Spennymoor resident, Simone Abley, has been selected to represent Team England at the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) World Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia, in November 2026, writes Charles Joyner.
This competition is highly respected in the MMA world, with competitors usually progressing into the Professional ranks and having great success. For Simone, it has been a great honour to be selected, as she has dedicated her life to her martial arts training.
She began training in taekwondo at the age of four, winning numerous competitions and representing Team GB. She then transitioned into training MMA and kickboxing in her 20s.
The tournament and trip is completely self-funded for the athletes. Simone is currently fund-raising through a gofundme page: https://gofund.me/cccdd61ca
Any support would be greatly appreciated.
Spennymoor's local community newspaper.
