THE Whakatane MMA Centre is basking in the golden light of achievement after Ōpōtiki fighter Dylan McPhee claimed the New Zealand 79-kilogram GAMMA title.

The bout was held at the Auckland Boxing Association Stadium on Saturday November 11.

Coach Brad Kora said the three-round fight against Russian Asliddin Jumanov was tough and McPhee injured his left hand in the first round.

“I actually gave the first round to Jumanov, a very tough guy,” he said.

However, McPhee proved tougher, not only persisting, but winning, despite his broken hand.

“The bones around his thumb were all broken – he’s just come out of surgery,” Kora said.

“We think he broke it on his first left hook.”

Kora said Whakatane MMA and McPhee were given only three days’ notice of the title fight.

“Dylan brought the belt back, and all the boys are pleased.”

McPhee took up MMA a year ago, having previously played rugby, and has had 10 fights.

“I always wanted to do something and put everything into it,” he said.

“Fighting had always been at the forefront, I just never got into it.”

From the day he walked into the Whakatane MMA Centre, he never looked back.

“It’s only been one year of training, but I honestly feel like I’ve put in three years’ worth.”

McPhee said the training was good for his mental health and having two Ōpōtiki training mates that he travelled across to Whakatane with was important.

“They’ve been supportive all along and I probably wouldn’t have been able to do it without them,” he said.

Having the freedom of running his own company and strong support from his family, McPhee now had the answer to his essential question.

“I wanted to see if I was about that fighting life – and I must be, I must be about that fighting life,” he said.