Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
Barnsley Shorts
The Metrodome show was tremendous. Some local stars to pull the crowds backed by some of the most competitive semi pro fights I’ve ever seen. That’s mainly down to good matchmaking, but also to intelligence on the part of the fighters and their teams. Too often in semi pro, you see lads who put all their energy into mounting their opponents. Once they achieve their objective, they realise it’s not that great a position to be in. They spend the rest of the round dropping ineffective body shots and the audience get a parody of a real fight. Friday’s semi pro fighters took the smart option- looking to pass to side and look for subs. This meant- they got the most from the semi pro experience as they were making the best of the rules and the crowd saw a real fight. There are solid arguments for shorter rounds and other rule adjustments but the current ones are fine if the combatants use their heads. Friday night fighting is the way forward. Obviously, it’s a hassle for fighters with work commitments, but the hall was sold out and the crowd were determined to have a good time. To succeed, especially in these tough economic times, you’ve got to give the punters what they want.
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Outcast MMA T Shirts bear the legend: WE TRAIN TOGETHER, WE FIGHT ALONE. Wouldn’t it be better training alone and being backed up by your mates in a fight?
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The crowd were well behaved on Friday. On security duty was none other than local hero Tengiz Tedoradze. I was secretly hoping it would kick off a so we could see a suplex from the Barnsley Gladiator.
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Unlike other shows, the MC didn’t announce the fighters’ nicknames. Without explanation, Billy “The Kid” Glossop wearing a cowboy hat on the way to the cage looks a little eccentric.
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M-1 Challenge Extra
Read the hurtbusiness report of Team England’s decisive 5-0 win on the main site:
Hear our audio tribute:
The weekend highlighted the good and the not so good aspects of the M-1 Challenge. The first two matches meant something- with all four teams in with a chance of winning a tight group. Every fight mattered. MMA as a team sport making perfect sense. Each feature being enhanced by because of its effect on the bigger picture.
With Team England requiring a landslide- the most important fight was the opener. Scott Hewitt won and the rest is history.
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Germany v World team had less riding on it- but the make up of the teams was significant. Fighters like Danny Weichel believe they belong in the big time and putting on a show for the TV cameras can only help their causes.
The Challenge is great for providing international experience and exposure for fighters- but it’s a little premature for some. Team Turkey ’s record (1-14 including a 5-0 hiding by the Russian Legion on Sunday) suggests they are not yet ready for the step up.
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In an international tournament- it is easy to stereotype the competitors. The Russian Legion lads have sound grappling, as you’d expect from the wrestling loving country that invented Sambo. The most explosive demonstration came from Rustam Khabilov. The lightweight launched Akin Duran via a belly to belly suplex. The Turk crash- landed skull first onto the canvas and wasn’t getting up anytime soon. The big screen replays made for uncomfortable viewing as Duran’s neck was stress tested to near breaking point. Thankfully, the dazed Turk walked out of the ring unassisted (but he is unlikely to be able to watch a live tennis match without the aid of elephant tranquilizers.)
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Saturday night’s third match saw Germany defeat the World team. The heavyweight bout provided drama and a little comedy.
Early on, Miodrag Petkovic let his opponent have it. All that were missing were the shouts of “Timber” as the Thorsten ‘German Oak’ Kronz toppled face first. ‘Pele’ thought his work was done. Instead of making sure, he stood over his man and looked to the ref for confirmation of his KO win. No arms were waved. The Serb rolled his eyes and gave a world weary shrug of theatrical proportions: “Ah well: I’m just going to have to knock him out again”.
To everyone’s surprise, it didn’t play out like that. Kronz took a few more shots, but began to show signs of life. He opened a cut and this time it really was all over.
Blood, guts, a morality play and a couple of life lessons- all crammed into less than ten minutes.
How can you not love this sport?
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M-1 Events run like clockwork. Fights start at the exact time they are scheduled to. A novel experience for anyone used to attending UK MMA events.
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The ‘Mega Taping’ was held in a TV studio on a media park in Hilversum . Hopefully, next season Team England will be rewarded with a home fixture. Although I’m sure the global TV audience appreciate the slick production values- a raucous crowd getting behind their own team would enhance the spectacle.
More Pictures of Team England in Action
Post Fight Interviews
Tom Blackledge and David Butlin
Hear our audio tribute:
Cage Gladiators XII: Immortals
Fantastic to see a major UK show headlined by a Bantamweight bout. The match between James Doolan and James McGuinness is for the vacant British Title.
James Doolan is best known for his Muay Thai but pulls off enough sub’s to show he is the biz. He fights out of the Griphouse in Glasgow, home of European #1 Muff Buzz McVeigh, and is unbeaten since coming unstuck in the Japanese GCM tournament last year. McGuinness has performed well in his previous Olympia fights, but this represents a step up in class for the Glimmer Man. A win here for Doolan would bring the inevitable Dinky Ninja invasion of the WEC a step closer.
Read James Doolan MMA Unlimited Interview here
Rob Sinclair has to be fancied to beat Alexandre Izidro. Sinclair has ground and pounded the stuffing out of everyone in his path lately and will want to put in a big performance before his mega fight with Paul Sass on August 1st.
As usual on a Cage Gladiators’ show, there are quality match ups down the card. Ronnie Mann has vacated his British title due to his commitments in Sengoku. Ashleigh Grimshaw and Vaughn Harvey will battle for the crown. With a solid supporting cast featuring a plenty of Scouse crowd faves, it promises to be another good un.V
Vacant British Bantamweight Title
James Doolan v James McGuiness
Vacant British Featherweight Title
Ashleigh Grimshaw and Vaughn Harvey
73kg Rob Sinclair v Alexandre Izidro
70kg Luke Smith v Aaron Wilkinson
84kg Kev Axworthy v Alex Makonin
70kg Richie Downes v Colm Gillane
77kg James Gladden v Lee Doski
73kg Danny Withington v tbc
90kg Richie Ryder v Mike Edwards
61kg Chris Garry v Antony Murphy
77kg James Manning v Tom Morris
HW Sean Jones v Ashley Pollard
For further details and tickets visit:
Ultimate Force: Oblivion
Good Reads
A word to the wise about a couple of quality reads for followers of MMA.
Over at www.mmahitpit.com , fighter Dave Bownds has a blog. It’s always worth reading and his latest offering, which covers his fight at Night of the Gladiators is particularly good.
Read it here.
Another fighter who has started blogging is favourite for the BFC Bantamweight title Paul McVeigh. It was inevitable that one of the Dinky Ninjas would start sharing their knowledge with the world. We know from articles in the Scottish press that they are the world’s most intellectual fight team. After a hard sparring session they love nothing better than gathering around an open fire to toast crumpets while deconstructing Satre and pressing wild flowers.
McVeigh’s blog is certain to be a good read- full of tips, insight into the warped mind of a quality athlete and no doubt a few laughs. hurtbusiness predicts it will become a must read.
Check it out at: maccavelli.wordpress.com
Coming Soon…
Tomorrow – the results of the hurtbusiness awards 2008 will be revealed.
The Fighter of the Year will receive the hurtbusiness Fighter of the Year Trophy. All other winners are may approach a hurtbusiness representative at any fight event and claim an alcoholic beverage of up to £3.50 in value (£4.00 in Greater London)
The full list of award winners will be published on the main site on Friday 19th December 2008.
