Golden Ticket Fight Promotions have made history with their second event of 2022, with the first woman’s main event on a UK regional card. What a fight it’s going to be. Melissa Dixon takes on the Portuguese fighter Mafalda Carmona in a contest that is sure to steal the show at GTFP 19.
Dixon is currently 2-0 and a professional, winning both fights by way of finish. She also finished every win in her amateur career, all by KO/TKO. After her last performance at GTFP 18, where she handily despatched Danielle Mistelli, she expressed her desire to compete for the title. Well, she has certainly got her wish. In this history breaking the main event, she will compete for the Golden Ticket Fight Promotions bantamweight title.
We got the thoughts of Melissa Dixon on her upcoming title bout and what it means to her to be pushing forward UK woman’s MMA.
Melissa Dixon Interview
Thanks for taking the time to talk with me, Melissa. Congratulations on making history with your upcoming main event title fight at GTFP19. You must be over the moon?
I’m super excited. I’m very happy that this is happening. Lots of people are telling me it’s well deserved and that I’m going to be able to put on a show that people can’t question. Even if they did question it, they’d be wrong to do so. I’m very happy that people have the belief in me. In terms of what this does for women’s MMA, I think it’s a very exciting move, especially looking at where female MMA is at the moment in the UK. The big names are Molly McCann and Corey McKenna, and they have gone past the regional stage, so I’m buzzing to push forward the regional scene.
Do you have any specific plans for this camp to handle Mafalda Carmosa?
I have no specific plans on how to deal with Mafalda. I’m going to act on what she presents to me in the cage. I trust my coaches, myself and my hard work. I’m just going to act on what I’ve been working on and enjoy the ride.
You’ve finished all of your wins, pro and amateur, by knockout or TKO. Is this something you’re predicting for this upcoming bout?
I can’t specifically say I’m going to be able to finish the fight. I’ve made the mistake of chasing the KO in the Ivana fight. Maybe that was down to a bit of inexperience at the time. I’m a powerful woman, and I take that power through to the bantamweight division, as you can see by my record. I hope to get the finish, obviously, but if it doesn’t happen, I just want to showcase my skills and get the win.
Dixon Talks Future Plans
Should you be victorious in June, do you think Cage Warriors should be your next destination?
Obviously, I’d love to fight in a “bigger” promotion. Golden Ticket has treated me very well and provided me with a great platform. If they were to offer me another fight, unless there was something much bigger on the horizon, I would definitely still say yes. Cage Warriors at the moment have a very low number of women fighters, and they’d struggle to match me. It’s not my top priority as I wouldn’t be sure they could offer me a lot of fights. We will see if it comes to it, but I’m focused on getting the job done at GTFP 19.
You’ve got a huge following, and you’re massively popular with the fans. Do you think this gives you an advantage against your opponents?
Thank you, I appreciate that. I don’t feel that I’ve got a large following at the moment. I feel quite under the radar as a female fighter. My record and calibre should be making more noise. I almost feel as though like I’m a given the underdog title. In terms of my support, I appreciate the support, and it gives me the motivation to want to win and do better. I want to always be the best me in the cage. Of course, I enjoy the support and fighting for my team. However, when I’m in the cage, it’s for myself. I want to give the best account of myself and do it for me. I shouldn’t feel ashamed of that, and I’m not anymore.
Melissa Explains What Her Achievement Means to Her
This is the first woman’s main event fight on a regional UK card. Do you feel proud to be making such an impression on the UK MMA scene?
I do feel proud. I feel proud of myself and my team. I’ve taken so many steps to get there. Golden Ticket is a fantastic promotion, and they’re one of the top promotions in the UK regional scene. There are so many high calibre fighters on the card, so I’m so thankful they have faith in me to headline the card. That alone gives me the happiness; that someone has the trust in me to put on a good show for the fans.
Is there anything you would like to say to the people at home or your opponent before the cage door shuts on June 4th?
I’m not much of a shit talker, so no, I don’t have much to say to Mafalda. I enjoy the scrap and to stand and bang, and a bit of a ding-dong. I’m my own devil in the sense that the only thing that’s going to do anything to me in there is my own mind. Once that music hits and the walkout happens, I’m ready to fight unless I need the toilet, according to my last fight. If you guys are coming to watch, I truly appreciate it, and I hope I can put on a show. I would like it to go more than one round to get some more experience. I hope Mafalda is the woman that can bring that fire and make it go all three rounds. I’ll see you all on June 4th.
Tickets are available now through the fighters and Golden Ticket Fight Promotions will soon have them on their website. You do not want to miss Melissa Dixon in action.
Follow me on Twitter at @Simmo_MMA and follow us at Combat Sports UK for more exclusive content!
Featured image credits to Golden Ticket Fight Promotions/ Melissa Dixon
