SPOKANE, Wash. — Consider it a non-traditional mother and daughter bonding experience. That's what Cindy Dandois and Lola Papadatos have when it comes to mixed martial arts and competing in intense cage matches.
The pair are from Belgium and their latest experience brought them to Spokane for a fight at the Northquest Casino in “Conquest of the Cage.” Dandois has been fighting for years now and has even fought in what's considered the pinnacle of mixed martial arts fighting, the UFC.
She trains her daughter who’s followed in her footsteps as a fighter.
“I never pressured her. This is what she wanted to do. I tried to pressure her when she was younger to do ballet because I thought it was cute,” Dandois explained.
“She did that for like two months because she wanted to have the little nice tutu and then she was sick of it. When she was four, she told me she wanted to grapple, wrestle and all these things so as a parent you go with it.”
Little Papadatos is truly passionate about the sport she has decided to choose. In her home country, she competes against boys due to a lack of competition she's able to face-off against.
Not even a teenager yet, she's taught herself how to speak English and is paving a trail for future generations.
“No one should tell them they can’t do it,” Papadatos said. “If they really want to do it and they train for it what can happen? I think small girls can’t knock out each other. They don’t have the power to do that. I think soccer and other sports it’s dangerous. In MMA there are good rules.”
Her mom is comfortable with her competing because of how smart she is. Win or lose, she's just happy that she’s using the moment to gain experience and train for the future.