Kickboxing titans Tiffany Van Soest and Anissa Meksen, renowned for their numerous championship bouts and fierce competition, are joining forces for a unique seminar titled “The Frienemies Seminar.” Scheduled for May 16 in Solana Beach, California, the event will draw upon their shared history, which defined significant moments in GLORY’s women’s divisions. This seminar is designed to impart their hard-earned technical skills, mental fortitude, and high-level experience, honed over years of striving for supremacy in the sport.
Both Van Soest and Meksen boast impressive career achievements that solidify their status among the elite female kickboxers. Van Soest made history as GLORY’s inaugural women’s super bantamweight champion in 2016 and later reclaimed the title, achieving two reigns with a total of five successful title defenses. Her accolades also include Lion Fight titles, establishing her as a prominent American figure in elite women’s striking.
Meksen’s record is equally formidable. She captured the GLORY title from Van Soest in 2017, successfully defended it, regained it after a subsequent loss, and emerged victorious in a rematch against Van Soest. Her extensive background in both kickboxing and Muay Thai has earned her recognition as one of the sport’s most decorated champions.
Their rivalry is a central element that makes this seminar particularly noteworthy. In 2017, Meksen defeated Van Soest by unanimous decision at GLORY 48 in New York, securing the women’s super bantamweight title. Their second encounter in March 2019 at GLORY 64 in Strasbourg saw Meksen retain her belt via split decision in another closely contested fight. Van Soest eventually secured a victory later that year at GLORY 71 in Chicago, winning by decision in a bout that continued to be a topic of discussion long after the final bell.
The seminar is being promoted as more than just a typical training session. Van Soest and Meksen will combine their distinct styles and expertise, focusing on training methodologies, performance enhancement, and invaluable lessons derived from their professional careers. Following the seminar, attendees can join the fighters for a viewing of the highly anticipated 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 set to face off on May 16 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, as part of a Most Valuable Promotions card, billed as Netflix’s inaugural live MMA event.
This event is hosted by two fighters who pushed each other to their limits in championship contests, exchanged victories across multiple encounters, and built championship résumés that warrant their “all-time great” status. On May 16, their storied rivalry will find a new platform.
