FightStar 4.0 takes it to the women
FightStar 4.0 sees the event’s first women’s mixed martial arts (MMA) fight on August 31.
‘The Surgeon’, Santa-Marie Venter, will take on Natasha Elliot at the Mandeville Indoor Sports Arena in Bez Valley.
After witnessing MMA training at Trinity MMA Gym, Natasha took up the sport for fitness and exercise. Soon after she found out that fighting was one of her hidden talents.
She started training in February 2012 and developed into a strong all-round fighter.
Her first fight happened late last year at the Nelspruit Fight Night. She dominated her opponent to achieve a technical knockout victory in the first round.
Her opponent is a well-respected martial arts athlete and qualified doctor from Pretoria.
Santa-Marie Venter began her career in karate at an early age and became the World All Styles Kumite champion and two-time South African All Styles Kumite champion.
She also trained in ninjistu and then moved over to kickboxing.
Training at Shido Fighting Systems, Santa-Marie became the first female to ever attempt, and pass, their fighter’s test.
Santa-Marie moved to Team Mayhem last year.
FightStar matchmaker, Grant Oliff, said, “This event is going to be the most exciting amateur MMA tournament seen on the African continent and promises to deliver some of the most explosive match ups to date.”
President of FightStar, Pietro Cignoli, said, “The purpose of the FightStar event is to provide a quality platform for amateur MMA athletes to compete. It is also a place our development youngsters can look up to. They know that if they work hard, they can one day compete at EFC Africa.” Mandeville is situated at the corner of 10th Avenue and 7th Street. Action starts at 6pm. Tickets are R150 each. For further information e-mail Grant.o@smacktalk.co.za
