As Essex’s first ever female mixed martial arts pro prepares for the biggest battle of her career so far, she tells the Guardian what it is like to be both a woman, and a warrior.

Loughton’s very own Stacy Hayes, who will step into the octagon in July, will be looking to further her reputation as one of the best female fighters in Britain.

Despite only training for two years Stacy is known as far away as the USA for her skill in the sport which combines martial art disciplines, such as Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and kickboxing.

Miss Hayes, of Loughton High Road, says that she was inspired by the Ultimate Fighting Championship when she saw it on television.

She said: “I had watched the UFC and thought, yeah, I could do that.

“I just walked into a gym and started training. They didn’t take me seriously at first but then I started showing up every day. I trained as hard as I could and I’ve never really looked back.

“I’m a foster kid so I know how to stand up for myself.”

Despite being a big name in female fighting, the 29-year-old says that people have the wrong impression of what it takes to compete in MMA.

She said: “I am a really girly girl. I like to do my hair and get dressed up to the nines and wear all of my accessories but then I go into the gym and I’m like right, let’s do this. I’m just one of those people who loves a challenge.

“I am doing training sessions for women and I coach private sessions. My advice to women would be to just come and give it a go. In training you work muscles you never knew you had.

“They are all female classes so there’s no need to worry.”

With a fight record of 1-1-NC (no contest) the former dog trainer is looking forward to showing the world what she can do, despite training with broken fingers after a run-in with a blender.

She said: “I haven’t had much luck. Quite a few fighters have pulled out against me and a fight that I had scheduled in Kansas was cancelled because of a tornado.

“I am going into the fight against all odds but I am not happy until I know that I have tested myself to the limit.

“I have watched my opponent’s fights and I don’t think that she will be ready for my strength. I train with men so when I fight with women I do find it easier.

In her next fight Miss Hayes will take on Italian Annalisa Bucci on July 13 at Garon Park, Southend.

Miss Hayes, who trains at the Hill Eastside Amateur Boxing Club in Buckhurst Hill, is also looking for a sponsor from Epping Forest to work alongside her in what looks to be a promising future.

She said: “It would be great to have sponsorship from the district. My fights are televised and streamed over the internet.”

On the night Stacy will be trying to raise money for a close friend currently battling cancer, as well as Haven House Children's Hospice.

Miss Hayes will be collecting for Lauren's Marvellous Medicine for a young mother struggling to pay for her own cancer treatment.

To find out more, visit http://www.facebook.com/#!/LaurensMarvellousMedicine?fref=ts.