TRAINING: I've been training every day as many hours as my body can handle for seven months since my last fight last December.  I've doubled my amount of strength training, for one, with my trainer Lorenzo Pavlica.  I started working with new jiu-jitsu coaches Casey Milliken and Mike Pyle. Syndicate head MMA coach John Wood oversees everything else, especially my striking and wrestling.  Every day I wake up excited to try the new things I've practiced the previous day.

When and why did you start training for fighting? I started training as a teenager for fun and to become a stronger person. I started fighting to test my abilities in live combat.

What ranks and titles have you held? Fatal Femmes Fighting champ - defended once, K-Grace MMA tournament winner in Japan, IFC Middleweight champ, Fusion Fight League champ

Do you have any heroes? My father, my mother, Coach John Wood, Naruto

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? It means I've proved that I've reached a high level in my abilities, and I want to earn a living using the skills I love.

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? Yes, I have a BA from the University of Massachusetts and majored in Japanese Language and Literature

What was your job before you started fighting?  I taught English as a second language in Japan.

Specific accomplishments in amateur competition? I didn't fight amateur MMA, but competed in many grappling and jiu-jitsu tournaments.

Specific accomplishments in pro competition? I'm proud of winning the open weight MMA tournament in Japan called "K-Grace"

Ranks in any martial arts styles: I'm a brown belt in both Judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Favorite grappling technique: Chokes 

Favorite Striking technique: The Roxycopter

• Team Gaethje on TUF 26

• Team Tate on TUF 18

• Pro since 2003

• Five wins by submission (3 armbar, triangle, RNC), three by knockout

• 6-2 between UFC appearances

• Owns wins over Tara LaRosa, Andrea Lee, DeAnna Bennett, Sarah D’Alelio, Molly Helsel, Marloes Coenen, Megumi Yabushita, and Jennifer Howe

• Has also faced Shayna Baszler, Sarah Kaufman, and Rosi Sexton

• Has won five of her last eight

• Two first round finishes