Who Is Who : Kathy Long

Kathy Long (born April 21, 1964) is an American retired five time world kickboxing champion and mixed martial arts fighter. Long was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and was raised in Sunny Mead, California. Later, she moved to Bakersfield where she trained in martial arts under Eric Nolan, who was her manager and trainer throughout her kickboxing career. Long has acted in numerous movies, and was Michelle Pfeiffer's stunt double in Batman Returns. Long provided commentary at the first Ultimate Fighting Championship event. On August 15, 2009 she made her debut in mixed martial arts, defeating Avery Vilche. Kathy Long Now Teaching At The Inosanto Academy.

Long currently lives in Los Angeles where she teaches martial arts at Azteca Training Center, which she co-owns. Long is a practitioner of the martial arts. She began her training in the Japanese art of Aikido, eventually earning a black belt in the system. Long would go on to earn a black belt in Chinese Kung Fu San Soo, eventually reaching the level of master in the style. She would train in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with the Machado family, as well as in Kali, and Wing Chun Kung Fu. In the 1990s, Long was inducted into several sports hall of fames. These would include the Bob Elias' Sports Hall of Fame, Inside Kung Fu Hall of Fame ("Female of the Year"), and the Black Belt Magazine Black Belt Hall of Fame (1991 "Women of the Year"). She has appeared on the covers of 35 magazine. Between 1994 and 1998, Long authored a monthly column in Black Belt Magazine. Long is the co-owner of Azteca Training Center in Los Angeles, where she teaches Muay Thay kickboxing and Kung Fu San Soo.

Long became a professional kickboxing, and one of the top female fighters in the sport's history. She compiled an impressive 18-1 record, winning 5 world titles in the process, and earning several nicknames including the "Queen of Mean", "Princess of Pain", and "The Punisher". Some of her ring career highlights include wins over Ramona Gatto, Bonnie Canino, Japanese star Kyoko "Kamikaze" Miyazaki, French champion Dani Rocard, Canadian champion Nora Daigle and two defeats over Denise Taylor. Her only loss as a professional kickboxer came in a Muay Thai match with Britain's Lisa Howarth at Pickett's Lock near London in February 1990.

On August 15, 2009, almost 16 years after she provided commentary for the very first Ultimate Fighting Championship, Long made her MMA debut defeating fighter Avery Vilche by decision at Call to Arms promotions Called Out event in Ontario, California. In preparation for her debut Long trained with Betiss Mansouri and Romie Aram at Millennia MMA, Gokor Chivichyan and Gene LeBell at the Hayastan Academy, Ahmad Reese and Lisa Twight of Gym Jones, Javier Vazquez at Universal Martial Arts Center, and with Muay Thai and strength conditioning coach Maria Morales.