KOIII Fight Night Review

FULL CONTACT SHOW
by Sensei Martin Blakeway

The Evening show and Main Event
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the packed croud during the show
The evening show was a full fight card with 9 fights ranging from exhibition fights to semi-contact bouts, semi-heavy and full contact fights.
The huge crowd that attended were given a night to remember as the roof of Sutton's Town Hall was well and truly blown off with the atmosphere of Superb kickboxing entertainment. Many of the main fights getting the audience off their seats with standing ovations !!

winners & runner up trophies

Of course there would be no show if the members of Chongshin do had not volunteered to be part of it - All the fights had at least one of our Members doing battle against the rest - with mixed results - some we won - some we did not but all can hold there head up and say they did themselves and the club proud. Thanks and well done to all.
Full Fight review on following pages.

This just leaves me to say thanks to the many that helped - James took great care of the shop, Ben Vowels during the day did a valuable job in time keeping, as mentioned before the Docker brothers for great cornering and judging, Chris Whiting supplied & set up the PA, Matt Bryan & Wayne (daytime) - Matt, Chris, Martin (evening) for fight control, Steve for video, and I'm sure many I have not mentioned - Thanks
Last but by no means least - I want to thank Sensei Steve Pride for a truly superb job in the ring - he was there for 10 hours straight (only a very short break for a small bite to eat & loo visit) he was there controlling the fights better than anyone I have seen. This was echoed by ALL the visiting camps - I am sure Steve will be called upon for more Kickboxing events within the BKBU and he will establish himself as one of the best they have. Massive thanks to you Steve - Superb !

Sensei Steve controlling the fights

With all the fighters weighed in, it was time to start the KO'd III FIGHT NIGHT - we promised knockout action but no-one could have predicted was to come ! - After the short introduction from the MC it was time to "Get it on" .. The music started blasting out pumping tunes and the voice started to introduce the first fighters - bringing into the ring two of our own fighters to give the croud an entertaining opener-

Ko'd III - Reviewed

Fight One
Richard Green V James Eccels

Semi-contact Demo Fight - A great opening fight with a demonstration of quality kickboxing techniques. Kicks were coming high and in all forms - axe kicks, roundhouse, side, back, spinning and jumping kicks off all types. Thanks to Richard who had just re-injured a healing broken rib however would not let the show be disrupted and decided to fight - Thanks to you both for an entertaining opening fight.

Fight Two
Matt Bryan V Nathan Salmon

Another show of high kicking action, this fight was judged and refereed as a competition fight - this defiantly brought the best from these two fighters - they were performing as good as I thought they could. Fast furious techniques with the skill in the control both fighters have - another excellent fight with Matt Bryan the eventual winner - great fight both guys. Both should think of semi-contact Titles - later this year!

Fight Three
John Farrelly (Sutton) V Luke Sullovan - Nomads Thai Boxing
Once again John Farrelley has pulled out one of the big surprises of the night - I think its time Soke gets to see this guy in action ! Last year he got the crowd on their feet when he fought the fight of the night and got a draw from a hard hitting Thai Boxer - This time he squares up to a British Title Contender Thai Boxer !! - this was supposed to be a semi-heavy bout, the Thai Boxer is going for the Title in a few weeks, didn't want to get hurt - and use this as a warm up fight - hang on this is John Farreley we are talking about!
Round One

The Thai Boxer looks in good shape - but as we know - you cant go by looks alone - they square up - on paper Luke would have the massive advantage of many times in the ring - plus more preparation and experience - but as I said before - this is Farrelley. And it was John who opened the account with a hard kick to the left thigh of the Essex man. The fight then exploded - heavy Thai kick from Luke - followed by equally powerful and accurate roundhouse and front kicks from John, followed up by great hand combo's - John as always kept dictating the fight - he came forward all round - and when he wasn't coming forward he was coming forward!
The judges look for this and that opening round was Johns by some distance.
Sensei Steve pride has a chat to both corners and both were OK with the level of contact - this fight was never going to be semi- heavy!!
Round Two

This round exploded with both fights landing right roundhouse kicks to the upper leg of their opponent - simultaneously!! - Then war broke out ! - John came forward again- a very low kick swept John to the floor - he was straight up - un fazed - the punches & kicks kept fireing in - you could tell the Thai Boxer was tempted at times to use the clinch and start kneeing - but respect to him, kept to the BKBU rules - John kept coming forward - a more even round but John clinches it by a point.
Round Three

Once again - simultaneous roundhouse kicks fired in - the Thai Boxer sensed defeat and went for the knockout - his lower kicks were painful to watch yet John- as always - Came forward!! Again very close - both put in some fierce strikes - however John with his forward attitude was always first with the strike and again gets the round - Unanimous victory - Blue Corner - John "Full On" Farrelley. John has a heart of an ox - we have seen this twice now - and both times surprised his opponent with this relentless forward hard hitting attitude-Full On!
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Farrely with winners trophey - Luke bruised with more respect for Farrely

Fight Four
Sarah Fryer (Sutton) V Jodie Blunt - Gatwick Kickboxing
This was the only women's fight of the night with a semi contact competitive bout between our recently adopted own - Sarah and Jodie Blunt from Gatwick Kickboxing.
Round One

The southern camp had certainly done their homework and the shorter lady came forward cutting out Sarah's longer legs - this fight was going to be dealt with at short range. When the opportunity arose Sarah used her reach and scored well - however the visitors work rate scored her ahead and one round up.
Round Two

Jodie steams in !
Sarah started very well and got many kicks in - once again Jodie got inside and closed this artillery down - the tempo was furious - this round was close - even score - as the round ended both were tiring. It would be decided in the third

Round Three
The visitor started hard - coming forward and used more kicks than before - Sarah moved well and managed to push her opponent half way across the ring with a slicing side kick - it landed again as Jodie came forward again - this was tactics on behalf of the visitors as the fight was dealt with at close range with the shorter woman having the advantage inside. The final bell came as both ladies fell into each others arms and hugged - great sports to the last. The decision goes to Miss Blunt!

Fight Five
Chris Whiting (Walsall) V Geoff Comper - Gatwick Kickboxing
This was the second Semi-Heavy fight of the night. Geoff with a superior weight advantage of nearly 10kg it was going to be hard for Chris if this was going to get heavy!
Round One

This was going to be a very different fight - nine leg techniques thrown before any hands - then a few punches landed - followed by many more kicks. If there is one thing Chris can do well is kick - his fast feet and tricky double kicks that land with incredible force were doing the business. The opponents weight advantage was easy to see as he came forward - only to be tagged by Chris's quick kicks. Whiting win round.
Round Two

Great Kicking action from Chris
The fight started as before - loads of leg techniques from both fighters. Chris pulled of some great foot work including a jumping back kick that landed well, I could hear their corner shouting - "take the legs" in order to stop Chris's main weapons. Half way through Chris looses a contact lens after a blow to the head. This was Chris's nightmare - only talking about this happening last week ! With only blurred vision in one eye - he bravely continued. The visitor takes the upper hand in this round

Round Three
Sensei Steve sensibly cuts out contact to the head - this is for the safety of Chris, however is hard for both fighters now with that target unavailable. The Gatwick kickboxer senses a victory with his advantage takes control and dictates the fight with more work rate - Chris is gutted but not beaten - all he needs is an opponent his weight and we will see the true ability he has.

Chris still having trouble with lense

After an interval for the audience to get a drink or two it was time to continue the evening with "The Main Event"
Full-Contact Kickboxing. There were four fights of four different weights first up was the welter weight

For Full-Contact fights 6-9 Click here