Tiffany Van Soest and Anissa Meksen, two of the most decorated names in kickboxing, are set to host a collaborative seminar titled “The Frienemies Seminar” on May 16th in Solana Beach, California. This event is inspired by their long-standing rivalry, which saw multiple championship bouts and significantly shaped the women’s divisions in GLORY. The seminar aims to leverage their shared history, offering participants technical instruction, mental conditioning strategies, and invaluable high-level experience gained from years of competing against each other at the pinnacle of the sport.
Tiffany Van Soest and Anissa Meksen Seminar
Both Van Soest and Meksen have established resumes that solidify their places among the greatest female kickboxers of all time. Van Soest made history in 2016 by becoming GLORY’s inaugural women’s super bantamweight champion and later reclaimed the title, achieving two reigns with a total of five successful title defenses. Prior to and during this period, she also held titles with Lion Fight and became a prominent American figure in elite women’s striking.
Meksen’s achievements are equally impressive. She defeated Van Soest in 2017 to capture the GLORY title, successfully defended it, regained it after a subsequent defeat, and defeated Van Soest once more in a rematch. Her combined record in kickboxing and Muay Thai consistently ranks her among the sport’s most accomplished champions.
Their rivalry is a key highlight of this upcoming seminar. Meksen secured the women’s super bantamweight title from Van Soest via unanimous decision at GLORY 48 in New York in 2017. They met again in March 2019 at GLORY 64 in Strasbourg, where Meksen retained her belt by split decision in another closely contested bout. Van Soest ultimately avenged her losses later that year at GLORY 71 in Chicago, winning a decision in a fight that remained a topic of discussion long after the final bell.
The seminar is being promoted as more than a typical pad-work session. Van Soest and Meksen will blend their distinct styles and extensive experience, focusing on training methodologies, performance enhancement, and crucial life lessons derived from their careers. Following the seminar, attendees will have the opportunity to watch the upcoming Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano event, complete with refreshments. This addition further connects the day to women’s combat sports, as Rousey and Carano are slated to compete on May 16th at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, on a Most Valuable Promotions card described as Netflix’s first live MMA event.
This seminar is presented by fighters who have pushed each other in championship bouts, exchanged victories across multiple encounters, and built championship résumés worthy of being labeled “all-time greats.” On May 16th, their storied rivalry finds a new stage.
