Issue #2 Preview – 'Fearful Symmetry'

Cage Warriors fighter Wendy McKenna

Cutting-edge combat sports photography from Finlay MacKay

Our magazine brings the top creatives in the combat sports media together with martial arts enthusiasts from the international style press. We’d like to show you an example of how strong the results can be. You can enjoy the full photo story in the print edition available now.

Joanna Ziobronowicz, Vava Cunliffe and the Roger Gracie women’s BJJ team

Amateur BJJ practitioner Finlay Mackay is one of the most sought-after photographers in the world right now. He’s shot covers for titles including The New York Times Magazine and Entertainment Weekly, plus produced advertising campaigns for Sky Sports, Converse and Adidas.

Battles magazine and Finlay were given the opportunity to undertake an ambitious photoshoot at Film Plus Studios in west London thanks to the support of Red Digital Cameras. He brought the equipment, and we invited the martial artists.

Former pro boxer, now Manor Gym partner Chris Baugh

The cast included mother-and-daughter Cage Warriors fighters Wendy and Cory McKenna from BKK Chelmsford, The MMA Clinic amateur fight team, Roger Gracie black belt and IBJJF two-time gold medal winner Joanna Ziobronowicz plus her women’s BJJ team, veteran sensei Bob Breen and his Jeet Kune Do students, Manor London gym’s Chris Baugh and Evi Mylo, plus UFC middleweight Darren Stewart.

Guro Bob Breen and his student, JKD black belt Husna Nessa

Our expert collaborators included special effects specialist Bill Turpin, and fight choreographer Samantha Portlock.

We’d like to extend our profuse thanks to everyone who took part in what Bob Breen himself described as “an emotional day with great people.”

See more in Battles Combat Sports Journal Issue Two, available now.

Cage Warriors straw weight phenom Cory McKenna