Ashlee Evans Smith (UFC) | Steph Infection w/ Steph Tolev ep 86

Name: Ashlee Evans Smith (UFC) | Steph Infection w/ Steph Tolev ep 86
Uploaded: 2025-11-02T13:40:45-08:00
Duration: 50 min 51 s
Channel: Steph Tolev
Description: Professional MMA fighter Ashley Evansmith shares her journey from a rebellious high school wrestler to a UFC competitor, detailing the physical toll of…

Steph Tolev

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About this episode Professional MMA fighter Ashley Evansmith shares her journey from a rebellious high school wrestler to a UFC c… AI summary

Professional MMA fighter Ashley Evansmith shares her journey from a rebellious high school wrestler to a UFC competitor, detailing the physical toll of the sport including spine surgery and stem cell therapy. She provides insights into the rigorous weight-cutting process, the importance of gut health for hormonal regulation, and the unique physical and mental demands of mixed martial arts.

Key takeaways 5

Wrestling background protects MMA fighters: Evansmith attributes her lack of cauliflower ear and facial damage to her wrestling roots, which teach fighters to lower their level and take punches to the ground rather than standing and trading blows like boxers.
Stem cell therapy requires strict rest: After spinal surgery, Evansmith underwent stem cell treatments in Tijuana and Colombia. The healing process requires 6 weeks of rest, specifically the first 2-3 weeks, because physical activity diverts stem cells to heal sore muscles (like legs from running) instead of the targeted inflammation (spine).
Gut health impacts hormonal cycles: Evansmith regained her menstrual cycle after 20 years by following a nutritionist's advice to improve gut health through fermented foods like kefir, kombucha, and fermented beets, which introduced beneficial probiotics.
Weight cutting risks performance: While cutting weight to gain a size advantage is common, Evansmith learned that excessive dehydration and sacrifice of health leads to poor performance. She advocates for a balance between being lean/explosive and maintaining bodily function.
MMA training volume: During fight camp (4-8 weeks), fighters typically train twice daily (morning and afternoon) in disciplines like wrestling, Muay Thai, Jiu Jitsu, and boxing, often with running in between sessions.

Notable quotes 4 AI-generated: wording and quote attribution may be wrong. Use the play link to verify.

“I basically fell in love with that feeling of winning and I just knew I wanted to wrestle... I was a four-time All-American at Menlo College.”

▶ 3:34 Evansmith explains how beating a female opponent after years of struggling against boys sparked her competitive drive and led to collegiate success.
“Stem cells are cells that are taken from embryonic... they have a super healing power... when you get it it's basically injecting the stem cells and those stem cells are gonna go wherever there's inflammation in your body so you have to rest for about six weeks.”

▶ 15:46 Evansmith clarifies the mechanism of stem cell therapy and why rest is critical for the treatment to be effective.
“I think it's because my background is wrestling so when you see a boxing fight... with MMA you start taking a lot of punches you could automatically lower your level take a shot and take it to the ground where it's more of a scramble.”

▶ 8:38 Explaining why she has avoided significant facial damage despite being an MMA fighter.
“I'd rather [ __ ] your dick in my mouth than bomb on stage.”

When asked about the worst way to die or be embarrassed, Evansmith compares the humiliation of bombing in comedy to other extreme scenarios.