Watch Danielle’s story here!
Danielle Taylor, a Custody Assistant serving at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, sheds light on her journey to mixed martial arts.
Measuring in at just 5 feet tall, Danielle Taylor’s dual professions are anything but expected.
When she’s not working as a custody assistant at the North County Correctional Facility in Castaic, CA, she’s balancing a busy training schedule as a professional fighter in the straw weight division of the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship).
Though currently preparing for her third fight within the organization, Danielle didn’t always have expectations of becoming a professional fighter.
“I never thought I would be a fighter… But I did envision being a cop,” Taylor explained. “The way I fell into the fighting was getting into law enforcement.” In 2010, Danielle began working for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department as a security officer and quickly decided it would be in her best interest to begin practicing some basic forms of self-defense.
After her father recommended she attend a boxing gym in Palmdale, CA, Danielle began training regularly. Starting with “a little bit of grappling, wrestling and jiu jitsu,’ Taylor realized that she had a knack for the physical components and began “growing a passion and a love for the sport,” she says. My old coach then ‘asked me if I wanted to fight,” she recalls.
Despite some reservation as she contemplated her mother’s reaction to the potential news of her being ‘hit in the face,” Danielle eventually decided to give it a try. The decision proved to be a wise one as she fell in love with the sport and developed a new motivation for training. “I loved it and I wanted to keep growing and improving,” she proudly exclaimed.
Improve and grow she did, progressively expanding upon her skills and eventually going on to fight in the mixed martial arts promotion, King of the Cage. Competing as a straw weight, Danielle ultimately fought her way to become the Straw Weight champion of the organization, but in the midst of a 5-fight win streak, she lost the belt in her first title-defense fight against Jamie Colleen. After that setback loss, Danielle refocused and won her next 2 fights, including her rematch with Colleen in which she regained her title as the King of the Cage strawweight champ.
Today, as a strawweight in the UFC, Danielle continues juggling the responsibilities of her intense training schedule and full time work as a custody assistant. Her days are jam packed, but it’s a routine she’s more than willing to endure.
If you love something, you make time for it
“I just have a passion for the sport. I love what I do. If you love something, you make time for it,” Taylor assuredly explains. In managing her strenuous routine, Danielle enlists the help of various coaches to help her prepare both mentally and physically for her battles inside the octagon. Working with a dedicated group of jiu jitsu specialists, wrestling experts, experienced strikers and a strength and conditioning trainer, Taylor has structured a solid and supportive team to help guide her throughout her journey in the UFC. “This is something I’ve always wanted to do..I want to keep growing and eventually I want to get that belt.
Anthony Trueheart 