In 2013, Fallon Fox became the first transgender fighter to compete in professional mixed martial arts. At the time, this idea was met by criticisms from many within the community, most notably from UFC analyst Joe Rogan.
Five years later, Fox is once again in the crosshairs of fighters. The most recent one who put her on blast is Paulo Henrique Costa, who actually issued a challenge for a fight through a Facebook video (translation via AG Fight and Lucas Rezende).
“I would love it if this Fallon Fox fought a man,” Costa said. “A well-prepared fighter. In fact, I’m making myself available to fight him for free, just so I can beat him up. I wouldn’t even need much time. Just a few minutes.”
Like Rogan, Costa was not particularly pleased with the idea that Fox was born a man, but is now fighting women after undergoing gender reassignment surgery. He also took aim at fight promoters who sanctioned her fights.
“He was born a man, and he is a man, even though he calls himself a transsexual”, Costa said. “It’s absurd cowardice, not only by him, but also by the promoters of any event that has accepted this kind of absurdity. He has simply annihilated the girls who have fought against him. They were slaughtered, they put their lives at risk, they put their physical integrity at risk”.
“I don’t want to get into [the personal aspect] of his choice, to be transsexual or not, homosexual or not. What happens here is that a man is fighting against girls, against women, as if he were one. This is absurd, and it can’t be accepted.”
Fox, now 42 years old, has not fought since 2014. She holds a record of 5-1 (all wins by stoppage).
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