Like a lot of other people, Britain Hart saw the post-fight celebration from Tai Emery following her knockout win at BKFC Thailand this past Saturday.
After stopping Rung-Arun Khunchai in the first round, Emery stood on the ropes, lifted her top, and flashed the audience in attendance. The now viral clip has spread like wildfire, and Hart, an eight-fight BKFC veteran, was asked to give her reaction to the moment ahead of her inaugural strawweight title fight with Fani Peloumpi this Saturday in the main event of BKFC 29.
“It’s a hard fight for me at the end. Hart stated that MMA Fighting has all of her deep thoughts on the matter. Hart said, “I have strong feelings about it.” Hart stated, “All I can say is that she’s a great fighter. It’s okay: People like this stuff and you’re happy.
“But I have two main points: First, this can be seen as an insult to hardworking fighters, who spend their days in the gym working. Second, they come out after performing well and behave like fighters and athletes. Now, you have this girl, and it’s going to be, ‘Who is going to be booked for fights? She’s selling more tickets. Her following went up, everyone’s like, ‘I’ll pay to watch that girl fight any day.’ Of course, the fact that she got — what people say was — a clean knockout, it is what it is, but it’s her first fight. I think you should have to work up and earn a little more cred for someone to always want to watch them fight based on their skill.
“It just leads to a pattern. Her following has risen and people will want to see her in action to discover that side. Other fighters might not do that and they don’t get appreciated for her skills as much, but I can kind of let that one go because she did get a knockout, or whatever.”
Hart has spent her entire BKFC run in the flyweight division and makes the move to her more natural weight class with a title on the line.
Throughout her career, Hart has strived for two things: To win a BKFC title, and to get respect from her fellow fighters, and the combat sports community. Emery, who told MMA Fighting this week that the situation was only going to worsen in the near future — has caused quite a stir. Hart believes Emery may be on a slippery slope.
“[The second thing], I grew up very differently, and I have to say that so people can understand my background,” Hart said. Hart said, “My childhood wasn’t in the U.S.A. I was raised differently and that it was a men’s world. This was something I knew from a young age. First, I am as straight as possible, I’m very, super straight. But, to get respect from men, you must act like one. That’s why some people dislike me.
“But I act like that so I can be respected in this man’s business, sport, world, and to do that, you can’t wear mini skirts, or flash your boobs, or have an OnlyFans, because guess what? You see guys at the boxing gym. They’re not saying, “That girl is hardworking, skilled and her jab’s good,” they are thinking: “Did she post her most recent post?” Oh yeah, let me get that. So when she holds, I will go spar with her. I will feel between her legs and rub my t ******.’. I have heard this because I live in a world where men talk. It’s best to believe that they are saying it, ladies.
“You think they respect you? They think that you are a good fighter. They aren’t. You are the one they’re referring to. To me, that’s a no-no because when I was in high school, you got your ass beat for s*** like that, but now in today’s generation, it’s kind of cool. Women have taken on the manly role of , where they are basically selling themselves out .
Ahead of her November bout with Pearl Gonzalez, Hart questioned the dedication of fighters who have an OnlyFans page, or an exclusive fan site, which is something she still believes.
Hart is all about promoting a positive body image, but there comes a point, in her eyes, where it can become too much.
” It’s fine if they do what they love, that’s their life, whatever,” Hart said. “But I would just preach to other women and females, trust me, I’ve seen it behind the scenes, and I’ve seen it both ways. You don’t need someone to love you. Make that money. Some people don’t care would go shoot their mom for $5 million, so who the hell cares? That’s just the world we live in.
“However, if you really want people to look at and respect you and do the right things, then you need to take care of what images you put out. When little kids look at you and they see you wearing a thong all the time — now some time [is OK], I do support body appreciation whether you’re small, chunky, big, curvy, we should love all bodies, and that’s totally a good thing to do once in a while. Like, ‘Hey, look at this hard work,’ being in a bikini, but I’m talking [those who post those things] all the time. My thought process is often misunderstood by others. But when you look at it all, it’s not bathing suits, but lingerie and the caption. Because it’s all all about the caption. It doesn’t matter if you say, “Look at me, yay,” but if your thought process is like, “Look at my on the beach,” then that’s fine. But lingerie, not bathing suits, and lingerie, with the caption, it all matters. C’mon guys, you know the implications.”
Hart is a firm believer that everyone should pursue what makes them happy. When it comes to how fighters are viewed by their fellow athletes, along with the fans, the 32-year-old advises that hard work and patience — in all aspects of life — will pay off in the end.
“I wouldn’t want my daughter, or the people who look up to me, to post pictures of themselves in lingerie, I wouldn’t want them to have an OnlyFans, I wouldn’t want them to sleep with 20 people in a month, I would want them to respect themselves,” Hart said. Hart stated, “I would like them to find great men who love them [well], cherish them and show respect for them.”
“That’s why you guys see me and Joey so happy. That man respects the s*** out of me, and for a very good reason. I’m super happy, we have a bomb ass relationship for that reason. So you guys, fairy tale relationships are out there, but if you’re being a whore you’re not going to find your dream husband, or he’s going to be a whore, too.”
