IT STARTED with casual fitness sessions but now Lauren Candy is getting ready to pull on the gloves for Airlie Fight Night IV.

Candy will take on Mackay's Amanda Dick in a 56kg bout at the Whitsunday PCYC on Friday, May 9.

The bout is expected to be one of the highlights of the night but Candy never expected it to get this far.

"I just went there (Whitsunday Martial Arts) for a conditioning class and then Dan (Zealand) said 'you should consider joining fight night'," Candy said.

With her trainer's encouragement ringing in her ears, Candy took up the challenge, undertaking strenuous MMA and boxing sessions.

The bout against Dick will be Candy's first fight but she said the nerves hadn't arrived, yet.

"I'm actually feeling pretty good," she said.

"I'm not really nervous about the fight night but I feel pretty fired to get there and have a good night.

"I think on the night I'll get nervous and excited at the same time. I'm one of those people who doesn't think about something until the actual day."

Candy said WMA coaches Zealand and Anton Zafir had helped her prepare well.

"I've always been into my fitness but that style of fitness is a step up," she said. "Every time I go there (WMA) I feel fitter, especially in the last two weeks, things are starting to flow. I feel quicker on my feet and the striking side of it feels a lot more comfortable."

While she'll be by herself when she steps into the ring, Candy said the support of those at the club had been an enormous benefit.

"Everybody has been going through the same training and the same mental challenges," she said.

"We're all there and we can see some people have good days and bad days but every-one gets there and motivates each other."