“She never let me give up” - Allycia Hellen Rodrigues shares how her mother has supported her in her journey

ONE atomweight Muay Thai world champion and new mother Allycia Hellen Rodrigues is back from her maternity leave and ready to pick up just where she left off in the ONE Championship circle.

Rodrigues has been out of action since her August 2020 world title-winning performance against Thai superstar Stamp Fairtex in Bangkok, where she won via split decision to capture the ONE atomweight Muay Thai crown.

Shortly after, she announced that she was pregnant with her first child and would be out of action for at least a year.

Following the birth of her child, Rodrigues extended her leave to learn the ropes of being a new mother. In her absence, ONE Championship crowned an interim atomweight queen in Janet ‘JT’ Todd. Now, Rodrigues is back and ready to unify the belts.

In a recent interview with ONE Championship, Rodrigues talked about how she was inspired by her own mother, and that she is thankful she has been allowed to pursue Muay Thai as a professional career.

Rodrigues said:

“My mother supported me since my first fight. Although always with a heavy heart and fear of injury due to being a contact sport, she never let me give up. At first, the idea of coming to live in Thailand was very difficult for her, but she knew that I was looking for something better for my family.”

Allycia Hellen Rodrigues takes on Todd at ONE on Prime Video 5 this week at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines. The winner will come away the undisputed ONE atomweight Muay Thai world champion.

ONE on Prime Video 5: De Ridder vs. Malykhin broadcasts live on Friday, December 2, and is free for fans in the United States and Canada with an Amazon Prime subscription.

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Allycia Hellen Rodrigues credits her mother as her biggest inspiration

Allycia Hellen Rodrigues knows that she couldn’t have made it this far in the sport without the support of her mother.

While her mother was always going to be worried for her safety, Rodrigues said that her mom would always give her full support in her endeavors.

Allycia Hellen Rodrigues, in an interview with ONE Championship, recalled how her mother supported her decision to move from their hometown of Fortaleza, Brazil to Thailand in hopes of becoming a better fighter.

“My biggest inspiration is not someone from the sport, but someone from my life. My mother is my greatest example of strength and determination. The most warrior and feisty person I know. So, my biggest source of inspiration couldn't be anyone else but her.”