Mixed Martial Arts Champion Commends Manx Support After World Title Victory

A mixed martial artist has expressed appreciation for the Manx support she received following her victory as world champion in a competition held over 3,000 miles (5,000km) from her residence. Alanna Pritchard, a native of Ramsey, secured the super-welterweight title at the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation World Championship, which took place in Uzbekistan. The 21-year-old stated that everyone had been “so supportive,” noting that even unfamiliar individuals in her home town paused to commend her achievements and extend congratulations. She described the amateur competition from the previous week, where she defeated Ana Fernanda of Angola via a technical knockout, as an “intense” yet “incredible experience.” Although confident prior to the contest, Pritchard mentioned feeling “really emotional” after achieving victory through a technical knockout, and her friends and family were “gobsmacked” by her accomplishment. Recalling the instant she clinched the title, she recounted: “I ran to my dad, we had a massive hug, and we were both like ‘what’s just happened?’.” Upon her return to the Isle of Man, she stated that her grandparents were eager to see the championship belt she had earned and considered it “ace.” She also learned that residents of her home town had assembled in a local pub to view a livestream of the match. Pritchard, currently pursuing studies in sports coaching at Liverpool John Moores University, developed an interest in martial arts through Jiu-Jitsu training sessions at Summit Grappling Academy on the island, previously known as Gracie Barra Isle of Man, starting at the age of 16. Subsequent to her recent triumph, her attention has now shifted to her upcoming competition scheduled for February in Serbia. However, she also indicated her ambition to compete in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, a prominent professional organization within the sport, at a later time. “It’s a lifelong dream and it would be massive,” she commented. Tynan Pritchard, the 21-year-old’s father, who accompanied her to Uzbekistan for the competition, remarked that his daughter remained “unshakable” despite being confronted by thousands of spectators in a loud stadium. “I know how unbelievably hard she’s worked for it and she deserves it,” he stated. He concurred that awareness of the strong support from home had “really helped” during the event. “We were thousands of miles from home, and those messages from the Isle of Man made such a difference,” he further noted. For further updates, individuals can follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X, and submit story ideas to IsleofMan@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Details regarding its approach to external linking are available.