As Leslie Smith returns to Bellator cage, she recalls trip to Cameroon

As Leslie Smith attempted to put her loss last fall to Arlene Blencowe this past November out of her mind, she decided to take a detour before getting back in the gym to train.  Africa.

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I got to spend a month in Batiè, Cameroon teaching MMA and helping out with the kids jiu jitsu classes at the Francis Ngannou Foundation and it was so much fun and everyone was so nice. There is still a spot available for an MMA coach out there. I learned more than I taught and I highly encourage all the high level combat athletes with integrity to match their technical skills to apply to teach out there. I’m going back, hopefully in July, so if you are accepted we can go together! I literally have a thousand pictures but these are my favorites 1) Francis was there at the same time! What a great, giving, smart and humble guy. I’m so impressed that he started the foundation and incredibly grateful I got to teach there. 2) The view from Simone’s house where I stayed was beautiful and it was such a positive family environment! 3) The kids were awesome! Motivated to learn and always bringing their positivity. Go follow @@sammichaelcrook to follow along with the team! 4) Simone is such a wonderful woman, I hope we are friends for life. 5) At the market the clothes people wore were beautiful, the foods for sale were beautiful, the energy was high and the smiles were plentiful. 6) Tallé took me to find rocks and I was so excited! We found so many and I brought them back with me to sell so I can send the money back to the family. Hit me up if you want some dope quartz crystals! 7) Teaching the kids with @sammichaelcrook was a blast. The kids are awesome and I’m sure we will be seeing a lot of them on the tournament circuit soon. If you want to help out with gear or money check out his page for the links 8) We had fun and covered a lot in the adult class 9) Mr. Daniel shared palm wine with us and then took us to see how he taps the trees. Palm wine is so cool! 10) Francis's mom, Ma Christine, was so nice and she gave me delicious food, sugar cane and positivity. Desmond helped me a lot with French and the academy. I can't wait to go back! #francisngannoufoundation #elninotrainingcenter #cesargraciejiujitsu #mma #jiujitsu #fighter #Cameroon #training

A post shared by Leslie (@lesliesmithmma) on Feb 9, 2020 at 8:23pm PST

Smith traveled to the Cameroon to help UFC fighter’s Francis Ngannou’s foundation. She spent her time training the locals in jiu jitsu as well as getting in some training herself.  “It was maybe one of the coolest things I’ve done in my life.”  Smith said that Ngannou needed some teachers and she willingly volunteered.  Smith stayed with the UFC heavyweight’s family in Cameroon.  “It felt like family, it was so nice.”

Ngannou was in Cameroon at the same time and noted that he was a “giving, smart and humble guy.” 

She noted that she was impressed with the ability of the young kids trying out jiu jitsu. There were kids that she could see starting a career in MMA. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they followed in the footsteps of Francis.”  Smith was impressed by the kids and how they were willing to learn, upbeat and positive.

“I learned more than I taught,” recalled Smith of her time in Cameroon.  She plans to return at some point to help teach the kids again.  

As far as recovering from her loss to Blencowe, Smith said she took a week away from fighting to distance herself from the setback.  She then goes back in to watch tape and make changes. 

Smith feels ready for her fight Friday against Jessy Miele.  She hopes that this fight she can stand and trade with Miele, who won in her Bellator debut in October. 

Bellator 241 takes place in Uncasville, Connecticut before an empty arena on DAZN.