MIXED MARTIAL ARTS: It's no exaggeration to say Joanne Calderwood has outgrown Scotland.
The hottest name in Scottish MMA has fought and won – convincingly – in America and has amassed a legion of fans around the world with her devastating striking, particularly on the all-female show Invicta Fighting Championships.
That such consistent beatings are delivered from the least likely cagefighter you're ever likely to see only adds to her marketability.
The patriotic tartan skirt she wore for her last fight in America probably helped too – the Americans sure love a proud Scot.
Despite her international notoriety, 26-year-old Joanne is itching to perform in front of a home crowd again, and she has the chance on Saturday at CageWarriors 53 at the Kelvin Hall in Glasgow.
There she will take on veteran Sally Krumdiack (9-6) in a straw-weight (115lbs) battle.
With the backing of the Dinky Ninja Fight Team, Joanne has done her homework on the American known as "Slick".
Undefeated Joanne (5-0) said: "She's a kickboxer who likes to use the cage.
"She's got experience, she's been around for a long time and has fought Rosi Sexton and Tara LaRosa.
"I'm just going in to it expecting everything and just enjoy the fight.
"It will be a hard fight but I'm looking forward to it.
"My fight camp has been awesome, better than the last one and they just keep getting better. Wherever the fight goes, I'm prepared.
"I'm looking forward to CageWarriors and I'll be back on Invicta in June."
Speaking of Manchester's Rosi Sexton, who has become the first British female to sign on with the UFC, Joanne hopes her sometime training partner has a long and prosperous career in the world's premier MMA promotion – but not before she tucks into some baked delights.
Sexton usually fights at 125lbs, but has agreed to join the UFC's 135lbs division. She had little choice in truth, as the UFC so far has only one women's weight class as it looks to keep its trump card champion Ronda Rousey active.
While she isn't looking beyond CageWarriors or the remainder of her Invicta contract, Joanne would jump at the chance to fight for the UFC, should they introduce a straw-weight division.
She said: "I've been lucky enough to have Rosi come up and train with us. She's got a good relationship with the Dinky Ninja Fight Team, which is great and I really enjoy it.
"Now she can eat cakes and lift weights to get to 135lbs."
"For me, I just want to fight whoever is in front of me. Whoever my management and Invicta want me to fight.
"If the UFC bring in a new weight category at 115lbs and that's where the best girls are fighting, then that's where I'll want be."
Also on Saturday's card is James Doolan – Joanne's coach, manager and boyfriend.
He takes on James Pennington in a bantamweight clash while another Dinky Ninja, Mark Connor, fights Joe Laurence at flyweight.
For the full fight card and for broadcast and ticket details, visit www.cagewarriors.com
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