A pair of Cumbrian fighters have scooped bronze medals at the Mixed Martial Arts Youth World Championships.
Sophie Price, 17, of West Lakes Academy from Seascale and Stan Baglee, 17, of Carlisle College from Dalston, fought for England at the championships in Abu Dhabi in August and both placed on the podium.
The championship was Sophie’s first time fighting in a cage, which she said made getting the bronze more special.
She added: “I felt nervous and excited and I couldn’t wait to show off everything I had learnt, I felt like I was on top of the world.
“It was really surreal, I did not expect to get that medal, I was really happy that I got to place.”
For Sophie, martial arts have been a lifelong passion and after a long career in Judo, she moved onto MMA after her dad found Workington’s Tapout Knockout MMA and Jiu-Jitsu club.
She said: “It means a lot to me considering I have done it all my life, it meant so much to represent Cumbria and it felt amazing to be able to represent my country, it was an honour and a lifelong dream.
Sophie’s mum and dad came with her to the championships and she said it had been really nice to have them there, especially her dad, who has coached and supported her through her training.
She said: “It still hasn’t sunk in, it’s still so so crazy to me, I’m still feeling on top of the world.”
After scooping her award, Sophie celebrated with a McDonald’s, some time by the pool and a meal out with her family.
Back in July, a fundraiser was set up to help out with the costs of getting Sophie to Dubai to compete and she said she was incredibly grateful for the support.
She added: “I’m just really grateful for the support and the donations to help get us there and all of my training and my family’s support too.”
For Stan, the championship was his first ever MMA competition, and whilst he didn’t expect to win anything, coming away with the bronze left him over the moon.
He said: “The aim was just to go and see what level I was at. It’s all a bit surreal really, when we got set up on the podium it was just amazing, it was almost like both relief and pride.
“I went to see my Dad after in the stands and we were both really emotional.”
Stan added that the support from his dad and head coach Mark Spencer had been invaluable over the eight weeks leading up to the competition and that getting the bronze meant the hard work had paid off.
He added: “Over the last eight weeks he has done everything he can to sort out my nutrition and my exercise, so for that to finish with the medal, we were both absolutely over the moon.”
“I could hear my dad shouting for me, I just loved every second of the fights.”
To celebrate his win, Stan enjoyed two pizzas and a big bowl of pasta after weeks of healthy eating along with some sightseeing.
Stan started MMA training in 2019, after playing rugby aged seven. He said he preferred the contact nature of the sport and decided the world of martial arts was more for him, taking inspiration from fighters such Connor McGregor.
Eventually, after his first gym closed during COVID, Stan found Tapout Knockout MMA and Jiu-Jitsu club where he’s been training ever since.
He said: “I love the whole idea that it’s the rawest form of combat there is, but there’s also the aspects of discipline and respect for competitors as well as the training.”
Stan is keen to get back in the cage as soon as possible and said he felt that just like Sophie, the reality of scooping the bronze had still not fully sunken in.
Sophie is also continuing to train for upcoming Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu events taking place in January and September next year.
