Sawicki spent time building up her fitness and skills at Bali MMA, all the while that secret desire to step over the ropes grew inside her with every kick. Unfortunately, the anxiety held her back. It wasn't until one of her main trainers, Ryan Roberstson, saw her potential and said to her "you should fight" that she had the confidence to say yes, I can do this! 

Committed to having her first fight, Sawicki was already battling the sabotaging anxiety that comes with the whole process. She took comfort in the fact that her trainers believed in her, and she believed in them. After combating a roller coaster of emotions and limiting beliefs during fight camp, her opponent pulled out on her, just one week before the fight.

"I was so disappointed, it sucked because it took me so much to get over the initial anxiety of; 'Yes I actually do want to fight, let's fucking go!' That when she pulled out, it was frustrating, because I felt like I had been through so much to mentally prepare myself for what was coming, and then it was just gone"

Luckily, Sawicki's friend and Pro Fighter felt sad about the news that her opponent had pulled out, knowing how much work goes into fighting in general, let alone getting in there for the first time. She offered to step in so Sawicki could still have the fight experience she was training and preparing physically and mentally so hard for.

When Sawicki heard the news that she could still continue with her plans, she felt a mixture of relief, excitement and anxiety. Happy that she was able to complete her mission of stepping over the ropes for the first time, nervous to be facing off against a pro and also a friend, and relieved because the pressure to win was off.

"I felt so lucky and nervous, but at that moment I was like, you know what: This isn't about winning for me, it's an opportunity to push myself, test myself, deal with my anxiety, negative emotions and overcome my fears! Also, to see if fighting is something I want to do again."

The night had come, the experience was finally here. Sawicki dealt with a whole new level of nerves that comes with a brand new experience. She was warming up in a room with all the other fighters (including her opponent), watching the others walk out to their music and walk back in, with or without a trophy. The crowd was packed in the room like sardines and they were loud.

"During the walkout I was crippled with anxiety, I was crouched behind Ryan (my coach), just trying to hide away from the crowd. The biggest thing was getting past the stage fright and having all of those people watching me, looking at the crowd was terrifying. That was the worst level of anxiety for me and probably still is."

Throughout the fight, Sawicki managed to overcome her fears, the intimidating feeling of the entire situation, listen to her corner and perform the skills she learned. "Once those first hits came off I got over the anxiety of hitting my friend and I just felt lucky that she was in the ring with me, and was doing this for me."

If you have ever fought before, you know that 3x 3 minute rounds can feel like a lifetime, the intensity is higher, your adrenaline is pumping, and there is a level of fitness and exhaustion you can't really prepare for the first time you do it.

"I remember in the 3rd round I was completely gassed out, I didn't know how to pace myself. I remember us being in the clinch together and Kristy was still going, throwing knees, while she was telling me in my ear, "Zoe we are nearly done, keep going, knee me, knee me". I thought that was wild. Having that kind of support at that moment was so great, considering the anxiety I dealt with, I just felt really lucky"

Zoe came out of that experience knowing she wanted to do it all over again, happy, motivated and ready to go. 

Sawicki's fight record is 2-0, both bouts being on Canggu Fight Night.

Her first official fight happened on Canggu Fight Night 23. Here she took home the trophy with a unanimous decision win against a tough opponent who is now a training partner and friend. Sawicki says this was her favorite fight so far as she got to show off more of her technique, and it was a "prettier" fight.

The second match was again at Canggu Fight Night 25. This time she met her opponent in the cage. Before this match, Zoe sustained an injury which dramatically reduced her options. Determined to still fight, her coaches switched up the game plan and the team went in with the aim of getting into the clinch and staying there as much as possible, and it paid off. Coming away with a TKO victory in the second round.

Due to having to do life things, plus visits back to England, Sawicki had to take some time off from training. Being able to return to the gym and get back into her regular routine again has put the zest back into life again.

Zoe is currently spending her time developing her skill set, working on technique and expanding her repertoire. In sparring, she is working on pulling back on her power and stringing together combinations. She is enjoying this time to just improve but says she wants to get as many fight experiences under her belt as possible in 2024. She is physically and mentally ready to step over those ropes again, under the big lights and make her amateur record 3-0 and showing off her "pretty" Thai style.

"Just fucking do it, haha! Seriously though, just start."

"I think a lot of us tend to overthink the outcomes, and the process of it all and that can feel daunting, but just actually starting is to only way to be on the journey and getting better. We just need to dive in the deep end and just fucking do it!"

"I am forever grateful for what this sport has given to me already, I just wish I had started sooner, haha"

Obst went on to fight multiple times that year with a 3-0 record. That very next year ONE CHAMPIONSHIPS "One Warrior Series" was coming to Australia to recruit new PRO talent, even though Obst was still an amateur, Robertson still encouraged her to apply.

She got the go ahead and flew to Sydney, Australia for a grueling try out.

After a few days of not hearing back and thinking she wasn't in, she finally opened her emails to find one saying "Congratualtions" and had her first fight on Rich Franklin's OWS just 2 months later. Obst came away with a TKO win and impressed the team so much that she earned herself a performance bonus.

That year saw Obst won a Muay Thai state title and another TKO win, on OWS with a second performance bonus.  

Obst's fight career was shaping up to be a great one and, that next year her and Robertson sold everything they owned and moved to Bali, Indonesia to train out of Bali MMA. A month into their new endeavor and her next fight booked for OWS, the world went into the 2020 covid lock down.

Throughout 2020, Obst trained hard and had a kickboxing match at the end of the year. but then fell ill again. Her adrenal fatigue had returned, and she had to make the heart-breaking choice again to stop fighting. Another healing journey started as she rehabilitated herself, got healthy, and focused on her coaching practice. Throughout 2020/2021 she faced an identity crisis, eating disorder and body dysmorphia and came out the other side healthy, happy and not only strong on the outside, but strong on the inside as well.

"I know the in's and out's of what female fighters (in the gym or in life) deal with, and I know how to guide them to becoming stronger than they ever thought they could be from all the internal work I have had to face in my own setbacks."

Obst was set to return to the cage on December 30, 2023, at Canggu Fight Night but was involved in an unfortunate accident that left her right Tibia and Fibula in half. More healing and yet another setback in her fighting career, but a complete re-birth in her purpose as FeMMA was born, and she brings her years of extensive health, wellness, healing and fight experience to all women in the FeMMA community.

"Maybe this is what it was always meant to be for, and I am happy and proud I can share my knowledge and give back."

"I want all women to know they belong, that their is a space for them at this table, and if they want to do it they absolutely should"

Obst says that her fight career has been the greatest personal development journey of her life, because you are always facing off with yourself, with the fear, the doubts, the "not enoughs" and when you can learn to love and integrate those pieces you emerge a different kind of beast, a powerful, powerful woman.

"Anything is possible with the right people in your corner, the dedication and devotion to what you want"