Over the last few months several female fighters competing in the divisions of Welterweight and above (170lbs+) have spoken out about women deserving more opportunities no matter the weight class. These ladies include Katya Kavaleva, Destanie Yarbrough, Erica Grover, Kola Shippentower and Rachel Kemker. The latest woman to speak out is Essex, England’s Stacy ‘The Hammer’ Hayes. She has previously made history by becoming the first female MMA pro fighter in her county.

‘The Hammer’ has been fighting as a pro since 2011 and has rose to prominence in her hometown. She competed for the Middleweight championship back in 2014 for UCMMA 41. She was last seen competing back in May of 2015 when she defeated fellow Brit Claire Smith via a round 1 TKO. Hayes’ has taken almost 18 months off and plans a return in 2017, she reveals to us “I’ll be fighting in 2017, I’ve been trying my hand at boxing in 2016″. She has previously fought at a variety of weight-classes between 155 pounds and 180 pounds, however her preferred weight class is at Welterweight which is contested at 170 pounds. She tells us “I’m comfortable at this weight and more strong, fast and powerful“.