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Posts Tagged ‘UCMMA’

UCMMA 14: Invincible

August 6th, 2010 Duane No comments

UCMMA 14: Invincible

What with all the hype for UFC 117 this weekend, time has gotten the better of me to type up an entry for UCMMA 14: Invincible – the mammoth fight card happening on home soil.
There is a good chance tickets will still be available, so go see the live event, this Saturday in London, then watch Silva vs Sonnen on ESPN afterwards.
If unable to make it along, catch it on Sky Sports, Wednesday August 11.
Read the low-down in the press release below, including words from Dave O’Donnell:
UCMMA 14: Invincible - August 7th, Troxy, London
· VALINTINO PETRESCU V JIMI MANUWA – Title Fight
· Featuring: FRANCIS HEAGNEY, JAMAINE FACEY, MARK WEIR & MARK POTTER
· Debuting: IAIN MARTELL & JOHN PHILLIPS
· Broadcast on Sky Sports: Wednesday 11th August, 10pm
(London, 19th July) UCMMA, the UK’s Leading MMA Organisation, presents UCMMA 14th: Invincible at Troxy, London on Saturday 7th August.
Featuring the mouth-watering  title fight that everyone has been waiting for –  undefeated UCMMA Light Heavyweight Champion Jimi ‘Poster Boy’ Manuwa V the stone faced and equally undefeated Valentino Petrescu.  Both previously unconquerable, one man must leave the Cage having tasted defeat.
UCMMA veteran Mark ‘The Wizard’ Weir takes on John Phillips in a hotly anticipated Middle Weight clash, crowd favourite Jamaine Facey will be squaring up to Edgelson Lua, Francis Heagney will be looking to take out Brad Wheeler and the UK’s hottest unlicensed boxer Mark ‘The Shark’ Potter faces up to Ian ‘Monster’ Hawkins – a man who wreaks devastation whenever he enters the Cage.
Dave O’Donnell said:
“This event definitely has the right name. There are a lot of fighters on this card who actually believe they are invincible. Jimi Manuwa and Valentino Petrescu are both unbeaten; Giorgio Andrews, Mark Potter– both un-beaten.  These guys have never tasted defeat and have no appetite for it.  Other guys who do know the bitter taste of defeat are Jamaine Facey, John Phillips and John Kelly, but they’ve vowed never to look back and are now ready to prove that they too are invincible.”
“Mark Potter is the best pound for pound heavyweight in the country, but with Ian Hawkins standing at 6’6 and not afraid of the Devil himself, this promises to be a stand up war. At the other end of the spectrum, Edge Lua, a quiet but pitiless Mixed Martial Artist faces up to the extremely vocal and talented Jamaine Facey. This fight has already set tongues wagging … “.
“After Jake Bostwick’s amazing win over Denniston Sutherland he decided to drop to Middleweight. Now, facing up to Earl Brown, who went an amazing two rounds with Paul Cahoon, Jake will be looking to take out Earl quicker than Ben Craggy to prove he’s at the very top of his game.”
“This card is stacked with powerful fighters who are determined to prove they’re invincible, so it’s certain to live up to the hype.”
Full Card:
VALINTINO PETRESCU V JIMI MANUWA (LHW TITLE)
JOHN PHILLIPS V MARK WEIR (MW)
EDGELSON LUA V JAMAINE FACEY (WW)
BRAD WHEELER V FRANCIS HEAGNEY (LW)
JOHN JOE ELLISS V JOHN KELLY (FW)
IAN HAWKINS V MARK POTTER (HW)
EARL BROWN V JAKE BOSTWICK (MW)
PAUL CAMPBELL V GIORGIO ANDREWS (BW)
SIMON GOULD V DEAN BRAY (LW)
KES KPOKPOGRI V DAN MOVAHEDI (MW)
JOE HOLDER V MICHEAL BROWN (WW)
STEVE O’KEEFFE V ALEX HARVEY (FW)
RORY OSBORN V IAIN MARTELL LHW (UK-1)
DAN SHORTMAN V TOM DIXON (FW)

UCMMA.com

Cage Fighter: Wednesdays on Sky Sports 2

July 14th, 2010 Duane No comments

Cage Fighter -- the brand new weekly show from premier UK fight promotion brand Ultimate Challenge kicked off last Wednesday. See the latest episode tonight, 9.30pm, Sky Sports 2.

A weekly show highlighting the UCMMA roster of fighters and promoting the fight cards is massive news for the British mixed martial arts scene.

Presenters will be the recognisable UCMMA faces of legendary promoter Dave O’Donnell, OJ Borg and top referee Grant Waterman.

Tonight’s episode is set to feature Jamaine ‘Mr Pain’ Facey, highlighting what we might expect to see when he faces Edgelson Lua at UCMMA 14: Invincible – August 7th, from the Troxy, London. Oh yes, look out for an appearance from Big Brother’s Brian Belo in the studio.

Make sure you tune in every Wednesday, Sky Sports 2.

Visit www.UCMMA.com for further Ultimate Challenge information.

UFC & MMA blog by Duane Farr

duane@bluraymma.com

VIDEO: Ultimate Challenge – Feel the Pain Press Conference

June 18th, 2010 Duane No comments

Dave O’Donnell reveals all, well in a manner of speaking that is.

Get your tickets and see some live UK MMA cage-fight action.

Feel The Pain -- Saturday June 19, Troxy, London.

To be aired next Wednesday on Sky Sports.

UFC & MMA blog by Duane Farr

duane@bluraymma.com

Seni 2010: Were You There?

June 2nd, 2010 Duane No comments

UFC hall of famer - Royce Gracie

This past weekend (May 29 & 30) the UK’s premier martial arts expo returned to Excel, London, just down stream from the 02 arena.

Have you been to Disney Land? Did you see everything? Probably not. Seni 2010 was like that, more than enough to see and do in one day.

Travelling up from Bournemouth, reaching the Excel on the Saturday afternoon, I chose to fit in as much as possible to soak up the experience. Upon arrival I had to question if I had in fact arrived at the correct location, greeted by the sight of costumed cartoon heroes, rather than dudes in martial arts attire. It so happened Seni this year coincided with Expo – a special event for sci-fi and anime fanatics.

After checking in at the press desk I journeyed through the expo towards the area for Wu Shu Open, in order to give my Tai Chi instructor Brendan Burnett some moral support, as he entered the Chen style part of the competition. Amidst the many trade stands,  I caught site of living legend Royce Gracie, meeting fans and signing copies of his book. Unsuprisingly the queue to meet the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu master was massive.

Another master present – Samuel Kwok, a Wing Chun expert demonstrated close combat defence blindfolded! Amazing stuff! Seeing was believing, believe me!

Traditional Tai Chi winners on the podium.

Inside  the classical martial arts arena, the Wu Shu was located between Kali stick fighting and the Jiu Jitsu grapplers. There appeared to be less space allocated for this section of the fighting arts since I last attended back in 2007, still great to see it represented. Fortunately I made it just in time, witnessed Brendan’s Chen Sword Form and Cannon Fist Form. Celebrating his 33rd birthday, the Somerset Sifu earned 2 third place trophies. Well done mate.

As previously stated the plan was to experience at much as possible. Next: time for a 10 minute back, shoulder and neck massage, courtesy of one of the lovely ladies at the UCMMA stand. The Ultimate Challenge crew were there promoting their best of DVD, plus the forthcoming Feel The Pain fight card – June 19, Troxy, London.

Your roving reporter and the gorgeous girls from Nuts Magazine.

Visitors also had the opportunity to meet ring girls and the gorgeous girls from Nuts lads magazine, who were more than happy to pose for photos.

Andre Winner - UFC fighter.

Throughout  the day top cage fighters were on hand meeting fans. Some of the many mixed martial artists in attendance were Andre Winner (TUF 9), Dan Henderson (UFC & Pride FC), Jamaine Facey and Jimmy Manuwa.

Towards the end of the afternoon 3 very special surprise guests attended the show, non other than Celebrity Big Brother 7 winner Alex Reid, joined by glamour girl wife Katie Price and her son Harvey.  Katie tried on a special training vest for size, whilst Alex appeared to be having a brilliant time stopping off at the many trade stands, greeting friends and fans alike.

To sum it up, a fantastic day out, Seni’s got something for everyone. Will I be visiting Seni next time? Damn right I am!

A special thanks to Joe Long – Fighters Inc.

www.seni.tv

UFC & MMA blog by Duane Farr

duane@bluraymma.com

VIDEO: Dave O’Donnell Talks Seni 2010

May 27th, 2010 Duane No comments

Seni 2010, Dave O’Donnell and the Ultimate Challenge MMA crew will be there, alongside the Nuts girls.

Seni 2010, Excel,London. The International Combat Sports Show, 29th & 30th May Bank Holiday weekend -- 10am-6pm daily.

Tickets still available, visit: www.seni.tv

UFC & MMA blog by Duane Farr

duane@bluraymma.com

BAMMA VS ULTIMATE CHALLENGE

March 3rd, 2010 Duane No comments

BAMMA is back, bigger, bolder and on Bravo. Recently the Brit MMA organisation returned to the scene, promoting a night of mixed martial arts action at the Roundhouse in London. BAMMA’s production is looking slick, but which do you the ultimate fighting fan prefer, the established promotion Ultimate Challenge (formerly Cage Rage) or new contender BAMMA?

In comparison Dave O’Donnell’s Ultimate Challenge already is an established brand, complete with recognised theme music plus fighters own entrance songs. Resurrection their most recent offering aired on Sky Sports amongst others match-ups showed a brilliant bout featuring former TUF 9 entrant Dean Amasinger in a gruelling contest. Both promoters book some excellent established fighters alongside upcoming MMA talent but ultimately I feel it’s important how the TV product is presented to sell the fights to the punters. BAMMA may just have the edge in this department, judging by their most recent output BAMMA 2, shown on Bravo.

If I’m honest I don’t follow Brit MMA as closely as the UFC, the reason being the excellent job the Zuffa brand do at putting over the cage competitors to us. We know who the present champions are and who their challengers are in good time to get hyped for the octagon showdowns.

Currently there is one Brit MMA championship bout I know of and when it takes place, Mr Katie Price himself Alex Reid versus Tom ‘Kong’ Watson in May at BAMMA 3. That fight promo video interviewing the middleweight mixed martial artists is the way forward for the sport in this country. The style of presentation is very professional, the Celebrity Big Brother 7 winner Reid comes across so natural, rather than hamming up.

Having 2 top Brit MMA fight promotions on TV is great news, meaning there is a choice for us viewers and choice where the fighters can compete, but most importantly we’ll see healthy competition between the companies fighting over the ultimate fighting pound, thus upping their game.

Over to you, who is your pick of the UK fight promotions? Comment here or feel free to air your views over on the BluRayMMA.com Facebook group.

UFC & MMA blog by Duane Farr
duane@bluraymma.com