Interview: Benny Alloway "Always happy to have an Opportunity to KO an Englishman"

Kingdom MMA talks to Benny Alloway ahead of his Fight with Jack Mason
by Chris Houten - @mrhouts

Photo: Dolly Clew | Cage Warriors

On Saturday night Australian welterweight Benny Alloway returns to Cage Warriors to fight Jack Mason in a bout that could have significant impact on the Cage Warriors welterweight division. A contestant on TUF Smashes, 3 fight UFC vet Alloway signed an exclusive 5 fight deal with Cage Warriors in November, and as a international recognised name, and one of the most skilled welterweight on the Cage Warriors roster, an impressive win over the surging Mason who is 6-1 in his last 7 fights could be all the Gold Cost fighter needs to earn a shot at the Cage Warriors title.

Kingdom MMA caught up with Alloway earlier this week to discuss why he signed for Cage Warriors, finishing Jack Mason, and who stands in his way on route to the title.

Houten: You will be traveling great distances to fight for Cage Warriors, what made to chose the promotion over other interested parties after you moved on from the UFC?
Alloway: Cage Warriors in my eyes is the number 2 promotion in the world.  They are as professional as the UFC as in every aspect of the promotion.  The UFC watches what goes on in the Cage Warriors ranks and that's a good thing for my new long term goal.

The general consensus amongst fans and media is that you're a better fighter than what we see during your time with the UFC, why do think we didn't get to see your best?
Straight up I blew my ankle out just before the La Flare fight and my hamstring 10 days before I fought in Indianapolis,  it was very unprofessional of me to think I could compete at this level with injuries and I paid for it by losing my job.

Its been about 5 months since your release from the UFC, what have you been up over the last few months?
The last five months have been great, [I've been] spending time with my new son and my wife on the Gold Coast.  I started a job on the opposite side of the country just before Xmas in civil construction which is putting great money in my bank and allowing to still train twice a days.  I took from my last fight until mid January off to let my body heal properly.

You will be fighting Jack Mason on March 1st, happy to back in the cage fighting an Englishman? 
Always happy to have an opportunity to KO an Englishman haha, just happy to be back in there. He has a tremendous amount of experience in his fights that is literally more than I will probably ever have. [He] has been fighting since before I knew what MMA was so definitely a worthy opponent. I look forward to solving the problem of the stone mason.

How familiar are you with Mason? Have you spent much time studying him?
I've changed the way I do things and now I'm training to fight, ill be in shape, ill have all my skills sharpened and ill adjust to whatever he tries to do on the night and look for the finish.  Everyone knows I'm looking to stand and fight and see who is tougher.  Lets hope he wants to put on a show for you all indulges me a little.

What do you think Mason does well and where do you think he is weak?
He is very good at smothering people and seems to get the takedown even if he has to bulldog it a little. He hasn't finished any - in my opinion, elite fighters and has decisions over lower level guys.  I think his striking and movement is his weakest part.

Mason has 14 submissions victories to his name, how do you feel about going to the ground with him?
The 3 times I've been finished I have been submitted so it must be where he thinks he has the best chance to win.  He hasn't submitted any world class or elite guys and I'm comfortable where ever the fight goes. Yes I got caught in my last fight but I can win a fight from any position.

How has your camp gone for this fight, and where have you done your camp? At home on the Gold Coast?
I've done [my] camp for this fight in Western Australia which is the opposite side of the country to where I'm from. I've had great training in every aspect so I feel that we completed camp well and I'm happy. 

Pendred announced this week that he was vacating the welterweight title, how many wins away do you feel you are from a title shot? Do you think a big win over Mason could make you next in line to fight the winner of Sergei Churilov vs. Nicolas Dalby?
Always hard to say how many wins, a quiet mouth never gets fed right?  After I finish Mason in Dublin I don't know we will see what happens.

The 170lb division is one of the most talent rich division Cage Warriors has, how much do you know about the other guys that will be fighting it out for the title along side you this year such as Danny Roberts, Simeon Thoresen, Matt Inman, Gael Grimaud etc.
Don't know many. I know Danny is a beast, Gael - X champ, Pendred - about to be in the UFC and my buddy Bruno, I know Gael Ko'd him ....... redemption?

Who would you say is your biggest threat on route to the title?
Going to decision with Mason takes me out off the elite category and will slow things down.

Finally Benny how do you see yourself winning your fight with Mason on Saturday?
By submission !

Cage Warriors 65 takes place March 1st, at the Helix in Dublin, Ireland. Tickets are on sale now HERE

Video: UFC Newcomer Alan Omer Highlight Video

Video: UFC Newcomer Alan Omer Highlight Video 
by Chris Houten - @mrhouts

Video: UFC Newcomer Alan Omer Highlight Video 
by Chris Houten - @mrhouts

News broke earlier today that The UFC had signed Alan Omar; the Iraqi born featherweight meets Jim Alers at UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi.

Ahead of his debut against Alers, check out this sweet little highlight video put together by Omars management team a few years back.

6 new fights added to UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi: Nogueira vs. Nelson

6 new fights added to UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi: Nogueira vs. Nelson

The Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®) organisation has announced that tickets for UFC FIGHT NIGHT ABU DHABI: NOGUEIRA vs. NELSON will go on sale to UFC Fight Club® members on Monday 24th February at 12 p.m. GST, to FLASH pre-registration and UFC Newsletter subscribers on Tuesday 25th February at 12 p.m. GST, and on general sale from 1 p.m. GST on Wednesday 26th February.

The event, which will be held on Yas Island, is the second of six Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) FIGHT NIGHTS to be held throughout 2014. Tickets are priced between 695 AED and 3,695 AED, and are available from www.ticketmaster.ae.

Headlining a fantastic evening of fights is former interim heavyweight champion (#13) Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira (34-8-1, 1 NC, in professional MMA and fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), aka “Big Nog”, battling Roy “Big Country” Nelson (19-9, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev.) in a five round fight that will catapult the victor back into the elite of the division. A Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace and legend of the sport, (#13) Nogueira has notable wins over former UFC champions Ricco Rodriguez, Josh Barnett, Tim Sylvia and Randy Couture. Tenth-ranked Nelson, a fan favourite, stormed onto the UFC scene by winning The Ultimate Fighter® Heavyweights tournament in 2009 and has garnered an impressive four Knock Out of the Night bonuses since.

The co-main event will feature a dynamic featherweight match-up between Clay “The Carpenter” Guida and Tatsuya “The Crusher” Kawajiri. Kawajiri (33-7-2, fighting out of Ibaraki, Japan) is on a scintillating run having won his last six bouts, including his UFC debut against Sean Soriano in Singapore in January. Ninth-ranked Guida (30-11, fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M.), has fought an incredible 18 times inside the Octagon® and developed a reputation as one of the UFC’s most exciting fighters in amassing five Fight of the Night bonuses and being the only person to defeat current lightweight champion Anthony Pettis in the UFC.

Polish heavyweight Daniel Omielanczuk (16-3-1, 1NC, fighting out of Warsaw, Poland) will match up against Jared “The Big Show” Rosholt (9-1, fighting out of Arlington, Texas), with both men coming off big wins in their UFC debuts and looking to make it two in a row.

Also facing off the Octagon® will be middleweights Andrew “Highlight” Craig and Chris Camozzi. Craig (9-2, fighting out of Houston, Texas), last competed in a Fight of the Night barnburner against Luke Barnatt at UFC® FIGHT NIGHT MANCHESTER. Camozzi (19-7, fighting out of Lakewood, Colo.), a veteran of the UFC since 2010, has never been knocked out in his career and will try to use that toughness to earn a big win over a tough competitor in Craig.

Brazilian grappling champion Rani Yahya (19-8, fighting out of Brasilia, Brazil) moves down to bantamweight as he looks to begin a run to the top of the division against battle-tested veteran, Johnny “Brutal” Bedford (19-11-1, fighting out of Ft. Worth, Texas).

Turkey’s Alptekin ‘The Turkish Delight” Ozkilic (9-2, fighting out of St. Louis, Mo.) goes head-to-head with American Dustin Ortiz (12-3, fighting out of Franklin, Tenn.) in a flyweight battle, while The Ultimate Fighter® Season 13 runner up Ramsey Nijem (9-4, fighting out of Orem, Utah) will face the undefeated Beneil Dariush (7-0, fighting out of Yorba Linda, Calif.) in a clash of rising lightweights.

Ryan LaFlare (10-0, fighting out of Farmingdale, N.Y.) will put his undefeated MMA career on the line when he faces Boston’s John Howard (22-8) in a welterweight bout. Jim “The Beast” Alers (12-1, fighting out of Orlando, FL) will face the Iraqi Alan Omer (18-3) in a featherweight bout with both men making their UFC debuts.

The final fight on the card will see accomplished wrestler Trevor Smith (11-4, fighting out of Tukwila, Wash.) against former title challenger Thales Leites (22-4, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) in a battle of gritty middleweights both coming off wins and looking to keep their momentum going

Europa MMA 1 Adds Mohammad Babadivand vs Peter Ligier

Europa MMA 1 Adds Mohammad Babadivand vs Peter Ligier
by Chris Houten - @mrhouts

A bantamweight battle pitting Sweden vs France has been added to Europa MMA's inaugural card.

Undefeated Swedish prospect Mohammad Babadivand ( 3-0-1) will meet also undefeated Peter Ligier (2-0) of France in March.

Europa MMA 1 takes place March 22nd, at the Brentwood Centre, Essex and is headlined by Germany’s no.2 and Sweden’s no.2 ranked featherweights Max Coga and Niklas Backstrom. Tickets are now on sale HERE.

A Product of Sweden's All Star Training Center along side UFC fighters such as Papy Abedi, Nicholas Musike, and Magnus Cebenblad, Mohammad Babadivand joins team Niklas Backstom on Europa MMA's inaugural card. Babadivand made his professional debut in 2008 put together a 4 fight undefeated run between '08 and 2010 when he last fought. Babadivand has finish 2 of 3 of his victories inside the distance.

His opponent Peter Ligier fights for the 3rd time in his young career, having made his debut at Knock Out Championships 6 in April. A relatively unknown quantity, Ligier is a submission specialist and has submitted both of his opponents in the first round. Europa MMA marks the first time Ligier fights for the first time out side of his native France.

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

Alexander Shlemenko Signs Multi-Fight Contract Extension with Bellator

Alexander Shlemenko Signs Multi-Fight Contract Extension with Bellator

When reigning Bellator Middleweight Champion Alexander Shlemenko steps into the cage on March 28th, the 29-year-old Russian finisher will not only be looking for his incredible 50th win, but will also be fighting with a new contract in hand as Bellator has announced a long term extension for the man known simply as “Storm”.

“Bellator has been my home for many years, and it’s where I want to be,” Shlemenko said. “Bjorn made me a promise and he lived up to that promise to provide me with a new deal. I have made a home here at Bellator, and I will continue to represent Russia in my efforts in the cage. I have gained millions of new fans both in the US and in Russia and around the world during my time with Bellator, and I will enjoy being Bellator’s longest running champion. I will continue wearing that belt with honor during my time with Bellator, which will now be at the peak of my career.”

Currently riding a twelve-fight win streak that includes victories over Brett Cooper, Maiquel Falcao, Doug Marshall and Vitor Vianna, Shlemenko will defend his crown against Season 9 Tournament winner Brennan Ward on March 28th live on Spike. As one of the true Russian ambassadors for the sport, Shlemenko is set to reign over the Bellator Middleweight division for years thanks to his extension.

“Alexander Shlemenko has been with this organization since its infancy, and has grown into one of the most dominant champions in MMA,” Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney said. “I can say without hesitation Alexander has been a large part of the success we have enjoyed over the last five years and as the biggest name in Russian MMA, he’s been the catalyst to the largest TV deal in the history of MMA in Russia.  It’s an honor to have him fight in this organization. I look forward to watching his career continue inside the Bellator cage for years to come.”

Brett Johns Defends Title Against James Brum at CWFC 67 in Swansea

Brett Johns Defends Title Against James Brum at CWFC 67 in Swansea

CWFC bantamweight champion Brett Johns (Photo: Dolly Clew | Cage Warriors)

Cage Warriors Fighting Championship bantamweight title-holder Brett Johns is set to put his belt on the line in his native Wales.

Johns (9-0) will take on James Brum on Saturday, April 12, 2014, when the promotion travels to Swansea for the first time for CWFC 67.

The highly-anticipated meeting of Johns and Brum will headline the bill at The LC, having originally been scheduled for CWFC 62 in Newcastle this past December, until an injury forced the champion to withdraw.

Undefeated Johns climbed to the summit of the CWFC bantamweight division at Cage Warriors 59 last September in Cardiff, when he overcame both David Haggstrom and Jordan Desborough in the same evening to win the promotion’s four-man 135lbs title tournament.

A judo black belt, Johns debuted for Cage Warriors in October 2012 as a featherweight, when he impressively overcame Sam Gilbert by unanimous decision. His next CWFC win came via second-round TKO at the expense of James MacAlister at Cage Warriors 54 in May of last year.

“I’m really thankful to Cage Warriors to giving me the chance to defend my belt in my hometown,” said Johns. “I’m training harder than ever and I’ll do whatever it takes to keep the gold around my waist.

“Thanks to James Brum for accepting the fight. He’s been one of the best fighters in Britain for years and it will be good to throw down with him.”

Brum (14-2) competes for the CWFC bantamweight title on the back of putting together a 7-0 streak under the Cage Warriors banner since making his debut for the promotion in February 2012.

A 26-year-old native of Portsmouth, England, Brum hasn’t tasted defeat since facing current UFC star Erik Perez back in September 2011.

Brum was named CWFC Fighter of the Year for 2012, courtesy of victories over Leandro Gontijo, Thomas Back, James Saville and Moktar Benkaci, before continuing his winning streak in 2013 against Olivier Pastor, Ruslan Abiltarov and - most recently, at December’s Cage Warriors 61 in Amman - Marat Pekov.

Brum said: “I’ve been training with the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world at Team Alpha Male in preparation for this fight, and I’ve told the boys that I’ll be bringing my new shiny gold belt with me when I return to California.

“In Swansea on April 12 I’ll be delivering a first taste of defeat to Brett Johns in his own backyard, before walking out as the new Cage Warriors Fighting Championship bantamweight champion.”

Love vs. Paraisy, Lasota vs. Marin, & Hill vs. James Added to Cage Warriors Fight Night 10

Love vs. Paraisy, Lasota vs. Marin, & Hill vs. James Added to Cage Warriors Fight Night 10

Officials can today confirm the first batch of bouts for CWFC Fight Night 10, which takes place at the King Hussein Youth City Boxing Arena in Amman, Jordan, on Friday, March 28.

The event, which will be CWFC’s fourth in as many countries in 2014, will feature a big middleweight bout between Allan Love and Norman Paraisy (pictured), an exciting flyweight clash between Marcin Lasota and Paul Marin, as well as the meeting of English featherweights Dave Hill and Liam James.

Paraisy (13-3-2), a 27-year-old Frenchman, is undefeated in his last four bouts, including a win over Leeroy Barnes and a draw with Chris Fields under the CWFC banner.

A former TUF contestant and three-fight Bellator veteran, Paraisy has been stopped just once in 18 bouts.

Love (11-4), who has taken all 11 career wins inside the distance, returns to fight for CWFC for the third time in his career, on the back of a four-fight win-streak.

Most recently, the 30-year-old Scotsman overcame previously unbeaten Russian prospect Magomed Magomedov and experienced Brazilian Alan Carlos.

Elsewhere, Lasota (7-0) is an unbeaten Polish fighter who has built up a reputation as one of Europe’s top prospects since making his professional debut in 2011.

Ranked as Poland’s top bantamweight, the 24-year-old will be making his flyweight debut against Paul Marin in the Jordanian capital.

Marin (7-3) had an impressive 2013 with Cage Warriors Fighting Championship, competing four times for the promotion.

Following losses to ex-CWFC champions Paul McVeigh and Neil Seery, the 29-year-old Romanian rebounded to defeat Shaj Haque and Spencer Hewitt.

Meanwhile, former CWFC featherweight title contender Dave Hill will be aiming for back-to-back wins for the first time since 2010 when he clashes with Liam James at CWFC Fight Night 10.

Twenty-eight-year-old Hill (11-3), who has eight submission victories on his ledger, bounced back from his loss to Conor McGregor with a convincing win over Brian Moore at CWFC 59 in Cardiff last September.

A six-fight CWFC veteran, James (8-6) will be keen to get back in the win column following his December defeat to Ian Entwistle at CWFC 62 in Newcastle.

To date, the 29-year-old holds three CWFC victories - over Jean N’Doye, Stephen Coll and Akhad Mammadov.