Uncertain about her future in the unrelenting world of mixed martial arts, Vacaville’s Shaianna “Yaya” Rincón called it quits in the outset of 2016.

But the former Will C. Wood graduate and Solano Community College basketball player eventually realized there was a void that could only be filled by one thing.

After a year-long hiatus while finishing her psychology degree at Sacramento State and training as a cadet for the Vacaville Police Department, Rincón returned to the ring in December and was pleasantly surprised with the warm welcome she received. Not only were her MMAGOLD teammates happy to have her back in El Dorado Hills, but there was life-altering news waiting on the close by horizon.

Following a few months of tireless and grueling work in which she cut 35 pounds from her frame while training in boxing, wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, MMAGOLD head coach Jim West expressed something that the former Wildcat couldn’t believe.

Invicta Fighting Championships President Shannon Knapp expressed interest in signing Rincón to her first pro contract.

“I thought he was lying,” she said. “It didn’t seem real. It was really quick and it was as if I came back in the gym and got signed.”

After inking her deal in the spring with Invicta — a professional MMA promotion for elite female fighters — the 135-pound Rincón dominated in her debut match at Invicta FC 23 versus Brooksie Bayard and will take on judo ace Stephanie Egger (2-1) Aug. 31. In her win by unanimous decision, Rincón was a popular point of discussion despite being the first fight of the night.

But while the previous fight was an exciting moment in the midst of her pursuit, Rincón is focused on her upcoming opponent and adding another tally to the win column against a judo black belt.

“I try to train as hard as possible in every aspect of my game,” she explained. “But because of her style, you want to focus on judo defense. I’ve been working on judo tosses and things like that but you want to understand what she’s going to resort to habitually.”

For those who know her, this was a trail she’s been blazing long before she stepped foot into the cage at Tachi Palace, or even onto the campus at Will C. Wood.

And while her team and unparalleled work ethic have been a fixture throughout her young career, Rincón credits her mother for her relentless drive and unceasing persistence to ply through a training regimen that pushes her mentally and physically. The early stages of this came as a 3-year-old on a nearby dojo in Vacaville.

“My mother is a lovely woman,” Rincón said. “She was just a really hard core mom. Anything I did from homework to sports, anything and everything, she always said good job but what’s next. So in my mind, I never stop and look back and see how far I’ve come.”

While downtime really isn’t a thing at home, only playing The Sims games on PC on rare occasions, fellow fighters and MMAGOLD teammates aren’t the only thing she battles.

Anxiety has been a hurdle she still struggles with from time to time but knows that her interpersonal battle has played a part in her persistence to be the best she can be.

“Anxiety is something that I live with and I just can’t sit still,” she said. “I have to be physically and mentally stimulated and have to be doing something … When I’m training, I’m in there crying and sweating. People will stop and watch us train because we’ll be training so hard that you go throw up and run back and just keep going.”

To stay updated on Vacaville’s lone Invicta FC fighter, Yaya Rincón, follow her on Instagram or Twitter at @shai_yaya.