There have been some rumors going around the Internet world about you vowing to submit Gazzy Parman. You two did have a close overtime match in 2005 that you won, but you both seem to show a lot of respect towards each other in conversation. Was that vow simply a rumor and would you eventually like to have another match with Gazzy?

Cindy Hales: There was no vow made on my part. I was initially going to be competing in the GQ pro trials in New Jersey at the end of June and I was interviewed regarding that tournament. I was asked what I thought of the girls in my division and how I felt about competing against Gazzy. There was some controversy in our finals match back in 2005. I won on a sudden death takedown. I don’t like winning in that manner and I commented in the interview that I was looking forward to competing against Gazzy again and that this time I was going to submit her. It wasn’t a vow, I was just stating what I thought would happen. It really has nothing to do with Gazzy at all. I am sure she feels the exact same way. People enter grappling tournaments to win. I have always loved to compete and I love to win. I train hard so that I can win. I believe in myself and my technique and that I can beat anyone out there between 120-135 pounds on any given day. I am not trying to be cocky or arrogant, there are tons of great grapplers out there and Gazzy is one of them. I just have confidence that the next time we compete it will go my way, just like I have confidence that I can beat Megumi, that I can beat Gina and Tara. I am a competitor and I train and prepare to win. It is not personal or malicious, I expect my opponents to feel the exact same way about me. It is our jobs as fighters to go out and win. Who wants to watch a fighter who prepared to lose? As far as the Internet world and all of that goes, it is all part of it. Promoters promote, that is what they do. What better way to get people excited about the card than to bring up old rivalries and feed off of them and exaggerate them. That is part of the big picture game in terms of marketing fights and fighters. I don’t take any of it too seriously. I have respect for all the people I compete against. All of the Internet hype about Gazzy and I is just fluff to get people to buy tickets and get engaged in the match up. If that’s what it takes to get people to come out and watch then that is fine with me. Once they get there they will be exposed to world class grappling and hopefully see the real beauty of the sport and be able to move past all of the hype about vows and all of that.


Bevois: Speaking of the Internet, a lot of people feel athletes should be allowed to tape their own matches for their own private personal use and training, if promoters are going to end up making money off their name and likeness. How do you feel about this?

Cindy Hales: I absolutely think that fighters should have the ability to tape their matches for personal use and training, especially when often promotions say they will provide tape and then never do. I have fights and grappling matches that I was promised footage on, that I still haven’t received. Watching video is a really beneficial tool. It allows a fighter to really review what happened and what can be improved upon moving forward. I believe first and foremost in technique and constantly improving and learning and I want any tool I can that will help me achieve this.


Bevois: You are set to face Gracie Humaita black belt Gabriela Bermudez at the World Grappling Games’ PAC SUB in Honolulu, Hawaii on the weekend of June 27-29. On the 28th you two will compete in a gi and then on the 29th you two will compete in no-gi. Do you prefer one over the other?

Cindy Hales: I definitely prefer no-gi and have trained exclusively no-gi for the past 3 years. This gi match is good for me though, because it is making me revisit my roots as a BJJ player. I have really gone off on a tangent with no-gi and wrestling and have to think about the nuances of the gi will change my perspective again. The first few days back in the gi definitely irritated me a little bit. I respect the gi a lot and also respect Gabriela as a gi player. I have a bit of a strategy laid out for this match up, we will see if it works. One thing is for sure, I am going to be much happier when we get to the no-gi day.


Bevois: You and Gazzy along with Felicia Oh are three of the most decorated black belt women in America. Do you think jiu-jitsu will eventually become more popular among women the way it is with men?

Cindy Hales: Definitely, I think jiu-jitsu will pick up for women. There is just sort of a learning curve both in terms of just accepting the validity and value of the sport, as well as a technical learning curve. The level of women is already getting higher and I think as more girls get into it at a young age, along with wrestling being offered to more girls in school, we will see this keep improving. Also with women being featured in events like PAC SUB and also in mainstream MMA organizations, the sport becomes more legitimate for women. Girls can see that it is an option for them just as much as it is for the guys. It is a really exciting time right now and it is up to the female competitors and the promoters to handle it in the right way so that the sport is able to continue to grow.


Bevois: You and Gabi will be competing alongside the Jeff Monson and Kumu Cambra, who are both very accomplished in the sport. Are you excited to see this match take place live at the PAC SUB?

Cindy Hales: I am always excited to watch Jeff Monson. I have trained with him a few times when he was in Olympia, WA at the Top Team school there and he has helped me out in the past as far as getting on events so I will be cheering for him. I have heard a lot about Kumu and know that he is going to be the favorite of the Hawaiian fans and a lot of the Egan Inoue/Grappling Unlimited fans. It should be an exciting match up not matter who wins. This time though, I am going with my hometown fighter and friend, and pick Monson to win.


Bevois: B.J. Penn, Egan Inoue, Mia St. John, Jeff Glover, Mike Fowler, Ryan Lizares, Sidney Silva, Scott Bieri, Joel Tudor, Sim Go, Dentinho, Niko Vitale, Rafael Lovato Jr., and many other big names in the sport are also scheduled to be attending this event. How do you feel about competing in the PAC SUB, in a sport that is so popular among the local Hawaiian fans and competitors?

Cindy Hales: I am super excited to compete in Hawaii. From what I hear the martial arts and fighting culture there is huge, so to be able to compete there alongside some of the top players in the world and at such a large event is going to be awesome. I am excited to see not only all of the grappling, but also all the other stuff that is happening in conjunction with the tournament. I like meeting new people, seeing all of the new gear and all of that kind of stuff, so I am looking forward to having a great time. Also , I have never been to Hawaii so I am also really eager to see the sites, enjoy the sun