( CNN ) -- Born a man , Fallon Fox became a woman through surgery and then trained to fight in mixed martial arts . Now that she has won her first two MMA bouts -- both in the first round -- she has gone public as a transgender fighter , the first on record in a popular sport that some consider as the successor to boxing . `` The reaction has been positive , '' said Fox , 37 , who revealed her story recently to Sports Illustrated after a journalist with another publication began to investigate her private surgery . `` It 's just some people , some of society does n't get it yet . And this is what we 're trying to do now is to inform people and let them know about transgender athletes . '' When asked if it 's fair for a man-turned-woman fighter to face another woman in the ring , Fox said Saturday there were `` no unfair competitive advantages . '' What was unfair , her last opponent and her manager say , is how Fox did n't disclose until after the fight that Fox had a sex change operation . That opponent , Ericka Newsome , was knocked out this month with `` a tie clinch , '' or a knee to the chin , 39 seconds into the fight without anyone knowing of Fox 's background . It was `` unfair I did n't know it , but it did n't matter that she fought me , '' Newsome told CNN . `` I feel that it should have been disclosed to me ahead of time ... so we are aware and able to be better prepared for the situation . '' She and her manager are going to appeal the loss in Florida on the grounds of how Fox failed to disclose being a transgender person and how the referee stopped the fight too early . `` They should have let the fight go , '' manager Matt Hamilton said . `` She should have thrown at least one to two more shots to confirm it . On that particular basis , that 's one of the things we 'll appeal with , as well as not having it disclosed . '' Meanwhile , the California State Athletic Commission is reviewing a claim by Fox that the state gave her a fighting license in 2013 when in fact the commission says her license application is still being reviewed , Sports Illustrated reported . Transgender fighter looking to get licensed . Fox subsequently told Florida authorities that she had a California license , and now the Florida boxing commission is also reviewing Fox 's license application , the magazine reported . Also , Fox admitted she did n't disclose to boxing authorities she is a transgender person but added she was n't asked to either , the magazine said . Sports Illustrated writer Loretta Hunt wrote of Fox 's 2006 gender reassignment surgery and winning her pro debut in May 2012 . Hunt told CNN that guidelines for the Association of Boxing Commissions are similar to the International Olympic Committee 's policy that allows transsexuals to compete in Olympic games . The IOC requires transgender athletes to undergo hormone therapy long enough to remove gender-related advantages . In fact , Hunt said , mixed martial arts guidelines do n't require a sex-change surgery , but they do require two years of hormone therapy for transgender fighters . `` Whether it comes after the surgery or it 's just on its own , that must be done and you must be tested throughout the two years , '' Hunt said . `` Those papers must be submitted to the athletic commission for review . '' Newsome wants to fight Fox again , Hamilton said . `` We would love a rematch , '' Hamilton said . Watch CNN Newsroom weekdays 9am to 3pm ET and weekends . For the latest from the CNN Newsroom click here .
Fallon Fox became a woman through surgery in 2006 . She won her first two fights in the first round . She revealed her operation to SI after another publication looked into her surgery . Her last opponent is appealing the loss , saying Fox failed to disclose background .