One young Gold Coast woman is fighting to be crowned a mixed martial arts champion, but what drives her to be the best?

In a small gym, tucked away in the industrial area of Molendinar, Kenani Mangakahia is training for the fight of her life.

Beneath the 27-year-old Burleigh woman's quietly-spoken, polite and friendly attitude lies a focused and disciplined fighter, known in the ring as 'Mad House'.

By day she works in a martial arts equipment warehouse but spends much of her spare time honing her skills.

It's mostly men training with her, but their behaviour shows their clear respect for her as a fighter, an equal.

If they do go easy on her, it's only when their trainer reminds them her big match is just days away and she needs to avoid injury to stay in top form.

Having trained in various martial arts for most of her life, Kenani is now competing to be named Australian flyweight WMMA champion, her first title fight.

But what does it take to become a top female mixed martial artist?



Listen to the interview to find out what makes Kenani 'Mad House' Mangakahia tick.