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Thanks to that marvellous idea – Facebook, I was fortunate enough to ask Tom ‘Kong’ Watson a few questions, gaining an incite into the world of the BAMMA Middleweight Champion.

What’s your current favourite song?

Cloudburst by Eric Whitacre.

How do you relax between training?

I relax eating flavoured cheese.. French is the best.. Roquefort,  and sitting in the hot tub smoking a Cuaba figurado. Magnifique.

Tabloid rumours circulating at the moment are of your BAMMA 4 opponent and challenger to your middleweight crown, Alex Reid having done a deal  to appear on Ultimate Big Brother for large sum of money. How do you feel about him doing it, considering the timing?

The Reidenator should and will go into the house for around 2 weeks. Most of his sparring will already be complete. With the media attention on him presently I actually believe he can get in great shape (cardio wise) being in the house. What else is there to do when your locked in a house. Unless it is the Foursome House on Playboy.

What impact do you feel being booked to fight Celebrity Big Brother 7 winner and husband of Katie Price has on your career?

It has given me the chance to defend my belt at BAMMA.

In the previous Bravo programme following Alex in training, he tried martial arts not specific to an MMA contest. Do you think he’ll be more focussed training-wise this time around? He’s been pictured with Chuck Liddell…

Who have you been training with? Where?

What does a picture mean? I’ve been pictured with Tamara Witmer, does that mean I’m sleeping with her… I’m training in Montreal with my coaches here Eric O’Keefe, Firass Zahabi, Bruno Fernandes, Howard Grant, Mr Chaimberg and the squad at Bikram yoga. The previous Bravo filming was done much earlier than people realise. Alex wasnt rolling around trying new styles the month before he was due to fight, the show was filmed at the beginning of the year. He’ll be at London Shoot as usual training hard.

You have a fight booked for MFC in Canada, September 10, against TUF veteran Jesse Taylor. Is it wise to fight so close to your BAMMA middleweight title defence? Or do you feel keeping active in MMA competition gives you an edge over Alex?

No my wish is to eradicate poverty and suffering worldwide, fighting Jesse taylor is a chance for me to test my skills up against one of the top guys in the world. BAMMA isnt even relevant until after that fight.

Are there any specific areas you have trained in preparation for the September 25 showdown at the NIA, Birmingham? Which areas do you feel Reid’s a threat?

I train the same for every fight, I just simply try to improve in every area and make sure I am ready for whatever happens in the fight.

What is your prediction for the fight?

I will leave the cage BAMMA champion.

Where do you see yourself ranking internationally?

Maybe top 50. There are still many guys in the middleweight division who are rightly above me.

A-Team or The Expendables?

Expendable as the A-Team would have been better with Rashad as BA.

Couture or Toney?

James Toney… Come on this isnt UFC 1?? Really…

Penn or Edgar?

Baby Jay, but I think the fights the same as last time just this time Penn gets the nod from the judges.

Do you have any websites you recommend the fans visit?

Check out www.tomkongwatson.com and from there you can follow me on twitter and Facebook. Check out Vas.tv for innovative footwear, Headrush for the latest styles in MMA, Tapout because its Tapout baby and go gamble at Full Tilt Poker for the chance to become a legend.

Watch Alex Reid: Fights Back, coming soon on Bravo, for all the build up to Tom’s highly anticipated cage clash with Alex on September 25.

Interview by Duane Farr

duane@bluraymma.com

Since cancelling my subscription to Sky as I had planned to switch to Virgin Media instead I have been playing catch up. They told me I would still retain the freeview channels but they never told me that wouldn’t include Virgin 1. Well I’m glad I didn’t take out the Virgin Media package that included Setanta Sports as sadly Setanta is no longer with us.

I managed to find links for the semi final light weight fights from episode 11, so here is my recap of those bouts to decide the 2 light weight TUF contestants to compete on the Finale show shown last Sunday.

Ross Pearson vs Jason Dent

Round 1) This first round featured a lot of rough and tough standup action, witha lot of work defending each others takedown attempts against the fence. Tough fought first round going to Pearson the more dominant combatant.

Round 2) Jason Dent comes out attacking, attempting to avenge the first round. All the action is upright until Ross Pearson throws Dent to the canvas at the 2 minute mark. But the action is soon upright once more but the aggressive Brit takes the American down, following up and damn near ending it right there at the end of the round. One more round to decide.

Round 3) Again Dent comes out firing but Ross takes control of the American brawler, once again taking him to the canvas. On the ground Pearson is relentless. Pearson didn’t quite finish the fight against the gutsy Yank but he totally dominated earning a unamanous decision and a place in the TUF finale.

So who would face Pearson? A Brit or an American?

Andre Winner vs Cameron Dollar

Round 1) Andre Winner has to constantly defend against Cameron Dollars wrestling attack, attemting takedowns on the Brit mixed martial artist. Winner does get taken to the mat but it’s a case of Yin versus Yang, turning the takedown to his advantage from underneath acheiving the Tapout win via Triangle Choke.

So there you have that it, how the 2 light weight Brits got to the final, making a win – win situation for Mike Bisping and Team UK. Great for us Brits but not good for Dan Henderson and the Americans. Don’t forget Team USA still have a man in the finale – DeMarques Johnson.

The Ultimate Fighter as shown on Virgin 1 Sunday nights at 11pm in the UK on Freeview TV, Sky or Virgin Media.

Make sure you follow BluRayMMA on Twitter to keep updated on the latest MMA and UFC news, we are sure to have news on the new channel for the UFC very soon.

 

UFC & MMA blog by Dynamite Duane

duane@bluraymma.com

http://twitter.com/BluRayMMA
www.myspace.com/dynamite_duane

Following Nick Osipczak’s knockout win for Team UK the American TUF hopefuls came to realise the Brits mean business. Where the Yanks went wrong is believing the British fighters are one-dimensional strikers. Osipczak showed himself to be a canny well-rounded fighter.

Next we get to see Team USA training but mostly not getting on and picking fights we each other. Generally it seems they are all out for themselves, not willing to help each other. Henderson attempts to pull them together as a unit boosting morale in the American camp.

Time to choose the next preliminary bout it’s Bisping’s turn he picks Andre Winner representing the UK against former IFL fighter Santino Defranco in the lightweight bracket.

Dre looks impressive in training taking down Mike Bisping having just learnt the skill from him.

Defranco has got a lot of heart since returning to MMA following brain surgery after attempting to be on an earlier season of The Ultimate Fighter. That really shows strength of character.

Fight time.
Round 1)
Dre looks good defending and attacking in the stand up battle. On the mat Dre gets snared in Defranco’s guard, it doesn’t look good for the Brit but he takes Bispings advice breaking free to drop some bombs on his grounded opponent grabbing the TKO win. Team UK 2-0!

Defranco’s loss was the second consecutive loss for Dan Henderon’s team. Hendo doesn’t seem great at inspiring his fighters plus Team USA are not gelling well as a unit. The difference with the two factions is Team UK have no egos and happily learn from each other and have fun along the way but the American TUF contestants are a different kettle of fish.

This week we are treated to a second battle inside the cage as the competition continues Henderson gets the pick. For the third preliminary bout it is the turn of the welterweights. DaMarques Johnson is chosen versus Dean Amarasinghe of Nottingham. Both fighters are hot prospects, Dean beat veteran Brit mixed martial artist Alex Reid and DaMarques is the more experienced taller fighter. Pre fight the Utah native Johnson prays inside the octagon grateful for the opportunity.

It is fight time but someone is missing, Mike Bisping is AWOL, which does not bode well for Amarasinghe. Dean is not without a corner-man as Bispng’s own coaches Mario Sukata and Dave Jackson are on hand.

Round 1)
Johnson swiftly shoots in taking down Amarasinghe to the canvas. Johnson outclasses the Brit utilising his BJJ skills taking the first win for via Triangle submission tapping him out.

The win appears to be a huge morale booster for the American lads but the UK loss reflects badly on the absent Michael Bisping, ultimately Johnson was the better man on the day getting the result that counted.

Next week:
Where was Bisping? Will Team USA work together? Two more fights inside the UFC octagon.

Make sure you tune into Virgin 1 every Sunday at 11pm in the UK on
Freeview TV, Sky or Virgin Media. Setanta Sports subscribers can catch The Ultimate Fighter the second showing every Wednesday. Over in the States the programme is aired on Spike TV.

MMA blog by Dynamite Duane
duane@bluraymma.com
www.myspace.com/dynamite_duane