Tara and Aayesha set to make history at ‘Rise of the Queen’

SOUTH Africa's Tara Abrahams and Aayesha Majiet are set to make history this weekend, and these two warriors are embracing the moment, fully aware of the privilege and responsibility it carries.

- JULIAN KIEWIETZ

Abrahams and Majiet will not only become the first women to compete for a Barebones Mixed Martial Arts Championship (BMC) Women’s Title, but will also be the first ladies to headline the amateur fight promotion card taking place at the Sunningdale Sports Complex in Milnerton.

Competing for the Flyweight Title under the “Rise of the Queen” banner, both athletes spoke about the magnitude of this moment — not only representing women’s MMA, but also paving the way for those who will follow.

“It really is an honor to represent women's MMA, and I am grateful for this opportunity,” says Abrahams, who fights out of MADFit MMA in Cape Town. “I am sure many women who have entered into Barebones MC, like myself, Ayesha, and her teammates, find it difficult to get fights, so it really is a privilege”

For her opponent, Majiet — who trains out of Fighterz Inc in Ottery — this fight is about visibility and inspiration.

“T feel like women in MMA are very underrepresented in South Africa, and it’s difficult to get a fight, so for us to get this shot, it’s a great opportunity. It will bring more attention to the sport and inspire other women who might be interested.

“Td love to see more female fighters competing in the future and for the community to keep growing. I truly believe it’s so important for women to not only learn to fight to defend themselves, but also to step up on these platforms — to showcase our strength, power, and resilience — so that future generations can look up to us and aim to go even further,” said Majiet, known for her lethal striking, with a Rising Stars Kickboxing title to her name.