Current UFC strawweight Sam “Sampage” Hughes joins the Kings of Kimuras Podcast to tell the story of her journey from life before fighting to competing on the biggest stage in MMA.

Sam takes us back to the beginning—her background as a Division I cross-country and track athlete, discovering combat sports, stepping into the cage for the first time, and the rapid climb that eventually earned her a shot in the UFC.

We talk about what it was like making her UFC debut against Tecia Torres on just five days’ notice, the challenges of beginning her UFC career with three straight losses, and the decision to move to Dallas and begin training at Fortis MMA. Sam discusses how that move helped reshape her career, the lessons she learned training under high-level coaches, and the mental side of fighting when your career is on the line.

We also dive into the next chapter of Sam’s career—her continued evolution as a fighter and her move to Corvo Martial Arts, where she now trains alongside Coach Charles Byrd and the growing MMA team.

Sam talks openly about the highs and lows of professional fighting, learning from losses, staying coachable, developing confidence, and what it takes to continue improving after years of competing inside the UFC.

From her first fight to the UFC Octagon—and now to Corvo—this is the story of Sam Hughes continuing to evolve.

Connect with Kings of Kimuras and Corvo Martial Arts:

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/corvma

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Listen on all platforms:
Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Buzzsprout

Train with us at Corvo Martial Arts:
Website: https://www.corvomartialarts.com