Still Thunder: Sheila Bird’s Epic Return To The Cage After 12 Years Away

At 48, most fighters have hung up their gloves—but Sheila “Thunder” Bird isn’t most fighters. Canada’s first female Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and four-time World Grappling Champion is stepping back into the cage after more than a decade away from competition. This April, she’s not just fighting—she’s headlining and promoting Absolute MMA Impact, a high-stakes homecoming she’s built from the ground up.

We sat down with Sheila to talk about what’s fueling her return, what she’s learned from life outside the cage, and why this comeback is about more than legacy—it’s about unfinished business, inner fire, and fighting for herself. —Noa Nichol

1. After 12 years away from professional fighting, what was the moment or realization that made you decide it was time to step back into the cage?

Before thinking about fighting I was finding that it was becoming harder and harder to just jump into regular training. In my mind I felt capable of training hard but my body was telling me another story. I started realizing that starting from square one both physically and technically with my sport I have trained in for so many years was the path for me to stay consistent and not take on too much at once. It came to my understanding I needed to start back in the kiddie pool instead of trying to swim in the ocean. I knew it would be difficult but the more I started opening up to my team, I knew I would have the support and encouragement to see it through.

2. You’ve spent the past decade building businesses, raising a family, and mentoring other fighters. How has that time away shaped your mindset heading into this comeback?

I am surrounded by very driven people who walk the walk both in my family and business. Seeing everyone going out and crush their goals was very inspiring. I may have been having success in many areas of my life but I could see what others around me were achieving in their sports and that’s where the hunger started. I wanted to feel that way again as well.

3. At 48, you’re not only returning to fight—you’re headlining and promoting the event yourself. How does it feel to be both the face and the force behind Absolute MMA Impact?

Promoting Absolute MMA sounds so glamorous when you ask the question but I love my work and being around fighting and people trying to become more powerful physically and mentally. Watching our Champion’s Creed fighters and team grow has made promoting MMA fight cards worth the challenge but running the card is a ton of work and financially risky. Finally, Absolute MMA is building a reputation to be a professional fight card and I wouldn’t want to fight on any other card. I want to experience my own fight card and get to enjoy it from inside the cage instead of looking in.

4. Your journey has always been about breaking barriers—from being Canada’s first female BJJ black belt to pioneering women’s MMA. What does it mean to you to keep defying expectations at this stage in your life?

I have always liked the physicality of martial arts and my competitive spirit as a driving force has always helped me to be the best and do the most possible when it comes to a new challenge. It is fun to be first at something but at the time when I strived to get my black belt in BJJ or fight MMA I didn’t think about it at the time that I was doing anything unusual. My training partners and team who happened to be men were working towards these goals as well so we all worked towards them together. I will continue to keep striving for excellence in what I do but if it happens to defy expectations, that is just a bonus.

5. You’ve mentioned that this return isn’t about titles or legacy—it’s about proving something to yourself. What are you hoping to discover or reclaim in this process?

The most scary and exciting part of fighting again is the unknown. It’s the part that keeps me up at night but also the aspect that keeps me disciplined to push myself every day so I know come fight night I have done everything possible to be ready for that moment of uncertainty. It is a physical and mental challenge I will get to test myself again so many years after my last fight and I most certainly hope for new impactful experiences from that night. 

6. Your fight is against another returning veteran and mother, Katie Casimir. What’s it like preparing for a match that feels as much about life experience as it is about technical skill?

I am very excited about fighting Katie. At this stage, I am all business and just focusing on all the things I need to do to show up fight night as the best I can be and get the “W”. Outside of that, It feels inspiring to think that Katie is going through a similar experience and I hope she is as pumped about this as I am. We may be opponents in the cage but out of the cage I respect what she is doing and think it’s cool we are at a similar stage in our lives both wanting to throw down again.

7. You’ve faced loss and personal transformation over the years, including the passing of your sister. How has that grief influenced your approach to living—and fighting—without regret?

How I honour my sister is by doing things every day to be daring. I was younger than my sister Marlene by 18 months and I always strived to keep up with her as she was very smart and very skilled in sports. She tragically passed away in a ski accident which I am sure to many people would be a reason to stop doing daring things and live more cautiously, however,  I knew that quitting was never an option with my sister. From competitive skiing, or biking downhill or any other crazy sport she did, I think she would think I was pretty bad ass if she was here today witnessing my journey back into the cage at 48 years old. 

8. What do you hope women—especially mothers, athletes, and entrepreneurs—take away from your return to competition?

Regardless of whether someone is a woman or man, I would say it’s easy to make the excuse that once you are 48 the body feels different and maybe the joints are sore and knees aren’t as stable or whatever the reason happens to be for them. I was also feeling these things until I got moving again and again and again and to my amazement, all my physical obstacles disappeared and my body is strong again. I had hoped going into this fight camp and training to lose weight and feel good again but it surpassed my expectations. I have young adults in their 20’s telling me how great I look and how strong I am. It happened to me and it can happen to any woman or man who has given up on what they may have thought was lost forever. 

9. Champions Creed MMA has become a powerhouse gym in Canada. How does it feel to step into the spotlight again, this time as both athlete and leader of the next generation?

The exciting part about training and fighting alongside the other fighters we have built up for so long at Champion’s Creed is that most of the fighters right now weren’t around back when I used to compete and fight. For them, I am the owner of Champion’s Creed but not a training partner. This has changed and I love to be able to call myself a fighter again and create a stronger bond with our fighters that is not possible when you aren’t on the mats sweating with them. 

10. Whether win or lose, what does success look like to you on April 26?

I want to enjoy the moment, soak in all the attention, emotions and support and make my kids proud of their mom for showing them what is possible.