Gemmel Haines Fighter

 

Name: Gemmel Benjamin Lloyd Haines

Age: 27

Location: Rochester Kent

Trains: Dragonz Lair MMA

 

Gemmel Benjamin LLoyd Haines is 27 (but jokingly says he feel's more like 47 !)

 

He live's in Rochester Kent along with his '2 beautiful ladies', one being his lovely partner Charlotte and the other being their gorgeous 2 year old daughter Jaicee.  He also has a 7 yr old son , Jarell ,who looks just like him, and Gemmel is quick to point out where the good looks obviously came from lol  :)

 

For the past year Gemmel has been working for a company called  'Caring Choice'.Caring Choice provides support and care for people affected/disabled by Autisim. 

 

He says  Caring Choice are not only top care providers but they are also top employers. Working in an environment addressing the needs of people with Autisim will always be challenging, (I have an autistic son myself so know just how 'trying' it can be) but Gemmel says it is the most rewarding job he has ever done and he couldn't really imagine himself doing anything else.

 

As a child Gemmel tried a few different combat sports including Karate, Judo and Boxing. He excelled at Judo and entered several competitions. The first one was when he was 9 years old and he remembers it like it was yesterday . He said he was so so nervous that he actually 'Chundered' in the toilet before the fight !!  After being sick he managed to fight his way through 4 elimination bouts and made it to the final. He didn't win the final, but says it was a great experience ( apart from the peuking bit !!) doing so well at his first competition. 

 

Gemmel says he didn't really train properly/seriously until quite recently when he joined  Dragonz Lair MMA.  He tries to get into the gym to train about 4 times a week and is now being put through his paces by Matt Newton who is coaching him. He says he has a lot of respect for Matt and that not only is he a top bloke to work with, but he's a top bloke full stop. It sounds wicked only mistake is where I lost. I won on Glory in July n lost on Heat in December.

 

Had he not made a school boy error in his last fight he would have had a 2-0-0 semi/pro record but he did make the mistake and he paid the price so his semi/pro record is 1-1-0 with his amateur record at 4-2-0 pretty healthy stats :)

 

Gemmels first semi pro fight, which he won, was at a Zoo Fight Clubs event called 'Glory' (which coincidently was the first show that i went to as part of Cage Amateurs UK !) . He recently fought on 'Heat' (December)and says it was a well put together show, but a shame he didn't win lol. 

 

He then went on to explain that although he is comfortable all round he has been told that he has an 'odd/elusive' stand up stance and it makes it awkward for people to hit him (Sounds a good thing to me. Jon P). 

 

Well I don't know about odd or elusive but in 2 fights he's only actually got hit in the head once so he must have something that's stopping the head shots getting through !!!

 

Gemmels next fight is on 15th March back at the Zoo Fight Club Show which is being held at the Azure Marina Club in Hastings this time up against Brett Cole.

 

Gemmel has heard all the usual stuff about Brett Cole, lets face it, it is common knowledge what people think/know about him, including the alleged missing ticket monies, the 'pull outs' and 'no shows'  the way he gives it large with his big ego (and mouth to match) to be sure he is ultimately the king of the keyboard warriors. But I do have to admit he can take a good punch, and give some back assuming he does of course turn up in the first place.

 

Only time will tell but you can see for yourself by grabbing tickets for this great show run by Paul Saunders.

 

(In the meantime you can see him fight in a recording from FURY MMA 6 show at Proud 2 nightclub  in London's O2 against Max 'Power' Nunes and filmed by Cage Amateurs. To keep a balance it must be said he stepped in at the last moment against Max and was well out of his league Click here for the fight. Jon P)

 

Gemmel has a personal message for Brett 'You wanted me to fight you and I have even moved up to Light Heavy Weight to do it. So Brett be ready 4 this fight it won't be an easy fight for  you ! I know you have said to people you are gonna walk through me. That is NOT gonna happen and we both know that. I'm gonna be a lot stronger, quicker, more powerful and certainly more aggressive than what you remember. Let's just have a good fight and shake hands after then we can Bury this on going issue between us.'

 

Well that done with I asked Gemmel where he wanted to be in 12 months time, personally, and MMA wise, and was there anyone he fancied calling out, and other bits and bobs, and this is a round up.....

 

Given that he's relatively new to the circuit he hasn't really had a good look round to see who he fancies fighting and he doesn't know many names. But after a few more fights he's sure everyone will know his.( I like it Gemmel , I like it!!!)      

In the next twelve months tops he told me he would hope to/like to/want to get a shot at one of the vacant Zoo Fight Club "Glory MMA" titles (he's wanting to start a belt collection already i think !)

 

In the mean time he's happy to fight at 77kg, 84kg or 92kg and just wants the chance to go for it and wishes this fight with Brett Cole was a title shot ( So do i Gemmel so do I.)

  

With regards his personal/home life he said he doesn't want anything to change because he is totally happy with home/family/job as it is. In fact his employers at Caring Choice have become his sponsor which he is extremely grateful for but if anyone else wants to as well please feel free :).

 

When it comes to Facebook his only use of it is to be nosey, and have a laugh and not for reasons to do with MMA.

 

Surprisingly he said he hadn't thought of using it too look for sponsorship, or looking at any opponents pages ..... Hmmmm might be somthing to look at doing in the future lol (Agreed Jon P).  

 

Finally as we always like to do at the end of an interview I asked him if there anyone he wanted to say thank you to for whatever reason he wanted to.

 

He said My mum supports me, she comes 2 watch my fights although she gets in a proper nervous mess. During the morning of my first fight at semi pro she was crying and asking me to pull out of the fight. Ha ha bless her. Love you mum.xxxxxx 

 

My Mrs supports me in the ways of getting me mentally ready and she keeps me calm focused and relaxed. So thank you Charlotte, I don't tell you enough how much I appreciate what u do for me xxxxx. I  love u lots xxx.

 

My cousins and friends are just jokerz ,they just get me totally pumped but they know i am grateful for their support :)

 

Oi Oi It's finished :)  LOL ...Gemmel, It's been a pleasure having a little nose into your life :) Thanks for being open and honest and good luck at Glory :) xxx