The return of explosive bantamweight Kerry Hughes headlines the latest BCMMA event in Colchester this Saturday night.
Hometown hero Hughes (2-1) fights Clemence Schrieber in the main event of BCMMA 16 at Charter Hall, her first fight in the cage since she stopped Muay Thai world champion Amanda Kelly at Cage Warriors 69 back in June 2014.
In the co-main event, Stephen Martin looks to defend his BCMMA featherweight title against Arnold Quero, while hotly tipped Wisbech flyweight Jamie Powell meets Owen Gayle for the 125lbs title further down the main card.
The amateur undercard boasts the cream of local MMA talent, including unbeaten prospects Adam Spalding, from Ipswich, and teenage phenom Cory McKenna, from Colchester.
Promoter Jack Mason, himself a professional MMA fighter, said he can’t wait for the latest Colchester fight night.
“Kerry Hughes is making her return after a two-year gap from MMA but she’s coming off a massive KO win,” he said.
“She is one of the hardest-hitting girls in the game - I regularly see her sparring with men and she beats them up!
“I fully expect that fight to end in a knockout, I’m really excited.”
He added: “Steven Martin fights Arnold Quero, who’s from France and is exceptional. I think that’s going to be an insane fight, they’re both really good everywhere.
“Then you’ve got Jamie Powell, who’s unbeaten and looking to test himself - Owen Gayle is definitely a test. He’s 4-4 but man is he exciting, he throws a lot of spinning stuff and gets knockouts.
“On the undercard, Adam Spalding has got a tough test in Andreas Endis, so it will be interesting to see how he deals with it. “And Cory McKenna, who’s only 17 and unbeaten at 4-0, faces Fiona Chrystall who fights out of one of the best gyms in the country, Griphouse, so she’s got a real challenge there.”
Mason is a passionate advocate for the sport, and sees BCMMA as a real proving ground for the best young talent in the area.
“Our mission statement is to put events on for the fighters and for the fans,” he said. “There’s no money in it! It’s all for the fighters to grow and learn in a safe environment.
“It’s going to be an excellent night - there’s so much talent fighting on the show.”
The main card is:-
Kerry Hughes vs Clemence Schrieber for the women’s BCMMA bantamweight title
Stephen Martin vs Arnold Quero for the BCMMA featherweight title
Jamie Powell vs. Owen Gayle for the BCMMA flyweight title
Bryony Tyrell vs. Mellony Geugjes for the women’s BCMMA straweight title
- The first undercard fight starts at 6pm and there will be 21 fights in all. Tickets, costing £30, will be available on the door.
Mason himself is coming off a fight at the O2 Arena on Bellator 158, which didn’t go as he hoped.
The 33-year-old was stopped in just 14 seconds by fellow Brit Jason Radcliffe, who landed a peach of a knee as Mason drove him to the fence.
“I didn’t follow the gameplan that we’d worked on and I got caught,” he lamented. “I still think I’m better than the guy but obviously he was the better man on the night and he put me out cold.
“It’s back to the drawing board - I’ve still got a lot more in me.”
Mason now hopes to fight back in the Cage Warriors promotion later this year.
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