From Annapolis, Maryland, Chelsea Tucker's journey to the fight game began in the U.S. Coast Guard, but it was Ronda Rousey's UFC debut that ignited something deeper. Starting MMA training in July 2016, Chelsea was searching for something her life had been missing—purpose, presence, and accountability. She was dealing with severe depression and anxiety, and fighting became exactly what her soul needed.
Her early career was humbling. After going 0-3 in MMA, Chelsea made a crucial decision—she started cross-training at gyms throughout the New England MMA scene while training under Coach John Raio at First Class MMA in Brunswick, Maine. Everything changed. Her first MMA victory wasn't just a win; it was proof that the right moves and the right people could clear the path to success. Training alongside Hillary Rose, a phenomenal professional fighter whose striking style would inspire Chelsea's own, she found her community and her confidence.
In 2016, Chelsea made the transition to Muay Thai, and her debut was a statement. Fighting Liliana Suarez for TCB—a well-known, well-respected fighter with a strong record and fan base in the DMV—Chelsea won, proving her move from MMA to Muay Thai was the right call. Over her career, she's compiled a 3-4 MMA record and 4-3 Muay Thai record, along with a Silver Medal at Grand Nationals.
Her toughest lesson came at the WBC Pan-American Championships representing Team USA. Losing in the first round after freezing up and overthinking everything, Chelsea had to reevaluate her relationship with fighting. "I had to remind myself that this is a gift to myself. I GET to do this. I love the fight game. I just have to have fun." That mental shift—learning to trust herself and embrace the moment—transformed her approach. Fighting became less about fear and more about authenticity.
Known as a pressure fighter with heavy boxing, Chelsea's style is unrelenting. Her signature? Relentless forward pressure that doesn't give opponents room to breathe. Her mindset reflects nearly a decade in the sport: "I have been doing this for damn near a decade. I have seen a lot. There is nothing I can't handle."
Guided by her philosophy to "have fun—it's just another day in the office," and the warrior creed "You do not fear. You do not falter. You do not yield," Chelsea sees fighting as the most authentic form of self-expression. "Muay Thai and fighting is the most honest thing you can do. If you go into a fight unprepared, everyone will know. You show the world who you really are."
Now training at Kogen Dojo under Coach Matt Van Valkenburg and Tommie Parker, Chelsea holds herself to the high standards Coach Matt demands from anyone fighting under the Kogen name. Before her last fight, he gave her unorthodox but powerful advice: "If you've gotta be a crazy bitch out there, be a crazy bitch!" She did exactly that.
Working as a Registered Behavior Technician specializing in Applied Behavior Analysis with people with Autism, Chelsea has found another passion—one she's pursuing in school starting January. Balancing her career with training is a daily commitment, but she lives by the motto: "Get bitter or get better." Every day, she chooses to get better.
Starting at 22 in the Coast Guard with little support—not even from family—Chelsea carved her own path. She met incredible people, pushed through rough beginnings, and refused to let others' opinions define her as a fighter. Her upcoming fight on November 22nd at CSC in Richmond, Virginia, will be another chapter in that journey.
Chelsea is a huge advocate for women's rights and lifting each other up. She wants to inspire people through her fights and her journey. "Every time I step in the ring, my whole heart is in there."
Support Chelsea Tucker as she continues to grow, compete, and inspire—proving that fighting is a gift, and every moment in the ring is an opportunity to show the world who you really are.
