Lisa Houston 0-1-0 is an Irish amateur Mixed Martial Artist currently competing in the Strawweight division, representing SBG Strabane. She has competed for the Irish Mixed Martial Arts Association and is set to make her debut on September 10th for On Top Promotions.
I’d like to start things off by thanking you for taking the time to speak with me today Lisa, and also to congratulate you on your upcoming inclusion to the incredibly stacked On Top 24 card.
I hope training has been going well in the build-up to your scheduled return to the cage?
“Hi Aaron, yeah training is going well since I’ve got back into it. I had to take a few months off when I broke my radial head at the end of April, so to be back training hard again, is great! It was frustrating having to take time off, mentally and physically, but I made it my point to still go to the gym to watch what was being taught, so that I could mentally learn the techniques.”
Image by John Fleming Photography
It’s been 2 long years of waiting, but On Top Promotions are back with a bang. So many phenomenal warriors have been included in one of the most highly anticipated cards of the year. How did it feel when receiving the call that you’d be part of the Scottish based organisations return to action?
“I was super excited to get matched for this card, mainly because I struggle to get opponents my weight/experience so as soon as the opportunity was there, I jumped at it. I was also extremely appreciative of On Top promotions, being able to support our travel needs, this is not something you get with every promotion, so we are incredibly grateful for this.”
This will be your 2nd outing along your amateur journey this year, previously taking on Nadine Abbott-Bissett at the Irish Junior & Senior National Championships: Finals. Despite a valiant effort, the night wasn’t yours. For a 1st outing, you took on a rather well rounded opponent, what did you take from your collision with Nadine back in February?
“As I said previously, it’s difficult to get opponents my weight/experience in Ireland, so when I got the chance to fight Nadine in February, I said yes in a heartbeat. My mum always taught me to take each opportunity as they arise, as they might not come again. Nadine had a lot of fight experience prior in comparison to me and I had heard she was thinking about going pro, so I thought what have I got to lose? If you want to become the best, you have to fight the best. I just wanted to get into the cage and ultimately see if I liked it, see how I reacted and performed. I felt I performed very well for someone’s first outing in the cage and I can’t wait to get back in there to fight again! What I took from it? Don’t tap out on the bell hahaha nah, just kidding! I loved every minute of it. If you watch that fight back, at the end you will see the huge smile on my face, I was so happy and proud of myself, regardless of the result. I just wanted to get into the cage and feel out what it was like, it may not have gone my way, I may not have performed how I intended to, but that’s all part of the journey.”
The next destination is Linwood, where you’ll be making your On Top debut, for the fans in attendance and the readers. Could you give us some insight into what to expect from yourself on September 10th?
“I’m sure it’s going to be a fantastic fight for the two of us, and I look forward to making this fight entertaining to watch! I expect her to be a tough opponent, but I will be there to show the preparation and hard work that I’ve put in over the last two years and let that shine under the bright lights.”
You are set to take on yet another highly rated competitor in The Griphouse’s Angie Morrus. In recent years, the ladies of MMA have given us fight fans some of the greatest highlights the sport has ever seen, and is a welcome inclusion to On Top’s 24th card to date. What do you make of Angie in the build-up to your scheduled meeting at the On-X leisure centre?
“Being from Ireland, I’ve never heard of Angie, so I know nothing about her, which makes no difference to me. I focus on me and my skill and what I can do. I just prepare for the fight and not the fighter, but I’m sure Angie has put in the hard work as well and I’m looking forward to meeting her inside the cage and putting on a show for the fans watching.”
With everything set in place, we are now just eleven days out from what is set to rumble the very foundations of Scotland when On Top returns to the On-X leisure centre. John will take on Luke Dyson, and what a card they have in store, if you have the opportunity to be in attendance grab it with both hands.
Last but not least do you have a message for the fans that will be in attendance and anybody you’d like to give a shout-out to?
“I would just like to give a huge shout out to all the boys/girls in my gym at SBG Strabane who have pushed me and helped me along the way in preparing for this fight. These guys have witnessed the blood, sweat and literal tears some nights, so I just want them to know that I appreciate them all so much and of course my coach, Garath Vaughan who’s constantly trekking around the country to be in my corner. A massive shout out to my husband for putting up with the constant hours I have been away from home, always training and competing, he’s my biggest supporter!”
Tickets are still available from the fighters for what’s set to be a night of pure unadulterated organised violence in Linwood. Also available from the On Top Facebook page.
Feature Image by Northern Sky Photography
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