Gemma Auld looks to build on her most recent title win at Holytown Havoc next Saturday at British Fighting Championship 4.
Auld is coming into her bout with Jess Catalaugh filled with confidence after attaining two first-round finishes in her debut year of competing. Saturday, 21st of October, at the Middlesborough Sports Village, she will look to advance to (3-0).
Prior to making the walk, we had the chance to catch up with Gemma Auld. Hear what she had to say below.
Interview With Gemma Auld
Next weekend, you’ll make the walk for the third time in 2023. A busy debut year. In your mind, how do you feel your debut years gone, and was the plan to always undergo a busy 2023?
At the start of the year, I hadn’t even decided if I wanted to fight at all! But once I realised I was ready, I just wanted to get as many in as I could. It’s gone so much better than I could’ve imagined- just getting in the cage for the first one was a huge win for me, and I couldn’t have done any of it without the support and encouragement of my coach, Neil Laird and my teammates at Ayrshire Hit Squad.
I mean, you currently stand at 2-0, with two first-round finishes. It doesn’t get better than that, does it? Despite a squeaky-clean start, fighters are often their own biggest critics. Is there anything in those performances that you weren’t pleased with?
It really doesn’t. I’m still in disbelief, to be honest! Every performance, whether in jiu-jitsu competitions, fights or even sparring rounds, I always have things I want to work on. I had plenty to take away from both fights and lots of things I wasn’t happy with that I’ve been focusing on addressing ever since.
Gemma Auld Talks Holytown Havoc Title Win
Last time out at Holytown Havoc, you managed to secure not only the first-round finish but you claimed your first amateur title. Can you highlight what that meant to you, and is that just a testament to the hours you’re putting in inside the gym?
Winning the title was the most fantastic feeling. Firstly, it was the first amateur title for Neil as a coach, which is well overdue. Secondly, as we said before, I have a tendency to be overly harsh on myself and getting the second will by first-round submission gave me a well-needed boost in my confidence, especially since it was against a tough opponent who had a lot more experience in the cage than me. I’m so grateful to Bungy for the opportunity; it was an amazing experience, one I’d never have expected to get in my second fight.
Jess Catalaugh is the woman across the cage from you. She’s had one fight at the beginning of the year. Did you have the chance to watch that back? If so, what do you think? Can you see her causing any threats to you in there?
I haven’t seen the fight footage as it’s not out there in the public domain, but she fought someone from Scottish Hit Squad, who we train closely with, and so I’ve been able to hear about the fight from the coach. I think that no opponent should be underestimated, and I know she has had lots of time to work on her game since the last fight, but I know I’m ready for anything she throws at me.
Looking Ahead
You have the potential to end the year 4-0 with a win on BFC 4 and Goliath’s show in Nov.. If all goes to plan, that’s some first year in competition. What does 2024 look like for you? Have you allowed yourself to think that far ahead?
I’m hoping to keep getting fights as often as I can get matched for them and continue to keep busy in the new year. I’m 33, which is too late to start getting in the cage, so the more amateur fights I can get in, the better. All going well, the plan is to enter the four nations next year, take the win there and when the amateur fights run out, look to progress to pro.
Final Thoughts
Finally, you’ve proven to have a killer instinct for finishing fights. Is it safe to say the judges’ can take the night off at BFC 4?
I’ve worked so hard on my whole game since Holytown Havoc. I want to go in and show that I have more than just the armbar finish, but of course, another first-round submission would be an amazing testament to all the hard work and training I’ve put in for the fight and of course I’ll be ready to get straight back in the gym training for the next one.
Featured image credits to @cyndishotme
