Our City Our People Our Heart

“People think it’s a barbaric, underground sport. But actually, most of it’s like a dance,” Molly ‘Meatball’ McCann

These photographs share a generational story of men who train together in a mixed martial arts fighting community.

The work is being made with Next Generation, a gym built from roots in California 20 years ago, to bring together people from all walks of life and create local heroes for the city of Liverpool.

This tight-knit community ranges from under-16s to professional fighters, including UFC stars who use their global platform to advocate for men’s mental health and raise awareness about male suicide in this northern UK city.