Picture: Jack Shore’s hand is raised in the lightweight final of the IMMAF European Open alongside silver medal winner Geir Kare Nyland IMMAF lightweight European Open champion Jack Shore has revealed his decision to turn professional on March 5th in Ebbw Vale, Gwent, Wales. An opponent is yet to be confirmed, but the Welshman explained to IMMAF.org, “It was a decision made by me and my team that we took our time on. They feel like I’m ready to move up and that it was the next logical step. I look forward to the challenge!” The 155lb gold medal winner represented the UK national team at November’s European Open where he secured a series of four victories to place himself among the world’s top amateur lightweights. Shore fights out of Tillery Combat MMA Academy alongside fellow Welsh standouts such as Martin McDonough and former BAMMA British champion Jack Marshman. Marshman was also in attendance at the finals of the IMMAF European Open in support of his teammate. With four bouts in three days Shore faced a wealth international standard amateurs from Northern Ireland, Ireland, Bulgaira and Norway. Shore secured three first round submissions on his road to the final where championship victory came via unanimous decision against Norwegian Geir Kare Nyland. Shore expressed just how it feels to have been crowned European Open champion and paid tribute to his opponents while detailing the value of gaining international level experience. “It’s a great feeling. I trained I incredibly hard and put in a lot of work leading up to the competition and it paid off! It’s great to say I’m European Open champion and it’s something I’m very proud of. “The competition went well, everything was ran smoothly for the majority of the tournament. The opponents were top level as well; I fought some real tough guys. I think we will see a lot of these amateurs fighting at high level professionally in the next few years. “I always want to fight the best opposition possible and it was great to test myself and beat opponents of an elite level. I believe it’s helped my development massively because it’s proven to myself and everyone else that I’m capable of mixing it with guys of international level.” Shore accumulated an undefeated amateur record of 12-0, but impressively achieved this while also focussing on university and sacrificing the social life of an “average student”. “I’m studying psychology and criminology at university and I’m in the final year. I don’t live on campus at uni which allows me to come home and train. I don’t go out as much as your average student but I’d say that helps my MMA career.” The UK team represented the United Kingdom Mixed Martial Arts Federation You can follow the @UKMMAFed and @jackshore95 on Twitter ]]>
