Undefeated Fighter Heads to International Stage
Blake Gallimore, a 21-year-old mixed martial arts fighter from South Hetton, has been selected to represent Team England at the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) World Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia. The tournament runs from Sunday, November 1, 2026, for one week. Gallimore, an undefeated amateur with a 5-0 record, will compete at the 66kg featherweight limit, moving up from his usual bantamweight class where he is ranked 26th in the UK.
Journey from Local Gyms to Global Stage
Gallimore began training in MMA four years ago after studying business enterprise at East Durham College. He now trains at TFT MMA in Seaham under coach Andrew Fisher and at Houghton Thai Boxing in Newbottle with Jake Thirlway. His amateur record includes five wins, with a standout victory at the Rise and Conquer promotion where he won in 37 seconds without being struck. In Brazilian jiu-jitsu, he has won 16 of 18 matches, and last year he claimed the ADCC submission fighting national championship in Manchester and the Sandee Thai Boxing open championship.
Self-Funded Trip Requires Community Support
Participation in the IMMAFs is self-funded, so Gallimore is fundraising to cover travel and accommodation costs. He said: "Getting to the IMMAFs is what everyone doing MMA wants. Think of it as the Olympics for amateur MMA. This will be my first international competition... To say I'm excited at getting chosen is an understatement." He aims to bring a medal back to South Hetton and eventually turn professional by age 22.
Coach Praises Dedication
Andrew Fisher, coach at TFT MMA, said: "Blake has worked so hard progressing from youth to adult level. He's currently undefeated as an amateur and is ready to go to the next level. We're looking forward to seeing how his skills hold up against the best amateur fighters in the world."
How to Support
Residents can donate via GoFundMe at https://gofund.me/26f410ff5, email blakegallimore55@outlook.com, Instagram @blake_mma, or text 07535 321546. Gallimore promised: "I'd be grateful for any support... I promise to make our area proud."
