A Fight to Remember

A+Fight+to+Remember

Hailey Burkett and Natalie Barnes

AND IN THIS CORNER WEIGHING IN AT AN ASTONISHING 125 POUNDS,A WHOPPING 5 FEET AND 7 INCHES, AZLE HIGH GRADUATE: MONTANA DE LA ROSA.

De La Rosa graduated from Azle in 2013, during her time here she participated in wrestling and fought to bring our school to state as well as kicking and punching her way to nationals. She now utilizes the skills she learned to knock out her competition in the UFC ring.

“I definitely wouldn’t be fighting without wrestling, that’s one of the best bases to have for fighting,” De La Rosa said. “Most fighters have wrestled in the past”

De La Rosa is an intimidating presence in the ring and out. Competing in the flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championships she has pinned down 10 wins.

“She is a force to be reckoned with,” English and special education teacher Gretchen Turdo said. “She is very determined, she is very strong-willed, she can block out the noise which is a unique trait.”

De La Rosa has been fighting for 6 years now, but the Octagon isn’t the only ring in her life. Her husband, Mark De La Rosa fights alongside her in the UFC. They have recently returned to Azle along with a camera crew to shoot a “day in the life” feature for UFC. This will show what it is like to be in the world of a UFC fighter, starring the De La Rosa family.

“The UFCis doing a story on me and my family,” said De La Rosa. “My husband is also a UFC fighter and my daughter wrestles here at Azle.”