Wolverhampton schoolboy selected to represent England at World MMA Championships
A 10-year-old student from Wolverhampton has been selected to represent England at the prestigious IMMAF Youth World Championships in Abu Dhabi this July — one of only two boys in his age and weight category chosen from across the country.
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Santiago Lopez, a Year 5 student at Perton Middle School, will compete as part of the English Mixed Martial Arts national team following a remarkable year in which he has emerged as one of the most exciting young martial artists in the UK.
Organised by the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF), the Youth World Championships is the pinnacle of youth MMA, drawing the best young athletes from around the globe. Selection is a significant honour, with only the most talented and dedicated young fighters earning a place.
Santiago has trained in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for five years and regularly competes against older children. Over the past 18 months, he has won more than 180 bouts and claimed multiple titles at events across Europe. He trains three times a week in Manchester at Matratz Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, travelling from Wolverhampton to train alongside some of the best junior competitors in the country.
Just over a year ago, Santiago joined Intensity MMA in Willenhall under the guidance of Head Coach Dan Cassell, a former professional MMA fighter. He made his amateur MMA debut in September at GTFP 26 at the KK Steel Mill in Wolverhampton, securing victory, and followed it up with a second win in March at GTFP 28.
In preparation for elite competition, Santiago has also trained internationally in Chile (where he has family) in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, mixed martial arts, and freestyle wrestling, as well as Greco-Roman wrestling in Sweden and wrestling in Georgia.
Speaking about his selection, Santiago Lopez said: "I love everything about this sport — the training, the challenge, and how much fun it is. I’ve made so many amazing friends through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA. I’m really proud to be representing England and I want to thank my sponsors Empire Grappling, Bunchi, Love Belfast, Mr Bassetts Grapplers Soap, Crossface and Youth Ambitions for supporting me on my journey. Abu Dhabi is going to be an unforgettable experience."
You can follow Santiago’s journey on Instagram: instagram.com/santi_theorangewolf_lopez or on TikTok: tiktok.com/@santitheorangewolflopez
Anyone interested in supporting or sponsoring Santiago can get in touch via email santitheorangewolf@gmail.com
