21-year-old MMA fighter Taylor Swift is being teased by rivals over sharing name with pop superstar

Washington: An American superstar boasting hundreds of millions of social media followers, and an amateur England fighter, who works part-time as an electrician, share the same name - Taylor Swift.

Sharing a name with a global megastar might be a bonus for some, but for a rising mixed martial arts (MMA) star, it has its own problems.

“Once I started fighting, there was no avoiding it. It literally gets shouted out in the arena,” Swift (the MMA fighter) told CNN Sport’s Don Riddell.

“It gets the odd little chuckle from a few people from the crowd. At weigh-ins as well, especially at amateur (level), all the fighters are in the same room, and they get called up. As soon as mine is called, it gets a few laughs.”

Swift, 21, has seen his profile rocket in recent weeks after people discovered his rather special name. He’s been peppered with requests from the media but has decided to embrace the newfound fame.

Swift said he became aware of the other Swift’s music when he was around 10 years old, and explained it’s something he’s struggled to shake off as he got older, and she got more famous.

He said it’s particularly problematic in places such as doctors’ waiting rooms, when he’s waiting for the inevitable jokes as soon as his name is called.

While admitting he’s not a huge fan of her music, he said people still try to persuade him to use her songs while walking out to his fights – although he’s so far resisted that.