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Have you ever entered a competition and thought, “don’t think I’ll win but what the heck it’s worth a shot!” Well that’s happened to me twice now. I was fortunate to win tickets to see WWE Raw live in Sheffield 3 years ago courtesy of the Daily Star’s Fighting Talk weekly column  for wrestling and UFC fans. Come 3 years  later I took a chance again and to my surprise through the letter-box arrived my very own copy of the MMA DVD movie Never Surrender (looks like I ought to stop entering these competitions and hook up with these DVD and BluRay companies).

The DVD cover has a great image of the fighter tipped to play BA Baracus in the movie version of The A-Team, none other than former Light Heavyweight Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson. Seeing Rampage one of the most recognisable and marketable faces of the UFC has got to grab the attention of both hardcore or casual mixed martial arts fans. It makes it a shame that Rampage doesn’t feature more predominantly in this martial arts action and fight fest. Despite Rampage only having a small role in the film I’ve got to say his prescence added a certain sparkle giving us a hint of Jackson’s potential Hollywood career post action octagon action.

Aside from Rampage, Never Surrender saw several other greats from the Ultimate Fight world make their acting debut in this no holds barred action spectacular including current reigning UFC lightweight champion BJ ‘The Prodigy’ Penn, welterweight king Georges ‘Rush’ St Pierre, middleweight title holder Anderson ‘The Spider’ Silva and Pride FC heavyweight veteran Heath ‘The Texas Crazy Horse’ Herring. The movie boasts some cool fight scenes especially with GSP in action taking on thevillains. The problem I found watching the film is the lead character played by Hector Echavarria didn’t connect to the viewer as being the hero you want to get behind, well at least for the first three quarters of the film and by then it seems too late. As often is the case in superhero films such as Batman and Daredevil the villain comes across stronger than the hero, that is what we have here saving the film overall.

Looking past these flaws it still remains a fun action packed movie featuring some awesome fight scenes from some of the very best mixed martial artists competing in the cage today. Oh yes I must not forget the added bonus of some hot chicks taking part in some raunchy sex scenes featuring heavily throughout.

Never Surrender is available direct from www.itvonlineshop.com

The DVD is currently available from www.play.com priced just £9.99 according to issue 52 of Fighters Only (UFC 100 Special). The offer could be for a limited time so grab your copy ASAP to own the acting debut of Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackon, then boast to your mates after he becomes a major Hollywood star.

By the way whilst watching the movie see how many UFC fighters appearing you can spot donning Affliction t-shirts, the clothing brand now banned from the UFC.

UFC & MMA blog by Duane Farr

duane@bluraymma.com

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At last what seemed like a long wait is over! The new season of The Ultimate Fighter premiered this past Sunday on Virgin 1 here in the UK (Wednesday on Spike TV over in the States, hot on the heels of Ultimate Fight Night 18). 16 British fighters entered but only 8 would make it through joining Michael Bisping’s Team UK in Las Vegas.  First of all to decide who would be staying on British soil and who would earn the opportunity of a lifetime, following in the footsteps of TUF winner Bisping there would be 8 fights fought over standard UFC rules with duration of 3 x 5 minute rounds.

 

This first episode took place just before the fight pitting Rich Franklin and Dan ‘Hendo’ Henderson, the decider of Team USA coach from UFC 93 in Dublin, Ireland back in January. Hence both Franklin and Hendo being present since at that stage Dana White and co didn’t know which combatant would coach the Americans. Fast-forward in time we now know Hendo edged out the win over Franklin taking the decision following 3 gruelling rounds of octagon action. The great usefulness about the TUF series is not just fantastic television each week but the dual purpose of creating new UFC stars while booking 2 established UFC fighters for a big money fight afterwards, when the coaches clash one on one.

 

The elimination bouts soon got underway on Bisping’s home turf, the Wolfslair training facility, located in Widnes near Liverpool.

 

First up was Bisping’s first protégé of the night – Gary Kelly, a fellow member of Wolfslair gym, taking on Andre Winner. Despite all the encouragement from Bisping Kelly wasn’t triumphant in the octagon. Andre lived up to his name winning in fine style knocking out Gary Kelly, who was on dream street! This first fight showed what a tough group of competitors had been amassed from the British ranks of mixed martial arts. First lightweight decided for Team UK, 3 more to go.

 

Another pair of lightweight mixed martial artists entered the cage. Jeff Lawson fights out of The Bulldog gym in my hometown – Bournemouth. Lawson a submission specialist and one of the most experienced Brits selected. His opponent striker James Bryan hailing from Bath did not fare well against the vastly more experienced Lawson. Lawson submitted Bryan to join Andre Winner on Team UK.

 

First of the welterweights saw James Wilks tapout Che Mills to go through. Mills’ loss was an upset considering his calibre, but that’s the way it goes in the world of mixed martial arts.

 

The fourth cage conflict saw Martin Stapleton of Rochdale brutalise Dan James of Swansea, giving the military man a win via tapout.

 

Next to go was AJ Wenn eliminated by Ross Pearson from Sunderland, another impressive mixed martial artist winning by TKO in the second round.

 

The second welterweight fighter to make it through would be Nick Osipczak a resident of London, who bested Tommy McGuire of Peterborough with a TKO win.

 

Third fight from the welterweights featured the biggest name so far – Alex Reid, a recognised face on the UK cage fighting circuit. I first saw him on ITV’s Cage Combat programme way back in 2002. Reid faced off against Dean Amarasinghe of Nottingham a younger lesser-known fighter with a lot going for him. Reid a master of showmanship lasted the full 3 rounds thanks to his experience but it was Dean who surprised besting the veteran receiving the decision. The better man won on the day but it would have been interesting to see Reid’s antics on the show, as he is a real character.

 

One final decider to go, giving one more opportunity for a member of the Wolfslair to make the squad. David Faulkner would be the fighter and he got the job done, defeating James Bateman grabbing a tap-out victory via Heel Hook.

 

 

 

So here we have it, listed below are the Brits who flew out to Las Vegas.

 

Team UK – The Lightweights:

 

Andre Winner – London

 

Jeff Lawson – Bournemouth

 

Ross Pearson – Sunderland

 

Martin Stapleton – Rochdale

 

 

Team UK – The Welterweights:

 

David Faulkner  - Liverpool

 

James Wilks

 

Nicholas Osipczak – London

 

Dean Amarasinghe – Nottingham

 

For a complete low-down on all the shows entrants see my previous blog: http://bluraymma.com/blog/the-ultimate-fighter-us-v-uk-on-virgin-1/

 

 

 

From the brief glimpse of next weeks show it appears the Yanks are not fully prepared. We witness entrants struggling to make weight and collapsing in a heap under the strain.

 

Make sure you set a reminder on your Sky planner and series link it for Virgin 1 Sundays at 11pm – you don’t want to miss a single episode!