Fighters v34i08 by Martial Arts Publications Ltd

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KHAN HE BEAT A LEGEND? Amir Khan Takes on Boxing Great Marco Antonio Barrera

BJJ TECHNIQUES Top Tips From Brazil

BASICS OF SPORT NUTRITION All You Need to Know

UFC 94 Is GSP Now The Best Pound for Pound Fighter?

MARCH 2009 £3.50

A Look at The Girls Dominating The Full Contact Ring

9 770260 496080

HARD HITTING WOMEN

MUAY THAI - KICKBOXING - MMA - K-1 - BOXING

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CLE001/40 MBI001/02

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CONTENTS

MAXIMAIZE COMPETITION

NEWS ROUND-UP Domestic & International

“HARD HITTING” WOMEN A Look at Some of The Girls Who Dominate The Full Contact Ring

DKK FIGHTERS We Talk to The Founder & Principal Instructor, Gavin Mulholland

KHAN HE BEAT A LEGEND? Amir Khan vs Marco Antonio Barrera

SEEKING INSPIRATION, KNOWLEDGE & A SUN TAN IN THAILAND By Kru Shaun Boland - Part 3

THE BASIS OF SPORTS NUTRITION The Building Blocks of Life All You Need to Know

TOP TIPS From Brazillian Masters

GLADIATOR TAMMY IS NO FOXY BOXER By Guy Holland

RUSS WILLIAMS The Welsh Dragon Roars on!

THE FIGHT PROFESSOR No Hold’s Barred - Part 3

APPEAR STRONG WHEN YOU ARE WEAK, AND APPEAR WEAK WHEN YOU ARE STRONG An Interview With Jez Hall

STRENGTH & POWER TRAINING For The Combat Athlete

IT’S OFFICIAL Martial Arts & Combat Sport Games to Take Place in 2010

UFC 93 St Pierre vs Penn

ULTIMATE CHALLENGE 2 London Troxy 7th February 2009

WOKING FIGHT NIGHT 9 Full Report & Results

ISKA AWARDS

ISKA MUAYTHAI AND KICKBOXING RANKINGS

ISKA EVENTS

WAKO PRO RANKINGS

INDEPENDANT BRITISH THAI BOXING RANKINGS

EDITORIAL I really do hope that Amir Khan, our cover star this month, proves the naysayers wrong. I really, really do hope that he defeats Marc Antonio Barrera comprehensively in Manchester on March 14th, taking a few good blows to his supposed glass jaw in the process. After all, there is a big difference between fighting a non-champion level fighter and someone who has stepped in the ring with the greats. Only after a win will the doubts that creep into my and other commentators’ minds when assessing the Bolton lad, be banished. After tasting defeat to Colombian Breidis Prescott in his last outing, the pressure is really on Amir. For many, the result of this bout will determine Khan’s natural level; will he just end up as another promising youngster who, despite all the hype, ultimately didn’t make the superstar grade he aspired to? Having a good, solid chin is a prerequisite when fighting any top level warrior like Barrera; irrespective of his faded, 35 year old physique. (Barrera looks to my eyes too small at lightweight; his middle age frame having expanded his fighting weight up and out of the featherweight and super-featherweight divisions in which he made his name). If Khan can prove that he can mix it with the likes of Barrera, he will buy himself time in the eyes of his critics; two losses on the trot, however, and things start to look not that rosy! This fight should provide Khan with the ultimate opportunity to take the scalp of a once world class fighter; he is bigger, stronger and much faster than the Mexican. Only time will tell whether he has what it takes when the bell tolls. Marcus

Amir Khan page 26

WWW.FIGHTERSMAG.CO.UK PUBLISHER/MANAGING DIRECTOR Paul Clifton EDITOR Marcus Haig SENIOR DESIGNER Mark John Davies GRAPHIC DESIGN Kevin Thompson ADVERTISING/SALES Julie Davies (0121 356 7616) UK THAI SUB EDITOR Dan Green UK MMA SUB EDITOR Rob Nutley UK BJJ SUB EDITOR Carl Fisher UK KICKBOXING SUB EDITOR Cris Janson-Piers UK BOXING SUB EDITOR Joe Holroyd

CONTRIBUTORS THAI / KICKBOXING Tony Myers, Paul Hennessy, Shaun Boland, Neil Holden, Carl Sams, Colin Payne, Rob Cox, Charlie Joseph, Dawn Whillock HOW TO GET WORK PUBLISHED Drop us an email at fighters@martialartsinprint.com or give the editorial team a call on 0121 344 3737 NEWS ITEMS For all news related items, simply mark your envelope “FIGHTERS NEWSLINE” and together with a photograph (if required) and a covering letter, send it to: FIGHTERS, Head Office or E-Mail: fighters.news@btconnect.com HEAD OFFICE: FIGHTERS, 135 Aldridge Road, Perry Barr, Birmingham. B42 2ET. Tel: 0121 344 3737 Fax: 0121 356 7300 E-Mail: fighters.magazine@btconnect.com ADVERTISING DETAILS If you would like to advertise in FIGHTERS email us at fighters@martialartsinprint.com to obtain details, deadline dates and costs. DISCLAIMER FIGHTERS is published by Martial Arts Publications Ltd, Regent House, 135 Aldridge Road, Perry Barr, Birmingham B42 2ET. The publishers reserve the right to reject editorial and/or advertising material as they see fit. The Publishers accept no responsibility for the return of unsolicited material. However, the Publishers will endeavour to return such matter providing that it is accompanied by a stamped addressed envelope. Any material accepted by the Publishers shall be revised or altered should the Publisher deem it necessary to do so. The act of submitting manuscripts and/or materials shall be considered an express warranty that such material is original and in no way infringes upon the rights of others. It is expressly forbidden for any part of the magazine to be reported whatsoever without the permission of Editor / Publishers. The views or comments expressed in these pages are not necessarily those of the editor or Publisher. Distribution by COMAG, Tavistock Works, Tavistock Road, West Drayton, Middlesex, UB7 7QE. No part of this magazine may be produced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without prior permission. Fighters, may not be sold at more than the recomended retail price shown on the cover. SUBSCRIPTION RATES To take out a subscription to Fighters, just send your cheque for the correct amount made payable to Martial Arts Publications ltd. to: Subscription Dept. 135 Aldridge Road, Perry Barr, Birmingham B42 2ET. or telephone: 0121-344 3737 12 issues = UK @ £38.95 EUROPE @ £70 (Airmail) REST OF WORLD @ £85 (Airmail)

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Page 16 WWW.FIGHTERSMAG.CO.UK March 2009

By Cris Janson-Piers Full Contact Sub Editor

“HARD HITTING” WOMEN Page 17

“Hard Hitting”

Women

A look at some of the girls who dominate the Full Contact ring

Although most girls, including these featured like to lead a normal family life, wear nice clothes and generally look their best there’s another reason this group of athletes may think about wearing waterproof mascara!!! They are all used to the sweat and tears involved in hard training and fighting in the ring at such a high and demanding pace. We have featured girls from the Full Contact circuit who have impressed us no matter what level they may be. We have looked for some of todays active and recognised hardest hitters but also want to show that the sport doesn’t take away the femininity of the female athlete as you will see in some of the pictures. Kickboxing has now been a favourite type of physical exercise of the celebrities for a few years, it gives great muscular tone, raises self confidence and has the added benefit of teaching self defence skills, but for the fighter it is a different ball game! Training alongside the men in hardened gyms with an aroma that leaves a lot to be desired, these girls pound the pads 5-6 days a week, maintain high workload fitness regimes along with donning the gloves and getting their rounds in. Out of all the camps we approached it was nice to see the ones who decided to get involved had got the desired quality.....thank you! So in no particular order, who is going to start us off?..

Page 18 WWW.FIGHTERSMAG.CO.UK March 2009

Julie Kitchen

where she received the silver medal on a marginal points decision. Ashley decided then to try her boxing skills and attended two boxing tournaments abroad with team Wales. The first was the Pyynikki Tournament in Tampere Finland where she took silver in March 2008. She also attended the first European Womens’ Youth and Junior Championships in Yambol in Bulgaria December 2008 where she took the bronze medal. This girl has a bright future and now only she can decide where her next move will be! Ashley is now a member of Team Wales Elite boxing squad.

Sarah Upton

Julie Kitchen Julie Kitchen stamped her authority on the British kickboxing circuit by challenging and defeating the former UK No1 Natalie Bee over 6 rounds on Saturday July 26th 2006 for the WKA Super-Lightweight British title and therefore has earned the right to be featured even though she is well renowned under Muay Thai and oriental K1 rules where she has won 5 World titles. Almost 3 years later, Julie still remains unchallenged in the -64kg category and with team-mate Zoe Mason ranked jointly at No 2, is now forced to look further a field for challenges. Julie’s boxing skills have been unquestionable, even from her novice fights. She trains her boxing separately and hits hard with an unstoppable work rate. Her ability to absorb hard shots allows her to add pressure on her opponents.

Sarah Upton

Julie appears to have the longest jab in the world (this is probably true), and it’s accompanied by a savage, accurate straight right cross. Julie has fought the top female fighters in the world and always coped very well but due to an operation in 1996 has severe pain every time she throws a left hook, so she often leaves it out of her arsenal of attacks. Super-Lightweight 64 kilos Independently Ranked No1 in GB. Julie Kitchen. World Champion.

Ashley Brace Ashley Brace of Wales took the points fighting system by “STORM” before embarking on a very successful Full Contact career. With a good stoppage record and continuing skills it was not surprising to see her represent Great Britain at the WAKO World Champs,

Lisa Higo

Sarah Upton, 34, of Loughborough has been training with Sue Fell for just over a year, and started in her fight club approximately 7 months ago. After her first appearance on the ISKA light continuous scene, where her first punch put her opponent to the floor, they both decided full contact had got to be the way. Sarah’s record to date is 3 fights, 3 wins. In Sarah’s 1st fight the girl conceded after the first round due to a punch which took her head back and her front foot off the floor. Following a win over Tia Rennie, from Blackburn, who is a very strong fighter herself, she moved on to Rachel Rose from Matlock in Derbyshire. Sarah won by way of TKO in the 1st round which saw 2 standing counts before the fight was stopped, yet again her punches to the face which were just too strong for her opponent. Sarah weighs in at 71kg’s and stands at 5ft 7” and is looking for any fight opportunities. This is one fighter to watch and is now ranked No 1 in the independent rankings, followed closely by Rachel Rose then Kelly Murray of Leicester who is also making a name for herself. Super-Welterweight 72 kilos Independently Ranked No1 in GB. Sarah Upton.

Lisa Higo Lisa Higo, the current WAKO Pro British Kickboxing champion, who has now been on the scene for many years has added many knockouts to her fight record over the years. Fighting in the 52kg weight category she proves it’s not just the heavier girls who can “bang”.

“HARD HITTING” WOMEN Page 19

After a long and successful amateur career and pro career Lisa made her debut in mixed martial arts last year and used her power to ground and pound her opponent in round 2 to gain a European title. She has recently returned from America with the G-Fight World Title after 3 fights on the same night, the first fight lasting only 49 seconds after Higo landed her lethal right cross square on her opponents’ chin. 2 fights later left two other U.S. Champions looking like they had been in a car accident; at 115lbs. in weight, with fists like hammers her name stateside is ‘The U.K. Killer’. Bantamweight 52 Kilos Independently Ranked No1 in GB. Lisa Higo. World Champion (MMA).

Toni Phillips Toni Phillips, another young lady with great height and reach; weighing in to fight at only 58kilos but standing at 5ft 8

Ashley Brace

Toni Phillips inches makes her an awkward opponent. Coming out of a very successful Light Continuous background she had totted up 15 fights and 1 loss and became the Junior EKTC Northern Area, British and finally the European Champion. Her full contact record is equally as impressive and stands at 6 full contact fights 6 wins, 2 on points, 1 KO, 2 TKO’s and 1 stoppage. Toni wants to achieve a good amateur

Lucy Payne fight record before turning pro. She has set her sights this year on the EFK British. So be ready girls as Toni is looking for a more active year with as many fights as possible and with the added possibility of some Muay Thai or low kick bouts.

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Welcome to...

WAKO WORLD ASSOCIATION OF KICKBOXING ORGANISATIONS Founded in 1970 WAKO is the largest unified kickboxing organisation in the World with over 100 nations currently in membership. WAKO World H.Q. is based in Milan. ★ WAKO History ★ WAKO started its activity in Europe in 1976. The founder was Mr Georg Bruckner from Berlin, who promoted the first ever World Championships in semi and full contact karate (as it was called in those days) back in 1978 with 110 competitors representing 18 countries. WAKO immediately created the rules and regulations for the new fighting sports and acted, since the very beginning, as the authentic Kickboxing Federation of the world. In our Championships, only national teams are accepted. Each member country can present only 1 competitor in each weight class. The WAKO World Championships are NOT open competitions therefore each representative is the premier competitor in that category, from their country.

World Governing Body for Kickboxing World and European Amateur Championships Title Fights held continually both Amateur & Professional Regional Competitions are held throughout the year British Amateur Championships to choose British Teams Full-Contact, Light Continuous-Contact, Semi-Contact, Musical Forms Licence, Membership and Insurance available to all of U.K., Southern Ireland and Republic of Ireland Coaching courses, Referee Training, Seminars and Training Dan Gradings and WAKO certificates for all Members For upto the minute details of all forthcoming W.A.K.O events visit our website To see national ama/wako listings of over 13,000 instructors/clubs on the web, type: www.bt.com/thephonebook then in ‘business’ type: martial arts and town

Contact: WAKO, 66 Chaddesden Lane, Chaddesden, Derby, DE21 6LP Tel: 07973 507716 / 01332 663086 / 01628 784254 or Fax: 01332 280286 WAK001/21

www.wakogb.co.uk

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Page 26 WWW.FIGHTERSMAG.CO.UK March 2009

Khan

he beat a legend? Amir Khan vs. Marco Antonio Barrera On the 14th March at the Manchester MEN Amir Khan will have a potentially career defining fight. His opponent is none other than Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera. The fight itself was in jeopardy for a while after Barrera sustained a cut above his left eye in a warm-up bout, with Freudis Rojas, on January 31st. The cut was caused by a headbutt and Rojas was subsequently disqualified. This prompted fears that the fight with Khan may have to be postponed by a couple of weeks. Thankfully this proved not to be the case, with a doctor giving Barrera the green light for the March date. Barrera is probably best know in this country for his victory over Prince Naseem Hamed in 2001, a fight which effectively ended Naz’s career (He fought only once more before retiring). However, Barrera is certainly a fighter of pedigree- a 7-time world champion at Feather, Super Feather, and Junior Middle weight. He boasts an impressive record of 65 wins (43 by KO) and only 6 defeats. His ring experience certainly dwarfs the modest record of Khan, 19 wins (15 ending the quick way) and one lose. This fight is generating interest on both sides of the Atlantic, and has the boxing

media hooked. One of the reasons for that is the aforementioned difference in ring experience between the two boxers. It’s the age-old tale of the young challenger against the old lion. Khan certainly has youth on his side and a knock out punch. Barrera on the other hand is a multiple champion and has ring craft in abundance. The announcement of this fight did surprise more than a few. After Khan’s September defeat at the hands of Bredis Prescott, no one imagined then that he would be facing a ring legend so soon. His ‘comeback’ fight was a second round KO of Osion Fagan in early December, and many believed he would be facing more domestic opposition before moving on to bigger things. In fact many British fans had hoped to see contests against European champion Jon Thaxton or British Champion John Murray. “This is the right fight for Amir Khan at this stage of his career. Sometimes there are fights you should make when you get the opportunity, and I think I have got my timing right here.” Said Frank Warren, Khan’s promoter. Khan himself has come under fire at times for bypassing the British and European titles in his quest for world glory. It is becoming

increasingly unlikely that he will fight for either of these titles. On paper, putting 20 fight Khan against a 7-time world champion with 43 KO’s may look risky. However, you can be sure Warren and his team have done their homework on this one. Khan’s former trainer, Jorge Rubio, hand picked Bredis Prescott as an opponent. They will be keen to avoid a similar mistake and clearly see Barrera as beatable. Indeed, at 35 he is certainly past his best and hasn’t really been a major force since his back-to-back defeats by Juan Manuel Marquez and Manny Pacquiao in 2007. He will also be the naturally smaller man on the night, as he has recently been campaigning at Super featherweight (he started his career as a Flyweight). Barrera only moved up to Lightweight in November, for his 4 round victory over Sammy Ventura. The Khan camp is feeling confident ahead of the clash. “It’s a fight Amir has to win and should win” said Freddie Roach, Khan’s trainer. “It’s not an easy fight, but Amir’s youth and speed will be too much for him”. Amir, the commonwealth champion, is obviously still wary of rushing in following his 54-sec-

KHAN HE BEAT A LEGEND? Page 27

ond KO by Prescott. “I am going to give it my all. I’m not going to go in and try and knock him out. He’s only been stopped once and never been knocked out, so I’m going to use my jab and my speed against him”. The boxing community seems to be split on the outcome of this fight. Former WBC Light Welterweight champ, Junior Witter, believes it’s a wise move for Khan. “He <Barrera> is not the fighter he was 10 years ago. For Khan this is the perfect fight.” Threetime world champion Duke McKenzie seems to agree. “ Khan will grind out a points victory.” However, Barry McGuigan feels that Barrera is the

wrong choice of opponent. “It’s a crazy decision.” he said. “A very risky fight. Too risky at this stage.” Interestingly the bookies, rarely wrong, have installed Barrera as the favourite. Should Khan win this contest it would certainly propel him onto the world stage. Having Barrera’s name on his CV will bring that title shot a lot closer, possibly late 2009 or early 2010. Regardless of when that tilt at the world title comes, victory on March 14th will put his career in the right direction and help restore his confidence, and indeed his image, following that one defeat.

Should he lose, however, then he would be straight back among the domestic fighters. A contest against Murray or Thaxton may then look more likely. Lets hope the fight turns out to be as exciting as it is interesting. The under card of the contest will feature Enzo Maccarinelli against Jonathon Banks at Cruiserweight, a Super featherweight bout between Nicky Cook and Roman Martinez, and a Light Middleweight clash between Bradley Pryce and Matthew Hall.

By Mark Wilson Smith

Page 28 WWW.FIGHTERSMAG.CO.UK March 2009

Seeking inspiration, knowledge & a Sun-tan

in Thailand Part 3 - By Kru Shaun Boland

November in Chiang Mai presents a different landscape to what the hot season offers in January. Following the rainy season the land bursts into life, flowers and plants bloom in an array of vibrant colours and there is a green ‘lushness’ all around. This is none more apparent than when viewing Chiang Mai from the mountain ‘Doi Suthep’. On the morning prior to Leigh’s evening fight, Ben, Leigh and I jumped on a songthaew, which is basically an adapted pick up truck used as a share taxi, and travelled the winding mountain road heading for the Buddhist temple of ‘Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep’. It is said that you have not truly visited Chiang Mai unless you have visited this revered and beautiful temple. Legend has it that in the late 14th Century holy relics of the Lord Buddha were placed on the back of a white elephant. The elephant climbed the mountain at Doi Suthep and before collapsing and dying of fatigue, the sacred animal marked the spot where the relics should be enshrined by turning round three times and trumpeting three times. The original Chedi was built by King Kuena at the end of the 14th Century, but the present complex dates from the 16th Century and has been restored and extended at various stages over the centuries.

There are 305 steps to climb to reach the temple complex and these are bordered either side by an ornate serpent called a ‘Naga’. Once in the complex we headed for the central golden Chedi and proceeded to offer our blessings by walking round the platform that surrounds it. According to Buddhist belief and tradition we performed this walk three times before offering incense, a candle and a lotus flower to the Buddha images. Both Leigh and I went into one of the temples where we were given a Buddhist blessing for Leigh’s forthcoming fight. Our Buddha amulets were placed in a bowl to be blessed and individually we knelt in front of the Monk to receive our ‘Mantra’. The Monk then proceeded to splash water 3 times on our heads with a bamboo ‘brush’ and tied a piece of white cotton on our wrists. The ‘circle’ of cotton signifies the Buddhist belief of reincarnation; Life, death and re-birth. Once we had received our blessings we headed to the view point that overlooks Chiang Mai city. I must say as I write this I feel a deep sense of missing not just because the view is spectacular (on a clear day of course) but because Leigh, Ben and I each had an individual moment of inspiration and a connection to Chiang Mai and felt a serenity and a sense of being there in the moment that no photographs or words could really express. Traveling back down the mountain we headed back to the hotel for some tasty noodles and to top up our Sun-tans poolside.

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SEEKING INSPIRATION IN THAILAND PART 3 Page 29

‘‘

ng man stumbled, It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the stro o the man who is or where th e doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs t , who strives actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood at enthusiasms, valiantly, who errs and comes short ag ain and again, who knows the gre k n o w s a c h i e v ethe great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause, who at best o that his place ment and who at the worst if he fails at least fails while daring greatly s no r defeat. shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory

‘‘

- Theodore Roosevelt. From a speech given in Paris at the Sorbonne in 1910

Page 34 WWW.FIGHTERSMAG.CO.UK March 2009

The basics of sports nutrition The Building Blocks of Life All You Need to Know. What you eat on a daily basis can largely influence your physical capacity and the ability of your body to grow and adapt to the stresses of exercise. The successful lifestyle of any athlete should hit a balance between training, diet and rest. A shortfall in any one of these areas produces a hugely detrimental effect on performance. The Foundation The foundation of any athletes’ diet should consist of a structured balance between the three main macronutrients: carbohydrates, proteins and fats. These macronutrients, along with water, supply the body with the essential nutrients it requires to grow and function effectively. Consuming a structured balance of these nutrients is essential for anyone looking to support a physically active lifestyle.

Calories The number of calories an individual consumes on a daily basis should be divided into the three main macronutrients. The typical breakdown of an athlete’s calorie intake is split in to a ratio of 60% carbohydrates, 20% protein and 20% fat. This provides the body with sufficient energy levels for exercise and the essential nutrients to grow and function efficiently.

Carbohydrates Carbohydrates are the bodies’ primary source of energy and are vital for most forms of movement and exercise. The rate at which a carbohydrate can supply energy to the working muscle is important when considering what source of carbohydrate to consume. The absorption rate of a carbohydrate is generally graded using the Glycaemic Index (GI) which ranks a foods immediate effect on your blood sugar levels. A low GI carbohydrate will provide a sustained supply of energy, whilst high GI carbohydrates will provide a more rapid supply of energy. A low GI carbohydrate is best used before exercise as this will supply you with a consistent supply of energy throughout exercise and well in to recovery. Examples of low GI carbohydrates include oats and barley. High GI carbohydrates should be utilised during and after exercise to maintain energy levels and further assist the recovery process. Maltodextrin is a prime source of High GI carbohydrate and can be found in most sports drinks.

Proteins From an athletic perspective, protein is essential for the growth and repair of all body tissue, especially muscle. Athletes require more protein than the sedentary as the active body uses protein for energy and also to build and repair muscle

tissue. Consuming a rapidly digesting protein ( such as Whey Protein) around exercise can help speed up the recovery process, increase muscular growth and muscular performance. A slow releasing protein, such as Milk Protein, can be used at other times of the day specifically before bed to provide a more sustained supply of protein to the muscles. The absence of sufficient protein in a physically active individual can result in muscle loss and decreased muscular performance.

Fats Fats provide an extremely concentrated and rich source of energy which can be extremely useful for those taking part in endurance sports. Fats also provide a valuable source of fat soluble vitamins and essential fatty acids which are crucial for a number of health related reasons including a healthy cardiovascular system. Organic plants and meats offer the healthiest sources of fats as they have low volumes of pollutants and free radicals. A combination of saturated, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats are essential for normal human function and growth and can be found in a variety of foods such as red meat, corn and olive oil respectively. Hydrogenated and trans-fats should be avoided at all costs as these are very low in quality and have been strongly linked with the problems associated to fat consumption.

THE BASICS OF SPORT NUTRITION Page 35

A structured meal should ideally combine the three macronutrients to cover all aspects of fuelling the body. This can often be a difficult prospect in terms of time and effort but a sports supplement such as Myproteinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Meal Replacement (MRP) can certainly provide a more convenient method of ensuring a nutritious meal. From the perspective of a mixed martial artist it is important to get the correct balance of macronutrients to support what can often be a gruelling training schedule and intense physical activity. Each macronutrient plays its own pivotal role within the effective function of the human body and in the correct ratios and quantities can enhance physical performance. Putting as much effort in to your diet as you do your training can certainly have huge implications on all aspects of your physical performance. It could be the difference between taking part and winning, so make sure you know all the facts before just stepping onto the mat. Written by Jon Langton BSc (Hons), CSCS; Myprotein Sports Nutrition Specialist For more details on sports nutrition and supplements visit www.myprotein.co.uk

This article is sponsored by

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Top Tips from Brazilian Masters This month’s tip comes from Mauro Pacífico auro Pacific, is a black belt 2º degree, living in a small town called São Carlos. Despite being situated in an area less than half the size of Sao Paulo and a quarter of that of Rio de Janeiro Mauro’s academy has proportionally produced more champions than most of the major Brazilian centres. His students are prominent in championships Worldwide. For example:-

Rubens Charles “Cobrinha”: Three times World Jiu Jitsu Champion, this athlete who has fought in ADCC without kimono is currently one of the biggest phenomena in the World at light weight and an idol in Japan. Expect his debut in MMA in 2009.

Thiago Silva: An MMA fighter who began training in Jiu Jitsu with Mauro and is and currently is part of American Top Team. Michael Langhe: World champion in blue belt, purple, brown and black belt. While many teachers and athletes only dream of opening a large gym in Manhattan, Mauro has a more noble ambitions. Alongside the training of champions, Mauro uses his skills as a coach to give back to his local community. He teaches 50 youngsters from poorer backgrounds free of charge to give them opportunities and to keep them occupied and off the streets.

MAURO’S TOP TIP FOR COMPETITION SUCCESS THE SPIN. This manoeuvre allows a fighter who is grounded to be able to escape and also replace the guard quickly without the use of force. Although appearing basic the spin must be practised over and over until it can be done quickly and smoothly. Below we show the exercise to practice in order to use the spin effectively. SPIN ENDING WITH TRIANGLE CHOKE This technique is very efficient when the opponent try pass the guard. Note that the movement is exactly the same as the exercise of spin.

TOP TIPS FROM BRAZILIAN MASTERS Page 37

1- Leandro (with kimono) tries to pass Mauro´s guard. In response Mauro pretends to open the guard while preparing to do the spin.

2- Mauro uses his left leg to break Leandro’s hold, and then begins the spin. 2a- The same position from a different angle. 3- Before finishing the spin, Mauro brings his hip closer to Leandro and positions the back of his leg on the back of Leandro´s head. 4- To finished, Mauro closes the “triangle” choke and pulls Leandro’s left arm to more create more pressure. The secret to this technique is spinning quickly and putting the back of the leg exactly on the back of neck.

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Russ Williams The Welsh Dragon Roars on! As a child, Russ Williams lived on a farm in Mold North Wales with his parents, two brothers and two sisters. As a youngster, in school, Russ felt because of his small stature (5’ 4’’) people often felt that they could push him around, so he stood up for himself and often became involved in fights. Fighting became a big part of his life, due the high s he felt after winning and the respect it gave him with his peers. His ‘take on prisoners’ approach however began to spill out into his everyday life and he began to find himself known to the Police for fighting. Following a few court appearances he was finally told the next time he appeared he would be sent down. Before that could happen, fate was to take a hand and his family moved farms, further out in the countryside, and that’s when he started his Martial Arts. Russ began training in Kung Fu and eventually when the instructor left the club Russ was nominated to take over. He enjoyed the teaching but felt at that time that what he was teaching, took too long to learn in order to help people in real life defence situations. He felt you had to be training for a good

Russ (right) presenting a Black Grade

while before it’d do you any good at all and wanted to be able to teach what would help students straight away. He began to look for other ways of training firstly looking at way Bruce Lee had trained, which he found was a much quicker and realistic way of training. Then hearing that the sport of Kickboxing was being taught in Manchester he decided to take a look. On the advice of the late Danny Connor, whom he met at his shop Oriental World in Manchester, Russ went to train with Lance Lewis. He enjoyed the training and seeing Lance’s ability but felt there was too much emphasis on exercise and not enough on technique. Russ then saw a programme on the TV about a Master that had brought the art of Thai Boxing over from Thailand. He found out where this gym was and went to train with Master Toddy. He really enjoyed the training

but initially found the change over from his own style of fighting very hard. Ronnie Green then took Russ under his wing and helped him adapt his own style to that of Thai Boxing, making the change over gradually. Russ really enjoyed the training and he’d travel by train to Manchester a round trip of about 140 miles, sometimes up to 3 times per week. During this time Russ changed the class he was teaching over from Kung Fu to Thai Boxing. After he’d been training a while, Master Toddy and Ronnie said that Russ was training hard enough that he was now ready to compete. Russ admits he hadn’t thought of doing this before as all he was looking for was a good self defence system to teach. But Russ being Russ gave it a go and after a few fights started to take it really seriously. He went on to win a British Thai Boxing title and then fought Tommy Van Der Burg

RUSS WILLIAMS - THE WELSH DRAGON Page 43

from the famous Meijro Gym in Amsterdam for the European Super lightweight Title.

saw his opportunity and caught Tommy with his trade-mark southpaw right hook and knocked him out.

Florida the Undisputed Kickboxing World Champ, in 1989 to take his crown.

Tommy was head and shoulders above Russ in height and was using his reach well causing Russ problems. The little Welshman however, amazed the crowd with his ability to soak up the punishment and keep attacking. Then in the second round Russ took a heavy roundhouse Kick to the head then knee to the face, his opponent thinking the fight was over went in for the finish. Russ

By the end of 1986 Russ felt he’d gone as far as he could fighting under Thai Boxing rules, as there wasn’t much competition at World level at that time, so he switched to Kick Boxing with low kicks.

Russ’ world title success was rewarded with an invitation to lunch at the Houses of Parliament, with the then Minster of Sport Colin Moynihan. He went on to win two more world title belts, at different weights, before retiring in 1997.

He became WKA British Champion at three different weights, European Champion in 1988, before defeating Rico Brockington, from Palm Beach,

To read the rest of this article why not order a back issue, for details call +44 (0) 121 344 3737

Page 52 WWW.FIGHTERSMAG.CO.UK March 2009

By Cris Janson-Piers Full Contact Sub Editor

Appear strong when you are weak and appear weak when you

are strong An Interview with Jez Hall

AN INTERVIEW WITH JEZ HALL Page 53

Covering this gentleman’s story has taken me back to the many times that I frequented the Lincoln Drill Hall to watch the shows Jez and Jack used to promote. They were hard and brutal; that was the way it was back then. It was there that I first I saw some of Jez’s up and coming fighters like Lee Swaby and Trevor ‘TNT’ Tacy, who later developed into undisputed champions. I also remember one of my fighters, world champion Ryan Hamer, training with Shawn Burton and Steve Primrose, as really young lads at Jez’s old gym. In all the years I have known Jez he has remained the same sincere and likeable character who has spent years giving back to others and the sport in general.That’s why I am happy to support him now with his new venture at 7KS which is bringing new blood onto the fight scene in a correct and professional manner.

IN THE BEGINNING So where did it all start Jez?

J.H: St Giles, Lincoln was and still is the ‘Bronx’ that’s where I’m from and proud of it! It was a tough place and I was a very shy introverted Asian kid; the only one on the estate. I had a fair bit of bullying but nothing racial. My saving grace was the Flannerys, a big Irish family with hearts of gold, they saved me from more than one battering but I wanted to be able to look after myself so I took up martial arts.

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retired unbeaten as British Champion. I was extremely proud to be in his corner. Sula Boas also competed, narrowly missing a British title. Everybody fought in this gym. My fighting career was not so glorious. I won more than I lost and fought some decent fighters, earning my stripes and respect from the boys and girls. Taking on the mantle of Instructor at Chikara in the late 80’s was tough. We had lots of potential champions and the work load was heavy. The next ten years was spent building up a thriving gym in Lincoln, giving me a full time living, producing champions and sending me all over the world. I owe a lot to the sport of kickboxing. In a sense it has been my teacher and parent. I have had work published in major magazines, articles written about me and produced a number of world titles. I’ve stopped more than one wayward kid going the wrong way. As a kid I was constantly told “no way” and “you can’t do that”. Well I did and I am still doing it my way.

I started with Judo at the age of ten and moved onto karate and a little boxing. I was looking for something more challenging when I met Jack and Sula Boas who took me under their wing. Kickboxing was something I had never seen before and did not realise just how devastating low leg kicks could be. I immediately adopted this new style of fighting. I spent time in Holland learning my new skill and was introduced to people like Gilbert Ballantyne and Peter Aarts from Tom Harincks’s Chakariki Gym, also Ton at Sokudo - Jack Boas’s old gym where Ernesto Hoost first started.

WELCOME TO HELL Tell us about the much talked about ‘gym above the pub’.

JEZ HALL: ‘Welcome to Hell’ was the motto above our gym at The Still public house painted in blood red letters. It was a warning of things to come. At this point, led by Jack Boas, we were a fighting gym. If you couldn’t hack it - go somewhere else! Punishing runs, medicine balls, bag and pad work, culminating in heavy sparring sessions were the order of the day. Jack would generally try to surgically remove your liver or bust you up with an educated knee - great fun! Both you and Jack were good fighters, tell us about it.

JEZ HALL: Jack had a particularly successful career and

PARTING OF THE WAYS I know you had a difficult decision to make at one stage in your life and certainly not an easy one; can you share that with us?

JEZ HALL: Yes, opportunities came my way to branch into educational activities and forging new pathways to follow, leaving little time for supporting fighters such as Shaun ‘Boom Boom’ Burton, Aaron ‘The Anvil’ Robinson, Steve ‘Stone Cold’ Swinburne, Hayden ‘The Tiger’ Walker, Richard Oak and many others. However, guided by ‘Big’ Dave Walker, that side has thrived and under the banner of Lincoln Kickboxing the club has moved onto further glories. Well done ‘Big’ Dave and the boys.

BOXING VERSUS MARTIAL ARTS I also know you are a professional boxing coach, how have the two worked together?

JEZ HALL: Many martial artists see boxing as the enemy or competition and think by moving across to boxing they are selling out. Boxing is just another great martial art and chances come in all shapes and sizes. Who can blame an athlete for maximizing his earning potential and improving quality of life. I am very proud to have assisted former world champions Trevor Tacy and Lee Swaby to get started. The natural progression of things was for them to move into situations where more experienced professionals took over. However, after serving an interesting apprenticeship, we now have amateurs of both sexes with pro’ aspirations. Look out, we will keep producing contenders.

MARTIAL ARTS IN EDUCATION I know you are deeply involved in the education system Jez, can you enlighten us or could that be another article?

JEZ HALL: Martial Arts are a very much undervalued tool for empowering individuals with discipline, concentration and self esteem. The old values and virtues remain the same: solid, dependable, and able to rise to physical or mental challenges. Martial arts instructors are outstanding role models, prepared to give their time and experience to those kids who are media bombarded, confused, abused and feared. We still have to address the old argument, are we the ones teaching

AN INTERVIEW WITH JEZ HALL Page 55

STATS Age 47 Born 3.2.62 Black Belt karate Black kickboxing Professional boxing coach Thai boxing coach Other styles studied: Judo, Jujutsu, Aikido, Kung Fu, Kokushinkai * Boxing: Cornered for Lee Swaby when he knocked out Enzo Macrinelli. Cornered for about 50+ boxing matches * Kickboxing: Refereed for many kickboxing matches including British title fights * Events: Promoting kickboxing shows from 1987 to present day including world title shows

TITLES PRODUCED BY CHIKARA: Trevor ‘TNT’ Tacy - Three World Titles Lee ‘The Butcher’ Swaby - Three World Titles Tony ‘The Tiger’ Taylor - One World Title Roberto Fatiga - One World Title Matesa Mckeefery - One World Title Gary Mulhall - British Pep ‘The Animal’ Clarke - British Jack Boas - British Rob Fulton - British Tyrone Miah - Intercontinental Roddy McMillan - Midland Area Richard ‘Action’ Jackson - Midland Area Ian ‘Oz’ Howard - Midland Area Sherry Fatiga - Midland Area And numerous others, too many to mention.

INTERESTS: Reading - Favourite book, ‘The Art of War’ by Sun Tsu - Favourite poem, ‘If’ by Rudyard Kipling Dog training - German shepherds

PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY ‘The Art of War’ by Sun Tsu “Appear strong when you are weak and appear weak when you are strong.”

THOUGHTS ON LIFE: ‘If’ by Rudyard Kipling “...if all men count with you, but none too much...”

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Strength & power training for the combat athlete Talented is good. Talented, powerful and strong is much, much better. Combat sports have come a long way in the last few years, as have the athletes you see in competition. Muscularity, strength and power are all increased but how has the training changed, what techniques are being used and how can you apply those same techniques to help your performance? In the second part of this series we’re gong to look at strength and power. Strength you say? In this article we’re going to talk about increasing strength and power generation, but what do we mean when we say strength or power? Strength is the ability to move an object and power is the force you can put in over a certain time span. Here’s the qualities you’ll be training: Absolute strength: The amount of weight you can shift, e.g. dumping an opponent. Relative strength: The amount of weight you can shift relative to your bodyweight, very important for fixed weight sports.

Power: The amount of force you can generate, e.g. in a strike or a fast lift. Isometric strength: Static strength, e.g. strength to hold a position. Concentric strength: The strength you have on the first part of a weight lift, e.g. pulling or pushing an opponent and striking. Eccentric strength: Strength on the second part of a lift, e.g. strength and control whilst giving way or yielding a position.

We’re going to train all of these but we’ll do it in the most simple and straightforward fashion we can. The last thing I want is for you to have to drag calculators and several stopwatches into the gym with you!

Dispelling the myths Today’s fighter needs to be a well rounded athlete - the combat athlete is just that: an athlete with a particular set of combat skills built on top of a foundation of strength, power, flexibility and conditioning. I think we can safely throw out the old myth that training with weights makes you too bulky and too slow to compete. This point of view is even older than Irish Mickey was in Rocky III! I’ll spell it out: weight training can help you get stronger and faster but you have to get it right. I see all manner of trainees in the weight room trying to increase their performance but doing all the wrong things.

The ingredients: What you want and what you don’t want We’ll be using the big compound lifts and free weights; barbells and dumbbells. Right now bodybuilding routines form the basis of most of the recommended workouts you’ll see, two words: forget them. They’re too long and don’t train the qualities you need. You don’t need to be doing endless sets, or using weights machines, if you want

STRENGTH AND POWER TRAINING Page 59

To read more articles like this make sure you get the next issue of fighters available from WH Smiths & all good newsagents

to spend hours ‘pumping your guns’ you’re in the wrong game. Sports specific weight training is very different. Get in, train hard and smart and get out Similarly you should avoid high reps and training to failure, in other words lift heavy but be able to complete each set with good form, but only just!

* Wednesday: Skills/sparring and/or metabolic conditioning * Thursday: Skills or rest day * Friday: Strength and power training and mobility work * Saturday:Skills/sparring and/or metabolic conditioning * Sunday: rest day

Weekly plan and frequency

This is just an example, change it to suit training times, but either way keep your strength sessions 3 to 4 days apart. The metabolic conditioning we’ll also cover in a later article.

We’ll shoot for two strength and power training sessions a week and this will be teamed with some mobility work found in the warm-up and the warm-down. This will increase strength but allow for recovery as well. We’ll cover flexibility and mobility in a later article. A weekly plan would look something like this: * Monday: Skills/sparring * Tuesday: Strength and power training and mobility work

Power movements Exercises that fall into this category are ones where we shift a not too heavy weight but we move it very very quickly. The emphasis here is always on speed: explosive aggressive contraction of the muscle groups to be trained.

Select exercises or weights you can comfortably do for about 8 reps but only do three to four reps a set. Plyometrics Press up with hand clap (off toes or knees depending upon strength) Jump squats Medicine ball throws Olympic drills Hang clean Clean and jerk

Strength movements Slower but using much heavier weights, these movements train our ability to produce maximal strength. As I keep saying, the aim here is to get maximum bang for buck, so we’ll concentrate on the movements that train lots of muscles at one time and will also choose ones which best suit our movement patterns when in the ring or on the mat...

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It’s official Martial arts & combat sport games to take place in 2010 Want to be there - read on... There’s breaking news for WAKO and just what we have all been waiting for. It’s now official! Beijing, after having hosted what was seen as the most successful Olympic Games ever, will also host the first Martial Arts and Combat Sports Games (The official name) in 2010. The historical decision was taken recently in Moscow by the 12 International Sports Federations which gathered in the Swisshotel under the leadership of Mr. Hein Verbruggen,

Full contact

president of GAISF and Chairman of Sportaccord, the International organisation responsible for promoting all International Olympic Committee and GAISF yearly conventions.

There will be 12 disciplines/sections and will be made up of: Boxing, Taekwondo, Wrestling, Judo, Wushu, Ju Jitsu, Kendo, Muay Thai, Karate, Aikido, Kendo and of course Kickboxing. The Games will take place either in the last week of August or in the first week of October 2010. The disciplines will be divided between 3 different venues. Kickboxing will be together with Boxing and Muay Thai, all using the same rings and the same arena. The whole event will last 9 days, with opening and closing ceremonies included within this timing. Each discipline will have two days at their disposal to carry out their part in the event. WAKO, the World Governing Body for Kickboxing have chosen 3 styles to be represented in this all adult competition. 1. Tatami Sport, Semi Contact Points Sparring with the following categories (male -63,69,74,79,84, female 55,60 kgs.) 2. Full Contact, all Kicks above waist. (male-63,67.72,75,81, female -56,60 kgs) 3. Low Kick, Full Contact rules with low kick to inner and outer thigh. (male-63,67.72,75,81, female -56,60 kgs)

MARTIAL ART & COMBAT SPORT GAMES 2010 Page 63

WA K O G B S q u a d WAKO will have 4 competitors per weight class, giving a total of 84 competitors and will comply with the request of GAISF by sending a maximum of 36 people as coaches, officials, staff and leaders. Trialing for the ring sports is to start immediately and all existing WAKO squad members are advised to make sure they do not miss any of the trials and training which is to be scheduled very shortly. Master Cris Janson-Piers, Head of all WAKO Ring Sports and also responsible for the training of all the officials within it in Great Britain will be looking to place a very strong squad and also have officials at the games if they are successfully selected. Any fighters, no matter which group or organisation and who are within the weight categories above, in either Full Contact or Low Kick can email crisjansonpiers@aol.com and register on the WAKO Beijing 2010 rings ports database. This way you will be kept up to date on all training times. There will also be a dedicated page especially for the Beijing Games on the WAKO web sites which will provide useful information and downloadable forms and fact sheets. We are truly wanting to be represented by the countries best as it is an open trialing system and you will have something to prove when facing the rest of the Worlds elite athletes.

For such a prestige competition obviously the standard is going to be high, but that should not dissuade anyone from giving it a go. The first few trials will obviously be a clear indication of the standard required as people will be called back to further trials by invitation only thereafter.

move into the final at a later stage? I extend a warm welcome to all of you, just pick up the phone or email me! I find it really re assuring that some of the top named coaches in our country have already, proudly come forward with fighters they would like to see make this squad”

Regarding the age groups, It is an adult competition but fighters who will reach the age of 18 by the time we go away to China are equally welcome to trial. Interest has already been tremendous and this article is really the first main promotional vehicle to be aired.

Not only will be this great for the athletes involved in it but the games are expected to draw thousands upon thousands of spectators as it is a very popular sport followed by many. What a great holiday for the enthusiast!

Cris said “This is a very exciting time for everybody, not just WAKO members! I have been trialing International squads for many years now and have a clear and precise selection process which is very fair. We have had many fighters on our squad who may not be regular WAKO people. It’s as simple as this...I want the best ever GB squad and there will be no journeymen or prima Donnas. Fighters will fight for their place and earn a squad position first, then be involved in very strict trialing and training procedures which will ultimately produce GB’s elite team. We have some very good fighters in our country who simply just want to fight in singular bouts and title matches at Amateur and Pro level but could many of these meet the rigorous demands of having to compete in a competition format where they have to win fights to

Low kick

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St Pierre Vs Penn Georges St. Pierre made his case as the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter, thoroughly dominating B.J. Penn in scoring a fourth-round TKO when Penn’s corner stopped the bout prior to the fifth round of their UFC welterweight title bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. St. Pierre and Penn fought a closely contested matchup that ended in a splitdecision for St. Pierre in 2006, and many expected this fight to be even closer, but St. Pierre controlled the action from the opening bell to the finish in defeating the UFC’s current lightweight champ (Penn moved up from 155 to challenge St. Pierre). St. Pierre made it a wrestling match early, using his natural size advantage to tire Penn while making an impression of the judges. The plan paid dividends early and often, as GSP won rounds while wearing Penn down. It was an obvious strategy but not one that many fighters are able to execute against Penn, who is considered among the greatest fighters of all time for his

willingness to compete against fighters of any weight class. St. Pierre, who moved to 18-2, is also thought of in the same atmosphere of greatness, but many questioned whether he’d have the heart if pushed to the limit. He never let Penn get close enough to test him as he showed the evolution of his game. Penn’s best round was the first, in which he defended several takedown tries, but the best he could do was stay upright as he struggled to land any offense. Unlike their first encounter, in which Penn bloodied St. Pierre in the early going before running out of gas, Penn could never find his stride against St. Pierre this time around. After the second round, St. Pierre took Penn (13-5-1) down at will,

passed his guard and dropped punches from the top in bloodying his challenger. By the third, St. Pierre was in complete control as he worked to earn a decisive finish. After battering Penn through the entire fourth round, the two fighters went back to their respective corners, but Penn looked exhausted and beaten. As the 60-second rest period wound down, Penn’s brother and cornerman JD decided he’d had enough and stopped the bout. St. Pierre will next take on Thiago Alves, who was granted the next welterweight title shot after winning seven straight fights. “He’s the No. 1 contender, and I’m the world champ, and a proud champion who wants to fight the best in the sport,” St. Pierre said. “Thiago is next. I have a lot of respect for him, so it will be a good fight.” “It was an amazing performance and he looked great,” Alves said. “I’m looking forward to it. I want to have the challenge.” The fight was expected to set an alltime pay-per-view buyrate record for UFC. December’s UFC 92 event drew an estimated 1.16 million buys; UFC expected 1.3 million to purchase the Penn-St. Pierre event...

St Pierre vs Penn

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UFC 94 - ST PIERRE VS PENN Page 65

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Page 68 WWW.FIGHTERSMAG.CO.UK March 2009

Ultimate Challenge

Results

London Troxy 7th Feb 2009 LONDON - The Troxy played host to the second installment of Ultimate Challenge featuring a card consisting of two grand-prix tournament qualifiers in opposite divisions: lightweight and heavyweight. Top of the bill was an encounter between U.K. MMA legend Mark Weir and Mohammed Khatcha of London Shootfighters.

Mark Weir vs Mohammed Khatcha Exploding out of the gate with little hesitation, Khatcha transitioned from a failed shoot to drive Weir back into the cage with a vicious combination to signal his intent. Things started to settle down a little with both fighters measuring their range, Weir with his trademark straight kicks and Khatcha with his punches, closing in to the end of the first round. Khatcha landed a forceful left hook to flash knockout Weir before

Roberts vs Ben

pouncing on him to seal the deal by ground and pound.

Dyson Roberts vs Pablo Ben Dyson Roberts made short work of a game Pablo Ben who stepped up to the plate with only two days notice and no professional MMA experience. Still, the game fighter landed a couple of solid punches before being taken down and subjected to a serious barrage off punches from back mount.

Jimi Manuwa vs Jamie Hearn Jimi Manuwa and Jamie Hearn’s encounter was shaping up to be a serious fight, but unfortunately Hearn rolled his ankle early in the fight and crashed to the canvas in pain. Collecting himself up, he tested his ankle with the hardest kick of the night on his opponent’s thigh before collapsing again. Unable to recover or give a

Hearn vs Manuwa

full account of himself, Manuwa capitalized on the opportunity that presented itself and locked home a guillotine choke for the win. A rematch between these two is money and I don’t stand alone in wanting to see it happen.

Edgelson Lua vs Scott Jansen Edgelson Lua surprised many with his slick counterpunching game, but staying composed and fending off a hard charging Scott Jansen. A fantastic back and forth series of exchanges punctuated the first round with both landing good shots, Jansen aggressive as always, and Lua showing that his confidence while standing is on the rise. Round two started with a couple of spinning back kicks by Jansen before Lua landed the takedown, applied a barrage of punches from mount that forced his opponent to give his back before sinking in the rear naked choke. Fight of the Night!

ULTIMATE CHALLENGE 2 Page 69

Weir vs Khatcha

CIM001/14

ULTIMATE CHALLENGE 2 Page 71

Dan Mohavedi vs Darren Walsh

John Joe Ellis vs Marcus Thomas

A joyous day for Dan Mohavedi, as he picked up his debut win on his eight appearance in the cage, this time via triangle choke over Darren Walsh midway through the firsts stanza.

Finally, in lightweight tournament qualifiers, John Joe Ellis dispatched Marcus Thomas in a bare nine seconds after headhunting around the cage for the big right hand. Luke Smith sunk in the rear naked choke for victory over Dragos Voiculescu, and Jamain Watkins picked up the decision over David Ralph after three hard fought rounds of shot picking between the two.

Ashley Pollard vs Saieed Gholamie The heavyweight tournament qualifiers got underway with Ashley â&#x20AC;&#x153;lock-it-inâ&#x20AC;? Pollard taking on the ZT Fight Skool wrestling coach Saieed Gholamie who stepped up on short notice to ensure the bout went ahead. A game Pollard took serious punishment in the bout and briefly threatened with a couple of runs at a Kimura, but ultimately fell prey to a ground and pound assault from Gholamie, who appeared to find a second wind when it counted most.

Ben Smith vs Tony Starnes Ben Smith grounded opponent Tony Starnes before creating a blood flow due to strikes before settling upon an armbar submission for the finish. Romanian wrestler Kiril Handzhiyski heroically slammed Sebastian Iwaniak into the canvas before applying a heavy-handed ground and pound assault for the stoppage.

Reid vs MaGuire

Wesley Johnson never got a chance to show his hand in the lightweight qualifiers on account of his opponent going AWOL during the scheduled break. UK-1 Kickboxing: Alex Reid def. John MaGuire via Unanimous Decision, R3 Full Results Mohammed Khacha def. Mark Weir via TKO (Strikes) at 4:26, R1 Dyson Roberts def. Pablo Ben via TKO (Strikes) at 1:46, R1 Jimi Manuwa def. Jamie Hearn via Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 1:49, R1 Edgelson Lua def. Scott Jansen via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 1:12, R2

Jansen vs Lua Dan Movahedi def. Darren Walsh via (Triangle Choke) at 2:47, R1 Saieed Gholamie def. Ashley Pollard via TKO (Strikes) at 1:10, R3 Ben Smith def. Tony Starns via Submission (Armbar) at 4:57, R1 Kiril Handzhiyski def. Sebastian Iwaniak via TKO at 1:36, R1 Wesley Johnson vs. Scott Pooley (No Contest) Luke Smith def. Dragos Voiculescu via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 1:37, R1 John Joe Ellis def. Marcus Thomas via TKO at 0:09, R1 Jamain Watkins def. David Ralph via Unanimous Decision, R3

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