'Stapes' in the line up for first £10,000 televised 'Cage Contender Fight Stars' event

Photo: Journeaux

Martin Stapleton

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Castleton based Mixed Martial Arts fighter, Martin Stapleton (Stapes) is in the line up for the first £10,000 televised 'Cage Contender Fight Stars' event at the Liverpool Olympia on 1 December. Martin faces very tough competition from fighters who have competed in UFC, TUF and other top promotions in the 155lb Lightweight Division.

After serving 12 years in the Royal Marines, including tours of Northern Ireland and Afghanistan, Martin, a Physical Training Instructor, has left the forces to focus as a professional MMA fighter – his record since turning professional in 2007 is nine wins and one loss.

Speaking exclusively to Rochdale Online, Martin said he is looking forward to what is the “biggest thing to happen in MMA in the UK to date”. Asked what he thought his chances are he said: “It will be very tough, the other contenders are the top fighters in the country but I’m confident. I’m there to win, not make up the numbers. I’ve won both the fights I’ve had this year, one by a submission and the other a unanimous decision.”

Martin is in training three times a day, seven days a week for the tournament. His morning routine features strength and conditioning exercises focussing on fast, explosive, high intensity work. His afternoon workout starts with boxing and pad work focussing on technique and then in the evening its Jujitsu and sparring.

Martin trains four days a week at Team Kaobon Gym in Liverpool and the rest of the week at his own gym in Castleton, the Full Contact Performance Centre.

Asked why he travels to Liverpool four days a week Martin said: “It is the number one MMA gym in Europe and has eight MMA fighters based there.”

His own gym, run in partnership with David Hodgkinson and Derek Cullen, opened in March this year. Based in a former factory on Queensway, Martin explained that the partners and friends did all the renovation work themselves and all the equipment was sourced from Rochdale company Exigo Sports run by Daz Goulden.

The gym incorporates traditional commercially equipped facilities but also runs a full martial arts programme, plus a circuit training programme, ‘Marine Fit’, overseen by ex Royal Marines Commando Andy Tyson.

Married to Hayley, with two children, Olivia, 6, and Jenson, 2, Martin also lives locally in Milnrow.