Issue 002

April 2005

Upon meeting this demure, petite lady one would never imagine that she was a fighter, but you would only make this mistake once- at your peril Serena Sykes is 50kg of explosive power and skill just waiting to make her mark on the female Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) scene within the UK. The following interview was conducted at the Quannum Gym in Diggle, which Serena calls her second home.

FO: So why did you start training in martial arts and when?

SS: I started training Freestyle Karate just before having my daughter and originally I did it just to keep fit but the longer I trained the more I got into the fighting aspect (even though there was very little in the class). I started training MMA in April 2004.

FO: When was your first contest?

SS: My first MMA match was this January at the Quannum interclub.

FO: What did it feel like getting into the ring for the first time?

SS: It wasn't too bad actually. I was pretty nervous but I knew I had put the training in and that I had great coaches, so I was pretty confident.

FO: How did you feel your first fight went, would you have done anything different?

SS: I feel I did pretty well. I feel I could have worked more on my stand up as I wasn't at all confident with it and my game plan was to take the fight to the floor straight away. Also, I feel that my ground striking was pretty weak and needs a lot more work. However, saying all this, I feel for a first fight I was very proud of my performance and give total credit to my coaches for preparing me so well.

FO: How did you feel following the fight?

SS: I was buzzing. It was one of the most amazing things I have ever done, I really couldn't wait to get in and fight again.

FO: What are your plans for the future?

SS: I plan to work a lot more on my technique before my next fight, I realised I have a lot of things I really need to work on before I am ready to compete at a higher level.

SERENA SYKES: GIRL POWER

FO: Who is your favourite fighter and why?

SS: I have two. Firstly Ken Shamrock, he was the first fighter I saw in MMA and I thought he was amazing. Watching him inspired me, and the feeling I got from watching that first fight will always stick with me. I also think he is a really cool guy and a great fighter.

Secondly Leigh Remedios, apart from the obvious reasons, I really admire him for his attitude and dedication to his training and to the sport in general. He is an inspiration to me every day and has put loads of effort in to help my training. I love watching him fight as he is a very technical fighter and an excellent athlete.

FO: What is your training regime?

SS: My training varies depending on how close to a fight I am. When I'm not in fight training I tend to do most of the classes at Quannum, which includes boxing, grappling, wrestling, Muay Thai, MMA and boxing fitness, which is a very intense fitness class aimed at fighters but also for the general public.

FO: What are your thoughts on the female MMA scene within the UK?

SS: I think at the moment it's not that great. There are a few good fighters out there who are doing well but there is a major lack of competition. There needs to be a lot more girls getting into the sport for it to really take off. I hope that with the sport being promoted a lot more lately that it might bring in a lot more girls.

FO: Do you feel that female fighters are taken seriously on the UK circuit?

SS: I think mostly yes, but it's hard as there just aren't enough out there to make a big enough impression. It can be hard, as there will always be some guys who think fighting is not for women and they should be in the kitchen, but I also think that there are a lot of fans and fighters that take the women just as seriously as the men and support female MMA. It is great to see female fights on the cards of bigger shows.

FO: Who are your trainers?

SS: I have some really amazing coaches, in fact, I know I'm biased, but I think they are some of the best coaches in the country. I have lan and Andy Butlin for boxing, Leigh Remedios for grappling and wrestling, Aaron Chatfield for Muay Thai and Billy Cooper for Olympic Wrestling. Leigh and lan also train me in MMA. I also want to mention the rest of the Northern Cartel fight team as they have taught me as much just by being there for sparring and general help when needed - they are a fantastic team and extremely supportive. The guys have never treated me any differently with me being a girl, they make me train as hard and expect just as much of me as all the other fighters and this is something I really appreciate.