A female that needs no introduction in the world of mixed martial arts.
Here is a montage of Gina’s eight fights all finished by strikes.
Video Credit: Deadly Strikes
Category: Kickboxing
WHY SHOULD YOU GO TO ULTIMATE IMPACT 12 – HERE’S WHY
If you need convincing that little bit more, here is a statement written by Ultimate Impact owner Dan Richards:
Tonight at GL1 lesiure centre we return with one of finest fightcard ever put togther by match maker Paul Sutherland. The card feature some of the very best up and coming K1 and MMA fighters from around the Midlands and South West region. Ultimate Impact 12 kicks off at a slightly earlier time of 4.30pm featuring 4 amatuer MMA and K1 amateur bouts, and the main card starting at 5.30pm
One of our good media partners Split Decision was kind enough to give some of the fighters on the card some media exposure and here is what they had to say;
Phil Wells: “I predict it will be a good fight”
This weekend see’s Ultimate Impact return with their 12th installment, with three main event title fights, and set to defend his Welterweight Championship is Phil Wells.
Sophie Tidey: “I never underestimate any fighter”
Taking to the cage at Ultimate Impact 12 this weekend is Sophie Tidey who takes on Camille Sch in an amateur K1 bout and could easily take away fight of the night honors.
Aaron Khalid ahead of UIC 12: “Its an honour to be fighting on it”
UIC 12 takes place this weekend with a bumper line up of fights, live from the G1 leisure centre in Gloucester. Competing on the card is Aaron Khalid who looks to showcase his ever developing skill set and ahead of his match up, I caught up with him to get his thoughts on his fight …
Jack Price: “I will be looking to control the fight”
Jack Price is no stranger to the Ultimate Impact show, after competing on the promotion in the past, and this weekend he returns to the show fight in a K1 bout.
Terry Doyle: “I’ve trained my ass off for this fight and I’m coming to win”
This coming weekend see’s Ultimate Impact host their 12th show, with a packed line up of fights, and one of the championship fights on the evening features Terry Doyle as he aims to take home the lightweight championship.
Ultimate Impact 11 was a great event and those that were there will certainly 2nd that… for those that were here is a preview of what went down, and why UIC12 will be yet another great event:
Ultimate Impact 11 was a great event and those that were there will certainly 2nd that… for those that were here is a preview of what went down, and why UIC12 will be yet another great event:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D24EgRdpznw
Here is a breakdown of the fightcard for tonights event:
Current UIC welterweight champion Phil Wells fighting out of Swindon Vale Tudo will make his first defence after an impressive and dominate performance at UIC10 when he beat Rob Leybourne with an impressive TKO finish. Looking to take the belt from Phil is highly touted Adam Bousiff fighting out of Force MMA under veteran head coach Daz Jones. Adam scored one of the quickest finishes in Ultimate Impact history when he TKO’d Chris Astley following a pin point accurate hook and followed up with some heavy hammer fists before Leon Roberts stepped in!
In our first female championship fight, Laura Handy and Cheryl Fylnn will take to the cage to become the first ever UIC K1 champion! Laura has been on a tear recently winning her last 3 fights, all of which have been at Ultimate Impact Events and she has shown a determination that is rarely seen. Her style means that she never takes a backward step and just keeps coming round after round until her hand is raised at the end. However she will be taking on Cheryl Flynn who arguably has more technical striking and also keeps coming forward. Cheryl is known for her agressiveness and high volume style so this match up is set for fireworks, which ever lady takes it will have certainly earnt it.
Veteran UIC lightweight champion Wayne Drake seems to improve each and every time he steps inside the Ultimate Impact cage and is the perfect example of someone who does his talk inside the cage. Always very well prepared Wayne will most certainly have the grappling advantage over the heavy hitting challenger Terry Doyle. Terry has knockout power in both hands and Ultimate Impact fans will know all about it! This is a true grappler vs striker match and I personally can not wait to see who comes out the champion.
The rest of the card is as follows:
Chris Astley v Toby Hartman
Craig White v Jon Williamson
Mark Finney v Aaron Khalid
Jack Shore v Piotr Egert
Matt ‘George’ Hartill v Bryn Cooper
Cadre Abdulafur v Duane Barnes
Undercard:
Mason Carter v Nathan Powell
Camille Sch v Sophie Tidey
Lawrence Coates v Jack Price
Thomas Karpinski v Greg artis
Raymond Nelmes v Dan Reeves
Doors open at 4pm and the first fight is at 4.30pm, with the main card starting at 5.30pm.
Tickets are available, just use the link below to purchase your ticket, or tickets are available from the GL1 reception all day and throughout the evening.
http://www.ultimateimpactevents.com/index.php/shop/tickets/category?path=39
If you missed my interview with Laura Handy you catch it again here:
https://fiveroundswithemma.com/2014/06/26/getting-to-kno…st-laura-handy/
Share this:
GETTING TO KNOW ‘THE BEAST’ LAURA HANDY
Laura Handy is a 28-year-old married mother of one who lives in Stourbridge with her Husband and daughter Ayva [2]. On Saturday 28th June she will be fighting for Ultimate Impact [UIC 12] K1 Flyweight Title against Cheryl Flynn at GL1 Leisure centre in Gloucester.
Born in Wordsley and raised in Blackheath, Laura and her older sister who both used to swim for Oldbury Swimming Club, would train for four/five times a week then come the weekend it would be Gala time, ‘I think that is where my competitive nature comes from, not necessarily with my sister, but as we were always used to competitions with other clubs’.
Competiveness, I would say runs in the family with Laura, who, also has a younger brother [Dan] who is a black belt in Judo and has represented Team GBR in Judo in his teens, ‘Dan has not competed in the last few years due to university commitments but has travelled to Germany and Belgium amongst other countries whilst representing Team GBR’.
Laura currently trains out of Fury MMA in Stourbridge under head coach Ryan Norwood, who is a veteran in the sport, having had 10 professional fights going back to as early as 2002.
Laura being the very supportive wife that she is [Luke and Laura have been together for 11 years married for four of those years] used to go and watch husband Luke play football, ‘When we first moved into our house Luke would go and play a lot of football and I would always go and watch; stand on the side-lines in the rain, snow, sometimes the sun [laughs] and all I would hear about would be football’.
Deciding she was getting real bored of football pretty quickly, Laura needed to do something for herself, in steps, Ryan Norwood, who was advertising his new gym Fury MMA, it happened to be just around the corner from where Laura lived, she thought she would give that ago ‘I was the only girl there and got on really well with Ryan and the other lads that attended, I then got addicted to it really and trained for fun for a year before having time off to have my daughter Ayva. When I returned the same year [Oct 2012] Ryan asked if I wanted to fight, I was like ‘of course’ [laughs]’.
Having had no inter-club fights under her belt, Laura got straight into ‘fight’ training mode, for which Laura has already been making huge sacrifices for the sport she has now fallen in love with. Working full time [Thursday – Mondays] in Sales for a Building Contractor selling New Build Houses; her Husband Luke owns a Cleaning business in both the domestic and commercial field, whilst also spending as much quality time with two-year old Ayva as possible.
Laura fits her training in around the time Ayva has gone to bed and before she gets up in the morning so she is not missing out on spending time with her. That in itself is dedication. But, Laura took it one step further and added in weight training to her usual regime ‘I started going because my debut fight with Asha Patel was at 62kg. I was struggling to stay at 62kg, with all the extra training the weight was just dropping off so I thought of just going to lift some weights and I got in touch with a friend of mine Em, who used to train some body builders and she started training with me’.
Laura had her first K1 fight for Ultimate Impact Fight Night 1 on 10th August 2013 against Asha Patel and won via Unanimous Decision.
Next up was Ultimate Impact 10 and Laura’s opponent was Sammy Donnelly, fighting at 58kg in a K1 fight, so again Laura incorporated her new found ‘dedication’ of weight training into her routine. ‘The shape of my body has changed so much from just weight training, I like the look, the way my muscles fill out, and it is a little bit addictive [laughs], as soon as you start to see your body change you get addicted to that. At 58kg people said I looked scrawny and that was another reason, I wanted to build some muscle. I did not want to look scrawny or skinny at flyweight I just wanted to look toned and lean more than anything else. I am competitive not just against other people but with myself. Every time I go I like to do that very bit more, try a different thing just to push myself that little bit more, it’s all part of the training for me though, I wouldn’t go into a fight not knowing I haven’t put 100% in and I think that adds to my strength, agility and cardio. I find it does help with the weight cut as well. The more lean muscle you have the easier you have to drop your weight, well that is what I find anyway’.
Laura won her second K1 fight against Sammy Donnelly on 16th November 2013 at UIC 10 via Unanimous Decision. After that fight, it was announced that Laura would be fighting Anya Baker for the K1 Flyweight Title Eliminator on February 22nd 2014 on Ultimate Impact 11.
Laura fought Anya Baker on February 22nd 2014 at UIC 11 and won via Unanimous Decision, she would now be fighting Cheryl Flynn on June 28th at UIC 12 for the first ever female Flyweight K1 Title.
Learning from her past fights, Laura now knows how she is going to train for this title fight, ‘My problem with the way I dealt with Anya’s fight, was that I kept watching her fights over and over, therefore it did not help me with my nerves. This time my coaches will be the ones watching the tapes over and over and I will just go in their direction’.
Speaking of this Title fight I asked if Laura knew anything about Cheryl Flynn, ‘I know that she has had a couple of MMA fights lately and like I just said I’ve seen a couple of videos, I also watched the fight she had with Katie Sendall which was a while ago now and I respect anybody that is going to get in the cage and is going to fight anybody. Cheryl is a respected fighter, a good fighter; she knows what she is doing; to go up in a title fight against someone like Cheryl Flynn who has had as many fights as Cheryl Flynn has, is good for me and is good for my career in K1. I am excited to fight someone like Cheryl Flynn.’
Knowing that Laura will be filled with emotion for her Title fight on June 28th 2014 she stated, ‘When it was announced that it was going to be a title eliminator against Anya at UIC 11, I was so nervous I couldn’t get it out my head. I just needed to get through this fight first then concentrate on what happens next, but I suffer a lot with nerves; I will be a bag of nerves on the day. I think if you did not get nervous, it does not mean enough to you’. Also adding ‘before the last fight against Anya, Chris Hipkiss, Ryan Norwood and Adam Cartwright had a little chat with me about my nerves just to get me through the first 15 seconds and then said you will be fine; all through the day they had to keep saying little things to me. I was close to tears all day but I got there in the end’.
http://www.njfphotography.com/
‘As a girl, I do wear my heart on my sleeve and I do tell people how I feel. The fight was quite near the end of the night as well; it is the whole build-up of it that makes me nervous; if I could just get in there be the first one on, get in and out and get it done I would probably feel a lot better about it but it is all part of it. Once I am in there, and the ref says off you go, I love every single second of it. It is just getting past those nerves to begin with. I do not want to make a fool of myself or let anyone down. Every fight I’ve gone into I know I have trained my hardest, and I have put in every hour I possibly can’.
Laura also gives a lot of credit to Ultimate Impact, ‘It means a lot that Paul Sutherland and Dan Richards have thought enough of the girls fights to think they need recognition for what we have achieved so far. I think all the girls’ fights on all of the UIC shows everyone has enjoyed them. Every single fight has been worth watching and matched fairly, it means a lot that Paul and Dan have put that together and said you guys are good enough to have a title shot at UIC’.
Laura would like to thank the following people:
Ryan Norwood, Chris Hipkiss, Wayne Drake, Karl Evans, Matt Harthill, Lee Sherwood, Adam Cartwright everyone at Fury MMA, my husband who has been to all my fights and does not moan that I am off out training all the time and my New Sponsor Armour Wash. 
Photo Credits: http://www.njfphotography.com/
Ultimate Impact 12 is this Saturday June 28th at GL1 Leisure Centre, Gloucester, tickets are available online on the below link.
http://www.ultimateimpactevents.com/index.php/shop/tickets/category?path=39
Doors open 4pm
First bout 4.30pm
If you have missed any of Laura’s previous fights you can watch them here:
Laura Handy v Asha Patel UIFN1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpsxirE3Vr8
Laura Handy v Sammy Donnelly UIC 10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoF_tuZLXPQ
Laura Handy v Anya Baker UIC 11
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFKSX1LAmJ0
Share this:
Meet Amateur Fighter Zowie-Marie Trevena – A True Pure Warrior!
Amateur Female Fighter Zowie-Marie Trevena currently works as a Personal Assistant for her niece and mother in-law to help them with everyday tasks, as they are both disabled her niece also has health problems as well as ADHD and Asperger’s she is also a self-employed beauty therapist who can work between 30-40 hours a week with both jobs. Has two children and her partner Scott lives with her, but life was not so Rosie for Zowie. Here we get to find out about whom ‘Zowie-Marie Trevena is, but first we start at the beginning.
“It just goes to show you can achieve anything you put your mind too” Zowie -Marie Trevena
EB. You are from Cornwall originally, what was it like for you growing up in what I would call a place I would go for a ‘British beach holiday’.
ZT. I was a typical tomboy. Growing up on an estate I spent most of my time playing football, building camps or riding my bike to the beach to go surfing or my favourite past time… Cliff jumping!
EB. You were also quite into your sports and very active during your teenage days. Can you tell me about what other active sports you did?
ZT. I have always participated in football, rugby, rounder’s’, gymnastics, dance just to name a few, the only thing I could not do was long distance running, but that was back then!
EB. It was not all ‘fun’ for you growing up, you went through a ‘rebellious’ stage in your life. Can you tell me a bit more about this time?
ZT. I was quite rebellious back then and always strived to be different from everyone else. Quite often, I would go home with a new piercing, tattoo, random coloured hair and some new crazy hobby!
EB. This is when you came across a love of mine as well ‘Modified Cars’, ‘Racing’, ‘Drifting’. Can you go into more detail?
ZT. I first got into modified cars when I learnt to drive in an Mk 2 Astra GTE at the age of 15, my ambition then was to get my licence and first car ASAP. Over the years I’ve had cars such as Peugeot 106 GTI’s to Nissan Skylines, Subaru Impreza’s and a few Japenese RWD cars that I used to drift or do track days in.
EB. You also came across the well-known 90’s Rave scene and went off the ‘Rails for a while’. Do you think this was due to your ‘addictive personality’ and wanting to be ‘different’ from everyone else?
ZT. When I was 16/17 I got in with a bit of a tougher crowd and started going to all night parties and raves in Plymouth and Newquay, but to be honest, some of those moments were the best days of my life. The feeling of oblivion and dancing the night away was immense… It was all about “One Love”. To be honest I do not regret any of it.
EB. In 2002, you gave birth to a gorgeous Son, then in 2004 a gorgeous Daughter. Life must have felt quiet complete for you at this moment in time, two gorgeous children?
ZT. It was after the birth of my daughter that I suffered in the hands of a physically and mentally abusive partner. I lost my confidence, my zest for life and my self-esteem. The only thing that kept me going was the children and the fact I was studying at college.
EB. Was it as this point you decided you wanted to try out kickboxing?
ZT. Yes it was. I joined WAKT (West Area Kick Thai) run by Al Oakley in Camborne Cornwall. I spent six months training at WAKT and during that time, I met and married a soldier, which meant I moved from Cornwall to Hampshire. I wanted to continue my love for kickboxing and joined Impact Martial Arts run by Wayne Timlin. I spent 3/4 years training with them and was only two belts away from black belt before yet another disaster struck.
EB. Can you elaborate about this time in your life?
ZT. My marriage crumbled and my children and I found ourselves homeless.
For some reason, I had a gut feeling to move to Devizes in Wiltshire; to this day, I cannot explain it other than it felt right. It meant moving to an area where we had no family or friends, I had to change my job, the children had to move schools. It was a very hard and depressing time. However, it also gave me time to reflect on my life choices, the way I treated others, and a chance to put my children first before anyone else, including myself.
EB. You joined a new martial arts club, how was that?
ZT. I joined a local martial arts school, made new friends, my children also joined and we trained together. I then progressed to an instructor I’d already won gold and silver medals in the national and southern championships, however, I did not believe in the ethics of the club so left and joined Revolution Gym in Trowbridge which is run by my now coach Scott Clist.
EB. What changed for you being at Revolution Gym?
ZT. It is here that I began to think about fighting, and felt that even though I was 30 I had more to give. What also spurred me on was my ex said I would never be good enough to fight! Scott Clist is my coach at Revs, I joined Revs as the atmosphere was more relaxed and I could be who I wanted to be. Scott, has actively encouraged me to push myself, and never allows any self-doubt! Being part of Revs is like having an extended family! Sometimes with the hard training he gives us, it is nice to know you are not the only one vomiting at the end of a session!
EB. Sunday February 3rd 2013 was a huge achievement for you, can you tell me why?
ZT. I entered my first inter club, at Spartans, then in May 2013 I had my first K1 fight, and then I fought K1 again in August 2013 again.
EB. You have another fight coming up this Saturday February 22nd at Ulitmate lmpact Cagefighting 11, GL1 Leisure Centre in Gloucester against Lea Fendt, do you know much about your opponent?
ZT. I believe Lea, is trained by David Willmot, who has a fantastic reputation, so I expect my opponent to be tough! However, I am ready I have been training hard It has not been easy between working, running a home and spending time with my kids, but my partner and kids have been very understanding and a great support!
EB. The fight also co-insides the day before your 32nd birthday, how excited are you about this?
ZT. Pretty excited about fighting on my birthday. I Could not ask better people to spend it with. I have made many friends through fighting; these are people I admire and respect.
EB. You have a female fighter that you really look up to as your ‘Hero’ can you share this with us?
ZT. My hero is ‘Rowdy’ Bec Rawlings, she is also a mum of two who has overcome a Domestic Violent relationship. She has fought in the Invicta championships and has now signed to UFC in the straw weight women’s division. It just goes to show you can achieve anything you put your mind too!
EB. Anyone you would like to Thank.
ZT. I’d like to thank my coach Scott Clist, the guys and gals at Spartans Gym for the additional training, Marc Smith at Pure Warrior for his support and last but not least, my partner Scott and my children. Without their support and understanding I wouldn’t be able to train so much. Oh and I’d like to thank my training partner and corner “man” Polly Beauchamp for teaching me to push past those barriers!
Quick Fun Questions
EB. Favourite Food?
Got to be a Cornish Pasty!
EB. What song are you usually singing in the shower/bath?
You will never catch me singing… I’ll leave that to my daughter!
EB. Most inspirational person?
There isn’t one person who particularly inspires me… I seem to admire many people for different reasons.
EB. Dream Car?
If I could have my dream car … It would be an Skyline R32 GTS-T , I love my old skool jap turbos!
I would like to thank Zowie for her time given to myself to do this Interview. Thank you.
FULL FIGHT CARD
Tommy Cook v Leighthan Benskin MW Title
Laura Handy v Anya Baker k1 title eliminator
Terry Doyle v Ryan Legge
Chris Astley v Toby Harman
Shane Riley v Jamie Richardson
Mark Finney v Karl Evans
Undercard:
Sammy Donnelly v Helen J. Harper k1
Aman Sakhizadeh vs Michael Jones
Matthew Kaufman v Steve Smith k1
Matt Sansom v Matt Harthill k1
Paulina Malina v Katie Elkova k1
Daryl Grant v Euan Wallace
Jay Grazier v Matt Michal Figlak
Lea Fendt v Zowie Trevena k1
Jack Shore v Jack Machete Price
VENUE GL1 Leisure Centre, Bruton Way, Gloucester, GL1 1DT
FEBRUARY 22nd 2014
Doors open at 5pm, first fight 5.30pm
Afterparty: Liquid Nightclub, Gloucester (next door)
TICKETS
Standard Seats £25.00
V.I.P Table £360.00
Tickets still available click on the link below
http://www.ultimateimpactevents.com/index.php/mma/events/ultimate-impact-11
Photo credit: Zowie-Marie Trevena, Emma Bramford, Esther Lin and Steve Dyer, Ultimate Impact Events.
Five Rounds with Emma 
You must be logged in to post a comment.