Northumbria MMA Celebrate Most Successful Year in Club’s History

The 2023/24 season has proven to be the most successful year to date for Northumbria Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) club, with successes including nine gold, nine silver and six bronze medals, alongside two members securing spaces on Team England.

March’s University Kickboxing Championships in Leeds saw Lucas Sulaiman establish himself as university champion, with dominant performances in the beginners’ heavyweight category.

Further success was achieved in April, with Northumbria MMA tasting gold at the World Martial Arts Organisation (WMO) Legacy Challenge tournament ensuring regional glory. Namely, Daniel Sulaiman, Jai Simpson and Patrick Tait all picked up gold medals, with further recognition for Daniel Sulaiman and Lewis Nield who were rewarded for their performances with places on Team England WMO. Daniel and Lewis will compete for the WMO World Championship title later this year in Spain!

Consistent strong performances across the season also ensured Ben Patterson, Archie Litchfield and Mathew Smith all finished the season top of the world Grand Prix rankings as reigning World Kickboxing Organisation English champions.

What’s more, Northumbria MMA are home to three new black belts, with Daniel Sulaiman, Aridas Cerneckis and Mathew Smith all passing their black belt grading.

Northumbria MMA has been running for 17 years, making achieving their best year yet an even more impressive accomplishment and members are keen to show their thanks and appreciation for Head Coach, Steven Ritson.

Ritson himself explains how: “This achievement means everything to the Northumbria University MMA club.”

He describes how students have achieved fantastic results in record time and how the incredible year: “solidifies their reputation as a powerhouse, showcasing their ability to nurture talent that rivals even professional clubs. It’s a testament to their coaching, dedication, and the exceptional calibre of their athletes, inspiring pride and motivation within the club.”

Northumbria MMA have achieved this season’s successes alongside working hard to attain their respective degrees. The club hopes that their achievements will inspire the next fleet of students to join MMA and continue to progress the club to more record-breaking years.