VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — A Kellam High School student is returning to school this week with yet another win under her belt following the first mixed martial arts event at Rivers Casino in Portsmouth.

Eliana Seymour, 17, was one of the few ladies participating in the Brawlers Ball at Rivers Casino from 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Saturday. Seymour won with a technical knockout in the third round.

Seymour is an advanced studies honor roll student who started martial arts classes at Coastal Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at age eight and Muay Thai at age 12.

“I’ve always been competitive,” Seymour said. “I’ve always been enrolled in sports. I did soccer, swim team, all of that. Then I found jujitsu and I really enjoyed that and jitsu place opened Muay Thai classes. I just instantly fell in love. It’s called the art of eight limbs. It’s elbows, punches, kicks and knees. That just really excited me because even though you’re getting hit, it can be painful. It’s still an art form. There’s truly art behind it.”

A family friend told WAVY.com, that Seymour is a member of the WBC USA team, a six-time Muay Thai national champion, a WKA Muay Thai world champion and a two-time WBC world championship gold medalist.

“I’ve competed all across the world and in America,” Seymour said. “At the beginning of last year, I went to Thailand. I spent around a month there and I fought in the WBC World Tournament in Bangkok at Lumpinee Stadium. I won there!”

“It was surreal until we landed. It didn’t feel real until I stepped into the ring. It’s been a goal of mine forever. Muay Thai originated in Thailand, so going to Thailand, the motherland where it was founded, was just a huge accomplishment for me, then to win there as well.”

The bubbly teen is excited to get in the ring in a venue close to home.

“It means everything,” Seymour said. “A lot of my family [and friends] have never seen me fight in person before because a lot of Muay Thai is throughout other parts of the country. It’s really cool that Brawlers Ball making it local and giving huge opportunities to all the fighters in the 757 area. Just being able to have my grandparents there, the rest of my family, all of my teammates. It just means the world to me.”

The Brawlers Ball is hosted by MMA light-heavyweight Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson. A press release from Knockout Entertainment LLC. said that “the Brawlers Ball promises to reignite the amateur fighting scene with an evening of epic battles, fierce competition and unforgettable memories! Attendees can expect a mix of boxing and Muay Thai matches, including novice and experienced fighters.”

The Brawlers Ball will likely return to Rivers Casino on May 17th.