KOIII Fight Night Review

FULL CONTACT SHOW
by Sensei Martin Blakeway

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

Fight Six
Phil Williams (Bloxwich) V Nadeem Hussain - Solari Kickboxing
Round One

This fight was scheduled for 3x1 ½ minutes - it lasted only 20 seconds - Phil Williams was looking fired up as he came to the centre of the ring - the corner staff had done their job - maybe too well! 19 seconds in as a thundering right hand landed - Nadeem fell, he was almost out, Phil in a moment of pent up nerves/aggression - (remember its one on one - best man wins - you can get hurt - the adrenaline pumps harder) - he reacted in an instinctive martial art manner and used a Jujitsu / Self-Defence style technique in a split second - no time to think or reason - to defeat his opponent - however this was an illegal move in the ring - and the opponent suffered a kick to the head whilst he was down.

Nadeem on canvas- Phil ushered to nutral corner

Sensei Steve Pride was immediately on the fallen man - ushering Phil to the neutral corner - Steve adopted the recovery position and the ring side Doctor was called in.

Doctor called to ringside
After what seemed ages the young man rose to a rousing reception from the audience - no-one wants anyone seriously hurt. The fight was abandoned - Nadeem fully recovered - Phil was upset with his reaction - lessons learned !!

Fight Seven
Arron Dovey (Sutton) V Chris Bell - Gatwick Kickboxing
Once again the Docker Brothers had done the job of getting our fighter ready and this time it was one of their own relatives - Arron Dovey -
Round One

It started furiously - and continued this way - Arron attacked from the start coming forward and dictating the fight. He took a few big hits - but Chris would have to hit harder than this to stop Arron today.
Arron used a variety of tools and started the dismantling of the Essex man. An accurate front kick to the body puts the visitor to his knees. Steve gives the standing count and the fight resumes - Arron on the front foot - springs straight in to action - wanting this one over as quickly as the last. They were still fighting as the bell sounded. Arrons by a mile!

Round Two
Although Arrons guard looked a little wayward at times yet he was landing great hits to his opponent, and taking a few I might add ! He also kept on his front foot and dictated the fight. Arron landed a couple of good accurate leg kicks followed by a hook to the head -this was the pivotal point in the round and Arron again finished on top.

Round Three
Arron bouncing showing no signs of tiredness was ready to finish it. The visitor came out with more shots in the first 20 seconds than he had all fight - he knew a knockout was the only way to win now. However Arron does not go down - and came back with vengeance knocking Chris' s gum shield out of his mouth. The fight got very close with both swinging in massive blows - Arron came out on top again with another removal of the gum shield from another hook. Steve has to dive in again as the two men continue raining blows as the bell sounds.

Winner - Arron "Diamond" Dovey

Fight Eight
John Skeldon (Sutton) V Garrett Grant - Nomads Thai Boxing

Another step up the weights - Light Heavy Weight bout
The Thai boxer appeared dressed to kill (or thrill) in full Thai getup, head band and dawning an angry looking hair cut - he was out to intimidate from the start - John would have none of it and having spoken politely to each other during the day, now looked ready to eat each other for breakfast! - if looks could kill!!
They squared up - John had a height disadvantage and it was going to be no push over for either fighter.
Round One

The visitor opened with one of the best kicks all night a long shifting in side kick sent John to the ropes - John bounced back with a serious attack, kicks and punches rained in close range. The longer reach from Garrett proved difficult for John, however he was moving well and did great to equal the fire power of this Thai boxer, after a fix of his shin guard Garrett attempted a spinning back kick that John skilfully avoided and again came forward, attacking with confidence. The round was very close with the visitor ahead by one point.

Round Two

Again the Thai Boxer shows his long range kicking off with a side kick to the head - easily avoided by John however the visitor picked his shots wisely in this round and began to dominate the round. Not without flurries of close range punches by John who was always looking to come in close and shut his legs down. Second round to the visitor

Round Three

Garrett opens with a spinning back - they lock together for another close battle - John pushes him into a neutral corner to the delight of the crowd - sensing a come back - John backs off and gives _the room to attempt another hard hitting shifting in side kick - this knocks John to the ropes again, - Again John comes back at him and lands a good hook to the head, - it shakes him but he is a little more experienced than he would admit and continues the assault at range. They touch gloves in respect at a good fight that was tidy and technical.
Decision - Nomads - Red Corner

Fight Nine
Ben Vowels(Sutton) V Russell Smith - Gatwick Kickboxing
Cruiser weight bout

Up another weight level - and this had to be the fight of the night from the big lads !

As Ben entered the ring the noise was deafening - his supporters had turned up in force and he was going to put on a show for everyone.
Ben squared up - he obviously had the height advantage and looked fitter - however remember NEVER judge by looks alone!
Round One

- Ben goes for the head kick straight away lands it but is caught by a hook from Smith - the visitor fires in again trying to stop the reach advantage being a problem, both end up near the rope and a WAR breaks out - massive punches are thrown and landed by both fighters, Ben takes a hit and dances, moves wonderfully around the ring and drops his guard in a defiant show of his confidence - yes this is the kickboxer that we all knew was inside him - confident and moving well, he pulls out a great strike from his low guard and dances around some more - the crowd now overwhelming with their noise, he then quickly changes to stance and fires in a front kick and follows up with awesome powerful punches, the visitor comes back at him, be drops his guard again and offers his head in a defiant manner then pulls off another great left hook straight on the button. Dances some more, then blast - he unleashes everything on the visitor - he catches him many times - I personally was amazed at the chin of him as I could see he was dazed on his feet. Credit were its due - he still came forward and Ben picked his shots more for the later part of the round, this gave Smith time to recover and the round finished evenly. - The crowd were on their feet as the bell rang. Big Bens in my book !

Round Two

I walked around to catch Bens eye - I gave him a look with gritted teeth - this was a great opening round - this was a different Ben from his first few fights!
The second round was all out war from both - the crowd chanting made both fighters push forward - Gatwick had brought many supporters and they were making some noise too- this was a hard battle and the shorter guy from Gatwick had the upper hand with more work in the second - It was going to have to be decided in the third.

Round Three

The crowd noise did not stop throughout the break - chants from both corners, Steve held the two fighter apart as they circled each other in the centre of the ring, both ready to go for the win in the last round, as I wound the crowd up for the last round of the night (like they needed anymore winding up!!) - lets just say this round went off - big time - if there is one thing learned from this - it is both men have great heart, power and great chins - both were tested on many occasions as the blows rained in. I believe Ben lost the decision in the last 30 seconds of the round as the visitor finished the stronger, Bens fitness let him down in this round and he had ran out of steam. - He had been helping me out with ring side duties all day and maybe got a little dehydrated - anyway no excuses - he put up a massive battle and was the fight of the night - however the decision went the other way - for now - Ben wants a re-match in September - Bring it on -
lets get ready for this one when "Big" Ben goes south for a "Ding Dong"

Ben ready to rumble again!!

Thanks to the fighters - without whom there is no show, to the helpers , and supporters without whom there is no show - Cheers everyone. ALL senior coaches from visiting clubs said they all enjoyed the show and thought it was done very professionally and one of the best they have been to in many many years- great new - They also commented (all of them) on the terrific job Steve did in the ring - We all agree

Once again I would like to thank all who helped make this one of the best amateur kickboxing shows seen for some time. Even when small problems occurred (like loosing the clanger from the bell after an over enthusiastic thrashing of it at the end of Bens first round!!) the audience was oblivious because we worked as a team and worked smoothly, efficiently and with professionalism - Superb.

Next event - SENI 2003 - NEC April 26th - 27th - click here for pics!