Lanark ace Joanne Calderwood to fight on American TV

Joanne (28), who had her first MMA fight only in February 2012, will now be appearing with some of the world’s leading mixed martial arts exponents in front of millions of television viewers.

Joanne told governing body Fight Scotland that she thought her selection was a wind-up until she got the news from Shannon Knapp, founder of Invicta Fighting Championships, an American MMA organisation focused on female fighters.

She said: “I suppose I didn’t really believe it until I spoke to Shannon on the phone.

“This was very emotional for me as I connected with Shannon and I’m so grateful she took a chance with me by flying me across the pond with just three fights to my name.”

For more on this, pick up a copy of the Carluke and Lanark Gazette.