Sutton Coldfield-born Nathan is currently ranked 13th in his weight division in the UK.
Unlike Vaughan Lee, he trains in a more modest gym, K-Star. "The facilities at their [UTC] are amazing and have no doubt given opportunities to younger fighters, but I've grew to love the combat here and I believe the training I've received has been as good as anywhere else in Birmingham." A point which is proven by the number of Champions at the gym, Damien Trainor. Epp's namesake Nathan Bendon who is being touted as a potential world-champion and has already proven himself in the continent is also a K-Star member at a different branch. He also believes that one of the main reasons for the amount of Mixed Martial Artists in the city is because of the ethnic diversity. "Birmingham is a huge city and it is also one of the most culturally diverse in the country. "It's been diverse for a number of generations now so the cultures have been passed down and the later generations are embracing it." The 23-year-old is the most exciting Super Welterweight in the UK, he fights under Full Thai Rules meaning elbow and knee blows to the head are permitted. However he has proved to be versatile defeating Irish K1 champion Jono Bracken in February under K1 rules. He now teaches the latest generation of aspiring Thai boxers at the gym he trains at, K-Star Sheldon. Working with the younger fighters has helped his personal fighting career. "Working as a trainer means I get to spend more time in the gym and more time to study fighting techniques, I think this could be a factor to why I'm performing so well. The England champion is currently on a ten fight win streak with his last win coming against the highly-rated Mike Egan who is ranked two places above him. Epps prevailed at the Reebok Resurrection event in just the second-round when the contest was stopped following two brutal outbursts which floored Egan twice. His next fight is in September against the Newark-based Chad '2 slick' Sugden. See a part of Epps' combative training in full-flow opposite. |
Nathan Epps Training from Josh Mckenna on Vimeo. |