HELENA — Helena fighter Taj "Twitch" Rae achieved a title many fighters dream of: champion.
Rae is a skilled fighter in many different styles and is always up for a challenge, even if it might be a little bit outside his normal bouts.
"I was interested in fighting a lot more, so I started taking boxing fights, any fight I could get my hands on," said Rae.
Rae entered a fight with the Northwestern Kickboxing League Six in July, and he exited the ring as the Featherweight Champion.
"I heard about Northwestern Kickboxing League, and they offered me a title fight, and I went up there and I ended up winning the 145 (pound) title," said Rae.
But that's not the only title he holds. He also has the Muay Tai Kickboxing Title for Mountain Force, making him a dual champion and pushing his limits as a fighter.
"It's a true discipline to just stick to one and then go into a fight for something else, so you have to know the rules and stick to it," said Rae.
With Rae's titles, along with mixed martial artist Sean O'Malley's recent UFC bantamweight title fight win, Helena is becoming a destination for distinguished fighters.
"It was cool to see him win. Plus Kai Stewart winning BKFC is another one from Montana. So, it's cool to see Montana actually stepping up and getting noticed," said Rae.
Rae has his sights set higher than his two current titles, and he looks to follow a path similar to O'Malley and turn pro.
"I just never stop. I'm always training, always reading, researching, coming to practice, just reaching out to people, pushing myself each time to be a little better than I was yesterday," said Rae.
Rae also mentioned a big part of how he got to this point is training with his coach, multiple-time Muay Thai champion Donnie Nickerson, at 8 Limbs Muay Thai.
Rae's next bout will be Dec. 8, where he'll be defending his Muay Tai Kickboxing Champion title at the Helena Civic Center for Mountain Force 39.
