This Saturday at Goliath Fight Series 4, Faith O’Brien will make the walk to the cage for the very first time, ready to embark on a special journey in mixed martial arts.
Goliath Fight Series 4 is set to take place a the Alloa Town Hall. The promotion are in the business of doing better and better each time, and Saturday night’s planned event is a testament to that. Promoter’s Chris Duncan and Steven Harris put together a night of action that caters for different combat sports fanatics. The first portion of the event will take place in the afternoon, consisting of grappling matches. The evening frame of the card will feature K1 and MMA contests.
Ahead of the fight, we had the opportunity of catching up with Faith O’Brien, who looks forward to putting on a great performance and ultimately getting that first fight under her belt. Hear what she had to say below.
Interview With O’Brien
Saturday night, you make the walk in Scotland on Goliath Fight Series 4. What would a younger Faith O’Brien say if you had told yourself you’d be competing in MMA years ago?
To be honest with you, Lewis, I wouldn’t have believed it. I think my younger self would have been very inspired.
For the readers and the Goliath crowd that will be attending on Saturday night, let them know a little bit about you, your journey into MMA, and how you came across the sport.
I started MMA in September past, My brother Aaron had been doing it for some time, and I had gone to see a few of his fights. I was intrigued by the sport and wanted to try it myself. At first, I thought I was a bit hesitant because it is such a male-dominated sport, but when I went for the first time, everyone was so friendly and welcoming.
You’ve been preparing and will be competing alongside your teammates this Saturday. How has the team morale and energy in the gym been in the lead-up to this Saturday?
The team’s morale and energy have been unreal at the shed. I’m so happy to be making my debut alongside Ellen and know we have such a supportive team behind us.
How did the conversation go between yourself and your coach about knowing the time was right to put the skills you’ve learned to the test at Goliath Fight Series 4?
My coach Troy sent me a post from the female fight collectively for a 50kg fight which is often hard to find. After a quick chat with Troy and Gemma about the opportunity, I decided it would be an amazing opportunity to take part in.
Faith O’Brien Talks Women’s MMA
Women’s MMA is on the rise, and it continues to get stronger and stronger, with girls across the country trying it out and building unbelievable amounts of self-confidence. Are you someone who keeps up to date on the mainstream side of the sport? If so, who are some of the women you enjoy and like watching?
To be honest, I’m not very up-to-date. However, I have heard the recent news about Shauna Bannon signing a contract with the UFC, which is amazing and think really shows the potential the MMA has to offer women.
Anna-Louise Burns is the woman who will stand in your way on Saturday night. She’s currently got 3x more experience than you. Do you anticipate that playing any factor on the night?
As you say, Anna has 3x more experiences in the cage. However, I don’t think it will put me at a disadvantage on the night as I have put so much dedication and hard work into my training.
Although she has the experience on our side, she also has tape out there for you to study and formulate a gameplan on. She can’t do the same to prepare for you? Do you think that plays into your hands in any way?
Although It does benefit some people to see their opponent’s previous fights, I try not to focus on them, as MMA is such an unpredictable sport, and you need to be prepared for anything.
The Puzzle That Anna-Louise Burns Presents
Assuming you’ve watched her three fights back, what are your overall thoughts on her skill set and the puzzle she presents?
Anna has experience in the cage, and I believe that the match-up between us is great and, I’m sure, will be a class fight.
Saturday night, Faith O’Brien vs. Anna-Louise Burns, in your ideal world. What unfolds?
If I’m being honest, it’s hard to know what to expect, but regardless I’m going to take the opportunity and put on my best performance. It gives me a chance to learn and develop my MMA.
Do you have any sponsors or teammates you would like to thank that have helped you in the lead-up to Saturday?
I would like to thank Troy and Gemma. They have both helped me so much with my MMA journey and helped my build my confidence to go out there and try new things. I would also like to thank my teammates who have pushed me and supported me to achieve my full potential.
