Steel City MMA fighter takes on kickboxing as new challenge

It’s a first for the mixed martial arts fighter out of Steel City MMA known as the ‘Hannahconda.’  

This weekend, Hannah Horner will engage in competitive kickboxing — for the first time in her life — as one of the headliners in the first-ever sanctioned kickboxing event in Sault Ste. Marie.  

Horner is scheduled to take on Sudbury MMA's Emily Verbeek at the World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO) sanctioned event, which takes place at The Machine Shop on Saturday, Nov. 9. The amateur fighter from the Sault says she’s represented Steel City MMA in the past, competing in both mixed martial arts and jiu-jitsu.   

“But this will be my first time representing them with kickboxing -- it’s exciting,” said Horner, speaking with SooToday on Thursday.

“Tons of our gym members are coming to watch, so that will be fun for everyone, to be able to come and watch the fighters from their own gym do well in our own town.”

Horner has been specifically honing in on her striking prowess in preparation for this weekend’s card, which will feature fighters from Sudbury, the Sault, and Michigan. 

“I’ve found a new, exciting and different thing to look forward to — new goals,” she said. 

This weekend's kickboxing bout also provided Horner with an opportunity to prepare herself for the Global Association of Mixed Martial Arts (GAMMA) World Championships, which will see her and fellow fighter Brock Pinder represent Steel City MMA as part of Team Canada in Jakarta, Indonesia in December. Steel City MMA founder Brent Fryia has also been tapped to lead Team Canada for the championships. 

Although she has just one recorded mixed martial arts fight under her belt, Horner feels confident about her chances at the world championships, given the fact that she’s competed in a number of wrestling, jiu-jitsu, CrossFit, and running events over the years.  

“I think that I’ve been working on my skills for a long time, and not only that: I think I’m a strong competitor. I’m good at the act of competing and holding my composure, and definitely putting in the work that it takes to be successful in competition,” she said. “I’m confident in my abilities for Indonesia.”

In all, Horner has been active in combat sports for approximately seven years now. 

“It’s obviously really good exercise, and we have a really good community at our gym. But I think it just translates into lots of other things in your life — we work very hard, and sometimes it makes other things going on in your life seem not as hard, not as significant,” said Horner.

“I think it just makes you a more hard-working person and a confident person, and a good team player.

“It brings lots of positive things to the table in our lives.”

Horner plans on continuing her training in kickboxing in an effort to improve her mixed martial arts skills going forward.