Kate Bacik (3-1) is one of the most game fighters at GBTT. She has been in fight camp, essentially for 12 months straight, constantly training, never missing a session and always willing to go one more round.
Having no fight announced when signing with Invicta and having a fight over on Combate Global fall through, Kate decided to put her name out there when Cage Warriors announced that the debut of Sinéadh Ní Nualláin against Awe Sow was off due to Sow falling ill.
After a behind the scenes scramble and a social media call out…Cage Warriors on 2 days notice made the announcement that her majesty got her wish and the fight was back on with her as the new opponent. On November 11th Kate cruised to a unanimous decision victory against Nualláin (que the signature Bacik victory dance)
We kind of thought that was it for 2023 but then it was announced out of nowhere that Kate was booked to fight on Caged Steel 34 against Dee Begley (4-4) who was coming off a split decision loss to Kristina Williams at Invicta FC 54 back in October.
So with 3 times the notice (6 days) Bacik prepared herself for one more outing in 2023 and as professionals do, put the work in, made weight and hopped into a car with Coach Ashley Grimshaw, Danielsam and soon to be PFL Light Heavyweight champ, the Smooth Simeon Powell to head north to the practically freezing north.
Kate put in a Stella performance against an incredibly tough opponent who immediately tried to impose her will by forcing the action against the cage. What followed was an impressive display of cage wrestling and submission attempts with Bacik threatening attacks, using an omoplata to take Begleys back and control the majority of round one.
Round 2 was more of the same with Kate wearing down her opponent with slick defence, being able to take Dee down almost at will and reverse position taking her into the 3rd being 2 rounds up.
In the 3rd round, After threatening an arm bar and then a knee bar Bacik locked up a triangle that was super deep and caused Begly to verbally tap, in turn giving Kate her 3rd win in a row, her second within 3 weeks!
Now I would like to say at this point that this is the perfect end to 2023, but you never know, with 3 weeks left this year…. anything can happen!
Congratulations to Kate Bacik, everyone at the gym is so proud of you!
God save the Queen of the South!