QUEBEC — Olympic bobsled champion Kaillie Humphries tried her hand at mixed martial arts Sunday, working out with renowned coach Firas Zahabi and two top UFC fighters.
The 28-year-old from Calgary has been a longtime fan of the sport and she got to experience it firsthand as part of the UFC Experience, a public workout at a Quebec City mall ahead of Wednesday’s Ultimate Fighter Nations Finale card.
Under the tutelage of Zahabi, Humphries worked on a double-leg takedown, armbar and kimura submissions as well as punching and kicking.
The two-time Olympic bobsled queen then got to try her moves on UFC welterweight Rory (Ares) MacDonald and middleweight Francois Carmont, who served as benign training partners for Humphries.
Zahabi trains both, as well as former UFC champion Georges St-Pierre.
MacDonald is ranked the No. 2 contender in the world at 170 pounds by the UFC while Carmont is No. 9 at 185 pounds.
An enthusiastic Humphries, who plans to take in Wednesday’s fight card, says she may have to make time to add some MMA training into her regimen.