Faces & Stories

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Emilia Novak

“Fighting in the ring is like stepping back in time and channeling the warrior spirit of my ancestors.”

Born and raised in Slovakia, Emilia Novak moved to London six years ago to train in mixed martial arts at one of the top gyms in the city. She fell in love with the discipline and the challenge it presented, and has since become a successful fighter, winning several regional and national titles. When she's not in the ring, Emilia enjoys learning about history and cultures from around the world, and uses her downtime to write her own historical fiction. Her hope is to one day merge her two passions and write a book about ancient combat sports.

What attracted you to mixed martial arts?

I was always a bit of a tomboy growing up, and loved the idea of testing my limits physically and mentally. MMA was the ultimate challenge for me.

What's been your proudest moment as a fighter?

Definitely winning the national championship last year. It was a tough fight, but I dug deep and came out on top.

A photo of a tree with sunlight filtering through the leaves.
I love the way the sun filters through the leaves in this photo. It's a reminder that even in the midst of battle, there can be moments of peace and beauty.
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