Religion teacher becomes first Romanian woman world champion in cage fighting

Christiana Budică, a religion teacher from the village of Ațel in Sibiu County, has become the first Romanian woman to win a world championship in cage fighting, according to the Sibiu County Council.

Budică, originally from Bucharest, moved to Ațel with her husband Octavian to embrace a quieter life in a traditional Saxon house. She says the village's centuries-old homes have a special charm.

Growing up in a sporting family – her mother was a professional bowler and her father practised jujitsu – Budică took up martial arts early. She became national kyokushin champion while still at school, won bronze at the European championships and placed eighth at the world championships.

Although she initially dreamed of becoming a doctor, she chose to study theology and icon painting at the University of Bucharest. She now works as a religion teacher and icon painter.

In the ring, Budică is known as "Mongol", which means "invincible". In 2012, she won the world MMA title in Tallinn, becoming the first Romanian woman to do so. She has since collected numerous medals in kempo and MMA.

Asked about the spiritual dimension of her sport, she told local media that fighting is not about violence but about struggle: "As an athlete, I don't fight, I compete."

Since September, Budică has been teaching religion at the secondary school in Ațel. She says rural children are more respectful than those in big cities. Together with her husband, she also runs martial arts classes and painting workshops in the village cultural centre. Currently, 51 children and teenagers aged 5 to 21 attend the training sessions, and adults join the painting classes.

The couple aims to build a sports hall with a fighting ring and to host Balkan and European championships, hoping to put Ațel on the martial arts map.

Budică has also appeared in a film, playing a Mongol warrior, which was well received at international festivals. She says she has no regrets about her unusual path.