MEGAN MORRIS admits she is “like a child at Christmas” as she aims to end her amateur MMA career as a world champion.
The 20-year-old, from Samlesbury in Lancashire, is in Bahrain this week looking to win big while representing Team UK at the IMMAF | WMMAA Unified World Championships.
She made history 12 months ago by becoming the first ever junior athlete to receive a world championships gold medal and followed that up with silver at the 2019 Europeans.
Now the flyweight is hoping to write her name into the history books again by claiming the senior crown before turning pro.
Reflecting on her golden achievement, Morris told Sun Sport: “It was incredible. I went there fully confident and it was amazing experience being surrounded by so many athletes. You are in the hotel with people from all over the world and it really made you feel like a pro.
“I never ever thought I’d compete or be an athlete, so to be abroad, representing my country, it was incredible, I loved every minute of it and I can’t wait to go back.
“I’m like a child at Christmas. In Rome I really surprised myself as I was suffering with my confidence.
“I’d just moved gym and I wasn’t quite feeling myself and I didn’t think I’d make it through all them fights, so I surprised myself. So to get silver was great but I’m going for gold this time. I feel fitter than ever.”
MEGAN MORRIS
TEAM:
ENGLAND
AGE:
20
HOMETOWN:
LANCASHIRE
AWARDS:
2018 IMMAF Junior World Champion; 2019 Junior Silver medallist
WEIGHT:
FLYWEIGHT
Morris continued: “This is what I want to pursue as a career and it’s the best thing I’ve ever done. Bahrain is going to be my last amateur competition. That would be amazing to end my amateur career with gold.
“Me and my coach have a plan and nobody needs to know that just yet – I don’t want to jinx it.
“There are some shows coming up that I’d like to fight on and we’ve got a plan and know what we want to do. But I definitely want to turn pro by the start of next year.”
And Morris could not have asked for a much better preparation for her trip to the Middle East after training with UFC star “Meatball” Molly McCann.
“When I first got there and met her I was like a bit of a fan girl,” admitted Morris. “She is honestly the loveliest person I’ve met, and so talented, I’ve learned a lot from her.
“She’s so nice and humble. After watching her fight, I thought she would beat the crap out of me, which she does, but she is the coolest person.
“I’ve improved so much from training with her and it’s brilliant to have the opportunity to train with such a high level fighter.”
Morris discovered MMA after seeing a video shared online of a former schoolmate, Chris Price, doing a flying elbow.
She decided to message him – and it was a move that not only led to her competing in the cage but also led to love.
“Now we are the dream team,” said Morris about her boyfriend, who is also a top UK MMA amateur.
“We were in the same high school but we never spoke. It was only when we left and I was at college I saw the video and thought that it looked cool and wanted to give it a go.
“So I messaged him and it was the best decision I ever made.”
Morris begins the defence of her crown tomorrow.
The IMMAF | WMMAA Unified World Championships begin today and will be streamed live on Sun Sport.
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