NADIA Kassem is Australia’s newest UFC fighter — and also its most unlikely.

Unknown to all but the most seasoned Sydney fight fans, 21-year-old Kassem will make her Octagon debut at UFC Auckland on June 11.

Fighting for only two years, the undefeated Wentworthville product was given the surprise call up during a recent coffee break at DHL Pharmaceuticals, where she works in customer service.

And in a further twist, the rising strawweight will also be joined on the Auckland card by fellow UFC newbie Ashkan Mokhtarian — who doubles as the brother of her boyfriend/coach, Suman.

media_camera Kassem takes a perfect record into her UFC debut.

Asked if the current rise of more physical women’s sports, like Sevens Rugby, the Jillaroos and women’s AFL, had made her own choice easier for people to understand, Kassem grinned: “Ah, not at all.

“The fact I’m a UFC fighter, it shocks people. I’m a fairly quiet person and look a bit nerdy with the glasses I wear.

“But growing up, I watched a lot of WWE and have always been more aggressive, somebody who loves competing. I was never going to be content with playing netball.”

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Still, she understands the stigma attached to her sport.

“A lot of people think I’m crazy,’’ she said. “But hopefully I can get out there and prove Mixed Martial Arts, it isn’t barbaric — it’s a sport.

“People often say to me ‘oh, aren’t you worried about hurting your face?’. I explain the only thing I’m worried about is winning.”

And so far, no problems.

media_camera Kassem at her gym in Wentworthville.

Undefeated in four professional bouts, plus one amateur match, Kassem will face American strawweight JJ Aldrich in Auckland.

Training out of the Australian Top Team gym, she will be cornered by her coach and boyfriend, Suman Mokhtarian.

Suman is the brother of Ashkan Mokhtarian, who is currently in Thailand as part of his preparations for his own undercard fight against US flyweight John Moraga.

Asked about being coached by her partner, the young fighter says: “At the start, it was hard trying to separate the relationship from training.

“But you have to shut all the emotional stuff out of it ... (laughs) otherwise you’re going to leave the gym either angry or crying.

“At the moment I’m also working at a DHL pharmaceuticals. I was actually on my morning break when I got the phone call to say I’d been signed by the UFC.

“So it’s all a bit crazy at the moment but I can’t wait to get over to Auckland and fight.”

The UFC Auckland card is set to be headlined by cult Sydney heavyweight Mark Hunt, who faces American Derrick Lewis.