Penarth teen Evan Kennedy takes Pro Sport Grappling by storm

Evan Kennedy, 15, has topped the Pro Sport Grappling under-18 and WKO World K1 under-85kg rankings.

The year began with a victory in a K1 fight at Stand Up Wars 9, where he beat a 19-year-old opponent unanimously.

He then claimed his first belt at the Arnold Sports WKO Championships, being the youngest in his category.

Evan is aiming to become a UFC fighter (Image: Supplied)

Alongside this, Evan competed regularly in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at Pro Grappling competitions, winning 17 gold medals this season with 35 victories.

This success has made him the top-ranked under-18 fighter in the country, earning him full sponsorship for the next year and entry into a new show.

Evan's move to the MAT Academy Wales to train under MMA legend Lewis Long, Wayne Samways, and other professional fighters has paid off, with a successful debut in the cage ending in a quick win.

He continues to be guided by Sully's Mike Morgan, and his dreams of the UFC are getting closer.

Evan, who attends Ysgol Bro Morgannwg, began karate at six years old before moving into Jiu-Jitsu and kickboxing.

Evan has already seen success in a number of competitions (Image: Supplied)

His father previously described him as a shy boy who struggled with mental health issues, but the discipline of martial arts helped him open up.

It was with the help of trainer Mr Morgan and Rob Taylor’s Jiu-Jitsu club, on Penarth Road, which Evan described as amazing, that got him through a tough period in 2023.

Evan has achieved a lot in his short career, including earning a black belt in one of karate’s hardest forms - the full contact Kyokushin.

One of Evan’s turning points was when he beat a British champion in kickboxing at an interclub in Newport.

On his coaching, Evan previously said: “Rob Taylor’s club is like a family. They just open their arms and helped me at a really tough time. Mike helped me mentally. These people are my family and they tell me, no arguing, just deal with it.”