Taylor Ellis will land in Abu Dhabi for the IMMAF Youth World Championships with plans of becoming the most dominant champion in Youth Amateur MMA
Taylor Ellis is not your regular 17-year-old. She is one of the biggest MMA prospects in the United States and her resume speaks for itself.
A two-time IBJJF Blue Belt world champion ranked fourth in Wrestling in the United States in her weight category, Ellis has been a force to be reckoned with in MMA as well having secured the Youth World Championship gold twice before.
Taylor began her combat sports journey with kickboxing, introduced by her father. She quickly transitioned to grappling, where she excelled. Initially hesitant, she soon fell in love with Jiu-Jitsu.
“Jiu-Jitsu is King, no real reason. I just love Jiu-Jitsu,” Taylor says.
She started dominating the grappling circuit and it was during this run that she got her calling for MMA.
“I started Kickboxing classes for a few weeks then transitioned to Jiu Jitsu, got offered to compete in a Youth MMA tournament, went and beat the former IMMAF champion at my weight and decided to become world champion after that,” Taylor recalls.
The IMMAF Youth categories provided her with the perfect platform to excel in MMA and her family’s support has been crucial in her journey.
Training four to five hours daily for wrestling, Jiu-Jitsu, and MMA would not have been possible without them.
“My family is super awesome, I’m biased but I have the best parents in the world. My siblings are pretty amazing too. I love my family,” she notes.
Now, as the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) prepares for the 2024 Youth World Championship in Abu Dhabi, Taylor aims to continue her dominance and add another gold medal to her collection. She plans to become the most dominant champion in IMMAF history while also supporting her teammates in winning medals.
“Dominating my bracket, seeing, and meeting new people. I will finish this year as a three-time IMMAF Youth World Champion, solidifying my name as one of the most dominant champions ever and watching my teammates win gold,” Taylor detailed her plans for the World Championship.
The IMMAF Youth World Championship in Abu Dhabi will bring together the best MMA talent in the Youth Category, offering Taylor another opportunity to test her skills against top competitors. For Taylor, the event is another significant step towards her ultimate goal.
“[My Goal is] to dominate as an adult the same way I’ve been doing as a kid,” Taylor concluded.
The 2024 IMMAF Youth Championships will kick off on August 6 at the Mubadala Arena in Zayed Sports City. It will feature more than 800 athletes from around 45 countries competing across the 12 to 13-year-olds (Youth C), 14 to 15-year-olds (Youth B), and 16 to 17-year-olds (Youth A) categories.
