Teenage MMA sensation Max Holdsworth has proven he is the king of the cage after dominating a gruelling championship bout to secure the under-52kg junior Yorkshire title. The 14-year-old powerhouse from Gomersal put on a masterclass in skill and discipline at the recent Combat Challenge show at Bradford's Cedar Court Hotel, defeating a tough, older opponent, Jacob Baldwin, by a unanimous points decision.
Fighting out of the renowned AVT gym in Morley, the young prodigy showcased the elite grappling and takedown skills that have already earned him international glory on the world stage.
“I’m pleased with this win and the points I scored for takedowns and attempts to gain a submission, although I need to work harder on these to achieve the submission and not just attempt,” Holdsworth said. “Jacob was a quality opponent, fit and strong and a little older than me. I love being in the cage showcasing skills we’ve practiced.”
“I’m 14 at present but like all of us juniors we’re looking forward to shots and strikes to the head once we turn 16, although elbows will wait until we’re professional fighters. That’s my long-term goal,” he added.
Max trains at AVT gym in Morley. Last year he brought home a silver from the IMAAF youth tournament in Abu Dhabi. Just a few months ago he came back from the IMAAF European championships held in the Serbian capital Belgrade with a gold in his category.
MMA fighter Ocean Davies, senior member of the AVT Youth Academy, said: “Max challenges all the younger fighters to work harder during training. He’s highly disciplined and has already achieved a lot for AVT including winning the European championship. Max is an outstanding fighter who’ll end up on big promotions as he fulfils his dream of becoming an MMA world champion.”
“Max trains up to ten hours a week with a minimum of five sessions weekly at the AVT Youth Academy,” said uncle Matt Holdsworth, who accompanied his nephew to the Bradford bout. “This was a brilliant entertaining combat between two young boys whose lives centre around success in MMA. Max just wants to have as many bouts as possible and be out frequently to show continuous improvement. All his family are proud of what he’s achieved so far and what is yet to come.”
Saif Khan, 56, is the promoter behind Combat Challenge. The former MMA competitor and coach retired from West Yorkshire Police in 2020: “We’re proud of Max and Jacob, indeed of everyone who competed in exciting bouts against tough opponents. Combat Challenge has always taken matching up seriously as this makes for exciting and exhilarating events that allow these elite athletes to showcase developing skill and talent through dedication and commitment at their gyms.”
