George Staines shares biggest dream as Hull-born MMA fighter takes on reality challenge

George Staines is taking on the OKTAGON Challenge.
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Local mixed-martial arts fighter George Staines is taking part in a new Channel 4 reality TV series called the OKTAGON Challenge. The Hull-born star will represent England in the show, who go up against Ireland, and has dreams of one day fighting at the MKM Stadium.

Staines, a proud local lad, is a top amateur prospect with an impressive record of 16 wins from 17 fights. He has represented England before at the European Championships and took home gold.

The OKTAGON Challenge, meanwhile, launched this week, with the first episode airing on Tuesday. The competition is designed to test eight athletes to their limits as they fight their way through a tournament bracket with the ultimate aim of winning the show.

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The fighters will be competing in ‘challenges’ set beyond the sports world they are used to. Each ‘challenge’ is designed to take the fighters outside their comfort zones so fans can see the true personalities and characters behind the steely competitors. The two fighters remaining will make their OKTAGON MMA debuts at OKTAGON 48, at the AO Arena in Manchester, and fight it out for a five-figure contract.

The Irish prospects will be led by Irish MMA legend, Paddy Holohan, with Next Gen fighter and OKTAGON lightweight contender, Shem Rock as the co-coach. The England team will be led by MMA pioneer and UFC veteran, Brad Pickett, and co-coached by fellow lightweight prospect, Akonne Wanliss.

Staines is already feeling the benefits of those coaching experiences: "It’s been phenomenal, absolutely phenomenal," he said. "Obviously, I get to train with Brad Pickett, who’s a legend of the sport, and the stuff he’s been teaching us is amazing.

"The challenges have been amazing, and I can’t believe I’ve been able to experience all of this. It’s once-in-a-lifetime stuff."

Talking on his hometown, Staines added: "I want to make people proud of being from Hull. My dream is to headline the MKM Stadium, and I think that MMA is growing so quickly in the UK, if a town like Hull had someone local to get behind, they would, and I’ll be that guy."

The first episode of the OKTAGON Challenge can be watched here.