Kiara Fegen (22) is a competitive mixed martial arts fighter and jiu-jitsu grappler from New Redruth, Alberton.
Fegen started training jiu-jitsu grappling at the age of 14 years, and when she turned 17, started training in mixed martial arts (MMA) and fought her first MMA fight in October 2021.
Fegen’s current fight record sits at six wins and one loss. Constantly working on being better than she was yesterday, she trains at the House of Tinkerbell and Arte Suave, which fall under Ground Zero, Alberton.
“My training consists of working on a lot of combos and techniques to see what works for me,” highlights Fegen.
The competitive fighter fought for the Ace Fighting Championship female Featherweight belt against Tinta Mweena from Zambia, where she won her fight in the first round with a rear naked choke.
“I was so incredibly overwhelmed with joy. I have worked hard to get to where I am in this sport. When I originally started training jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts, it was for self-defence because of being bullied at school when I was younger. I never could have imagined that I would have been all that I am now,” said Fegen.
From the time this dynamic athlete started competing in MMA, she received a gold medal as the African Female Lightweight (70.3kgs) Champion in April 2022, received another gold medal as the South African Female Lightweight Champion in July 2022 and received a bronze medal for the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) World Female Lightweight in November 2023 and recently becoming the title champion in the Female Featherweight (65.8kgs) category at the Ace Fighting Championship Title Champion.
For Fegen, MMA is a brilliant way for people to learn to defend themselves intelligently and to get in shape. It also teaches discipline.
“I love how this sport made me more confident and less nervous about the world. I could not imagine never doing this sport again,” expressed the MMA athlete.
With all the hard work and her passion for the sport, Fegen has a current goal of getting a gold medal at the IMMAF World Championships.
“I’m grateful for everyone and anyone who has ever been there to support me. It takes a lot to do what fighters do and without all the support from people around us, it would be extremely difficult,” emphasised Fegen.
