Nathan Brogan, a 16-year-old fighter from New Brighton, has won £500 in a premier martial arts competition in Bury. The victory came in an under-70kg bout, secured with a technique called a buggy choke submission.
Brogan, who will soon start sixth form at Wirral Grammar School for Boys, has trained in multiple martial arts since a young age. He described the contest as a rematch with Sam Holladay, whom he had previously faced in March. "It was my first paid win," he said.
Ambitions for the UFC
Brogan said: "I’ve been training and competing in a range of martial arts since I was very young and like many other younger fighters my ambition is to fight professionally on the MMA world stage and earn a place in the UFC." He cited local hero Paddy 'The Baddy' Pimblett as a role model for Merseyside combat sports athletes.
He began with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) at Next Generation in Birkenhead, where he remains. At age 12, he added striking arts, including Thai Boxing and MMA, though team sports like football never interested him.
International representation and future plans
Brogan entered regional competitions and eventually represented England at the IMMAF European and world championships in 2025, held in Serbia and Abu Dhabi respectively. In Serbia, he was the first English competitor without a prior MMA bout, only BJJ experience.
This year, he hopes to attend a BJJ youth championship in Rome in October and is preparing for his first bout allowing full head shots in December. He also participates in the Combat Sports Initiative (CSI), run by the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, which offers training to counteract knife culture. "I enjoy their sessions and appreciate military personnel connecting with the community," he said.
Explaining the winning move, Brogan said: "A buggy choke involves looping your arms underneath your legs to trap the opponent’s head and arm below your armpit. It generally gets the submission."
Coach and family praise
Coach Paul Rimmer praised Brogan's work ethic and potential, calling him "a fantastic student representing his gym in multiple combat sports and who likely has the potential to go all the way to the UFC." He added that Brogan "can achieve whatever he puts his mind to."
Nathan's mother Jess shared her pride, noting the sport has given him confidence and self-discipline since he was five. "It’s always been what Nathan wanted, meaning that the self-discipline required comes naturally," she said. "The combat sports he loves have provided amazing opportunities, giving Nathan confidence. We’re obviously proud of all he’s achieving."
Local people and businesses interested in sponsoring Nathan can contact him via Instagram @ndog_mma to arrange a meeting with his parents and coach.
