Alana Wyatt is preparing to make her MMA debut next month on the Gold Coast. 86865_01 Picture: DAMIEN VISENTINI
By LIAM TWOMEY
DO not let her 15 years of ballet dancing fool you. Alana Wyatt packs one hell of a punch.
The 31-year-old has left her dancing shoes behind and has set her sights on competing in some of the toughest combat sports in the world.
After training as a Muay-Thai fighter, Wyatt has now decided to try her luck inside the cage of Mix Martials Arts (MMA) fighting.
The Taylors Hill resident will compete in the B-Class category, which means the only rules for fighters are that they can not use their elbows in combat or apply any rotational leg locks to their opponent.
The only ways to win a fight are by knockout, forcing an opponent to submit or on a points decision.
MMA fighting appears to be a perfect fit for Wyatt who also works as a strength and conditioning coach and said she enjoyed the fitness and training side of the sport more than the physical side.
But that doesn’t mean Wyatt isn’t about to get her hands dirty.
She will compete in her first MMA fight on the Gold Coast in six weeks where she will battle it out against her opponent Helen Malone.
The event will also feature an all women’s fight card across the night.
Wyatt said she is feeling good ahead of her debut and had been training for over 30 hours a week to make sure she is ready to go.
As part of her training she is focusing on Muay-Thai, wrestling, Jujitsu and boxing.
“I’m probably training for about 30 hours a week without including travel time. It does make it hard but I enjoy the challenge,” Wyatt said.
“I originally had a different opponent but she pulled out so I’ve been given another one who has a little bit more experience.
“She is a striker as well as me and comes from a kick boxing background.
“Her ground game isn’t that great but she knows that I have been training on my ground game so she is going to try and do the same thing.”
While her preparations continue, Wyatt is hoping this will be the start of a successful career in the sport.
She already has her eye on breaking into the American MMA market where the sport is much more popular.
“I’ll definitely be looking at that maybe halfway through next year depending on how I go with these fights,” Wyatt said.
“I don’t know if there will be any injuries or things like that either so I will see how I go but it is in the plans to go over to America.
“It is definitely getting bigger as a sport. It is bigger obviously in the US than it is here but it is becoming more popular. I think it is something that is going to take off.”
Wyatt isn’t forgetting her dancing days either and plans to use her ballet skills as a major advantage when her fight does begin.
“I think my kicks are a strength,” she said.
“I did 15 years of ballet so I’ve got pretty high kicks. I can hit someone in the head with my feet so I can get a knockout that way.
“Probably my wrestling is a strength as well. I am pretty strong so I can take opponents down. I’ve been working on submissions and I’m hoping eventually that will become my stronger point but it is still something I’m working on.”
As her career continues to grow, Wyatt is looking for assistance in the form of sponsorship.
Anyone wishing to find out more information can contact Alana Wyatt on 0431 325 270.
