This was the first time that a UK MMA promotion has been held in a venue such as this, the IKON had a full light laser show, huge video screens and, most importantly, 2 long, well staffed bars!

There were no bad seats in the house, the best probably being on the balcony perked just above the Octagon.

The Light show was put to excellent use from the start when, in a move I haven’t seen since the days of Japan Vale Tudo, All the fighters came to the octagon and when their name was announced they saluted the crowd and went backstage to prepare. This was a good move by Dougie to introduce the fighters to the crowd and create some interest for the casual fans, unfortunately it caused a small problem backstage as some mixed messages meant that neither of the fighters in the first bout were warmed and a short delay ensued.

Gavin Bradley V Leon Dickens

In this Semi Pro’ fight Gav gave a totally dominating performance. The stand up was short and Gav got the takedown from which point he dominated completely. He spent most of the fight in the mount except for the short period where he was on his opponents back. Leon seemed a little lost on his back and succumbed to Gavs pressure late in the first round when he was submitted with an armbar.

A good performance for Gav, I look forward to seeing him against a betteropponent.

Winner: Gavin Bradley by armbar R1

Rosi Sexton V Carla O'Sullivan

Both girls came to the ring looking relaxed and ready, when the match started there seemed to be a little confusion over the rules regarding head shots. This soon became a moot point as Rosi got a takedown from the clinch and landed in Side control. After a short time on the side Rosi took mount with relative ease held position well until Carla turned her back in an attempt to escape. The more than competent BJJ player that Rosi is she finished the fight with a Rear Naked Choke.

Winner: Rosi Sexton, Rear Naked Choke R1

The Nightclubs facilities were put to good use throughout the night, Whenever MC Ian Freeman wasn’t doing his thing, music was pumped out through the excellent sound system.

 Mohamed Khacha V Alex de Souza

Mohamed came out like a Whirlwind and knocked Alex straight to the floor, he seemed to knock Alex out with the first punch, dubbed by Paul McVeigh ‘the Superman Punch’ but Alex came to his senses on hitting the ground. Khacha was unrelenting in his assault and chased Alex around the Octagon throwing kicks and punches until an opportunity arose for him to take the Brazilian’s back. From here he unloaded punches into Alex and tried to sink in a Choke. Alex’s years of BJJ training must have kicked in as he escaped the choke attempt. Sensing the shift in tempo Mohamed took the fight back to the feet and continued to Kick and Punch his opponent around the ring until the ref stopped the match at the same time as the towel was thrown in.

After another totally dominating performance Mohamed Khacha is earning a reputation as a hard hitter and fighters and fans on the night began calling him ‘The Human KO Machine’

Winner: Mohamed Khacha, KO Round 1

Ashley Wilson V William Elworthy

This looked a little like Striker V Grappler as Elworthy threw a single leg kick before the Welshman shot and, with some effort, got the takedown. The match played out like a submission match for a while as both men seemed to forget they were allowed to strike. Wilson held side control as Elworthy tried to reclaim guard. When he finally got guard he was in no better position as his opponent suddenly remembered that he was allowed to strike and tried a little Ground and Pound. With little activity on the ground the Ref stood them back up, once again Elworthy threw 1 strike but this time Wilson got a much better takedown and from Side Control pounded his opponent into submission.

Winner: Ashley Wilson Ground N Pound Round 1

The Ring Girls, as always, were spectacular. Hayley Finch and Zoe Andersen are 2 beautiful girls who love the attention that MMA Crowds are more than happy to Lavish upon them.

 Alex Owen V Chris Freebourne

Freebourne charged out of his corner and threw a big right hand to start this semi Pro bout, for his effort he got taken down. Alex is clearly the better ground fighter but not active enough for the Referee who stands them back up. Once again Alex gets the takedown which this time is huge slam from a body-lock. Alex goes immediately for an ankle lock on the ground with little success so he sits back up in Freebournes guard, passes to Side control and spins over to finish the fight with an armbar.

Owen showed good control on the ground and some excellent Jiu Jitsu

Winner: Alex Owen Armbar Rd 1

Andy Walker V James Schiavo

Andy Walker came from Poole Jiu Jitsu and Schiavo has quite a reputation as a kickboxer so at first view this looked like another Striker V Grappler match but it wasn’t to be. Walker Clinched immediately and Schiavo seemed to forget how to strike. After a long clinch with both men trying to get position against the side of the cage Walker took Schiavo down and landed in Half mount. James was able to reclaim guard very quickly and worked his legs up to an armbar attempt. Walker defended and feeling that it wasn’t on Schiavo let go of the armbar and took guard back. As Walker tried to pass Schiavo was very active from his back and before long had set up another armbar, this time it was tight and Walker submitted verbally as he struggled to hold his arm back from hyperextension.

Schiavo showed composure and technique from his back but will be disappointed with his performance.

Winner: James Schiavo , Armbar Rd1

 Tengiz Tedoradze V Steve Thomas
Heavyweight Title Bout

In what seemed to be a complete change of game plan for the hard hitting Tengiz he went straight for the body lock and took Thomas down. Landing in guard. He attempted some ground and pound but was ineffective and too inactive for the Ref. On the restart Tengiz shot again landing in guard, he once again tried to Ground N Pound Thomas but was having little success, Tengiz Stood up in the Australians guard to improve his leverage, Thomas immediately shot up and went looking for a kneebar but was unable to finish and Tengiz passed to Side Mount and then mount.

Once in Mount Tengiz again tried to pound Thomas into submission and Steve clinched him around the waist to minimise the damage. At this the Ref stepped in much to the surprise of Steve, the crowd and even Tengiz.

Winner: Tengiz Teodoraze by Ref stoppage

 Paul McVeigh V Chin Weakasingh
Under 65Kg/Featherweight Title Bout

As on UKMMAC 3 McVeigh provided us with a very exciting fight, both he and Chin are active standing and on the ground and the audience were treated to 3 fantastic rounds of fighting.

Right at the beginning of the first round both men came out striking but Chin imposed his boxing and landed a left hook that knocked Paul down, Paul immediately recovered and tried to work his guard. Chin controlled Paul from within his guard forcing him up against the fence to ground N Pound him. Most of the round plays out like this with Chin having some success Ground N Pounding Paul. Near the end of the round Paul manages to lock in an armbar that would have broken any mortal mans arm. Little did he know that he was fighting Super Chin Rubber arms whose arm was completely hyper extended but he didn’t seem to mind.

At the restart Chin once again showed superior boxing skills and Paul tried to neutralise this with knees from the clinch though with little success. Having decided he’d had enough of Chins stand-up Paul body-locked him and went for the takedown landing in guard. Chin reversed and managed to put him back up against the fence. After a little time Paul managed to get regain top position and tried to repeatedly work for a keylock which Chin broke out of everytime. Chin Reclaimed guard and Paul tried to strike but seemed to have little effect. After a little time the ref stood them up. On the stand-up Paul immediately went for the takedown and landed in side control. He held side control well and once again worked for a keylock with no success so instead decided to punish Chin with push off elbows until the referee warned him, an unusual thing to see in a bout which is following UFC rules. Once again they were stood up and Paul got the takedown to side control and eventually mount. The round ended with Paul mounted on Chin.

The third round saw Paul once again take Chin down and take side. After unsuccessfully trying the keylock again Paul held side control with some Knees and punches thrown in where he could. The ref once again stood them up for inactivity which neither corner seemed to agree with. On the restart Paul threw a headkick and slipped to the ground and Chin pounces. Paul tries a kneebar and a heelhook from the bottom but can’t finish either but manages to regain top position and pass to half guard. The round ends with McVeigh on top in Half Mount.

Winner: Paul McVeigh, Decision

Graham Connelly V Graham Day

This was an amazing fight, both men took it on short notice and went all out. The fight played out standing and on the ground with both men changing positions constantly for 3 rounds. Both men showed great stand up skills and amazing heart right throughout the fight as they didn’t relent for a moment in the incredibly fast paced bout.

Nearing the end of the last round Day managed to gain mount one last time and pound Connelly till the ref stopped it.

If there wasn’t another good fight the whole night, this one alone is worth the price of entry or for those who weren’t there the price of the video.

Winner:  Graham Day by Ref Stoppage.

 Jeff Lawson V Adam Dicks

In true Ninja style Lawson came out with a flying sidekick to start off the match. He totally dominated his opponent as he got a huge takedown, took mount then triangle mount and at his leisure finished his opponent with an armbar.

Winner: Jeff Lawson, Armbar Rd 1

 Laszlo Forro V Jean da Silva

While on paper heavier opponents seem to have an advantage over Jean that rarely ends up being the case. This was to be no exception as Jean defended a shoot, sunk in a guilloteine and finished the match in about a minute.

Winner: Jean da Silva, Guillotine Rd 1

 Gareth Roberts V Robbie Sarkozi

In a Totally dominating performance Roberts took his opponent down judo stylie and took mount. Sarkozi showed some ground skills as he managed to turn his opponent to guard and defend the subsequent armbar. It wasn’t quite enough as Roberts quickly finished the match with a face down armbar.

Winner: Gareth Roberts Armbar Rd 1