Support women's sports and SHARE this story with your friends!

Scotland MMA has grown the past few years, and with growth comes opportunity.

On Top MMA will be hosting the first ever female match in Scotland Feb. 15. Scotland’s own Joanne Calderwood will be facing a yet-to-be-named opponent.

Calderwell is the current IKF European Flyweight Kickboxing Champion and has fought in grappling matches with top MMA fighter Rosi Sexton. She will be making her MMA debut at 125 pounds.

Local politicians have been weary of MMA in years past; calling it “brutal’. Leading the charge is Scottish Parliament member Sandra White. She took a stab at female fighters in the Glasgow Herald newspaper this week.

“There are the sexual connotations of having women cagefighting,” White stated. “I just think it sends out completely the wrong message to the general public. I think it’s degrading to women.”

Wombat Sports got an interview with Calderwell to talk about White’s comments and the MMA scene in her native Scotland.

Wombat Sports: What was your action to Mrs. White’s comments?

Joanne Calderwood: I wasn’t surprised really. The sport has always faced opposition from people who have no idea what the sport actually entails. I did find it pretty amusing some one in her position commenting on stuff she freely admits she knows nothing about.

You would think an MSP would research something before bad mouthing it. I’m pretty sure she would be supportive of the girls going to represent Scotland and the UK in the Olympics in combat sports like Judo, boxing, Wrestling and Taekwondo. On a whole her remarks wont stop the sport growing, I do wonder what other stuff these MSP’s are commenting on without knowing anything about however.

Wombat:  Ireland and England both has had female fights. Do you feel that Scotland is ready to turn the page when it comes to see you fight?

Claderwood: MMA is already pretty well established in Scotland. I think the fact there hasn’t been a female professional bout up here is more a case of there not being girls established in the sport yet. I know there is girls training, but they’re still in the early stages. With MMA training, you are trying to learn 3 sports plus cover a conditioning element before you are ready to compete; so it takes time. Hopefully my fight coming up inspires more women to give the sport a go, whether its just training or competing.

I don’t think me fighting is turning a page for Scottish MMA. I would have fought a year or two back if I could have found a suitable opponent. I am still competing in Muay Thai and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, so to me this is just another fight but under a different rule set.

W.S:  In general, are Scottish fighters having a tough time finding fights in their homeland?

J.C.: Not at all. 2011 was a big year for Scottish fighters and 2012 should be even bigger. There almost a show a month up here this year. The sports grown really quickly, so finding fights for the guys is easy. The girls divisions are just growing now and might not be as busy for a few more years.

Thankfully the Scottish promoters are working with a lot of European teams were there seems to be more female fighters just now. Getting matched for me has been difficult partly due to the low number of girls ready to compete, and partly due to my success in Muay Thai, which means some girls wont want to be matched with me.

WS: Are you seeing more women getting involved in fighting sports?

J.C.: More and more are training all the time for different reasons and the more dedicated or curious ones will venture into the competing side. The standard of female Muay Thai in the UK is pretty good, maybe the best outside Thailand. We also have Rosi Sexton flying the flag for female fighters at a world level and hopefully that will inspire even more women to take combat sports up.

W.S.: Tell us about your upcoming fight.

J.S.: My MMA debut is coming up on the 25th of February. It will be the first (of many, I hope) female MMA fights in Scotland. I’ll fight Muay Thai a couple times this year and try and compete in as much grappling competitions as possible; ideally while getting more opportunity to fight MMA.

W.S.: Any last thought/want to say?

J.C.: To people slating the sport, at least look at it before you pass judgement. The sport is definitely not going away and does so much more good than harm.

I’d like to thank John Nicholson the matchmaker at On Top Promotions for giving me the opportunity to fight. I know he looked all over the place to find me an opponent and kept going when a lot of people would have gave up.

Also thanks to all my team at the Griphouse gym and the Dinky Ninja Fight Team for getting me ready and for always supporting me.

Support women's sports and SHARE this story with your friends!

• MMA
• Sports

View Original Post at wombatsports.wordpress.com

View MarQFPR's Full Profile