559 Fights backs emerging Central Valley female MMA talent

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Jocelyn Armenta didn’t always love training. As a kid, she’d skip sessions just to get some sleep, but everything changed when she found her second home at Dethrone Base Camp.

“I appreciate my coaches a lot; they do inspire me and push me forward,” said Jocelyn. “They don’t sugarcoat things, and I think that’s what I like about it because I don’t want someone to just be like, ‘Oh yeah, you’re doing great,’ but then I’m not.”

559 Fights is a local homegrown MMA promotion in the Central Valley, launching athletes into mixed martial arts careers. And now they’re seeing more women take up the sport.

“A lot of new, fresh faces, a lot of young women that are transitioning from wrestling careers into mixed martial arts, from jiu jitsu, taekwondo, and boxing. They’re really starting to see that this can be a career path for them,” said Jeremy Luchau, who is the CEO and founder of 559 Fights.

Fighting isn’t just physical, it’s emotional. For Jocelyn, MMA has become an outlet, a place to work through anxiety, and a path to personal strength.

“I just got to keep myself, keep my confidence high, because if I were to like go down, then my mentality in that cage or in the ring wouldn’t be where I need it to be,” said Jocelyn.

Head Coach Mike Moreno has trained fighters for over 30 years. He’s seen Jocelyn grow from a quiet teenager to a leader among Dethrone’s female fighters.

“She doesn’t give up, and she’s got heart, so like the mental toughness, her aggression and her ability to absorb information and just be humble sets her apart,” said Moreno. “Now there’s a couple other females looking up to Jocelyn, like, ‘Oh, man, if you could do it, I can do it.'”

Jocelyn recently made her amateur debut with 559 Fights, even though she lost, Jocelyn won in a bigger way – graduating from high school this week, and her family couldn’t be prouder.

“We love her no matter what, and she’s still a winner in our book,” said Stephanie Armenta, who is one of Jocelyn’s older sisters and would spend years taking Jocelyn to and from practice.

“I’m very proud of her for representing the Latino community and also women, too, because I know there’s not a lot of women representation in the UFC fighting, so I’m very excited for the future for her,” said Noemi Armenta, another older sister who has also been supporting her.

With a strong work ethic, determination, and a community cheering her on, Jocelyn isn’t just fighting for wins in the cage; she’s paving the way for the next generation of women in MMA.

This Saturday, 559 fights will be hosting their first-ever pro-am event at Eagle Mountain Casino in Porterville. It’s the perfect chance to support local fighters like Jocelyn and meet former UFC Champions Brandon Moreno and Alexa Grasso.