Geddes did not compete in any team sports in high school, but joined a women’s rugby team after graduation. At 6 feet tall, her size gave her a natural advantage in contact sports. But as a woman the opportunities were not plentiful, until she heard about MMA.

“I told my friends that I was going to be doing this, and they’re all about it. My parents aren’t quite so fond of the idea, but they want me to feel good about myself, and I think they see that this is going to do that,” said Geddes, who has adopted a vegan diet and works parttime at David’s Natural Market in Wilde Lake.

Smith is seeing immediate dividends from the training as well, but calls an actual MMA fight “a distant fantasy right now.”

“I really can’t even imagine me going pro, but it would be really sweet if I did. ... I can’t wait to learn submissions and takedowns,” she said, referring to techniques to take opponents to the ground and cause them to give up or “tap out.”

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Smith played softball at her high school in Silver Spring and had contemplated joining the wrestling team, although she ended up abandoning that idea.

“I should have stuck with it; it might have helped me out now,” she said.

Unlike Geddes, Smith said that her parents are excited that she wants to compete in MMA.

And she said that her boyfriend, a distance runner who shares her appreciation of the Ultimate Fighting Championship -- MMA’s most popular and competitive promotion -- has no problems with her aspirations to become a competitive fighter.

“He’s never mentioned anything about me being more feminine, but I don’t know.  Maybe when I start coming home with welts on my face, I’m kind of excited to see everyone’s reaction,” she said.

Smith acknowledges, however, that it will be a major leap to go from training like a fighter to fighting like a fighter.

“(Richards) said that for a lot of people, getting hit in the face is usually the breaking point. Whether that will be the case with me, I guess we’ll see.”

For more information:

Lights Out Gym
9110 Red Branch Road, Suites M and N
Columbia
410-740-2699
www.lightsoutgym.net

CrossFit Diesel
9520 Gerwig Lane, Suite T
Columbia
301-919-4070
www.crossfitdiesel.com

Also check out:

LA Boxing
Boxing, kickboxing and mixed martial arts training center
6476 Dobbin Center Way, Suite 400
Columbia
1-888-751-4269

Ground Control
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and mixed martial arts training center
9130 Red Branch Road, Suite X Columbia
410-992-4662
www.groundcontrolusa.com/columbia/index.php