English Mixed Martial Arts Association (EMMAA) will be hosting the event over three days (1st-3rd July) which will see some of the best amateur prospects from across all 4 nations (England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales) compete in a knockout tournament, Lisa started her MMA journey a decade ago after picking Jiu-Jitsu at a freshers fayre. Zimmo took to BJJ like a duck to water and started winning gold in numerous competitions before transitioning into Boxing, Kickboxing, and then wrestling, but MMA has always been the goal to be able to represent your country is a huge honor!

Lisa along with fellow England squad members Jack Dunleavy (2-0) Shanelle Dyer (6-3-0) and Summer Onley (4-0) appeared on the Super Necessary Podcast to discuss the upcoming event. When asked about what this opportunity meant for them as a whole she said

“I think it is a great stepping stone for doing something like this on an amateur level because I know two of my teammates who are pro got to experience this tournament style, over multiple days over in the United States. So having this experience before we turn pro, especially with the people that will be watching is a huge deal!”

The EMMAA has some steady hands at the helm with none other than expert MMA referee and lifelong martial artist Mark Goddard as its President, as well as board members including fellow referee Leon Roberts and English MMA legend Dan Hardy, who when asked about the upcoming event broke down the structure a little more “We’ve got £500 for the stand-out athlete of the weekend, and EMMAA has partnered with RDX for the entire tournament fightwear so there’s loads of good kit going around.” He added. “It’s going to be a live-stream pay-per-view and there’s a Sky documentary team coming. It’s going to be great.”.

The EMMAA also has some incredible coaching staff with Mark “Spen” Spencer (SBG Bradford) heading up the youth squad and MAC (Martial Arts Concepts) Chief Coach Paul Kelly heading up the adult squad.

As we started this story with Lisa, it would only be fit and proper if we ended it with her. I asked what it mean for Zimmo representing her country this weekend?

“Its always a pleasure to represent my country, however as the girls from my catagory are all from England it makes it even more exciting to see who the best female lightweight is in England!”

From top to bottom this is an incredibly positive story for British MMA and the EMMAA should be a no-brainer for any aspiring amateur wanting to be part of the next chapter in British Mixed Martial Arts!

Those who can not make it for the FITXPO can watch the event on PPV by clicking here. To keep up to date with all things ‘Shellshock’ click here and drop a follow. To watch Lisa and the other squad members talk about the opportunity on the Super Necessary Podcast click here and to get more information about the EMMAA as an organisation click here