Boost for Lockdown MMA after tragic loss

After humble beginnings with only a few mats and some boxing gloves, local club Lockdown MMA at the Lincoln Fight Factory have grown into one of the region’s most popular and well regarded mixed martial arts clubs. But the clubs coaches and members were well aware that to continue to move forward a big investment in a training cage was vital.

Due to the huge expense this seemed set to remain an ambitious dream, that was until local businesses Performance Foods, Dowling Civil Engineering, Newell Plumbing and Roofriendly stepped in and invested in the purchase of a full size 18ft competition cage for their local club.

Sadly one of the teams valued members, Paul Hutchings passed away at the age of 31 of a previously unknown heart condition before the new gym was completed and tragically before he could begin teaching a new jiu-jitsu class he’d decided to undertake.

In a fitting tribute, the company Paul was working for in Lincolnshire, Shanahan Engineering/EDF West Burton Site have stepped forward and donated the remaining amount Lockdown had left to pay for the cage to be theirs.

The cage will now be dedicated to Paul and an annual competition shield has been commissioned in his memory.

Club coaches Andy Parr and Glen Wright wanted to thank all involved and pass on their condolences to all of Paul’s family. “It’s great that we have been given a chance to create a lasting memorial to a great fighter and an even better man” Glen added. “Paul will be sadly missed, but always remembered”