Alex Bramwell had always admired MMA fighters who have the courage to give it their all in the cage and decided that he would not let anything stand in the way of experiencing his own bout.
Discovering Ultra MMA
I found out about Ultra MMA which arranges training and then puts on a show where each novice fights a fellow novice from their training group, explained Alex, 28, who attended Manor School and York College and now works for online music retailer Gear4Music. There is no charge, but you must sell ten tickets for the show and fundraise for a charity of your choice.
Fundraising for Three Charities
I raised £290 for three charities: MIND, because I wanted to help people facing mental health issues, as I have myself, but also Medical Aid for Palestinians and the Royal British Legion. All three do great work.
Win or lose, I wanted to be on that show. Prove to an audience including family and friends but mainly myself that I could do this. Perhaps taste just for a day how it might feel to be an MMA star. I enjoyed every step of the process including the gruelling training as the coaches pushed us relentlessly to achieve.
The Fight Experience
The atmosphere at the show was exciting and the bouts exhilarating and enthralling. I had a tough fight with a physically well-built and fit Leeds lad, Luke Woodend, who has become a friend. How could he not when we had punched each other hard in the face? I was delighted to win but Luke certainly gave me a beating. It was phenomenal.
Everyone in the group got on well and it became tight knit. But that did not stop us from giving the opponent what for. That is what we wanted and what the audience expected. That said, do not expect to see professional MMA. As an example, although we could hit in the face when standing, there was no punching to the head of a grounded opponent.
Encouraging Others
The show was just fantastic and a fitting end to challenging training. You need to make taking part your personal priority for a couple of months but for me this was all part of the challenge. I would encourage anyone to get into combat sports whether it is for fitness or competition as you learn transferable skills while developing confidence. The next Ultra event is in November, so volunteers have got the summer to get fit.
Training Locations
We trained at Bad Company in Leeds. It is an excellent gym. I appreciated training there but the fifty-mile round trip each time was a pain. I am now planning to focus on some grappling competitions with York Syndicate MMA, where I usually train. Anyone wanting to chat about Ultra MMA can contact me on Instagram @brammers98 or alternatively come down to York Syndicate as I am there frequently. This is a great club where I also prepared for my bout.
Event Success
Alex, Luke and 32 others raised £11,700 for their charities. Ultra MMA returns to the Village Hotel Leeds North on November 28, with training beginning in September. Competitors must be aged 18 or older on the date training starts. Sign up at https://www.ultra-mma.co.uk. York Syndicate MMA is located at Unit 2 Ebor Business Park, YO26 6QY and is best contacted via text to 07894 540860 or via Instagram @york.syndicate.mma.
