Most people that become viral sensations seem to eventually fade back into obscurity. Jinh Yu Frey is not one of those people. It’s been two years since her knockout finish of Darla Harris became a YouTube hit, but Frey has continued to prove that the highlight wasn’t a fluke. It was only a tease of more to come. Her skill set has improved, and she now finds herself only a few days away from competing once again for Invicta FC.
“I like challenging myself and doing things that other people think are incredibly difficult,” Frey told Combat Press. “Initially I had no plans to compete, but after training for a while I actually found it to be very cathartic for me.
“To be honest, I wasn’t really even interested in making my pro debut. I was still wanting to compete as an amateur, but all that was available was a pro fight and, having gone so long without competing, I took what I could get.”
Frey constantly challenges herself, and those challenges extend beyond the cage and into the classroom. Frey recently obtained her Master’s Degree in Business Administration.
“I just like having more opportunities open to me,” Frey explained. “I’ve been in healthcare for over 10 years and I feel like it has run its course. One of the main concerns I have is lack of flexibility. I’ve never had the ability to make my own schedule, and that’s something, as I have gotten older, that is important to me.”
Education has been a priority for Frey, as it should be. It also accounts for why she has not been in the cage through the first eight months of 2015.
“I stayed consistently in the gym since my last fight in case the opportunity arose, but I also wasn’t campaigning hard because these last two semesters were going to be some of my hardest… and they didn’t disappoint,” said Frey.
Frey now has the opportunity to put her educated hands to use against a dynamic fighter in Liz McCarthy. The pair is set to face off at Invicta FC 14 on Sept. 12 in Kansas City, Mo. McCarthy, a product of Syndicate MMA, is looking to bounce back after a split decision loss to Amber Brown at Invicta FC 9.
“I think she is a great fighter,” said Frey. “She was undefeated as an amateur and her pro losses are close split decisions. She is well rounded and gritty. She likes to bite down on her mouthpiece and throw volume, so it’s going to make for a great fight. There is no quick, easy way to win. She doesn’t have some huge weakness I plan to exploit. I’m just going to have to be the better athlete.”
Frey used her viral highlight knockout of Harris as a launching pad to Invicta, where she debuted just over a year ago. Frey’s first Invicta outing ended in a split decision loss to Jodie Esquibel, but the Mohler MMA product rebounded with a submission finish of Cassie Robb three months later in her sophomore Invicta appearance.
“It felt great,” said Frey. “Of course a split decision stings because it is so subjective. I was determined to not leave that cage without a win, and to get to do it in Texas was very satisfying. But now I’m returning to Kansas City and I want redemption.
“Of course the judging is always going to be in the back of my mind, but I try not to dwell too much on it. That’s outside of my control. I’m just going to be focused on the task at hand.”
Frey’s victory over Robb was gratifying for the atomweight fighter, but a win over McCarthy would be the most significant victory of Frey’s young career. It would undoubtedly put her on the list of future contenders in the growing atomweight division. It’s also another chance to add more memories and highlights to what’s already been a knockout start to her career.