Jefferson George and Jordan Miller Meet for WFS Lightweight Title

Jefferson George and Jordan Miller Meet for WFS Lightweight Title  
by Chris Houten - @mrhouts

3 time BAMMA competitor Jefferson George is set to take on 22 fight veteran Jordan Miller at Warrior Fight Series for the Lightweight title at the promotions debut show.

WFS MMA 1 takes place on June 14th at the White Oaks Centre in Swanley, Kent. Tickets are on sale HERE.

A product of Morefire Icon Jui Jitsu in Luton, George who's nick name is 'Shadow Demon Blaximus' is 4-2 in his professional career with all 3 his 4 victories coming by way of submission.

George who recently defeated Jack Grant at BAMMA 15, will hope to build on that victory when he heads to Poland May 17th to fight at KSW 17, before returning to fight for the WSF Lightweight Title in June. He said:

“It’s a great opportunity for me to fight my first title. Jordan is a solid competitor whose only losses have been against opponents who have gone on to have great careers at the higher levels of international MMA. [WSF promotor] Harry’s [Shoebridge] a top guy and WFS should be the start of a fantastic promotion. He’s got a great pedigree and it’s going be good to see Harry stand on his own two feet and show the world what he can do. Looking forward to June 14th and if anyone wants to come along get in touch ASAP as there are limited tickets available. Look forward to the fireworks.”

His opponent, game UK veteran Jordan Miller enter the bout with an official record of 8-14 but is believe to have an even great record if you include unrecorded bouts. A pro since 2005, shared the cage with many other world class fighters such as Jason Young, Ronnie Mann, Brad Pickett, Andre Winner, and more. Entering the bout on a 2 fight losing streak, Miller who has had mixed success on the ground with 5 victories and 11 losses by submission, said:

 “I’m very happy to be fighting on WFS, I’ve re-evaluated my training and my corner, so a different fighter will be stepping into the cage come June 14th. As for my opponent, Jefferson who…?? I’m only joking, it’ll be a good fight, guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser.”

Stay tuned to KingdomMMA.co.uk for all the latest on WSF MMA 1

Jack Mason "The guys i help coach will go on to achieve more than i could ever dream of in MMA"

Jack Mason talks to Kingdom MMA after win at Cage Warriors Fight Night 11

by Sam Heard @SamHeard_

Copyright Dolly Clew | Cage Warriors

On Good Friday in Amman, Jordan Jack Stone Mason went to work for the 8th time in just over 15 months. That alone is a truly inpressive stat but this fight also marked the 40th fight of Jack's career and he wanted to make it clear who the winner was by the end of the fight. Mason came in to this fight off the back of a very close, some would say controversal loss to Benny Alloway at Cage Warriors 65 which snapped a two fight streak and he made sure he came away from Jordan with the win. Yesterday we caught up with Jack to discuss that fight, his team at BKK Fighters and whats next for Jack.

Sam: Congratulations on your recent victory against Patrick Vallee in your 40th pro fight. Have you had chance to watch the fight back yet and if so how would you rate your performance?
Mason: Thanks very much! Yeah I’ve had a chance to watch it back and there are definitely some things I could have done better or more of but I’m happy with the result against a very tough and tricky opponent.

Sam: Did fighting a former training partner have any effect on your mind-set going into this fight? Did you do anything differently for this fight because you have previously trained together?
Mason: Having trained with Patrick before I knew when I accepted this fight that I had my work cut out as I know that he poses me a genuine threat skill wise in all areas and especially in the grappling exchanges. The guy is exceptionally strong and is very quick in scrambles and possesses a very high level ground game. I knew that this was a 50/50 fight and that to take the win I had to implement my game plan perfectly and that’s what I tried to do.

It was quite strange standing across the cage from a friend knowing we were about to fight!

Sam: When did you last train with Patrick and how much had he improved since you last trained with him?
Mason: Probably about a year ago I think. Patrick is in contact with Luke Barnatt a lot as I know Luke was planning to get him over to the UK to help him prepare for his upcoming bout at UFC Berlin so he may be back over very soon training with us!

Patrick is legit and if he fights again on Cage Warriors he’s going to cause a lot of guys in the WW division problems.

Sam: Did fighting at a catchweight make the weight cut easier for this fight or did the short timeframe between agreeing to fight and the fight make it harder?
Mason: I was hoping to get on the Liverpool show in May and was dieting down to Welterweight for that, when the opportunity came up to fight again in Jordan I jumped at the chance but to make Welterweight on that short notice isn’t possible for me so we agreed a catch-weight for this bout.

I’d love their to be a 175lb division in MMA as that’s definitely the best weight for me, hopefully they’ll implement that weight class while I’m still fighting!

Sam: You were able to showcase both your wrestling and striking skills on multiple occasions throughout the fight. Do you feel like this convincing performance was enough to warrant your name being back in title contention?
Mason: I think the win over a legit opponent in Vallee definitely puts me back in the mix, however I think I need a decent finish over another top Welterweight to really push my case for a shot at the title.

Sam: In your second most recent fight you lost a close decision against Benny Alloway. After the fight you took to twitter for the first time that I can remember stating that the judges had incorrectly scored the fight. Now some time has passed do you still feel the same way?
Mason: To be completely honest during the fight I was absolutely sure I was winning and thought I had it won hands down through jabs I landed on the feet, takedowns and control. When the decision got read out I was genuinely shocked.

When I got a chance to watch it back however I saw the fight from a wholly different perspective and can see it was far closer than I originally thought. I think the fight was so close that the decision could have gone either way and to be honest I can’t really complain about the result as I should’ve done a whole lot more in that fight to take the win. I have to take responsibility for that loss and in my next bouts ensure that they always finish on my terms.

Sam: Did you push CW for a rematch with Alloway or is that a fight you would like again in the future?
Mason: I haven’t pushed for a rematch no. The Cage Warriors Welterweight division is so stacked full of talent that there are so many tough guys to fight that rematches really don’t make sense.

That being said of course I would rematch Alloway if that fight made sense for Cage Warriors again and it put me closer to a title shot.

Sam: Did suffering a close loss on the judges’ scorecards influence your game-plan going into this fight and how nervous were you prior to Joe Martinez announcing the good news this time around?
Mason: To be honest the match against Vallee was such a tough one that I didn’t put any extra pressure on myself about trying to win anything on the judge’s scorecards, I just went out there and fought the fight I needed to. I knew that if I caught Vallee with a clean punch on the feet I could finish the fight and that’s what I was trying to do. He was tricky and it was difficult to land anything clean so the finish never came unfortunately.

When the judge’s decision was read out I did think I’d won the fight but from previous experiences you can never quite tell about how the fight is interpreted from an outside perspective so yes I was pretty nervous as to whether I’d get the nod!

Sam: You fought in Jordan again for the third time in about a year. Do you ask to be on the foreign shows or would you like to fight in the UK again soon? There looks to be a massive event in June, will you want to be a part of that?
Mason: I don’t ask to fight on the foreign shows specifically however I definitely enjoy fighting on them, especially in Jordan as the crowd out there are absolutely unbelievable!

The June show looks incredible and yes if Cage Warriors can get me on it’s definitely something I want to be a part of!

Sam: In the past couple of weeks some of your BKK fighters picked up some very impressive wins, what is better for you: Seeing your guys win or picking up the wins yourself?
Mason: The guys I help coach will go on to achieve more than I could ever dream of in MMA I am sure. Seeing them starting from scratch at BKK Fighters to go on and win world titles is a goal of mine and we will make it happen as a team.

Sam: What did you make of Arnold Allen's impressive performance earlier in the night? He certainly lived up to the award of "One to watch in '14" that we awarded him in our end of year awards.
Mason: Arnold made short work of Huber that’s for sure. Arnold’s been fighting tough competition in both Amateur and Professional MMA since he was 16 and he continues to put these grown men away really quickly. Given Huber’s ground credentials we thought he would be a tough opponent for Arnold but Arnold hits so hard and so fast that when he touches someone they just change their mind and want out of the fight.

Arnold will be a world champion before he is 23 I have no doubt.

Sam: As always You were back fighting very regularly, Did you consider taking a break from fighting for a few months to work more on your game after the loss or were you eager to get your name back in the Win column?
Mason: I started MMA in 2005 when I was 23 years old. I’m 31 now and have had over 40 fights, I’m at my physical peak and am always learning and improving so I just want to continue fighting regularly and gaining all the experiences I can from fighting at a high level for one of the MMA best organizations in the world. I’m having the time of my life fighting for Cage Warriors right now.

In terms of the decision loss to Alloway, the thing I needed to change was not so much my skill set, it was more the mental approach and game plan I took into that fight. A slightly different approach and that fight would’ve been mine I’m sure, it’s definitely an experienced I’ve learnt from.

Sam: Would you like to thank anyone?
Mason: Thanks very much for the interview and thanks to my management, coaches, team mates, family and friends and to everyone for all the support for this fight and my career so far!

Huge thanks also to Matt Walton who has given me some excellent guidance in the past couple of months and really changed my approach to fighting.

I’d also like to say a huge thank you to my sponsors, please check out their websites and follow them on Twitter:

         www.britishfighter.co.uk                        @BritishF1ghter
         www.chelmsfordphysio.co.uk                 @ChelmsforPhysio
         www.blankmmauk.com                         @BlankMMAUK
         www.qntuk.com                                    @QNTUK
         www.funkygums.com                             @FUNKYGUMS
         www.ignitept.co.uk                                @LI_Strength
         www.coconoil.co.uk                              @Coconoil

Is Cage Warriors 170lb division the most stacked division in European MMA

Kingdom MMA Review the Cage Warriors Welterweight Division

by Sam Heard @SamHeard_

May 3rd will see some of Europe’s most promising MMA talents throw down as part of the stacked Cage Warriors 68 card, hosted in Liverpool’s Echo Arena. Though we will see several bouts take place which will have a profound impact on their respective weight divisions, this event is particularly geared towards the Welterweight class. In recent months the always-strong 170-lb division of Europe’s leading MMA promotion has become increasingly stacked with an array of both new and returning fighters. Since former champions Cathal Pendred (13-2 MMA, 6-0 CWFC) made the decision to relinquish his belt and enter TUF 19 with the chance to eventually fight in the UFC, Cage Warrior’s Welterweight division has become extremely open with many potential challengers to the belt. Here is Kingdom MMA’s breakdown of arguably the most stacked division in European MMA:

Nicolas Dalby (12-0 MMA, 1-0 CWFC)

Currently the man with the target on his back and the Cage Warriors gold around his waist, the unbeaten Danish fighter looked venomous in his last bout as he dispatched Sergei Churilov midway through the third round with a beautiful head kick which lead to the TKO victory by ground strikes. Getting a finish this late in the fight highlights not only the 29-year-olds impressive cardio but also how dangerous he remains throughout the fight. Dalby’s fight for the Welterweight belt was also his debut for the promotion, demonstrating just how highly rated this fighter is – it will be interesting to see how he performs against the long list of potential challengers queuing up in Cage Warrior’s 170-lb Division. 

Jimmy “Judo” Wallhead (25-8 MMA, 10-5 CWFC)

The first half of Saturday’s main event, Wallhead – who launched his career at Cage Warriors in 2005 – makes his promotional return after racking up a wealth of experience at M-1, Bellator and BAMMA. Jimmy uses his high level black belt in judo to dominate his opponents with heavy hands and a crippling submission game; of his 25 wins only 7 have hit the judges’ scorecards. Most recently Wallhead proved his judo base to be just as effective as a fighter with a background in amateur wrestling as he knocked out Florent Betorangal with a huge slam 20-seconds into the third round. Wallhead has been victorious over UFC-calibre opponents like Igor Araujo, Matt Veach and two-time title contender Frank Trigg. Now having once again joined Cage Warrior’s ranks, Wallhead will be a force to be reckoned with.

Danny “Hot Chocolate” Roberts (10-1 MMA, 5-0 CWFC)

The man who will be stood across the cage from Jimmy Wallhead at Cage Warriors 68, Danny “Hot Chocolate” Roberts has the difficult task of welcoming the Leicester-native back to the promotion. While the superior experience of Wallhead makes him the favourite going into Saturday’s main event, Danny has been fighting about as hot as his nickname suggests, currently riding an impressive 4-fight win steak which includes an Armbar victory over Jack Mason. Mason – who is every bit as experienced as Wallhead – is another Welterweight contender and Danny’s victory over him proved that experience really isn’t everything. “Hot Chocolate” is a well-rounded fighter and will look to employ his length and speed advantages to ruin Wallhead’s homecoming party. Liverpool is Danny’s adoptive home city and the natives will be vocal in their support of the young fighter. The winner of this bout looks likely to be next in line to face Nicholas Dalby.

Matt Inman (13-5 MMA, 4-1 CWFC)

After a faulty start in Cage Warriors with a loss to the incredibly tough Jack Mason, Inman has been tearing through every 170-lber unlucky enough to find himself opposing the Manchester-based fighter. Matt is a big fellow for the weight-class measuring a lengthy 6’1” and uses his long frame to his advantage for his killer striking arsenal and equally skilled submission-game. Of Inman’s 13 wins 6 have come via KO/TKO and 6 via submissions – Inman has pulled off a wide array of submissions including Guillotines, Triangles and even a Heel-Hook! On Saturday Inman will face a tough opponent in Mauro “Xuxa” Chimento Jr (15-10 MMA, 1-1 CWFC) who, in keeping with his Brazillian roots, is primarily a BJJ specialist who fought his first pro-MMA fight in 2001. If he overcomes this veteran of the sport Inman will be on a five fight streak and should be nearing a title shot.

Benny “Benny Blanco” Alloway (13-5 MMA, 2-0 CWFC)

A veteran of The Ultimate fighter and the UFC, Benny Alloway bounced back from being prematurely cut from the UFC with a closely-fought decision victory over Jack Mason. The outspoken Aussie is known for his dangerous striking, advancing to the quarter finals of the TUF: Smashes tournament with a second round knockout of the far larger Valentino Petrescu and also knocking out Manuel Rodriguez in the first round with a devastating front kick and strikes. In his two stints at Cage Warriors Benny has remained unbeaten against some of the toughest opponents the division has to offer. Alloway will be watching the two crucial welterweight bouts on this Saturday’s card which could potentially determine who his next opponent in the promotion will be.

Jack “Stone” Mason (27-13 MMA, 9-6 CWFC)

A fighter which has already been mentioned several times during this examination of Cage Warriors’ Welterweight division, Jack Mason always seems to be involved in the upper-end of the division’s activity. Having lost a close some may say controversial decision to Benny Alloway in March, Jack bounced back just over one month later with a victory over former training partner Patrick Vallee. This desire to immediately get back on the horse after a loss is typical of Jack Mason’s grit. What is not so typical of Jack Mason is that his past 3 fights have gone to a decision – since his debut all the way back in 2005 Jack has been a proven finisher, with a particular tendency towards getting a hold of the throat of his opponent and using his remarkable strength to choke them out.

Sergei Churilov (15-2 MMA, 1-1 CWFC)

Though his most recent bout saw him losing to Nicholas Dalby for the vacant Welterweight belt, it would be unwise to rule the young Ukrainian out of making another run at the title. The fight against Dalby was remarkably close coming into the fourth and many actually had Churilov winning on their scorecards. It was all the more devastating therefore when he ate that big head kick and was eventually knocked out to the joy of the pro-Dalby Dannish crowd. This was only Churilov’s second loss however and it would be crazy to think he couldn’t bounce back. The 28-year-old has a mean submission game and went into the title fight having won his preceding three bouts via submission. This was his first bout in Cage Warriors since early-2012 – in his other fight for the promotion he beat Anatoly Starodubtsev via first round Achilles Lock.

Gael Grimaud (19-6 MMA, 3-1 CWFC)

The man who originally lost his belt to Cathal Pendred, Gael Grimaud will certainly be seeking to regain his lost championship gold. The Frenchman was riding an eight fight unbeaten streak until the Irishman came and defeated him. Since then Gael has bounced back with a brace of wins, most recently with a brutal first round KO over Bruno Carvalho. Though we knew Grimaud packed a punch, the 24-year-old was primarily known for being able to submit his opponents with 12 of his 19 wins coming in this way. Gael has a wealth of high-level MMA experience, having picked up wins both in M-1 and Pancrace. With the aforementioned KO victory coming back in October, we hope to see Grimaud continue his winning ways soon.

Jake “Brutal” Bostwick (14-8 MMA, 2-0 CWFC) 

Yet another contender in the welterweight division to have once tangoed with Jack Mason, Jake Bostwick’s fighting career started slow but has gathered a great deal of momentum in recent years. Indeed, by the end of 2008 Bostwick’s record was a disappointing 3-7. However, since 2010 Bostwick has really earned his nickname of “Brutal”, stringing together seven impressive victories (four of which came via KO/TKO). Though he is yet to pick up a stoppage in his Cage Warriors career, he has looked extremely impressive picking up two one-sided unanimous decision victories. The man who was once blasted with a KO from the knee of one Alex Reid has certainly come a long way since the early days in his MMA career. With the momentum he has built up since 2010 there is no sign of Bostwick slowing down.

Simeon “The Grin” Thoresen (17-4 MMA, 1-0 CWFC)

Since his one Cage Warriors bout way back in 2008, this super-talented submission specialist has been climbing the ladder eventually reaching the heights of the UFC. He even picked up that all-important victory inside the Octagon choking out Besam Yousef on the UFC on Fuel TV 2 card in Sweden. However, back-to-back loses meant that he was cut from the promotion and so now finds himself back with Cage Warriors. Though he may no longer be in the UFC, Thoresen has a legitimate chance of becoming the Cage Warrior’s welterweight champion which would certainly be some consolation. The guy is a legitimate grappler, having picked up 15 of his 17 victories through various different submissions. He is scheduled to fight Jake “Brutal” Bostwick in his first bout back in the promotion, a fighter who certainly has the tools to be a real threat to the Swede.

Cody Donovan vs. Nikita Krylov Set For UFC Dublin

Cody Donovan vs. Nikita Krylov Set For UFC Dublin
by Chris Houten - @mrhouts

Cody Donovan will meet Nikita Krylov at UFC Dublin in a potential loser goes home match up.

UFC Dublin takes place July 19th at the The O2 Arena. Tickets for will go on sale to the general public at 10am on Friday 6th June and can be purchased from www.ticketmaster.ie and www.theo2.ie

Fighting for the 4th time in his UFC Career, Cody Donovan (8-4 MMA, 1-2 UFC) will be faced with the prospect of needing a win to save his UFC career when he takes on Nikita Krylov in Dublin in July.

A product of Grudge Training Center, and a Brazilian Jui Jitsu black belt under Nate Marquart, Donovan began his UFC career with a knockout victory over Nick Penner at UFC on FX: Sotiropoulos vs. Pearson as a last minute replacement for injured Eddie Mendez. Taking the bout on just 9 days notice, Donovan was able to despatch of Penner in the first round in an entertaining bout which earned Fight of the Night honors.

Following his victory over Penner, Donovan faced Ovince St. Preux on August 17, 2013 at UFC Fight Night 26, to whom he lost by first round TKO. In his most recent outing the 33 year old from Iowa, who has previous competed in Bellator, lost to Gian Villante, again by TKO to extending his losing streak to 2, making it vital he picks up a win in his next bout. 

At Just 22-years old former heavyweight Nikita Krylov (16-4 MMA, 1-2 UFC), is one the youngest fighters on the UFC roster. A native of Ukraine, Krylov has not been short of leaving lasting memories - good and bad, since making his UFC debut in 2013.

Joining the UFC on the back of a 15-2 record, with 2 career losses coming to Vladimir Mishchenko, Krylov made his UFC debut at heavyweight against Australia's Soa Palelei, in a bout which Kingdom MMA staff named the worst fight of 2013 with both men gassing badly, and Krylov eventually losing by TKO in the 3rd round.

Krylov returned in January, in the opening bout of UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Thomson, to face Walter Harris, who he defeated with a highlight reel, 25-second headkick TKO. Following the bout Krylov told journalists he would be dropping to Light-heavyweight.

Krylov made his 205lb debut against Ovince St. Preux - a common opponent to Donovan, at UFC 171 however he was unsuccessful in his new weight division losing by Von Flue Choke in first round.

Stay tuned to KingdomMMA.co.uk for all the latest on UFC Dublin

UFC Fight Night 46: McGregor vs Miller (Fight Card)

UFC Fight Night 46: McGregor vs Miller
Date: July 19th, 2014
o2 Arena, Dublin, Ireland


Fight Card
Conor McGregor vs Cole Miller
Ryan LaFlare vs Gunnar Nelson
Ian McCall vs Brad Pickett
Ilir Latifi vs Tom Lawlor
Cody Donovan vs Nikita Krylov
Phil Harris vs Neil Seery

Jake Bostwick vs Simeon Thoresen set for Cage Warriors Super Saturday

Bostwick vs Thoresen set for Cage Warriors 69

by Ben Heather @benheather

Copyright: Dolly Clew | Cage Warriors

Cage Warriors 69 has a lot of hype surrounding the event due to the recent announcement that it will have two main cards on one night and is now being named "Super Saturday" up until the past couple of days the only fight which was announced was a lightweight battle for the vacant Cage Warriors title between Stevie Ray and Curt Warburton. Now the fight card is starting to come together as a welterweight battle between two of the top competitors in the division has been added. That fight is Jake Bostwick (14-8-1) vs Simeon Thoresen (17-4).

Jake Bostwick comes in to the fight with a 7 fight win streak, with his most recent win coming at Cage Warriors 64 when he defeated Boubacar Balde. That fight was at middleweight but he is now back down to welterweight for this fight.

We recently caught up with Jake to find out how the fight came about

"My Managment (Infinity Management) got in touch with my coach Kieran Keddle about the Simeon fight and Kieran kind of accepted it before talking to me, knowing what potential it had. My coaches both Kieran Keddle and Mickey papas know I have the tools to take out Simeon and that made me want the fight more."

"I'm really looking forward to the fight also, I hope to get a great KO victory yet again. Simeon's a great opponent but this is my fight! I need this more then he does, I'm younger and more hungry for it."

As for where a win over Thoresen takes him Bostwick was staying grounded.

"I take each fight as it comes, Simeon is definitely my next step forward for sure, can't say if a title is in the picture but let's get this win first then see"

Simeon Thoresen will be fighting for the first time since his release from the UFC after a 1-2 run in the promotion. His last fight was back in January 2013 so I am sure come June 7th he will be ready to go to war as he returns to Cage Warriors. A 51 second KO win against Matt Thorpe in July 2008 was his only other appearance for Cage Warriors. A win over Jake Bostwick, ending his winning streak would show the other contenders in the welterweight division that Thoreson is back and means business.

Cage Warriors 69 takes place on June 7th as Cage Warriors returns to London once again with the event being staged at The Forum, Kentish Town. If these two fights are anything to go by it will certainly be a Super Saturday in June. Stay tuned for more news once it has been announced.

Kingdom MMA chat to Matt Inman ahead of Cage Warriors 68

Matt Inman: Cage Warriors 68 Pre Fight Interview

by Alex Dillon @_AlexDillon_

Copyright: Dolly Clew | Cage Warriors

On Saturday night Cage Warriors returns to Liverpool for Cage Warriors 68. One of the stars who will be competing on the night is Matt Inman (13-5), Matt is currently on a four fight win streak and will be looking to improve his streak and his chances of pushing towards a shot at the title on Saturday night. Before his big fight Kingdom MMA caught up with Matt to talk about his fight.

Alex: Hi Matt, cheers for taking the time out to talk to us about your upcoming fight at Cage Warriors 68 in Liverpool. With less than a week until your fight with Mauro Chimento, how have your preparations been for this camp and how is your weight looking?
Inman: No Problem, thanks for the interview.

Preparations have gone really well, I feel very fit and strong, and I've effectively rehabbed a few little injuries I was carrying for the last few months, so I'll be going into the fight as injury free as you can hope to be after a long, hard fight camp.

My weight is fine, I've been making this same weight for the last six years or so now so I've really got the whole process nailed down. It's never easy and its definitely my least favourite part of the job but there are some really big cutters in my division (to be fair there are in every division) so its a necessary evil.

Alex: Are you excited about fighting in Liverpool given its close to Manchester?
Inman: Yes, I fought in the Echo when Cage Warriors were there last year, it's a cracking venue. It's also nice to be able to stay at home before the fight which is not very common for me as I'm normally on the road. It's just easier at home as you know where everything is, you can sleep in your own bed and you don't have to wander round obscure foreign cities looking for food to refuel on that's not going to batter your already delicate system post weight cut! Having said that I love fighting abroad and experiencing new places as well.

Alex: Does fighting so close to home create extra pressure, or does it make it more enjoyable, to fight in front for friends and family, as well as having that support from the crowd?
Inman: There's definitely that excitement factor and I'm really fortunate that I get some good support even though I'm not actually from Manchester. I've been blown away by the amount of people who have got tickets and are making the trip to show their support.

The pressure is always there because the Cage Warriors fights go out to so many people on the telly and the internet that everyone is going to see the fight regardless of how far away it is. I think at the end of the day when you're in there you know a lot of people are watching it just gives you that little bit of extra determination to bite down on your gummy and get the job done.

Alex: On May 3rd your facing Mauro Chimento, do you know much about him?
Inman: Yes, he's a Brazilian who has been competing for a long time and has a lot of experience. I always feel the more experienced a fighter is the more dangerous they are. It's totally different in that sense to my last fight against Wiebel who was a comparatively new guy riding a good streak but lacking some of that big fight experience.

Alex: I've found it difficult to find much footage on Chimento, is it fair to say you have had the same problem and how does preparing for a fight differ when you can't find that much on a guy?
Inman: A lot of his fights have been in Brazil so naturally footage is tricky to come by, I've watched his more recent fights, particularly his Cage Warriors appearances.

I don't think it does make a huge amount of difference to me, I like to watch a little bit of footage to get a sense of a fighter but I don't do a lot of in depth study. My coach Karl does a lot of work on that side, he has a really good eye for picking up little areas where we can exploit a weakness, or recognising a particular strength that a guy might have that we need to be wary of so I take a lot of my cues from the work he does.

Alex: What would you say his strengths and weaknesses are and where do you see your self having the advantage over Chimento?
Inman: To be fair I think he's not bad all round, obviously he has a really good grappling calibre but at the same time he's no mug on his feet. I won't divulge on what I feel his weaknesses are at this point but hopefully that will come out in the fight!

Alex: In the footage I did manage to find of Chimento I’ve noticed he can get a little wild with his striking, sometimes he drops his hands when he shoots in. Is this something you have picked up on in your preparations at all?
Inman: Yeah, wildness is a strange thing. It can work either way, when a guy has developed a style like that after a long time fighting its generally because it works for him. A good example would be the fight in Chechnya where my opponent had a really unorthodox, off-the-wall striking style that you wouldn't hope to teach anyone, but he caused me problems just because I wasn't used to it, it's hard to train for that kind of thing or get your sparring partners to replicate it, so there is very much the element of the unknown.

On the other hand though there's a reason why the best strikers all work from similar fundamentals, it's because they work, sometimes when a guy is just loading up on his shots and swinging for the fences you can pick them apart. Of course you can never really tell which will happen until you're in there though, fingers crossed it's the later!

If you're looking to catch a guy as they shoot your timing has to be bang on, so it's something I'm always looking to do but It's difficult to say if I'll have any success.

Alex: Do you think Chimento will want this fight to go to the ground, and have you trained more on your ground game and defensive wrestling than you would do normally in preparation for this fight?
Inman: I'm always working to improve my defensive wrestling because its no secret that that's one of the worst aspects of my game. I'm really fortunate to count some of the best MMA wrestlers in the UK as training partners now, Including Saul Rogers and Aaron Wilkinson, so I definitely feel that that aspect is improving quickly.

As to whether Chimento will look to take me down its difficult to say, maybe he'll fancy his chances on the feet. I have a lot of faith in my ground game though, and I feel I have really strong Jiu Jitsu for MMA, so I certainly won't be afraid to fight on the ground if that's where the fight ends up.

Alex: One could make the argument that on paper Chimento who is coming into the fight 2-3 in his last 5 is maybe a step back compared to your last few fights - Bahari, Sharaputdinov, Weibel, etc, would you agree?
Inman: I don't really feel that way at all, I think Chimento is just as dangerous as any of those guys and I think the fact that he is coming off mixed results will make him determined to get the win and steal some of the momentum I have built up. In my mind this is a real 50/50 fight and I'm expecting, and ready, for it to be really tough.

Alex: Do you feel after putting together a 4 fight win streak you should be in the mix with the likes of Roberts, Mason, Alloway, Wallhead etc.
Inman: I feel like I'm maybe half a step behind those guys at the minute, but I'm just taking things one fight at a time and seeing how far I can take things.

Alex: Am I right in saying you're studying towards a degree as well as coaching at the SBG gym? How do you balance these commitments when you have a fight coming up?
Inman: Yes, i am studying a fairly intensive post graduate law conversion course, called a GDL, and I work full time in SBG as a coach and personal trainer. I have my final exams starting not long after this fight so I have been balancing my time between training, revising and working. It makes for quite long days but I'm used to it now and I work a lot better when the pressure is on anyway.

Alex: Who would you like next with a win and do you think it should be for that no. 1 contender spot? A rematch with Jack Mason maybe?
Inman: I don't know really I'm just focusing on the fight in front of me. There's a lot of good guys in the division and I certainly need to win this and then beat one of the top guys before I'm looking at a title shot (easier said than done!).

I would like a Mason rematch as I feel I'd do better this time, even though stylistically it's not a good fight for me, but I can't see that happening and, outside of a title fight or a possible number one contender spot, objectively I don't think it makes great sense as a fight.

Alex: Finally, how do you see yourself beating Chimento on the 3rd?
Inman: I think I'll grind him down with good consistent pressure and stop him late in the fight.

Alex: Would you like to thank anyone ahead of your fight?
Inman: Thanks to my coaches Karl and Jon and all my training partners.

Thanks again for your time ahead of the fight and we are all looking forward to another exciting performance on Saturday night.

Jimmy Wallhead talks to Kingdom MMA ahead of his Cage Warriors return

Jimmy Wallhead Cage Warriors 68 Pre Fight Interview

by Chris Houten @mrhouts

Picture by Mark Blundell

On Saturday night, Jimmy Wallhead will make his return to Cage Warriors and headline Cage Warriors 68. In the main event Jimmy will square off against the highly regarded Danny Roberts, who will be fighting in his home town. Before that Kingdom MMA caught up with Jimmy to find talk about that fight, his decision to leave BAMMA and much more.

Chris: I won't be the first to ask this and no doubt I won't be the last but what was it that made you leave BAMMA? It felt as if you were the poster boy of the promotion.
Wallhead: Well basically it came down to me wanting to be more active in my career and with Cage Warriors I will be. They are a great promotion with a stacked roster and regular shows.

Chris: Last time we talked, we discussed plans BAMMA had to put on more fights this year, and in turn give you more fights. When you were weighing up your options was the fact that Cage Warriors put on so many shows a year and can offer you several fights a year one of the major deciding factors?
Wallhead: yeah as above for sure.

Chris: Did you feel that BAMMA would struggle with the proposal of doing 6 cards this year, did they give you any indication that the proposal might not be possible?
Wallhead: I just felt a better career path laid with Cage Warriors for me at this point in my career.

Chris: How does it feel being back with Cage Warriors where it all started for you, does it feel like you are coming home?
Wallhead: It feels very special obviously and the promotion has evolved into something very big and special as I keep saying it felt like the right move.

Chris: Has joining Cage Warriors had any effect on you sponsorship wise with the thought that their product or logo won't be seen on channel 5 / 5 star?
Wallhead: No none at all

Chris: On May 3rd you're fighting a young, hungry up and comer in Danny Roberts, how would you say he compares to some of your recent opponents, and do you think the fact that he's at a point in his career where he's still trying to establish a name for himself makes him more dangerous than some of the guys you've fought recently?
Wallhead: 100% very dangerous opponent and it's gave me the kick up the arse I needed to step my training up and get that hunger going for myself.

Chris: There have been talks amongst fans in the lead up to this fight that you might be the underdog in this fight. What would you say to those fans who are installing Roberts as the favourite and are you embracing this underdog status you're being given?
Wallhead: I can understand people saying that I don't believe it though and I am very confident in my abilities.

Chris: In our last interview we discussed how you were 'looking for your inner aggression' and it kinda felt there was a period of time where you weren't as into your fight as you were say when you first started out. Has signing for Cage Warriors and being given a hungry, up and comer in Roberts helped you find your enjoyment for fighting and made you excited to fight again?
Wallhead: Absolutely more than I can explain.

Chris: How has your training camp for this fight been fight? Am I right in saying you have spent some time with London Shootfighters helping Hathaway prepare for his fight with Kim but also your fight with Roberts?
Wallhead: That's correct I originally went down to help John and to be honest I was very very impressed with the whole set up there and so I spent time there every week in this camp with Alexis and Paul and feel very well prepared for my fight.

Chris: How has working with London Shootfighters improved you as a fighter? What elements of your game have improved by being down there?
Wallhead: All areas from mental to fitness to my technical areas.

Chris: Going back to the inner aggression question, where do London Shootfighters fit in with this? Has being in London helped you find what you were looking for?
Wallhead: It's something I wish I had done 9 years ago.

Chris: You're fighting Roberts in his backyard of Liverpool. What's it like fighting on enemy territory so to speak? Is it something you notice or sense during the fight?
Wallhead: I've done it many times before, it is what it is.

Chris: Roberts is a good pretty well rounded fighter. Where would you say you have the advantage in this fight?
Wallhead: all I know is he hasn't fought or beaten anyone of my ability to date.

Chris: Roberts last few fights have been wars, are you preparing for a violent one?
Wallhead: Absolutely I expect nothing less to be honest.

Chris: Have Cage Warriors given you any indications that the winner of this fight gets a shot at Dalby?
Wallhead: no none at all

Chris: With a lot of the top Cage Warriors guys moving over to the UFC, are you seeing this contract you have as a stepping stone or opportunity for something bigger or is this something you're not really focused on at this stage of your career?
Wallhead: Right now all I'm focused on is Danny Roberts

Chris: If you could predict the outcome of the fight on Saturday, how do you see yourself winning?
Wallhead: No idea, I can finish a fight in more than one area.

Chris: We are now a week away from the fight, what's the plan for the next week?
Wallhead: Finally recover and cut the last bit of weight.

Chris: Finally is there any sponsors you would like to thank ahead of your fight next Saturday?
Wallhead: Gray Ridgeway at QAV
Booster Fight Gear
Positiv Energy Drink
Ian Cox at CSS
Steve Almighty Fightwear
Funky gums
Paul White massage
Blueberry nutrition
Forca Luta
Matt Walton at Spiked
4dmma
Wayne at Pain Fightwear

Thanks again for the time ahead of your fight and we can't wait to see you in action on Saturday night.

Arnold Allen talks to Kingdom MMA about his victory at Cage Warriors Fight Night 11

Arnold Allen CWFC FN 11 Post Fight Interview

by Sam Heard @SamHeard_

Copyright Dolly Clew | Cage Warriors

Kingdom MMA recently caught up with Arnold Allen after he made quick work of Tobias Huber at Cage Warriors Fight Night 11. Arnold went in to the fight trying to protect his unbeaten record and walked out the cage less than a minute later. What happened in that time was a dominating and very one sided performance by a true prospect and rising star of UK MMA.

Sam: Congratulations on your recent dominant victory against Tobias Huber. Had a first round TKO been the result you were expecting?
Allen: Thank you, and yeah I was expecting to finish it quick with strikes.

Sam: What was going through your mind when Huber had hold of your ankle?
Allen: I was just thinking about getting him off my foot and keeping up on my feet.

Sam: You yourself have a well-documented proficiency with submissions. How comfortable would you have felt on the ground with Huber?
Allen: I would have been happy if the fight was on the ground, I was happy wherever. 

Sam: This was the first time this year we had seen you fight and you seem to be perpetually improving. What had you been working on leading up to this most recent outing?
Allen: I was working a little bit of counter wrestling to go against Huber trying to get the fight to the ground, but as usual I focused on improving my skills all round rather than worrying about my opponents strengths.

Sam: I’m sure it must have been pleasant seeing off your opponent so quickly, When do you hope to fight next?
Allen: Yeah for sure it was nice to get a nice quick win, and also whenever! I'm looking to have around 4 or 5 fights this year.

Sam: Was it a relief to see your head coach, Jack Mason get his name back in the W column with a controlling win over Patrick Vallee later that night after such a close loss for him in his last fight?
Allen: It's always good to see your team mates/ coaches win, but it was great to see Jack get a good win over a tough opponent!

Sam: This was the second time in a row that you had fought in Jordan. Do you have a preference either fighting abroad or in the UK or are you unaffected?
Allen: I'm not too fussed about where i fight but the fans in Jordan are awesome they get behind everyone, the public weigh in was crazy I don't think there would be enough interest in the UK for something like that.

Sam: The fans in Jordan really took to you, how do you think the fans in Amman compare to the other cities you have fought in?
Allen: I'm not to sure why they have taken to me but it's really cool to have that kind of support miles away from home.

Sam: Since joining Cage Warriors you have finished all four of your opponents in the distance. After such a one-sided performance, how far do you think you are away from getting a shot at the vacant title?
Allen: I think a few good wins over tougher opposition would put me in the mix for a title for sure.

Sam: Were you offered the opportunity, would you be interested in taking part in a featherweight one night tournament for the title as this is how some of the other CW titles have been won in the past year?
Allen: I'd be all over it, I would jump at any opportunity to fight for the Cage warriors title, that's what we're all fighting for!

Sam: While we’re on the topic of the vacant title, just before this fight Jim Alers made a winning start to his UFC career with a win in Abu Dhabi while clearly Conor McGregor is making waves despite a recent injury. Does the transition these fighters have made give you confidence that CW is the best platform to ultimately make the step up to the UFC?
Allen: Definitely it's goes even deeper than a couple of champions though it's proven that Cage Warriors go on to do big things in the UFC.

Sam: At the start of the year we awarded you the title of ‘One to watch in 2014’. Luke Barnatt is also documented as saying you will be a future champ. How does it feel to receive praise and awards like this from MMA media, fans and other fighters?
Allen: It's great to get praise from other fighters and media it makes me feel like I'm heading in the right direction.

Sam: Would you like to thank anyone or any sponsors?
Allen: I'd like to thank all of my sponsors for the help Almighty Fightwear, Efectiv nutrition, Valor Fightwear, Funky gums, Revgear, Whip Street Motors, Rosewood and everyone else for the help :)

Thank you for your time. We appreciate it very much and all the best in your up-and-coming endeavours.

Cage Warriors 69 (Fight Card)

Cage Warriors 69
Date: June 7th, 2014
The Forum, Kentish Town, London, England

Fight Card
Stevie Ray vs Curt Warburton - For the Vacant Cage Warriors Lightweight Title
Jack Hermansson vs Norman Paraisy - - For the Vacant Cage Warriors Middleweight Title
Jack Mashman vs Bola Omoyele
Jack Bostwick vs Simeon Thoresen
Benny Alloway vs Mohsen Bahari
Bruno Carvalho vs Jack Mason
Liam James vs Nad Narimani
Brett Caswell vs Spencer Hewitt
Jason Cooledge vs Brad Wheeler

Cage Warriors 70 (Fight Card)

Cage Warriors 70
Date: August 16th, 2014
The Helix, Dublin, Ireland

Fight Card
Joseph Duffy vs TBA

Vaughan Lee added to UFC Fight Night Berlin

Alcantara vs Lee announced for UFC Fight Night 41

by Ben Heather @benheather

Vaughan Lee is set to return to action on May 31st as the UFC returns to Germany and he will meet Iuri Alcantara, the number 7 ranked bantamweight in Berlin.

Lee (14-9-1 MMA 3-3 UFC) comes in to this fight after his best performance in the Octagon in March at the TUF China Finale where he picked apart Nam Phan for three rounds and showed off his incredible striking skills. Vaughan Lee has been very inconsistent in the Octagon, alternating between losses and wins but will be looking to string together wins for the first time in the UFC.

If he does pull it off it should catapult Lee in to the rankings especially if he does it in the fashion which he did against Nam Phan however, Alcantara is certainly a step up from Phan. I don't think Lee will be phased though having already fought both TJ Dillashaw and Raphael Assuncao within the past two years. Although those fights didn't go the way Vaughan would have liked, he will have improved as a result of them and I believe this helped him put on the performance he did last time out.

Alcantara (29-5-1 MMA 4-2-1 UFC) comes in to the fight having defeated Wilson Reis back in February, this was the first time we had seen Alcantara back in the Octagon after his battle with Urijah Faber. The fight in Berlin will see Alcantara fight in Europe for the first time having only fought in North and South America previously. Could this play a factor in the fight only time will tell.

UFC Fight Night 41 is headlined by a middleweight clash between Mark Munoz and Gegard Mousasi. Also on the main card are a couple more middleweight match ups as Francis Carmont takes on CB Dollaway and England's own Luke Barnatt battles Sean Strickland.

Joseph Duffy Returns to Cage Warriors

Joseph Duffy Returns to Cage Warriors
by Chris Houten - @mrhouts

Photo: Tommy Lakes

Former Cage Warriors title contender Joseph Duffy, has signed a 5 fight deal which will see the Irishman return to the promotions lightweight division.

Having previously fought for Cage Warriors on 5 previous occasions, the 26-year-old hasn't fought in an MMA bout since 2011, having decided to try his hand at professional boxing, following his CWFC 44 submission loss to Ivan Musardo, a bout which was for the lightweight title.

Duffy debuted as a professional boxer in March of last year, going on to put together an undefeated 7-0 record, which included two wins by TKO, however Duffy said his love of mixed martial arts has given him a desire to return to the cage: 

“It’s been a hard few weeks and I’ve had some huge decisions to make, but I’ve decided to make a return to the cage,”

“I was fortunate to have the opportunity to train under a world-class boxing trainer in John Tandy, but it’s hard to escape the fact that my heart will always be in MMA.

“I’m really excited about competing for Cage Warriors again, and my plans are to add a few KOs to my record and then mix it up with the guys at the top.”

10-1 in for professional MMA career, Duffy, a black belt in BJJ, has finished 9 of his 10 victories - 2 by TKO, 7 by submission, and is the last man to defeat UFC high-flyers Norman Parke and Conor McGregor, both which he defeated by submission. Duffy will be back in Cage Warriors action later this year, with his return scheduled for CWFC 70 at The Helix in Dublin, Ireland, on Saturday, August 16.

Cage Warriors CEO Graham Boylan said:

“Joe went 7-0 as a professional boxer in the space of a year, having worked under John Tandy, one of the best trainers in the world of boxing.

“Adding that to the fact that he is a jujitsu black belt and already has a 10-1 MMA record, this has been a huge decision for Joe but it’s a very exciting development for CWFC fans.”

Stay tuned to KingdomMMA for all the latest on Cage Warriors 70

UCMMA 39 (Fight Card)

UCMMA 39
Date: May 3rd, 2014
The Troxy, London, England
UCMMA 39 Tickets

Main Card
Luke Sines vs Alex Reid - For the UCMMA Middleweight UK-1 Title
Carl Oriss vs Luiz Tosta - For the UCMMA Bantamweight Title
Maksym Matus vs Charlie Leary - For the UCMMA Lightweight Title
Tom Richards vs Tony Giles
Marvin Campbell vs Catalin Zarandescu
Nathan Jones vs Makunga Bunduku
Chad Brown vs Jason Radcliffe
David Howell vs Bill Beaumont
Arunas Slicius vs Umer Kayani
Ben Schneider vs Marian Rusu
Corrin Eaton vs Chase Morton
Jody Collins vs Jordan Walden
Nabil Nawiz vs Mike Shipman
Alexander Bilobravka vs Nathaniel Wood
Ian Peters vs Dan Elie
Vinny Baldwin vs Luis Gonzalez
San Harding vs Ollie Mathis

Cage Contender XVIII: Wain vs Ambriz (Fight Card)

Cage Contender XVIII: Wain vs Ambriz
Date: April 26th, 2014
Kings Hall Pavilions, Kings Hall Complex, Belfast,
Cage Contender XVIII Tickets

Main Card
Neil Wain vs Jimmy Ambriz
Micky Doyle vs Hugh Brady
Alan Philpott vs Leigh Remedios
Conor Cooke vs Jason Von Flue
Daniel Thomas vs TBC
Johnny Dargan vs Jordan McKie
Alex Muzick vs James McEriane
Barry McGuigan vs Stevie Kilfin
Kyle Comerford vs TBC

Preliminary Card
Gerard McKee vs Owen Kinney
Danny Thompson vs Trevor Lowry
James Gallagher vs TBC
Karl Bell vs Denis Ahern
Peter Bracken vs TBC
Sinead Kavanagh vs Aoife Murphy
Dion Smyth vs TBC
Mathew Mullan vs Conor White
Patrick McNally vs Mark Andrew
Gerard Gilmore vs TBC
Declan McAleenan vs Frans Malambo
Mark Leitch vs Pitor Nowaki
Curtic Mooney vs Danny Hall
Johnny Origan vs Ryan Porter
Anton McLaughlin vs Ian Cleary

Fight UK MMA: Last Man Standing - Lightweights (Fight Card)

Fight UK MMA: Last Man Standing - Lightweights
Date: April 26th, 2014
Athena, Leicester
Fight UK MMA: Last Man Standing - Lightweights Tickets

Main Card
Fight UK MMA Lightweight Tournament Featuring:

Richard Herbert
Saul Boyd
Jake Ocean
Harry Marpel
Sam Wilkinson
Rob Virals
John Dewis
Geof Ogendo

Opponents to be drawn on the 26th, April

Pro Undercard 
Jack Young vs Scott Gregory
Max Cotton vs Joe Cummins

AM Undercard
Cheeya Salemm vs Josh Neale - For the Fight UK MMA Amateur Flyweight Title
James Dixon vs Aiden Lee - For the Fight UK MMA Amateur Featherweight Title
Krysztof Adamczuk vs Rico Franco
Julian Tipping vs Will Foster
TBA vs Rich Gray
Luke Stout vs Oliver Paske
Ahmad Aswad vs Nathias Frederick
Eddie Roe vs Luke Mullhall
Darryl Gilson vs Dan Hutton
Josh Plant vs Josh Layton
Josh Mottram vs Geon Boyd
Mya Dore vs Junior Bijeno
Kanan Scotney vs Balal Miah

Kingdom MMA speak to Martin "Mr Pink" McDonough ahead of Cage Warriors return

Martin McDonough talks to Kingdom MMA ahead of Cage Warriors 67

by Alex Dillon @_AlexDillon_

Copyright: Dolly Clew | Cage Warriors

On Wednesday evening Kingdom MMA caught up with Mr Pink ahead of his fight this weekend where he is set to face Shaj Haque at Cage Warriors 67 as Cage Warriors returns to Wales. Cage Warriors 67 is headlined by the bantamweight title clash between the current champ Brett Johns and the challenger James Brum.

Alex: Its been almost a year since your last fight, how excited are you to be finally back in action on Saturday night?
McDonough: I couldn't explain it to you, it's been so long, I'm looking forward to taking that first punch that wakes you up and you realise your in a fight! I'm looking forward to hitting someone as well, that's what it's all about! Maybe you can tell I'm a little excited haha.

Alex: You had to pull out of the Cage Warriors Bantamweight tournament through injury and in that time you’ve decided to drop down to flyweight for your next fight, what’s the reason behind this?
McDonough: Bantamweight wasn't far off my walking about weight. I wouldn't have to diet, go on sweat runs or cut weight in general. A few days not eating chocolate and half hour in the sauna and I was on or under weight. It made sense to drop to 125, now I have the chance to be the bigger guy, taller guy or stronger guy, it's not guaranteed but I was always the smaller fighter at bantamweight.

Alex: Is dropping to 125 the quickest way to a title shot, with the rise of the likes of Ronnie Mann and Cory Tait at 135?
McDonough: No not really, there is nothing saying I will get a title shot soon. I have to pay the game like everyone else. I have to win and perform well, like I said, I was too small for bantamweight, I wasn't struggling but I was always the smaller guy. I'm cutting as I'm doing this interview and I'm not feeling bad, this should have been my fighting weight a long time ago. I was just lazy.

Alex: We are 3 days away from the Cage Warriors 67 weigh-ins, what is you weight looking now?
McDonough: I woke up this morning 132.4 after a decent meal last night and still taking water on. I feel good, I'm still hitting pads with power and I'm still running 3 miles at a decent pace.

Alex: So your opponent Shaj Haque, what do you know about him? Have you studied him at all in the lead up to the fight?
McDonough: I don't spend too much time doing that, I've seen him before, he has fought my team mate Kris Edwards. What I've seen of him, he likes to work the Cage a lot, go for takedowns. He has his game plan, I have mine.

Alex: What would you say are Haque’s strengths and weaknesses?
McDonough: I don't know really, I honestly haven't paid that much attention to him. No disrespect to him, that's just not me. I know my strengths that's all that matters.

Alex: You have taken your last 5 wins by submission, would your biggest advantage in this bout is on the ground?
McDonough: No not at all, I can strike, I prefer to stand and strike it out! It's a fight at the end of the day, we are in there to hit each other, I'd like to work my boxing in this fight. Ex World Champion Gavin Rees is my boxing coach, he is always teaching me new things. I want to work them but if we hit the floor, and I can take your arm home with me or choke you.. I will.

Alex: All of Haque’s professional victories have gone the distance, how is your cardio the same as 125 as it was at 135?
McDonough: My cardio is better now haha. I have never been known for my cardio, ask all the boys at the gym. But for some reason, out of nowhere I have good cardio. I can go 15, 3 minute rounds sparing with 1 minute rest, with a fresh man every 3-4 rounds, and I'm not gassed.

Alex: Haque is ranked in the top 5 in the UK ranking with only Phil Harris ahead of him under the Cage Warriors roster, does a win over Haque put you in a good place for a title shot?
McDonough: Again with the title shot haha. If they offer me a title shot.. Fine. But until then, I'm just going to enjoy myself, fighting top boys, on the biggest show in Europe and get paid for it. As long as I perform well, the title shot will come.

Alex: How do you see yourself winning this bout on Saturday?
McDonough: Stoppage, I don't care how, as long as I stop him. The first fight I win by decision, I will be disappointed.

Alex: Finally Martin, if you could send a message to Haque ahead of your bout what would it be?
McDonough: I wouldn't send him a message, we won't speak before the fight.

Thank you for your time Martin, all the best from the guys at Kingdom MMA and we are all looking forward to seeing you make your return on Saturday night.

Bamma 15 Event Review and Results

Bamma 15 Event Review and Results
by Sam Heard - @samheard_

Held in the Copperbox in the middle of London’s Olympic park, BAMMA took an amazing venue and filled it suitably excellent fights at their most recent event, BAMMA 15. Knowing all the Olympic contests that took place within the main arena just under two years ago, I couldn’t help but think that organising a night of fights in a former-Olympic building could potentially be seen as a statement about MMA’s claim to Olympic sport status. Indeed, one of the sports included in the early Olympic Games in Greece was Pankration which is arguably a direct predecessor of MMA. BAMMA 15 certainly made a case that MMA deserves to be recognised as an Olympic sport – throughout the fight we saw enormous amounts of respect being given from fighters to their opponents, incredible martial arts techniques and bags of heart.

Gzim Selmani (4-1, 1-0 BAMMA) defeats Oli Thompson (12-6, 0-1 BAMMA) by Technical Submission (Guillotine choke) at 0:18 of Round 1 
Oli Thompson was a huge favorite going into this fight and it’s not exactly difficult to understand why. A UFC-veteran, former UCMMA Champion and Britain’s strongest man of 2006 against a 19-year-old with only four fights under his belt against unknowns – it’s not hard to see why Gzim Selmani was considered to be a big underdog. The gigantic teenager lived up to his nickname “The Albanian Psycho”, shocking Oli Thompson with his aggressive start. He ran over to the former UFC fighter and delivered a huge flying knee ala B.J Penn-Sean Sherk which left Thompson slumped down against the cage. He then fired off a flurry allowing him to lock in a standing guillotine which – after a small adjustment – was extremely tight. Mark Goddard lifted Thompson’s right hand only for it to flop to the mat, giving him no option but to stop the fight. It took “The Albanian Psycho” just 18-seconds to put an extremely tough competitor to sleep – what an end to the night!


Leon Edwards (7-1, 4-0 BAMMA) defeats Wayne Murrie (17-6, 1-1 BAMMA) by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 3:13 of Round 1
In the first defense of his BAMMA Lonsdale British Welterweight Champion Wayne “The Caveman” Murrie was quickly put away by “Rocky”, to the delight of the following Edwards had brought with him from Birmingham. To the chant of ‘UTC’ Edwards was able to overwhelm Murrie on the ground, quickly taking his back before sinking in a deep Rear-Naked Choke to force the tap from the Yorkshireman. A clinical performance from “Rocky”.

Colin Fletcher (10-4, 4-1 BAMMA) defeats Tony Hervey (16-16, 0-1 BAMMA) by Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Those who thought this was a gimme fight for Colin “Freakshow” Fletcher to build on after a disappointing loss to Mansour Barnaoui’ for his Lightweight title couldn’t be more mistaken. Hervey has been in there with some of the sport’s finest including Takanori Gomi and current Bellator Featherweight champion Pat Curran and proved to be an extremely game competitor against “Freakshow” who arguably did enough to win the fight. In his typical theatrical, larger-than-life style “Freakshow” came out atop a pantomime horse (presumably in honor of the Grand National). The jokes came to an abrupt stop at the start of the fight as both men hit each other with some big shots – Fletcher utilizing his height advantage to land some big knees and body kicks while Hervey landed some big counter hooks as “Freakshow” rushed in. Near the close of the second round “Lionheart” was able to badly rock Fletcher on the feet, prevented from getting the finish only by end of the round. My pick for the Fight of the Night. In his post-fight interview the always classy Colin Fletcher stated that he would’ve happily lost the fight as he believed Hervey was just as worthy of the victory.

Tom Duquesnoy (9-1, 2-0 BAMMA) defeats Teddy Violet (8-1, 0-1 BAMMA) by Submission (Triangle Choke) at 1:29 of Round 2
The clash of French Flyweights for the BAMMA World Featherweight Title Fight was a thoroughly entertaining affair which I was sorry to see finish and I am now deeply interested in the career of Tom “Firekid” Duquesnoy. In the six-and-a-half minutes he fought “Firekid” was able to show what he’s all about, displaying his extremely well-rounded arsenal of skills against an unbeaten opponent in fellow countryman Teddy Violet. Violet came into this fight with a decent MMA grappling pedigree of his own but in the end was overwhelmed by a flawlessly executed Triangle Choke from “Firekid”. With no doubt one of the night’s finest performances.

Harry McLeman (7-2, 3-0 BAMMA) defeats Andy De-Vent (10-9, 0-1 BAMMA) by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
After an intense stare-down at Friday afternoon’s weigh ins I had high hopes for this scrap for the BAMMA Lonsdale British Middleweight Champion and it certainly didn’t disappoint and I believe could’ve gone either way. The round which hung in the balance was the second. “Mad Mac” came out incredibly strong in the first, beautifully changing levels with strikes and takedown attempts and eventually rocking De-Vent on the feet which led to a near submission via Guillatine. However, after this strong start, the new British Middleweight Champ became increasingly fatigued as the fight went on allowing De-Vent to come back into the fight. Despite gassing fairly early, “Mad Mac” was able to muster up a final burst deep into the third round, swinging for the fences as the fight ended – that’s the way to win a belt!

Ryan Scope (8-0, 2-0 BAMMA) defeats Ali Arish (20-3, 0-1 BAMMA) by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Ryan Scope grabbed the attention of the UKMMA community when he caught former TUF competitor Luke Newman in a Triangle Choke at BAMMA 12 after being brutally rocked on the feet. As he explained to us in the pre-fight interview we conducted, Scope once again felt like he was the underdog going up an extremely opponent in Ali Arish. Despite his underdog status, “Big Baby” was able to pull off another come-from-behind victory as he lost a tentative first round to Arish before pouring it on him in the following rounds, badly rocking the Manchester-based fighter in the third. Despite picking up the win, Scope explained after the fight that he suspected he had broken his foot.

Rany Saadeh (6-1, 2-0 BAMMA) defeats Mahmood Besharate (5-1, 2-1 BAMMA) by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
The clash of Flyweights normally results in a highly entertaining, back-and-forth fight. Unfortunately this match-up didn’t live up to the weight class’ reputation as Rany Saadeh kept taking Besharate down to the mat and controlling him en route to an uncontroversial yet dull decision victory. Saadeh never threatened to finish from top position and indeed the fighters were stood up by referee Mark Woodard on more than one occasion. “Persian Pride” started to mount some offence in the third round with some heavy body and led kicks but just as he got into a rhythm Saadeh again scored the takedown. It was perhaps this frustration that has led Besharate to announce that he intends to retire from the sport.

Jefferson George (4-2, 2-1 BAMMA) defeats Jack Grant (6-1, 0-1 BAMMA) by Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
The first decision of the evening was a closely fought affair between then-undefeated Jack Grant and Jefferson George. The only round which was clear-cut for me was the first. As the nickname “Shadow Demon Blaximus” would suggest, Jefferson George is a flamboyant fighter who will risk either eating shots or losing position for the sake of putting on a show. This style certainly was ineffective in R1 as
Grant was able to take George down and control him for the vast majority of the 5-minutes. One takedown was particularly memorable; a mighty German Suplex straight out of Kurt Angle’s playbook. Grant was able to maintain periods of control over George in the subsequent rounds which in my opinion was enough to win the fight, however “Shadow Demon Blaximus” did look dangerous at times and this was enough to narrowly win him the nod from the judges. Jack Grant has subsequently tweeted “I felt I did enough feel robbed & gutted back to the drawing board for me”.
 
Alex Montagnani (6-1 MMA, 1-0 BAMMA) defeats Nathan Jones (4-2, 0-1 BAMMA) by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 2:43 of Round 1
Prior to the cage door being closed and these two men throwing down, you will be forgiven for expecting this fight to play out very differently. Alex Montagnani had won all 5 of his fights by KO/TKO while 100% of Nathan “Mr. Bag N Tag” Jones had come via frst round chokes; the phrase 'Striker vs Grappler' had seemigly never been more relevant. However, this bout proved just how unpredictable MMA. Jones – as you’d expect – was relentlessly pursuing the takedown only to be reversed with Montagnani on top of him. Montagnani then took his back and locked up the card’s third consecutive Rear-Naked Choke.

Andy Craven (4-0 MMA, 2-0 BAMMA) defeats Richard Edwards (1-3 MMA, 0-1 BAMMA) by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 2:12 of Round 1
Andy Craven – who had failed to meet the Featherweight division’s 145-lbs limit – negated any of the resulting concerns surrounding his cardio when he made short work of Richard Edwards. Craven quickly caught Edwards with a howitzer of an overhand right which immediately dropped the Keddles Gym fighter. Craven smelt blood and followed up with two huge shots to the grounded fighter before coolly taking Edwards’ back to lock up the Rear-Naked Choke, extending his record of winning all fights by submission.

Ed Arthur (3-0 MMA, 2-0 BAMMA) defeats Nathaniel Wood (4-1 MMA, 0-1 BAMMA) by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 1:48 of Round 3
The clash of unbeaten Bantamweights both putting their flawless records on the line promised a lot and certainly lived up to expectations. Both men displayed some terrific striking and grappling skills and the fight looked sure to be left in the hands of the judges. However, both men held records with 100% finishes and this trend was set to continue when Ed Arthur was able to dig a little deeper and pull off a slick Rear Naked Choke, forcing the understandably fatigued Wood to tap.

Jacek Toczydlowski (5-4 MMA, 1-0 BAMMA) defeats Benny Carr (3-1 MMA, 1-0 BAMMA) by TKO (submission to strikes) at 1:32 of Round 1
Prior to this fight there had been a great deal of buzz surrounding Benny “Brutal” Carr who had proved worthy of his nickname through winning all his professional fights through one-sided TKOs. Jacek Toczydlowski – who made his pro debut way back in 2006 – was doubtless the toughest test of Benny Carr’s short career and proved too much for the Southampton-based fighter. To the dismay of the partisan crowd who zealously cheered Carr on, Toczydlowski was able to rapidly take him down and rain no-nonsense elbows from full mount to force Carr to tap out. Toczydlowsk proved that Benny Carr isn’t the only fighter worthy of the “Brutal” nickname.

Ryan Scope "I dont want to take easy fights, thats why I am fighting Arish"

Ryan Scope talks to Kingdom MMA ahead of BAMMA 15 fight against Ali Arish

by Ben Heather @benheather

Ben: How has your camp gone for this fight and who have you been working with?
Scope: Yeah its gone really well, obviously I fought not so long ago (Feb 22nd) so I only had one week off training before I got back in to it. For this fight I've been sparring with all the guys at the gym like Ross Pearson, Colin Fletcher and Phil De Fries.

Ben: You're fighting Ali Arish on Saturday, would you say he is the best/ toughest fighter you have faced in your career?
Scope: Yeah definitely 100%. I mean hes 20-2 for a reason but I want to fight the best as I want to make a point. I want to get somewhere this year.

Ben: Have you spent much time studying Arish?
Scope: I have only watched a couple of his fights, to be honest everyone knows what he is going to do and he's very good at it but I think I've got the right game plan to stop what he does.

Ben: Do you think you have figured out where 20 of his opponents have gone wrong?
Scope: Yes regarding the defensive wrestling I know what they have all done wrong. None of them have got very much movement, everyone tries to walk forward but then get taken down so its all about the movement.

Ben: Hows the weight looking and whats left for the camp?
Scope: Well I'm a small welterweight so I won't have to cut much and I'm probably going to go to lightweight at some point. For this last week, all the hard work is done I will have my last hard session on Monday and I'll be doing some sprints then I will have a light sparring session Tuesday and then its about getting the weight down.

Ben: When you made your BAMMA debut at BAMMA 12 you were a big underdog and you are again this weekend? Does this spur you on to succeed?
Scope: Yeah definitely I've always been the underdog. I think after this fight when I win I wont be the underdog anymore but I like being the underdog though, there is no pressure and you prove everyone wrong when you win. You would think for an 8-0 pro that people would take notice but they haven't.

That being said though I don't want to take any easy fights, that's why I am fighting Arish. I want to fight the best, fighters that will get me noticed and make a name for myself. You don't see many fighters queueing up to fight Arish. I pride myself on the on taking the tough fights, there are too many fighters who take fights just to pad out their record. If you want to get anywhere you have to put the work in and test yourself, Ali is the best wrestler in MMA hands down so I want to test myself and put my record up against his as in the bigger picture I will be coming up against more wrestlers.

Ben: Since going the distance in your debut you have finished your opponent in all the other fights, is this something you pride yourself on and how prepared are you to push yourself for 3 rounds against Arish?
Scope: I am ready to go, obviously I finished those fights but I am always ready to go the distance. I expect the fight to be a grinding, tough fight.

Ben: Everyone knows his game plan, do you think he will stick to that or try and surprise you on Sat?
Scope: Yeah I would think he will stick to his normal game plan, he might try and stand with us at the start but when he realises that I have too much for him on the feet and I am too fast he might go back to the takedown.

Ben: Other than his wrestling what do you think he does well and do you think he has any areas you have the advantage?
Scope: I'd say his Jui Jitsu, I think I'm better technically but he is just strong when he is on top, again movement is the key for this fight. If I stop moving that's how I am going to get taken down.

Ben: Do you think a win over Arish puts you next in line for the winner of Murray vs Edwards?
Scope: Yes BAMMA have said that's the case but it could also be the step to something different, maybe something bigger you know what I mean. Arish holds wins over both the champion and the challenger so as far as rankings go there is only Paul Daley, Cathal Pendred and Jimmy Wallhead who are above so we will see what happens.

Ben: At the weekend both yourself and Colin Freakshow Fletcher are coming to London to fight are we expecting a big travelling support?
Scope: Yeah we always bring a good crowd so there will be a lot of people coming down.

Ben: You have been scheduled to fight Walter Gahadza in the past, is this a fight you are still interested in?
Scope: I know Walters been saying some shit about me pulling out of the fight because I had a broken hand. He bottled it online when called out by Jake Bostwick so he can't say Ive been dodging a fight when he has been publicly humiliated online so he cant say anything to be honest. I will fight Walter but if I beat Ali, whats the point.

Ben: I read in an interview you did last year that you aim to be in the UFC by the end of this year, how many wins do you think you are you from that now?
Scope: I think its only a couple. Again, if you look at the rankings there isn't many above Arish who is fourth so if I beat him I'm right up there. Obviously Paul Daley isn't getting back in the UFC, Wallhead has just signed for Cage Warriors and Pendred is now signed for the UFC so there would only be those above me and I am only 21. So that will look good for the UFC, up and coming fighter just beat number 4 in the country.

Ben: Its recently been announced that your training partner Ross Pearson has been signed up to fight Diego Sanchez, what do you think of that fight?
Scope: Yeah its gonna be a good fight that one. I think Ross will be too clever on the feet for Diego. Diego is game, he is tough you know but Ross is technically better than him. I like watching Diego fight but he fights with too much emotion. You have to go in there and be chilled.

Its a good fight for Ross and will be a statement if he can finish the fight. Its a good first fight back from Ross' injury. Its in Diego's home town so they are probably expecting Ross to get beat but Ross has a great shot.

Ben: Finally one last question, How do you see yourself winning?
Scope: I'm going to say a second or third round stoppage. Its not going to be like my last couple of fights. TKO stoppage in the second or third.

Kingdom MMA would like to thank Ryan for his time and we wish him all the best for his fight at BAMMA 15.