Dumbarton kickboxing star Maia Bisley has a chance to live the dream as she fights at Edinburgh’s O2 Academy.
A bumper crowd is expected for a packed evening of action on May 20, with Maia having the chance to fight in a ring in front of a big audience for the first time when she takes on Teia Doyle.
And proud mum Kim said it would be a dream come true for Maia – who only celebrated her 13th birthday last week.
Kim told the Lennox: “It sounds ridiculous to say because she’s only just turned 13, but she’s said for years that this is what she wants to do.
“She had her music chosen for her ring walk.
“If she had it her way then she’d be walking out with her dressing gown with her name on it!
“We’ve had a bit of a laugh about it. She was practising her ring walk in the house.
“When this opportunity came along it was something she couldn’t turn down.
“She’s been on an eight week training camp for it, specifically training on a ring.
“If you’re the stronger opponent on the mats you can push your opponents off the mat.
“But in the ring there’s nowhere to go.
“If the other opponent is getting the better of you then you’re in a corner. She had to adapt her style so that she knows how to get out of a corner.
“She’s super excited and can’t wait.”
It comes after another successful spell for the Dumbarton Academy pupil who helped her club, Braveheart Martial Arts, to the number one ranking at the recent WKC Scottish Open – where Maia won five gold medals.
Kim continued: “It was her first time in the ring for low kick, she’s done it on the mats before but it was her first time doing it in the ring
“To get the results she did at the Braehead Arena was a real confidence boost.
“She 10 cleared every single opponent, and the opponent she faced in her last fight was the only person who scored a point against her. She was phenomenal.
“She got a message afterwards from someone she fought who said she loves fighting with Maia because Maia always wants a photograph and a chat at the end.
“But also because she feels like she comes away from the fight having learned so much, which was lovely to hear.”
Kim is also keen for local businesses to help Maia on the next step in her journey, with the family funding trips to locations as far afield as Greece and Hungary this summer alone.
She added: “It would be great to have someone come on board to be part of the journey with Maia.
“We’ve been fortunate to get a grant from West Dunbartonshire Council thanks to Jackie Baillie, but there isn’t a lot of funding available for kickboxing –even though it’s an Olympic sport now.
“She’s so committed and she’s been getting some amazing results for more than two years now, and we want to make sure she gets the reward for that by being able to compete in the top events.”
You can follow Maia’s progress on her Facebook page ‘ Maia Bisley Fighter ’ or on Instagram @Maia_Bisley_Fighter.
