Queen of the cage

Samalia Berger-Mata‘afa, a one-time pioneer of wrestling in Hawaii, has goals of competing in the Olympics and winning a UFC world title

By Cindy Luis

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Dec 14, 2012

~~<p>Australia. Finland. Morocco. Poland. It's been a personal "Amazing Race" for Samalia "Lia" Berger-Mata‘afa this year. She has chased her dream around the globe while waiting for the sport of MMA to catch up with her and the other female fighters.</p>
<p>Her passport stamps match the number of medals won, the last coming at November's Senior World Grappling, Pankration & Amateur MMA World Championships in Krakow, Poland. Representing American Samoa, she won the female amateur MMA World Championship title at 145 pounds, running her amateur record to 4-0.</p>
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Australia. Finland. Morocco. Poland. It's been a personal "Amazing Race" for Samalia "Lia" Berger-Mata‘afa this year. She has chased her dream around the globe while waiting for the sport of MMA to catch up with her and the other female fighters.

Her passport stamps match the number of medals won, the last coming at November's Senior World Grappling, Pankration & Amateur MMA World Championships in Krakow, Poland. Representing American Samoa, she won the female amateur MMA World Championship title at 145 pounds, running her amateur record to 4-0. Login for more...