A LYDE Green teenager is preparing to take on all comers in the world of mixed martial arts.
Cairo Thomas, aged 13 , won the IMMAF European Championships title for his age and weight group in February – at his first ever international tournament.
Now he has his sights on the combat sport’s world championships, which take place in Abu Dhabi in July.
Mum Leilani has set up a crowdfunding page to raise the £6,000 they need to fund Cairo’s flights, accommodation and training expenses for the chance to represent England on the world stage.
Cairo has been practising MMA and kickboxing for just over two years, having started the tough martial art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at the age of nine.
He trains at the Roger Gracie Academy East Bristol in Speedwell and spends four to six hours a day, seven days a week, practising and developing his skills.
Leilani said: “It was my choice to put him into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as I was a single mom raising a son, and didn’t want him to not have the masculinity around him.
“He decided at age 11 that he wanted to start MMA.
“He’s an incredibly talented, hard-working young athlete.
“This opportunity is not just a competition: it is a stepping stone in Cairo’s journey to become a seasoned professional MMA fighter.”
Cairo has lived in Lyde Green for five years and is home-schooled, having previously attended Winterbourne Academy.
He said: “I’m training every day with a dream to become the greatest fighter of all time.
“Throughout the years doing the sport I’ve loved it, just as much as on day one.”
Clayton Chamberlain, who runs Roger Gracie East Bristol, says Cairo has shown “massive potential, drive and desire to reach the very top of his field” since first coming to the martial arts school.
Clayton said: “He has everything in place to do so and is a perfect student, always asking questions on how to improve.
“Cairo works harder than any kid I’ve seen in my 40 years of martial arts and I have no doubt he can be a big name in the UK if he continues on this same path. We will do everything in our power to help him fulfil his dreams of being a champion.”
Clayton said training in the sport helps young people to “do something positive with their lives”.
The fundraiser for Cairo can be found on the Gofundme website at tinyurl.com/ynek92r6.
A previous fundraiser helped pay for his travel to Serbia for the European championships and Leilani said they were “deeply grateful for the overwhelming support”.