Mean Green Update
My last blog entry was in September 2017 when I was preparing to fight Bryony Tyrell after 18 months out from competition.
My fights are like buses, you wait around for ages then they all come at once! Here’s a run down of what’s happened fight wise since then…
I fought Bryony in Sept 2017 which ended in a draw. I then fought Sofie Langsford in November 2017 which brought me my first official ‘win’ on my record.
Then 2018 got off to a great start, I was due to fight Mellony Guejes in May but with two weeks to go she pulled out. But as they say, ‘when one door closes, another one opens,’ so within 36 hours I had my bags packed and was on the plane to Japan to face Kanako Murato on the world famous promotion ‘Rizin.’
Unfortunately I didn’t win on that occasion but man what an experience that was. Actually I’ll just fill you guys in on that experience as it really was an amazing time for me.
As me and Wil were sat in Manchester airport awaiting our flights to Japan he showed me footage of my opponent, I’d literally spent the past 8 weeks preparing for Mellony who had an extensive Dutch K1 background so to then face an Olympic level wrestler was quite the change. But one I welcomed and I was so excited for the fight.
We arrived in Japan and I was loving every minute of it, I met Ayaka Hamasaki who I’ve enjoyed watching fight over the years and then at breakfast on fight day Gabi Garcia tapped me on the shoulder and wished me luck, I was like ‘ohhh shit this is crazy!’
Come fight night, the fighters had to do a walk out down the stage before the fights got underway and guess who was first to walk out, yep, me and I was shitting my pants. Despite the nerves I was still so excited, the stage was huge, there were about 15,000 people in attendance and the atmosphere was electric.
Then it all got a bit rushed and I was told to get my stuff and wait in this other room, because of the language barrier I started to panic a little bit, Wil wasn’t there and I thought I’d have more time to warm up so I was trying to tell them to go and get him whilst I did some burpees to get started!
Anyway panic over, pep talk done, walk out done, I was ready and stood across the cage from Kanako and I just remember thinking, ‘wow she’s hench…but also a wider target, I can do this.’
Turns out I couldn’t do it; I managed to inflict some damage but not enough. After some exchanges and grappling I was in an arm triangle for what felt like eternity, I managed to escape but she locked up another choke and with 7 seconds to go, I tapped.
Heart breaking, I really thought I could win.
That night wasn’t my time; it was just another lesson for me to learn and more experience for me to gain. After the tears, loss of sleep, the mental replay over and over of each mistake made it’s always good to find the positives and remember the bigger picture. I was proud of myself for stepping up and travelling across the world to fight an incredible opponent, and I lived to fight another day and continue on my journey.
Four weeks later I was back in the cage for a re-match with Bryony Tyrell. I felt a lot more confident this time around and I came out with my first submission victory and also the first person to submit her, she had told me afterwards. I became Made4TheCage Strawweight Champion. I’d never been fussed on belts, I’ve always just wanted to fight the best girls there was but I got to admit, it was nice to have my shiny belt propped up at my afternoon tea party I had the next day and it now lives on the wall at our gym, The Lab.
Again, I went another 10 months without any fights but on April 6th 2019 I returned to Made4TheCage to face Claire Lopez, a strong, aggressive fighter from France. I got another first round submission win and retained my Strawweight Title in front of my local support, I truly appreciate everyone who is there cheering for me, it really is an indescribable experience.
It’s now May 2019 and I’m preparing for my next bout which is against Weronika Zygmunt. It takes place June 29th on Celtic Gladiator in Poland.
The journey continues!!
Thank you to Martin Wilby, The Lab MMA Gym, my training partners, coaches, clients, friends, family and supporters from near and far. Thanks to my sponsors:
Fit 2 Kinect - Sports Massage at www.fit2kinect.co.uk
Steffan Abel - Chiropractor at 0191 389 1866
Rob Dawson - Mindsport Consulting at www.mindsport.co.uk
Functional Self - Quality Supplements at www.functionalself.co.uk
Love Hemp - CBD Oils at www.cbdoilsuk.com
Rainha - Fightwear at www.rainhafightwear.com
Warrior Woman - Nutrition at www.warrior-woman.co.uk