Remembering Anishinaabe mixed martial arts athlete

By Sam Laskaris

ST. CATHARINES – The mixed martial arts (MMA) community is mourning the loss of Anishinaabe MMA fighter who died weeks before a prestigious fight.

Ashley Nichols, a citizen of Chippewas of the Thames First Nation, died on Feb. 12, at the age of 37.

Nichols, who was living in St. Catharines, had previously won world championships at both the amateur and pro levels in Muay Thai, a combat sport that features various striking techniques.

Nichols had her first pro MMA fight in 2013 where she represented the St. Catharines-based Niagara Top Team and had a pro record of 7-4-0.

Nichols, whose nickname was AK47, was the top-ranked fighter in Canada in the women’s strawweight (115-pound) division.

Nichols had won her last three fights and was scheduled to battle in a Pallas Athena Women’s Fighting Championship bout on Mar. 9 in Calgary.

It was believed that a victory in that match would have moved Nichols a step closer to her goal of participating in the Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC), the top MMA organization in the world.

Followers of the sport, however, were shocked to learn of her sudden passing.

“The only real word I can think of is ‘devastating’,” said Nichols’ coach Chris Prickett, who is also a co-owner of Niagara Top Team.

Prickett, who had been Nichols’ coach for the past three and a half years, said he had last spoken to her during the morning of Feb. 12.

Nichols’ funeral was held on Feb. 16 where she was laid to rest in her home community of Chippewas of the Thames First Nation.

Prickett said a GoFundMe campaign will soon be launched to cover the costs of erecting a headstone for Nichols’ grave.

He added club officials are in the process of making a large picture of Nichols that will be displayed at the club, along with an Eagle Feather that she used to bring with her into the ring for her matches.

“She was a huge part of our team here,” Prickett said.

Nichols’ former coach Jeff Harrison also spoke glowingly of Nichols in a social media post.

“We lost a vibrant champion last night,” Harrison wrote. “Truly the most technical and ferocious female striker that Canada has ever seen.”

Harrison was pleased he was able to play a part in Nichols’ career.

“She was embedded in the MMA scene after her championship reign in Thailand, and I was fortunate enough to be her mentor and coach at the beginning of that journey,” he wrote. “I, along with so many others admired Ashley for being so courageous, driven, and resilient. She was proof that you could work hard and improve your situation in life, and literally become the best on planet Earth regardless of where you come from. She wanted to be the best.”