By Dean Weir.


MMA Hit Pit recently took time out to catch up with one of Yorkshires brightest up and coming stars, Danny Missin, who is starting to make a name for himself at semi-professional level on the Northern England circuit. Danny is a student at Neil Hall's Martial Arts and is a member of the recently formed "Team Allegiance".



Hi Danny, thanks for taking time out to speak with us. First off, for those that don't know much about you, tell us a little about yourself ??
I'm 22 years old and I'm from a little village called Scholes, near Bradford. It's very small but I love it here, I've spent most of my life here. I don't have an amateur record although I did an inter-club tournament, it didn't go on my record. My first official fight was a semi-pro bout against Sam Roach at Cage Conflict, which I won. I never did anything competitive prior to MMA but since I started I have had a K1 fight.

What originally got you into MMA and how long have you been training ?? 
I used to play basketball at a decent level, but around mid 2008 I really started to get fed up with it, to the point where even competing in a game wasn't enough to de-stress. So I began to look elsewhere around mid 2009. My dad used to do martial arts, so I started boxing and freestyle kickboxing at a couple of clubs in Cleckheaton, near Bradford. I really enjoyed it but I wanted more, so, after looking around online I found Caged Steel. I got in touch with Neil Hall and he iInvited me down. I've been training full time since then, about a year.

Your next fight is due on 4th September at Knuckle Up "Kings of the North" in Bolton. What does it mean to you to be on the card of such a large promotion that will be screened on Sky Sports TV ??
To be given the opportunity to fight on any show is an honour, but to fight on a show like this would be unreal !! Although I don't have an opponent at the moment, it is awesome that the promoters would even consider me for such a talent filled card, and for it to be shown on Sky Sports... I feel a little bit like WHY ME ??  Hahaaa.

Your original opponent has changed and a replacement is yet to be found - does this make any difference to you ??
Not really, I'm just happy to fight whoever, as long as we are relatively well matched I'm happy. As far as match-ups go, I trust Neil Hall to find a suitable match up for me, as long as Neil's happy, I'm happy. Although it would be awesome to fight on this show!!!!

How much do you know about your opponents before you enter the cage with them ??
I don't like to get too close to my opponents coming up to a fight, I really only know there names and I might watch one, or, two videos on them to see if I can see any holes in their game. Danny Skaife was an exception though, when we found out we were fighting he added me on Facebook and we got talking, we were both hungry to put on a good show and became friends through that, it was really hard to fight him because of that friendship though.

You have a semi-pro record of 3-1-0  with the one defeat coming at the hands of a much more experienced and larger opponent in Kam Patel, who has now ventured into the Pro ranks.
How many more fights are you looking at before you follow into the pro circuit ??
As many as I can get !! I would love to win a title and defend it before I go pro. Me and Neil have been talking and think getting as much experience before going pro is a good idea, but, I could be ready early next year. Congratulations to Kam Patel on your first professional fight, very unfortunate not to get the decision but your a top opponent with a bright future.

What do you see as the future for yourself in both the short-term and the long-term ??
With my team mates and coaches at Neil Halls Allegiance Martial Arts I feel like I'm always progressing, I get great tuition and great training partners to constantly push me. In the near future I feel like its all about getting as much experience as possible. As for the long term, I want to make a good run as a pro, possibly at bantamweight. I feel like I have a great team around me to go far.

What is your training schedule like and how does it fit in with work etc. ??
My life is my training schedule !! Haha, I'm always doing something. I go to the weights gym 3 or 4 times a week and I train at Allegiance Monday to Thursday after work. On my days off I run or try and do pad work or something along those lines. At first it didn't really fit in with work but I've found a way to make the best out of it now.

If you had the choice of ANY opponent, no matter what organisation or level, who would it be ??I'd like to get to light heavyweight (would possibly die of serious obesity on the way) and fight Jon 'Bones' Jones, just because I love his crazy style! Apart from that, I don't really know, whoever, as long as it's a good fight.

Is there anyone who you would like to thank, maybe anyone who has been an influence on your career ??  
I would like to thank my Mum, my Dad and my girlfriend Lizzie, they have been so supportive of me and are my biggest fans, without these three people I wouldn't make it to fight day. My Dad has influenced me because I grew up watching him be really successful in Tae Kwon Do and I want that same success. I'd like to thank Josh Harrop and Mark 'Superman' Aldridge for all the help, whether it be with sparring or being great cornermen. All my friends, family and team mates that travel to support me every fight, you give me the extra strength to succeed. And last, but certainly not least, Neil Hall, for all the help, guidance and coaching. You are a great coach and friend, and I think I speak for everyone at Allegiance Martial Arts when I say we wouldn't want to be anywhere else!

Any one I have left out I am sorry, love you all, DON'T BEAT ME UP !!!


Would you like to thank any sponsors ??
Ha ha, I don't have any sponsors !!!  I'm hopeful that someone will come along soon enough and help support me.


Thank you for your time Danny. It's been a pleasure speaking with you. Good luck in your career and in your quest for gaining sponsorship.


For more information on Neil Hall's Allegiance Martial Arts, or, if you are interested in sponsoring Danny, then please email Neil at the followong address :-

neilhall@hotmail.co.uk