This Saturday, at the Metrodome in Barnsley, England, Lindsey Payne will have the opportunity to make history by becoming the first female champion since the promotion’s existence. That show is Badmofo MMA.
The show has quickly become one of the hottest shows in the UK, and promoters Steve and Connor showing no intention of slowing down.
Saturday, October 7, Payne will face Anna-Louise Burns in a “different” matchup that excites her. Burns enters holding a 3-2 record and has two back-to-back wins to build on. Ahead of fight night, we had the chance to catch up with Lindsey Payne to get her thoughts on her career thus far, her opponent, and winning that BMF title.
Interview With Lindsey Payne
Lindsey, it’s fight week, and you are on the cusp of making history by potentially being crowned the first BMF female champion. How much fuel does that add in camp to add another title to your collection and become the promotion’s first female champ?
To be honest, it doesn’t change much for me in terms of mentality or my training. As exciting as it is – and it is very exciting – I take each fight very seriously and give it everything I have, and I have a lot to give. At the end of the day, I want to walk out of the cage, knowing I’ve given my best in each fight, title or not. I will bring that same energy and prepare for it with everything I have.
Saturday night, you’ll meet Anna Louise Burns. Give me your thoughts on what you’ve seen from her so far, and do you expect to see her bringing anything you’ve not seen before to the cage?
Anna Louise has drive and determination, like any woman strong enough to make it this far, but so do I. Her style is slightly different than those I have fought up to this point, but nothing I haven’t handled on the mats, and I’m prepared to meet her head-on and find out just how much she has to give.
Lindsey Payne On Camp
You’re the BA strawweight champion, as mentioned, but after that bout, you fell short on FightStar 25. Upon reflection, what went wrong in that one, and what measures have you taken to ensure it doesn’t happen on Oct. 7?
I don’t see that night as having fallen short at all. It was a strong, well-rounded fight for both my opponent and me, and I’m proud of my performance. I took that fight on ten days’ notice, so although I was strong and fit, I was not at my typical fight-camp level of fitness and readiness. There were mistakes made, but I made my opponent work hard for her win and had plenty of great moments to show for it. I expect to fight her again later this year and look forward to meeting her at the end of a full camp this time.
The last time you fought on BMF, you picked up your first win by stoppage. How nice did that moment feel, and what sort of experience did you have with BMF in order for you to be willing to come back and compete under their banner?
It was an amazing moment, but as it was my first win, it took a few minutes for it to really sink in that I had won. Once it did, the high was incredible, and I’ll keep chasing that feeling for a long time. I can’t express how much that night meant to me. I only wish that everyone could experience that feeling at least once in their life. BMF put on such a great show at a brilliant venue. They take great care of their fighters and clearly have a deep appreciation for the sport. Not only that, they are great advocates of women fighters attempting to break through in a very male-dominated sport. I look forward to being back on their show.
Debut Loss to Now
When you suffered a defeat on your debut, you then went and accumulated two back-to-back stoppage wins. Can we expect more of the same this time?
Absolutely. I didn’t fight like myself that first night. It was my first time in the ring, and I didn’t handle the pressure as well as I would have liked. However, I’ve done a lot to adjust my mentality since then and am only getting more and more comfortable in the cage and on the stage with every fight. I have multiple title fights booked for the remainder of this year and am looking forward to wrapping up the year with a strong comeback from Fightstar 25.
Becoming BMF Champion
Finally, just highlight what the fans attending can expect from you if they are tuning in to watch you fight for the first time and what it would mean to you to become the first BMF female champion.
I give everything, always, and it makes my fights exciting and diverse. I’m quick, strong, and technical, so they can expect to see a quality fight that will be an exciting step in my fighting journey.
To explain what this win would mean to me would take much too long and a lifetime of context. But to give you an idea, when I first started coaching kids’ classes, I was the first female coach most – if not all – of the kids had ever had. You could see the wonder in the little girls’ eyes when they saw me step on the mats for the first time to teach them.
One girl told her mum that she thought that MMA was a boy’s sport until she met me. My fights are no longer just for me. They are for the people who watch me – girls, boys, women, and men – and second guess what women are capable of and what their role is in athletics (and everywhere). To become the first BMF Female Champion would truly be a privilege and an honour.
