Issue 022

February 2007

Cage Warriors: Enter the Rough House

Nottingham, December 9^th, 2006

By Andrew Garvey, Photographs by Robert Swann

Cage Warriors first venture in Nottingham was a roaring success. An enthusiastic overflow crowd of more than 2000 crammed the Harvey Hadden Sports Centre for a night of fast paced action and decisive finishes. None of the matches went the distance and eight of them didn’t even go beyond the opening round. Highlights included Dennis Siver’s slick armbar from the bottom that finished an impressive Jim Wallhead and debuting local heavyweight Wayne Buck’s thunderous ovation and spectacular KO victory.

Gegard Mousasi stepped in with just a few days notice to face fellow PRIDE FC veteran Gregory Bouchelaghem for the vacant CWFC middleweight title. Two of Europe’s finest, this promised to be a terrific scrap. Mousasi tore through his very talented opponent, battering him into submission with punches just 2:20 into the first round. 

In the main event Nottingham’s Dan Hardy lifted the vacant CWFC 73KG title after one of the very best performances of his career. The always-entertaining ‘Outlaw’ just dismantled the hugely talented Alexandre Izidro. Too few MMA fighters have a truly effective jab but Hardy’s made a huge difference here. His sheer energy and pressure, superb defence on the ground and clinical finishing helped too. Battering Izidro with a flurry of punches on the mat very late in the third round, Hardy took the belt in style.

Results:

Steve Tetley def Denas Banevicius via Submission (Guillotine) 1:34 Rd1

Christian Smith def Michael Turner via Submission (Strikes) 1:51 Rd1

Przemyslaw Mysiala def Chris Cooper via submission (Arm Triangle Choke) 0:33 Rd1

Dennis Siver def Jim Wallhead via Submission (Armbar) 3:31 Rd2

Gegard Mousasi def Gregory Bouchelaghem via Submission (Strikes) 2:20 Rd1

Wayne Buck def William Coonie via KO 1.55 Rd1

Dan Hardy def Alexandre Izidro via TKO (Ground and Pound) 4:56 Rd3

Caged Gladiators

Liverpool, 3^rd December 2006

Written and photographed by Hywel Teague

Liverpudlian lightweight Terry Etim has been busy racking up a series of ever-impressing wins in the fight shows of the North West of England. Now at 9-0-0, he’s been in the ring with Mike Tyson (having had the honour of being refereed by the boxing legend) and has had fans crying out for tougher challenges after finishing all but two of his fights in the first round. His encounter for this event would be a tough test as he took on durable Londoner Sami Berik. ‘The Hun’ may not be the greatest fighter out there, but is tough, capable and won’t lie down for anyone. 

Etim showed some real class and got to display his skills in every range as he out-struck Berik on the feet, out-wrestled him to the mat and grappled him into submission. Etim showed he has got the tools to hang with anyone on the UK scene by tapping Berik out 1.24 into the second round. 

Ronnie Mann, another young up and comer who has been quietly cutting his teeth, notched up another win for the successful Trojan Freefighters team by submitting Chris Freeborn in 2.46 with a triangle, while light heavyweight brawler Paul Cahoon came back from a long layoff due to injury to tap out Nikolas Cilikinas with a heelhook. 

Results:

Paul Cahoon def Nikolas Cilikinas via Submission (heel hook) 3.46 Rd1

Aurelijus Kerpe def Sean Parr via TKO (corner stoppage) 5.00 Rd2

Jay Gladden def Jim Morris via TKO (RSF due to strikes) 4.55 Rd3

John Phillips def Edgaras Pilvinis via TKO (RSF due to strikes) 0.34 Rd1

Vaughn Harvey def Denis Benevicius via Submission (RNC) 1.06 Rd1

Darious Sweirkocz def Chris Hoban via Majority Decision

Kevin Axworthy def Gavin Collins via Submission (Triangle) 2.53 Rd1

Ronnie Mann def Chris Freeborn via Submission (Triangle) 2.46 Rd1

Terry Etim def Sami Berik via Submission (Armbar) 1.24 Rd2

Angrrr Management Xmas Bash

Weston Super Mare, Dec 3rd, 2006, By Ricky Wright, Photographs by Geoff Langan

Responsible for not just providing cages to MMA promotions around the country, the Angrrr Management crew gave fans another instalment of their growing brand with an excellent show titled Xmas Bash. More than a few rising stars made their first steps to becoming future champs on the UK MMA scene in an evening of mixed pro and semi pro action. 

In the main event of the evening Angrrr Management had in store for us a heavyweight contest as Przemyslaw Mysiala took on Tony Bentley. When you hear the word heavyweight you automatically think ‘slugfest’ but on this occasion that was not to be Mysiala took down Bentley and did well to control him to set up the rear naked choke for the win. 

The intimidating Roman Webber came down to the cage looking very angry and out to take someone’s head off and unfortunately for Dean Lewis that’s how the outcome of the fight was to be. Webber displayed vicious ground and pound which had the crowd wincing in pain. The ref stepped in at 1:39 of the first round to award Roman Webber the TKO victory.

Since making his debut on the semi-pro scene welterweight Tim Newman has gotten a reputation of finishing his fights quickly, in fact the total time of his last three fights all added up to 58 seconds! He pulled off another quick armbar after 44 seconds of the first round to defeat Nick Davenport. 

Results

Steve Cunningham def Aaron Williams via Submission (RNC) 3.11 Rd2 

Paul Reed def Jim Burman via TKO (G&P) 4.59 Rd1

Lee Brook def James Watkins via Submission (Armbar) 1.29 Rd1

Rob Collins def Paul Croft via Submission (Guillotine) 0.30sec Rd1

Mindaugas Mockevicius def Scott Clist via Unanimous Decision

Jake Blyth def Jack Mason via Submission (RNC) 2.31 Rd2

Greg Knapp def Puzia Kamil via Submission (RNC) 1.49 Rd2

Roman Webber def Dean Lewis via TKO (G&P) 1.39 Rd1

Tim Newman def Nick Davenport via Submission (Armbar) 0.44sec Rd1

Przemyslaw Mysiala def Tony Bentley via Submission (RNC)1.34 Rd1

House of Pain 7

Swansea, 26th November 2006, Written & photographed by Hywel Teague

Cage fighting is proving to be pretty popular in Wales, as reflected in the growing status of the House of Pain promotion. A strong regional level show, they showcase local fighters first and foremost as the only professional MMA promotion to operate in the principality. Luckily the Welsh fighters have a good amateur scene to provide up and comers, and there is no shortage of lads ready to get in the cage and fill out the card. 

At the top of the card was a double main event, seeing Cage Rage favourite Brad Pickett take on Phil Raeburn in a featherweight fight and Wolfslair hopeful Lee Dixon meet Welsh warrior Adam Wilcox for a middleweight belt. 

Pickett was masterful in his handling of Raeburn, showing why he is a former Cage Rage champion with a display of his ever-increasing skill set in every range. Primarily known as a striker (with his moniker ‘One Punch’, what else could he be?) Raeburn got a taste of Pickett’s grappling though, being slammed and controlled on the mat before tapping to a first round armbar. 

Lee Dixon found himself facing a handful in Welsh fighter Adam Wilcox. Though Dixon was the better submission grappler (he came close to finishing the fight via a myriad of submissions including an armbar-triangle-omoplata-toehold sequence!) Wilcox was too strong and powered his way out, punishing Dixon with blows whenever he could to force the Scouser to quit. 

Results

Curtis Berry def Marc Owen via Submission (Guillotine) 0.38 rd1

Graham def Jeff Surman via Submission (Triangle) 1.54 rd1

Kevin Reed def Chris Ram via TKO Rd1

Paul Gardener def Andrew Hopkins via TKO 0.15 Rd1 

John Phillips def Gary Savage via TKO 1.23 Rd1

Mike Edwards def Lloyd Clarkson via TKO (GnP) 2.11 Rd1

Jordan James def Lee Chadwick via Judges Decision

Brad Pickett def Phil Raeburn via Submission (Armbar) 3.20 Rd1

Adam Wilcox def Lee Dixon via Submission (GnP) 4.54 Rd1