Carlisle MMA fighter wins his first featherweight title

Charlie Walker took down Liam Hardy in the first round of the Unity Fighting Championship in the first round, to make it five wins from five fights in his amateur MMA career thus far. 

The part-time joiner has high hopes of making it into the UFC and will have done his chances no harm with another impressive victory in front of some big names in Darlington last weekend. 

Charlie has trained with Tapout Knockout Carlisle for several years now and coach Michael Tedham told the News and Star that 'the sky is the limit' for the young fighter. 

He said: "We’ve pushed him as hard as we can. We will be looking at the likes of Cage Warriors, Bellator, and UFC in the future with him. We need to take him to pro before we can do that. Every challenge he’s taken, he’s stepped up to the mark and surpassed it.

"The sky is the limit for him now because whatever challenge we give to him, whether it’s at training or in fight shows, he just stands up to the mark and supersedes it every time.

"He’s a good lad, he’s great to train. We show him something new and he just absorbs it. He can implement it as well, which just makes it amazing. Apart from us giving him talent, he’s got a natural talent for the fight game.”

Charlie Walker squares off against his opponent Liam Hardy before the fight (Image: Angy Ellis Photography)

Charlie has developed the impressive habit of sealing first-round victories and his coaches believe that the hard work he puts in ahead of the fights is crucial to his success. 

Michael said: "My two sons and I are his main coaches and we’ve been studying the fighters that he’s going up against and we’re using that strategy to almost predict which way the fight is going to go. Charlie implements it and up to now, it’s all been working. Every time Charlie goes out, we will send him out with a new set of skills. He’s evolving all the time.

"There’s an awful lot of strategy. With Charlie, each time he goes into a new fight he goes in with a new strategy, which makes him unpredictable. If you studied the last fight, it won’t be the same as the next fight."

Charlie's first title belt is another positive step for the youngster in his dream of making it into the UFC, and those in attendance at the Unity Fighting Championships were certainly taking note of his potential. 

Michael said: "There were a lot of scouts at the show and a lot of high-end fighters there. To win the featherweight title belt on this show, it’s a big thing. I spoke to some of those high-end fighters, some of Charlie’s future opponents, and a lot of them told me just how good they think he is. They can see his potential."

Charlie Walker poses ahead of his fight (Image: Angy Ellis Photography)

Charlie's unbeaten record may not last forever but his 'phenomenal mindset' suggests that, for this young fighter, the only way is up. 

Michael said: "What makes him so good apart from his striking and his groundwork, is his mindset. He doesn’t rush into things; he focuses on what he’s been taught. He can implement that without rushing or panicking.

"He can study his fighter and see his weaknesses. He’s got a phenomenal mindset. If he wants it, he will go and get it.”

If you would be interested in joining Tapout Knockout at Dragons Gym Carlisle, which also runs Tapout Knockout Workington, give Michael a phone at 07704300631.