Undefeated New Zealand fighter and Storm Damage featherweight champion, Faith Van Duin (4-0), has been nominated for Featherweight Fighter of the Year and Newcomer of the Year in the 2013 Women’s MMA Press Awards.
The WMMA Press Association is comprised of eight journalists from prominent WMMA websites including MMA Rising, Women’s MMA Roundup, and Wombat Sports.
Van Duin joins a host of talent in the featherweight fighter of the year category with Julia Budd, Ashlee Evans-Smith, and Invicta FC champion Cristiane ‘Cyborg’ Santos also receiving nominations. The winners are expected to be announced in early January.
It’s been a stellar year for the 27 year-old Kiwi, who fought her way through the Storm Damage one-night tournament in August to be crowned the promotion’s first women’s featherweight champion, with wins over Michelle Peruzzi, Arlene Blencowe and Kate Da Silva. She also defeated Kelly Kinita in Auckland back in April.
Fight News Australia caught up with a surprised Van Duin to get her reaction on the announcement, and her future goals in the sport.
“First reaction was a huge surprise I had to re read the post to make sure it was real. To be nominated with the best in the world is a privilege and an honor. Future plan is to get into Invicta FC and become the best pound for pound fighter in the world.
“I’d like to thank my mother, dad and my daughters for all they do and put up with, all my family and friends for supporting me all the way, my manager Lucy Tui, my trainers Regy Yamat, Alan Orr and Rob Binns.”
A full list of nominees for the 2013 WMMA Press Awards can be found at Wombat Sports.
