Issue 001

March 2005

To date, the popularity of the sport in America means it remains the biggest market in the world, and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is testament to this success by being the main event for fighters and spectators alike. With the assistance and enthusiasm of European fight fans and the influx of top fighters being generated from the UK, together with the dedication of promoters such as Cage Rage, we show you how the UK fight scene is closing the gap.

Cage Rage 9

Wembley Conference Centre, November 27, 2004

This event was a top class fight card for the UK, featuring no less than five UFC veterans: Matt Lindland, Ian Freeman, Babalo, Mark Weir and Tulio Palhares. There were 12 bouts planned for the evening, of which three were title fights.

• Heavyweight: Ryan Robinson vs Ian ‘The Machine’ Freeman
• Light-heavyweight: Mark ‘The Beast’ Epstein vs Mike ‘The Count’ Bisping
• Lightweight: Jean ‘The White Bear’ Silva vs Sammy Schiavo

It is probably due to the fact that the event was to be televised by Sky TV that sufficient funds were made available to attract such an exquisite array of UK and international fighters. Cage Rage is obviously positioning itself as the number one fight event in the UK and while it continues to attract such great fighters, this may be true. So let’s just hope that the money is made available for future events, so we can continue to watch this class of fighter right here in the UK and enjoy the continued growth that the sport is experiencing.

Now Wembley Conference Centre is a lovely setting for an event such as this. The cage position along with the raised seating throughout and the large projection screens mean you never miss any of the action and get instant replays to boot. The attendance was approximately 2,000 - and considering Wembley tube station was closed and the event was not able to advertise locally as the boardings are booked into the next millennium, this can be considered a reasonable crowd. 

Jess Liaudin vs. Paul ‘Semtex’ Daley

It was Paul who took Jess to the canvas early on with a simple trip. However, he nearly got caught in a triangle, but managed to hoist Jess up before hammering him back down to the canvas, only to find Jess switch attack and attempt an armbar. Paul managed to escape but was still in Jess’s guard where they seemed content to remain. Paul eventually exploded up and Jess followed, and they traded punches until Paul found himself back against the cage. He then secured double underhooks and proceeded to land big knees to Jess’s head. Jess pulled guard and this time it was Jess who exploded out and reversed Paul, landing on mount. Unfortunately, as the ten second call came Jess could not land any telling blows. The doctor came in to investigate Jess’s nose only to find the bridge completely shattered.

Winner: Paul Daley by TKO (doctor’s stoppage)in 5 minutes of round one.

Dave ‘Speedy’ Elliot vs. Robbie Oliver

They traded kicks from the bell and when they met in a clinch Dave tried to jump guard. Robbie shrugged this off and remained in the clinch. Dave attempted to jump guard again. Now Robbie was probably anticipating this happening as he caught Dave and proceeded to slam him down emphatically. Robbie landed in Dave’s guard but as Dave was still reeling from the almighty slam, Robbie stood back up and was weighing up Dave with measured kicks to his thigh. When Robbie saw that Dave was not defending as he should be, he flew in with some meaty punches before Dave tapped out and the ref stopped the fight.

Winner: Robbie Oliver by TKO in 57 seconds of round one.

Sol‘ Zero Tolerance’ Gilbert vs. Ridas Vaivada

Sol started strongly with some big right hands and as Ridas attempted to go for the clinch, Sol took him down and immediately gained mount. Fortunately for Ridas, he had grasped Sol’s head in an ineffective guillotine. As Sol was in no danger of being choked from here, he contented himself with numerous punches to the side of Ridas’s body. Ridas also turned his body away from the possible onslaught that he expected to come, only for Sol to go for a rear naked choke but he was unable to get under Ridas’s chin. Ridas managed to get to his feet and Sol quickly switched to an armbar, which Ridas escaped by darting forward into Sol’s guard. Ridas then stood up to escape another armbar attempt. They danced around a little before Sol let fly with a big bomb from nowhere, to leave Ridas face down on the canvas and himself with a broken hand.

Winner: Sol Gilbert by KO in 3 minutes 42 seconds of round one.

Lightweight title fight: Sammy Schiavo vs. Jean ‘The White Bear’ Silva

Both started sharply and after trading kicks went in for the clinch. As they exchanged knee shots, Sammy caught Jean with two low blows and was given time to recover after each one. When they came together again Sammy caught Jean with a lovely overhand right before he managed to take Jean down against the cage. He managed to defend against a choke from Jean, only for Jean to attempt a triangle from which Sammy just stood up. But as Jean just remained on the canvas, Sammy came in with a flying punch and stood back up again. Jean anticipated the second flying punch coming in from Sammy and executed a triangle as Sammy leapt forward, leaving Sammy with no option but to tap out 20 seconds from the bell.

Winner: Jean Silva by Submission (Triangle Choke)in 4 minutes 40 seconds of round one. 

Renato ‘Babalu’ Sobral vs. Cyrille ‘The Snake’ Diabate

Babalu shot in and took Cyrille down against the cage with a double leg takedown. Cyrille managed to tie up Babalu’s arms until an opening appeared and Babalu secured the side mount. From here he progressed his leg across Cyrille’s stomach, but Cyrille held on to his foot and got back to half guard. Babalu pried open Cyrille’s legs and got to his feet and as Cyrille followed, he captured him in a guillotine, flipping him over in the process to secure CyrillAe beneath him. This resulted in nowhere for Cyrille to go other than tap out.

Winner: Renato Sobral by Submission (GuillotineChoke) in 3 minutes 38 seconds of round one.

Light heavyweight title fight: Mike ‘The Count’ Bisping vs. Mark ‘The Beast’ Epstein

Mike came out with some neat right uppercuts and hooks that rocked Mark against the cage. Mark retaliated with solid leg kicks but was wild with his punches, allowing Mike to counter and drop Mark by the cage. He rained down numerous punches and, as Mark turned to escape, Mike took his back on rear mount and continued punching relentlessly. Round two saw Mike keeping his distance, jabbing and backing away. This worked well as nearly every single punch found its target. Mark, however, was still throwing wild punches. For round three Mike attempted to continue his tactic of jab and back off, but when Mark caught him with a vicious outside leg kick and saw Mike visibly wince, he followed it up with another two leg kicks, each finding their target. Mark now had fresh impetus but was unable to capitalise on this as Mike returned to the jabs that had been so effective in keeping Mark at bay. With little time left in the fight, Mark attempted another leg kick, which Mike countered with a well-timed right, knocking Mark down and out. 

Winner: Bisping by KO in 4 minutes 43 seconds of round three.

Mark ‘The Wizard’ Weir vs. Matt ‘The Law’ Lindland

Mark missed an early high kick but managed to engage Matt in a clinch against the cage. Matt reversed him into the cage and was caught by a knee to the head. It was when Mark attempted another knee that Matt swept him to the canvas. From here Matt was content to remain within Mark’s guard and use elbows and forearms to soften him up. It was one of these elbows that cut Mark above his right eye. Late on in the round Mark caught Matt off balance in his guard and attempted an arm triangle, which he could not make stick. The doctor was called in at the end of the round only to stop the fight due to the cut above Mark’s eye.

Winner: Matt Lindland by TKO (doctor’s stoppage) in 5 minutes of round one

Heavyweight title fight: Ryan Robinson vs. Ian ' The Machine' Freeman

Ryan managed to dive in with a single leg takedown, landing in Ian’s guard. It didn’t take long, though, for Ian to roll Ryan and get to his feet again while keeping Ryan in the clinch and taking him back to the cage. From here, Ryan attempted a couple of knees at Ian’s head, only to find that Ian was waiting with an underhook to the leg, taking him down while pinning him tight against the cage. After a couple of shots to Ryan’s head, Ian gained side mount as Ryan opened up his guard. More big lefts came in and as Ian traps Ryan’s arm with his leg, Ryan turns away from the barrage he knows is coming. Seizing this opportunity, Ian sinks his hooks in on rear mount, flattening Ryan out and raining down elbows to the side of Ryan’s head. Ryan, sensing further major damage, taps out.

Winner: Ian Freeman by TKO in 2 minutes 44 seconds of round one.