Kennedy Freeman’s Cage Warriors Title Win Brings Recognition to Hometown Stanley

A professional mixed martial arts (MMA) competitor expressed her belief that she has brought recognition to her hometown by securing her inaugural Cage Warriors title. Kennedy Freeman, a native of Stanley in County Durham, triumphed over Mafalda Carmona to claim the bantamweight championship at the Newcastle event. The 28-year-old fighter reported that 4,000 spectators “erupted” following her opponent’s withdrawal from the bout after the fourth round. She stated, “Coming from a small town like Stanley you don’t expect moments like this.” Freeman elaborated, “I’ve got such a serious face when I’m in the cage and then, every time the announcer announces where I’m from, Stanley, the crowds just go crazy, I just get a little grin on my face.” She added, “You’re kind of putting your town on the map, almost, and you’re doing it for everybody from the area where you’re from.” Freeman’s background is rooted in a family of fighters. Her father, Ian Freeman, holds the distinction of being the first British fighter to participate in America’s Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and is acknowledged as a pioneering figure in the UK MMA landscape. His daughter commented, “Making it to that level would be really special.” She further noted, “Having someone like my dad, who’s been there and done that, is always great for advice.” Freeman, whose training takes place in Sunderland, is among only four female fighters, including Liverpool’s Molly McCann, to have secured a Cage Warriors title. Historically, several prominent MMA figures have held this belt prior to achieving success in the UFC. Freeman declared, “If the UFC knock on my door, I’ll be ready to fly the flag for the North East.” Freeman maintains an undefeated record, having accumulated six victories, with three of these achieved by knockout. She commenced her career at the age of 21, securing wins in her initial two contests in 2018 before taking a hiatus for hip surgery. With substantial support from her social media following, Freeman re-entered competition in 2023, achieving three consecutive wins. She described facing a “tough fight” on Saturday, but added, “when you’ve got a crowd going crazy for you, you can’t do anything other than put on a good performance.” For updates, follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor, and Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding their external linking policy is available.