Photo: Unity MMA
Rylie Marchand closed the chapter of her amateur MMA career with a win.
The Okanagan Indian Band scrapper trains out of Unity MMA and Kickboxing in Vernon and recently won the Okanagan Fighting Championships bantamweight title in front of friends and family at the sold-out Vernon curling rink event.
“She won in the first round by a rear naked choke,” said Raja Kler, Unity owner and head instructor. “I have never heard a crowd chant so loud as they did for Rylie.”
Unity fighter Ethan Northcott won his amateur MMA debut via armbar with just 10 seconds left in the match.
As for Marchand, the 23 year old is looking at turning professional.
Marchand began training with Unity MMA at just eight years old and boasts 15 years in the sport.
“After six months of training, I competed in my first tournament and have been active in competitions ranging from local to international scenes,” Marchand said.
Marchand was the youngest woman in Canada to hold the Canadian MMA Bantamweight amateur champion title.
She was also the Jiu Jitsu Kumite Champion in Houston, Texas in 2016 and 2021 as well as the Canadian National Amateur MMA Champion in 2019.
Marchand ended her amateur career with a record of 5-1.
 "BCCI want Test specialists to play domestic cricket; Rohit, Virat, Bumrah to be exceptions")
