BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Federation’s Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Heavyweight Champion and Heavyweight title holder of the Caribbean Kickboxing Grappling Shou Federation’s (CKGSF) Caribbean MMA, Tija Stanley, was invited to participate in an August 4, 2012 event in London.
Stanley, who successfully defended his Heavyweight title by defeating Kirk Goddard in the fourth round by submission at the recently concluded CKGSF Caribbean MMA Championship in Trinidad, was invited to fight “a suitably equipped and testing opponent” at the upcoming Ultimate Cage Contenders’ MMA Championship to be held in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, London.
The invitation was extended by Aaron and Chris of the Ultimate Cage Contenders, who stated, “It is with great pleasure that we offer you the opportunity to compete in the Ultimate Cage Contenders Mixed Martial Arts-organised event. The event is a unique opportunity for ambitious MMA fighters to demonstrate their ability and potential.
“Upon you confirming your attendance at the event, we will ensure that you are paired with a suitable opponent, providing you with a challenging experience. We cannot commit to paying any fight fee or to covering any travelling or accommodation expenses for you but we do guarantee to expose you to a suitably equipped and testing opponent.”
The two organisers also indicated to Stanley that he might probably be the main event fighter.
Speaking with this publication, Stanley said he had accepted the invitation but would like to seek sponsorship to make the trip to London.
He noted that the fight schedule has to be finalised by Tuesday (May 1) and any “individual, organisation or business entity wishing to sponsor my trip to London could contact me by telephone at (869) 764-3514 or any senior member of the Apocalypse Mixed Martial Arts Club, which is located at the Life Fitness Centre (Semore’s Gym) in Bird Rock”.
“This international invitation to fight at the Ultimate Cage Contenders Competitionm in London shows the growth of our fighters here in St. Kitts and Nevis, along with the acknowledgement of a well-developing Mixed Martial Arts Programme.
“We at the Apocalype MMA are on a mission to show the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis as well as fellow islands in the Caribbean that Martial Arts is here to stay. By attending the Ultimate Cage Contenders in London, I would be the first international athlete fighting in that event and I would also be given the opportunity to fight in front a number of professional organisations,” Stanley said.
Stanley is confident that he would come out victorious at the event and noted that at this stage of his career “I can truly say after this event I will be opting to turning professional”.
Stanley, Light Heavyweight Livine Stevens and Middleweight Alex Lewis are members of the Apocalypse Mixed Martial Arts Club and are known to be the best fighters the Federation has produced in their respective divisions.
The trio, for the first time, had competed in the 2011 CKGSF Caribbean MMA Championship in Trinidad, where they became holders of Title Belts in their respective divisions.
They however had to defend those belts on Saturday (Mar. 24) and Stanley successfully did so, while Stevens lost to his Bajan counterpart after suffering an injury to his shoulder and there was no opponent to compete against Lewis.
Lewis, Chief Instructor and founder of the club, said that their training involves a mixture of Karate, Judo, Taekwondo, Aquido and Ju-jitsu, Boxing and Grappling.
He also said that since the formation of the club in 2004, its membership has grown to 16 and more is expected since the trainers have joined forces with Operation Future, touring schools within the Federation demonstrating the art of self defence while encouraging students to participate in crime-free and educational activities.
Lewis explained that the club’s membership is of varying ages with the youngest being 14.
He also explained that they train females in the art of defence, especially since they are perceived in some quarters to be the weaker sex and many of them are constantly being abused by their unscrupulous male partners.
