seen two of her fights on YouTube. and she a really good kickboxer.

“She is a lot bigger than me because I’m actually fighting in a higher weight division. But just as if I was fighting an SA opponent, my preparations have gone good and I’m ready for the challenge.”

And in Eliasov’s corner will be her arsenal of coaches, from Gert Strydom ( boxing), Paul de Vos (kickboxing), fellow EFC fighter Liam Clelland ( wrestling) and Wickus Swart (grappling).

“They all are experts in their field so I need all of their help and they are preparing me for the fight.” said Eliasov

“I’ve been training since September twice a day and I take a break one day in the week. I’m not fanatical when it comes to diet so I don’t have to watch what I eat.”

And if Eliasov is not in the ring, she is a psychiatrist at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital and a medical lecturer at Wits University.

And has she mastered the art of juggling her two passions?

“It is very tough balancing my career and getting in training before and after work but I really

PACKING A PUNCH: Danella Eliasov is hoping to inspire other women to take up MMA when she battles Zita Varju of Hungary in February. enjoy it so am happy to do both.”

With her qualifications, Eliasov said the sport has taught her a lot to further her professional career.

“With MMA there is controversy around brain damage so as a psychiatrist, it’s given me an opportunity to learn more about it.

“MMA is a risky sport and we athletes have to go for regular brain scans. But what I’ve learnt just like any other sport, you have to be vigilant and keep safe. I’ve written an article to use precautions and to be sensible to minimise the danger. It’s not always possible but if you are intelligent, it can be prevented.”

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Eliasov is hoping the February extravaganza will pique the interest of more female athletes.

“There is one girl who has potential; she’ll move up the ranks with the right training. There is not much talent out there but hopefully the match will inspire other female athletes to either cross over from boxing, wrestling and kickboxing to MMA; or we get new athletes who start from scratch and who knows, this year next time, you will have 20 to 30 girls to choose from to interview.”

But for now jokes will be put aside as Eliasov gets ready to rumble against her Hungarian opponent saying: “I’m focused on the task at hand and not the next

TOBIAS GINSBERG