KnuckleUp Kings of the North Extra
What do you get if you put a former UFC title challenger and decorated grappler in with a relative novice? The main event was a mismatch, but I find it hard to get upset about it. I’m happy I got the chance to witness the full Jeff Monson package over here again: Rage Against the Machine, the best ink in MMA and exceptional groundwork. Dave Keeley stepped up at short notice, tried to play to his strengths and got subbed. It’s a fair bet that it would have been the same sketch no matter which UK Heavyweight had been sharing the cage with everybody’s favourite anarcho syndicalist. Monson got the win, Keeley got experience of life at the next level and the crowd saw a master at work.
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Abdul Mohammed made a statement with a destructive performance that suggests he is back to top form. To ram the point home, the normally mild mannered wrestler asserted his claim to be the best in his division domestically and threw out a challenge to all comers in his post fight interview. At ringside, commentator Ian Butlin was chuckling. When it comes to call outs- his effort from 2006 remains the gold standard:
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We’re constantly told on the news about the need for cuts and how it’s going to be hard for everyone in the harsh economic climate. This message clearly hasn’t made it up to Bolton yet. Before and after the show there were seven uniformed police officers on duty outside the arena. Not a whiff of bother, yet its deemed necessary to have seven coppers hanging around in an out of town car park. Haven’t they got any real criminals to catch etc etc.
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I think that Cinderella Man by Eminem is destined to replace Kanye’s Stronger as the most used walk out tune.
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The event was well run with high production values. It was far from a sell out but, to be honest, I was expecting worse. UK events have traditionally been built on local fighters who can sell tickets. KnuckleUp have some bold ideas and are looking to put together quality cards. If you want to see them succeed, you need to get out and support them next time.
Full report on main site
