Tiffany Lynn van Soest is an American Muay Thai kickboxer who competes in the bantamweight division. Originally a Shōrin-ryū karate practitioner, van Soest began Muay Thai at the age of eighteen and was both a state and national titlist as an amateur before turning professional in 2011 and winning the WBC Muaythai International Super Bantamweight Championship the following year.
A Dutch American, Tiffany van Soest was born in Torrance, California and raised in Riverside, California. The first sport she became involved in was association football at the age of five and later Shōrin-ryū karate at eight. She earned the rank of second degree black belt under Joey Pagliuso at the United States Karate Organization at seventeen but was unable to compete until she was eighteen because her parents wouldn’t let her. When she did start competitive karate, she took multiple titles at state, national and world levels.
Van Soest attend California State University San Marcos where she earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and played on the soccer team for two seasons. She started to do Muay Thai again while still in college and still playing soccer.
Van Soest began fighting in amateur Muay Thai in 2009 and had her first title fight on August 14, 2010 at the San Mateo Event Center in San Mateo, California, challenging IKF Women’s Amateur World Muay Thai Bantamweight (-55.45 kg/122.2 lb) Champion Jenna Castillo for her belt. After what was called the “Fight of the Night”, van Soest lost the challenge to Castillo by unanimous decision on scores of 50-44, 49-45 and 49-45. She soon captured the USMTA Women’s Amateur California Featherweight Championship, however, and then defeated Gabriela Lemus by technical knockout in the second round of their contest in Pala, California on October 2, 2010, to claim the IAMTF Women’s United States Featherweight title. Facing her first foreign opponent, van Soest fought to a draw with China’s Cong Wang in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 16, 2010.
She debuted as an amateur mixed martial artist on February 26, 2011, at the Road to WCK event in Pala where she TKO’d Kate McGray with a combination of a left high kick and standing-to-ground punches early in the second round. She had her first international bout in her second appearance in amateur MMA as she lost to Jin Tang via submission due to a triangle choke inside the first round in Nanning, China on June 18, 2011. The fight is notable for being the first female MMA match to be held in mainland China.
After amassing a record of 10-1-1 as an amateur nak muay, Van Soest turned professional on October 22, 2011, and was initially set to rematch Cong Wang in her pro debut in Las Vegas. However, Wang was unable to compete and replaced by four-time world champion Lena Ovchynnikova. Van Soest won by TKO after Ovchynnikova retired in her corner with a broken hand at the end of round two. The pair were scheduled to rematch on July 21, 2012, in Croatia, but it never came to fruition.
In her sophomore appearance as a pro, van Soest defeated Vivian Leung by unanimous decision at Lion Fight: Battle in the Desert 5 in Las Vegas on February 25, 2012. She then followed this up with another unanimous points victory over Heidi Otterbein at Lion Fight 6 on May 12, 2012.
In just her fourth outing as a pro, she was given the chance to fight for the vacant IKKC Women’s World Super Bantamweight Muay Thai Championship on August 18, 2012, in Pala. Facing Jemyma Betrian after her original foe Hilary Mack pulled out, van Soest and her Dutch-based Curaçaoan opponent put on a back-and-forth “Fight of the Night” display.
Van Soest scored a knockdown with a spinning back fist in the second round, and Betrian was deducted a point in the third for rabbit punching. Despite this, two judges scored the bout a draw and the other in the favour of van Soest, rendering the match a majority draw.
On October 13, 2012, van Soest took the WBC Muaythai Women’s International Super Bantamweight (-55.338 kg/122 lb) title from the previously undefeated Jeri Sitzes at Lion Fight 7 in Las Vegas. After a slow first two rounds, she began taking the lead from the third, scoring with low kicks and punches to take the unanimous decision. Having already fought three times for the organization, she then signed a multi-fight contract with Lion Fight Promotions the following month.
In the co-main event of Lion Fight 8, the promotion’s first event televised nationally, she faced Alexis Rufus on January 25, 2013. It was a closely contested affair up until round four when van Soest rocked Rufus with a high kick before dropping her for good with a right hand. Van Soest was again in the co-main event at Lion Fight 9 on March 15, 2013, as she took a wide unanimous decision over Natalie Yip, who was debuting as a professional.
Tiffany van Soest had no trouble defeating Lucy Payne in a bout for the inaugural Lion Fight Women’s Featherweight (-56.7 kg/125 lb) Championship at Lion Fight 10 in Las Vegas on July 26, 2013. Despite giving up the height and reach advantage, she was able to get inside and hurt Payne, cornering the Englishwoman while landing a flurry of punches and elbows. Payne dropped to a knee, forcing the referee to step in and halt the bout and give Soest the TKO win in round one.
In a non-title affair at Lion Fight 12 in Las Vegas on November 1, 2013, van Soest completely outclassed Magali Foroni. The Frenchwoman offered little to no offense for two rounds until her corner threw in the towel midway through the third.
She rematched Lucy Payne on March 23, 2014 at Lion Fight 15, which was the promotion’s first card outside Las Vegas and held in Ledyard, Connecticut, and used chopping low kicks to slow Payne’s movement en route to winning a unanimous decision. Van Soest defeated Sindy Huyer via TKO fifty-six seconds into round five at Lion Fight 16 in Las Vegas on July 4, 2014. Referee Junichiro Kamijo stopped the bout after van Soest landed a front kick to Huyer’s face, quickly followed with a left hook to the jaw.
Championships and Awards won by Tiffany Van Soest
Karate
United States Karate Organization
- USKA California Championship
- USKA United States Championship
- USKA World Championship
Kickboxing
- International Amateur Muay Thai Federation
- IAMTF Women’s United States Featherweight Championship
Lion Fight
- Lion Fight Women’s Featherweight (-56.7 kg/125 lb) Championship
Muay Thai Authority
- 2012 North American Breakthrough Fighter of the Year
- 2013 North American Female Fighter of the Year
United States Muay Thai Association
- USMTA Women’s Amateur California Featherweight Championship
World Boxing Council Muay Thai
- WBC Muay Thai Women’s International Super Bantamweight (-55.338 kg/122 lb) Championship
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Tiffany Van Soest is USKA World Champion and Muay Thai Women’s International Super Bantamweight Champion. She is in conversation with Namita Nayyar President Women Fitness.
Ms. Namita Nayyar :
You have learned Shōrin-ryū karate at the age of eight years, you hold a 2nd degree black belt in Shōrin-ryū and has also been trained in Muay Thai and other martial arts. You reached the pinnacle of success on becoming the United States Karate Association World Championship and 2012 WBC Muay Thai Women’s International Super Bantamweight (-55.338 kg/122 lb) Champion. What factors you consider were responsible that made you achieve that?
Ms. Tiffany Van Soest:
I have a drive inside of me that constantly helps to push myself when it comes to reaching my goals. Persistence, commitment, and determination. Hard work pays off is my motto. Outside of myself, I have always been blessed to have good people around me throughout my martial arts career. I have an incredible team with Kru Alex Palma and Blue Ocean Muay Thai, Eric Triliegi at NEWtritionforlife.com, Flo, and Marco at Anderson Silva’s Muay Thai College. Contrary to your statement regarding being at the pinnacle of success, I am just getting started! I believe my pinnacle will be reached within the next few years.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You had from California State University San Marcos earned your bachelor’s degree in kinesiology. How it has been of help in providing tactical knowledge in your fighting style that gave you the winning edge in your fights?
Ms. Tiffany Van Soest:
To be honest, it helps more with my career outside of fighting, and that is personal training. Studying the human body and its processes, along with how it all relates to physical training has been very rewarding and helps me in my career each and every day.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
On July 26, 2013 in Las Vegas you defeated Lucy Payne in a bout for the inaugural Lion Fight Women’s Featherweight (-56.7 kg/125 lb) Championship at Lion Fight 10. Tell us about this winning fight and how did you feel on the winning the Championship?
Ms. Tiffany Van Soest:
That was a fight that I worked extremely hard for. It really meant a lot to me to not only win, but to also perform well. I felt like my hard work paid off. I was extremely grateful for the opportunity from Lion Fight to compete for the first ever women’s world title in their promotion. Winning the fight AND becoming the first champion made me incredibly happy.
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Ms. Namita Nayyar:
What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine you shall like to share?
Ms. Tiffany Van Soest:
I do a lot of high intensity interval training with functional and explosive movements. Whether its for strength, conditioning, or agility, my coaches make sure I am doing exercises that will maximize what I am doing in the ring. Kicking harder, punching faster, moving quicker, etc.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Do you take some special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?
Ms. Tiffany Van Soest:
Yes. I have an excellent nutritionist (Eric Triliegi NEWtritionforlife.com) who send recipes and prepare meals for me to make sure my body is getting exactly what it needs to perform at the highest levels in training and competition.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Advice and motivational words to the inspiring and budding mixed martial artist girls who all are your fans, they shall like to know from you, what they should do for their climb to ladder of success in field of women mixed martial art and Muay Thai style of professional fighting?
Ms. Tiffany Van Soest:
FOLLOW YOUR HEART AND DO NOT EVER GIVE UP! 🙂
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
On July 4, 2014 in Las Vegas,You defeated Sindy Huyer via TKO fifty-six seconds into round five at Lion Fight 16. Tell us about this special winning encounter with the Italian Fighter?
Ms. Tiffany Van Soest:
It was great! I felt like my usual self again, physically and mentally. For my last couple of fights, I just didn’t feel like myself. This time I fought a great fight against a top level opponent and everything went almost perfectly.
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Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Tell us about your memorable win of United States Karate Association World Championship?
Ms. Tiffany Van Soest:
I competed in many karate competitions while growing up. When i won the USKA world championship for the first time as an adult (18 yrs old and over), It was the greatest feeling in the world at the time. I was so young, only 18 years old, and it was such a big accomplishment because I had to compete against women with much more experience. I proved to myself that I am capable of being the best in the world.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Elaborate on your endeavour on working as a personal trainer and Muay Thai Instructor?
Ms. Tiffany Van Soest:
It is a great job! I love what I do so it doesn’t really feel like work for me. I love helping my clients reach their goals for fitness, athletic performance, weight loss, and muay thai. It is a very rewarding job.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Who has been your greatest influencer and motivator in your success in the field of your career in competitive women Muay Thai fighting?
Ms. Tiffany Van Soest:
My coach Alex Palma has always believed in me and my abilities even when I didn’t believe in them myself. As for motivation, i draw strength from the support of my family, friends, and the fans. It motivates me on those days where I just can’t do it by myself.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
What you wish to say about the website Womenfitness.net and message for its visitors?
Ms. Tiffany Van Soest:
Thank you! 🙂
To know latest about Tiffany Van Soest check out on her social networks:
Women Fitness Team thanks Tiffany Van Soest for giving her valuable time for this interview and quenching the thirst of her fans to know more about her and made this interview happen.
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All content on this site is copyright of Women Finess and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http://www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.