Close

Willenhall’s Intensity MMA breaks records with six athletes selected for Team England at European Championships

Fresh from a historic performance at the World Championships in Abu Dhabi, Willenhall’s Intensity MMA has cemented its status as one of the country’s premier youth academies. Six young athletes have been selected to represent Team England at the 2026 IMMAF European Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, this coming February.

By contributor Intensity MMA
Published
Last updated

This selection builds on an incredible year for the gym, which recently helped propel Team England to its best-ever finish—second overall in the medal table at the World Championships and first for the Youth D division.

The squad travelling to Serbia features returning medallists gunning for gold, including reigning World Champion Lewis Green (Willenhall), alongside bronze medallists Santiago Lopez (Wolverhampton), Georgina Green (Willenhall) and Isabella Newell (Moxley). Joining these seasoned internationals are two exciting new medal prospects from Willenhall making their European debut: 13-year-old Noah Hampson-Goodwin (Youth C) and 16-year-old Jacob Spruce (Youth A).

Team Intensity (left to right): Dan Cassell, Noah Hampson-Goodwin, Santiago Lopez, Lewis Green, Georgina Green, Isabella Newell, Jacob Spruce.
Team Intensity (left to right): Dan Cassell, Noah Hampson-Goodwin, Santiago Lopez, Lewis Green, Georgina Green, Isabella Newell, Jacob Spruce.

Head Coach Dan Cassell expressed his immense pride in the team's continued rise and their dedication to the sport.

"To have six athletes selected for a major championship from one gym is unheard of," said Cassell. "It is a testament to the culture we have built here in Willenhall and the work ethic of these young people. While most are winding down for Christmas, this team is ramping up. They will be training right through the holiday period, focused on one goal: bringing European gold back to the Black Country."

The elite success on the world stage has sparked a surge of interest locally. The gym’s ‘Little Sprawlers’ programme for children aged three and up has seen a boom in attendance since the World Championships, with parents keen to get their children involved in a sport that builds discipline, confidence and fitness.

Intensity MMA is open to all ages and abilities, offering a supportive environment for adult and junior beginners through to world-class competitors. To book a free trial session, please visit intensitymma.co.uk.