Meet the female Cambridge graduate who's now a cage fighter in the US!

London, June 25 : A female Cambridge graduate, who has a PhD in computer science, has put her hi-tech career on hold and signed a big-money US television deal as a cage fighter.

Rosi Sexton, from Manchester, is the top British woman in mixed martial arts - otherwise known as cage fighting.

The deal will pit the 30-year-old against some of the toughest female fighters in America.

Cage fighting involves a combination of kickboxing and wrestling, with gruelling bouts lasting up to half an hour.

It once had a reputation for bloody, no-holds-barred brawling, but the mother of three-year-old boy insists it is now a well-regulated and safe activity.

"I've been pretty lucky. I have had a few minor injuries, such as dislocating my toe. There are risks involved, as there are with any sport, but there is a higher risk with things such as horse racing or rugby," the Telegraph quoted her, as saying.

"Mixed martial arts is very well regulated and refereed. There are bumps and bruises, but serious injuries are actually quite rare," she added.

Sexton does not yet know who will be her first opponent but her first TV fight is likely to take place in August.

She took up the sport as a hobby after moving to Manchester for her doctorate six years ago, but decided to go professional after a series of spectacular wins.

ANI