Next year promises to be a big one for Suffolk fighting prodigy Hannah Turner.
The super talented teenager looked hugely impressive as she beat respected MMA fighter Bryony Tyrell on points over three rounds in a 56kgs K1 battle at the Super Fight Series in front of the Sky Sports cameras at St Albans Arena last week.
It was a big test for the 18-year-old, with Tyrell well known on the UK fighting scene having mixed it with several stars of the MMA world in her decorated career.
But Turner simply imposed her will on Tyrell, slamming multiple leg kicks into her thighs and walking her down with big right hands in what was probably the most composed showing of her fighting life.
She said: “She came out fast and quick-paced like I thought she would. It was a tough fight, she was a tough opponent and she didn’t quit fighting the whole way through.
“I thought I had her at some stages but no, she just came back again. It was a really good experience.
“I landed a lot of leg kicks – that was one of the things I was working on in training as her front leg was turning in quite a lot so I thought I’d chop away at that and then throw in the right hand as well, which seemed to catch her when she walked in.
“I don’t know how she withstood some of them!”
With Tyrell’s scalp now on her fistic resume, the future looks bright indeed for Turner, who fights out of Bury St Edmunds’ Unit 1 Gym as part of head coach Richie Gent’s blossoming fight team.
MORE: Turner fired up for fight with MMA star Tyrell
She said: “The Super Fight Series promoter has said to me to be ready for the next show in March as there’s someone who wants to fight me.
“I might have a fight in Bulgaria in January, under K1 rules again, and Contenders 22 in Norwich in February is another possibility – I want to get on that as well.
“I just want to get as many K1 fights as possible and keep ticking over – the World Muay Thai Championships are also a possibility in May.
“Next year I want to climb up the K1 rankings, fight abroad a bit more and then hopefully go over to Thailand for a month or so and train and fight over there.”
One thing Turner isn’t considering – at least for the time being – is a move to MMA. It’s a well worn path for elite female Muay Thai strikers, with the likes of former UFC champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk finding huge success in the cage.
But Turner said: “I might eventually do it, I don’t know - I might just take the plunge. There’s money in it, but at the moment I’m sticking to stand up fighting.”
Turner also had warm words for her support team, who followed her to St Albans in force.
“I just have to thank everyone for their support,” she said. “Everyone who helps get me ready – I can’t do it without them.”
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