By Caoilte de Barra
The trend of long-serving amateurs in the IMMAF ranks moving on to the pro ranks continues. This time it is Ireland’s Nadine Abbott-Bissett who is making the leap. The 2021 Atomweight World Champion has signed with Combate Global for her pro debut, joining multiple other alumni in the promotion, such as Frans Mlambo and Pa Lehane.
Since her World Championship winning run, the Team Ryano athlete has sought out matches at strawweight in order to keep active. This has led her to become a national champion up a division as well as UKFC strawweight champion. Following the announcement of her move to pro, Nadine explained how achieving what she set out to as an amateur led to her decision.
“The goal at amateur was always to win the IMMAFs. After I won the IMMAF World Championships, Andy [Ryan] said he thought I was ready to turn pro this year. There aren’t many people at my weight, and I’ve had to fight up a weight class in my last 2 fights. So we decided I was ready after my last win on UKFC to turn pro and start getting fights at my actual weight class.”
The lack of opponents at Atomweight meant that Nadine has only competed in her natural weight division in IMMAF tournaments. Over three IMMAF competition appearances, she faced some of the best in the world, such as Magdalena Czaban and Jenna Horto. Experience that she believes has prepared her well for the pro ranks.
“I’ve fought the best of the best every time at IMMAF competitions. I had to be prepared for any sort of fighting style as I wouldn’t know who I was fighting until the night before most times. I think this has helped prepare me massively for the pro ranks because it made me a well-rounded fighter.”
With the announcement of her Combate Global pending, Nadine is eager to get working with them and compete abroad once again.
“I am really excited to work with Combate. They are one of the top promotions at the minute, and they are only going to get better. It’s a different experience altogether going to a different country and fighting. I absolutely love it. All of my fights at amateur bar one have been abroad like Rome, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain, so I’m looking forward to travelling some more this year to fight.”
Since 2019, Nadine has won multiple medals, both nationally and internationally, not to mention setting the record time for wall sits on Ireland’s fittest family. So it will not be a surprise to see her continue this trend and potentially push for a title in the pro ranks with Combate Global.
