Jackie Catalin devoted her life to wrestling before moving on to mixed martial arts in 2022. She is not planning to abandon that skill to prove her points against boxing veteran Jamie Edenden at Invicta FC 61 on Friday in Shawnee, Oklahoma.
The featherweight was originally scheduled to meet on February 7th, but the match was cancelled after Katalin had to provide a medical halt following a loss in the power slap. Edenden said “very angry” in the cancellation, and Katalin’s “ego wrote a check that her ass couldn’t be caught.” However, Katalin is not a challenge for Edenden’s “Anyone Who Will Film First is AP*SSY.”
“Obviously, she’s trying to hype the fight. “But in reality, the fact that she doesn’t want to go to the ground with me makes it better for me. Obviously I’m really good at it. I’m not fighting anyone who couldn’t beat the takedown. myself.”
Catalin improved to 5-3, using Kelly Ottoni’s dominant ground and pound TKO in August in a trio finish in MMA, but Edenden (5-2-1) is seeking fifth straight win since turning Pro in 2022.
“She doesn’t want to go to the ground,” Katalin said. “She wants a brave. She’s the brave type fighter, coming forward and throwing. It’s not necessarily like boxing. She just throws and moves forward. Confusing.”
The mother of four, who works as an electrician and a high school wrestling coach, is still strong in the 36-year-old combat sports. Former US Olympic wrestling team members include a battle with invicta FC, including a fight at MMA, and trades in power slaps.
“I’ll be 37 this year. Obviously, my windows are very short for competition,” Katalin said. “I don’t want to be 45, but I don’t want to do this yet lol. Honestly, for me, it was a good business move. It was a good foot at the door. Dana White is my boss. I’ll fight three or four times this year.”
“I was on the US and Olympic wrestling teams, so I played for the national team for about 20 years,” she continued. “But I do a day’s work. I’m an electrician. I have 2 biological kids and 2 step kids, so I have 4 kids in my home. I’m struggling with my brother. I’m an ultra busy person. I obviously don’t have to fight for my career. I’m going to decide to retire completely from the competition.”
As for power slaps, she defends the promotion by saying it looks worse than it actually is.
“I don’t think it’s more dangerous than MMA,” Katalin said. “To be honest, you’re throwing hundreds of punches in an MMA, 15- or 25-minute fight. You’ve been slapped three times. There’s no damage as much as you’re going to take a fight. I’ve never seen my face look like after an MMA fight. It’s like you’re watching this knockout, and it’s like it’s happening to everyone and I’m definitely doing more damage than I’m smacking.”