Crowley set to kick-start her promising career
Tonight’s King in the Ring has been a long time coming for mixedmartial artist Nyrene Crowley. In February, 2020, Crowley achieved a major milestone by becoming the first Kiwi female to compete in the One Championship, Asia’s largestmma promotion and one of the biggest in the world.
As it turned out, thatwas the last time she set foot in a cage after her life, like so many others, was upended by the Covid19 pandemic.
‘‘That was a huge night for me. I remember going into that fight was when Covid just started to make its way around and we were never thinking it was going to play out the way it did,’’ Crowley, who was based in Bali at the time, told Stuff.
‘‘While I was over there all the borders shut so there was no travelling at all. I was with a whole bunch of people who were in the same boat asme, we were all international orphans figuring out what we do. So a lot of us went home just to be able to survive. It got quite bad in Bali, in terms of the state of things socially and financially.’’
Fortunately for Crowley, the story has a silver lining.
After three years living abroad, reuniting with family and friends in New Zealand was exactly what the Auckland fighter needed. As she prepares to end her hiatus in a kickboxing bout against Ayisha Abied, Crowley is relishing the chance to perform in front of them in the country’s leading combat sports show.
Tonight’s King in the Ring is headlined by an eight-man welterweight tournament.
‘‘The last time I fought in New Zealand was in 2017 before I left, so it’s been a little while and I’m excited,’’ Crowley said.
‘‘I’ve completely changed my life that I was living in Bali and I’ve come back home, which has been the bestmove for me. I really missed being home and it’s been great to be around a lot of that support that I didn’t realise how much I missed while I was away.’’
The other major positive to come from her enforced return was the chance to
What: King in the Ring: The Welterweights III
When, where: 7.30pm tonight, Eventfinda Stadium, Auckland
8-man lineup: Kayne Conlan, Doug Higgins, Jon Anderson, Rob Horrocks, Connar Wilson, Adam Manisy, Tony Jaggard, Yury Mamic
55kg Super Fight: Nyrene Crowley v Ayisha Abied
Light-heavyweight WKBF world title: Mike ‘Blood Diamond’ v Diego Beneduzzi
train at City Kickboxing under head trainers Eugene Bareman and Doug Viney. Home of New Zealand’s six UFC fighters, includingmiddleweight champion Israel Adesanya, City Kickboxing has built a reputation as one of the best combat sports gyms in the world.
Crowley has also joined a strong group of female athletes at the Auckland fight factory, such as fellowmixedmartial artist and formermuay Thai world champion Genah Fabian, boxer Baby Nansen and kickboxer Wendy Talbot.
‘‘The thing about City Kickboxing is there’s a huge responsibility on yourself to take your own direction, really push your own limits,’’ she said.
Crowley is making the transition to kickboxing for her 55kg bout against Abied, who’s been extremely active on the domestic scene and will take aweight advantage into the contest.
‘‘She’s experienced, she’s comfortable in there, she has fun,’’ Crowley said. ‘‘So I’m excited to test myself against her.’’
But the switch is only expected to be brief as she looks to get straight back into Mmafollowing tonight’s fight.
Crowley, whose sister Cheree ISWWE wrestler Dakota Kai, is hanging out for the trans-tasman bubble to open for more competition, while a return to Asia is always on the horizon.
The ‘Neutron Bomb’s’ One Championship debut was a short-notice fight against undefeated Japanese fighter Itsuki Hirata, which she lost via thirdround TKO.
But Crowley impressed enough for the promotion to want her back and depending on the Covid-19 situation, she’s hopeful of getting another shot at some stage this year.
‘‘I’ve come back home, which has been the best move for me.’’
Nyrene Crowley