The Combat Sports National Championship finals returned to Bath in November 2003 to find the best amateur MMA fighters in the country. A breeding ground for new talent, some of it’s previous competitors and champions have gone on to great things in professional MMA.

This year saw many new faces as well as some old ones fighting it out to become recognized as the best amateur fighter in their weight class. Taking with them the National Championship title, along with a little extra pocket money!

Steve Lettin v. Dave Campbell
Lightweight Quarter-Final

This was certainly an entertaining fight to get the days proceedings underway.

Lettin was quick to take the fight to the ground and claim an early advantage. Dave Campbell seemed comfortable with this, tying Lettin up well in his guard. Letting finally broke free gaining full mount and continuously striking Campbell’s mid section to the bell.

Round 2 began very much in the same way. Lettin going for the takedown and again Campbell pulling guard, although this time being more aggressive with an early armbar attempt. Lettin showing his awareness of the fight area dragged Campbell off the mat to force the fight to be stood up. A flurry of blows are exchanged between the two before Lettin gains another takedown. Once again broken up for going outside the mat area. Again Lettin gets the takedown and holds good position until again going off the mat. Just after the fighters are stood up the bell sounds for the end of the fight.

Steven Lettin won the judges decision with his aggressive manner and good control on the ground.

Aaron Blackwell v. Vince Nurse
Lightweight Quarter-Final

The fight begins quickly with both fighters using strong leg kicks. Nurse moves in for the takedown only to lose position and end up on his back in a half guard. Blackwell quickly secures a chokehold, causing Nurse to tap out.

Aaron Blackwell by submission.

Graham Day v. Alex Owen
Lightweight Quarter-Final

This fight saw the return of a Combat Sports favorite and defending Champion, Alex Owen. Owen began as usual with his relaxed approach to Day’s good start with some strong leg kicks. Owen gains the takedown, loses position but quickly gains guard on Day, using the opportunity for a triangle. Day manages to escape and sprawls on Owen who quickly spins out to regain guard. Day passes with relative ease into side control landing knees until the end of the round.

Round 2 began the same for Day as he opened with a string of solid leg kicks. Owen uses a takedown opportunity to slam his opponent into the mat before following up with two quick armbar attempts. Day does well to escape both submissions causing Owen to pull guard. Showing his excellent BJJ skills Owen was relentless with his armbar attempts whether in the guard or from the mount. Eventually he manages to secure one from the guard, causing Day to tap.

Alex Owen via armbar.

Mark Wilson v. Mark Beese
Lightweight Quarter-Final

Ultimate Combat veteran Mark Wilson showed his experience early in this fight in the clinch. However, Beese showed his own excellent ability landing good knees and body shots before gaining the takedown. Beese quickly pulled the fight back to its feet, perhaps feeling this would be his advantage over Wilson. Wilson quickly took the fight back to the ground and jostled with Beese for position before sitting up from side control and taking the armbar opportunity causing Beese to tap.

Mark Wilson via armbar

Paul Holmes v. Nathan Williams
Welterweight Semi-Final

From the start this fight was meant for the ground. Much jostling of position in the first round but Holmes appeared to be controlling fight relatively well.

Round 2 began very much in the same way with Holmes this time appearing more active in his search for the win, attempting a keylock which Williams did well to escape. Holmes quickly moved to a scarf hold and back to side, gaining better position to apply the choke.

Paul Holmes via choke

Steve Devine v. Lee Shearwood
Welterweight Semi-Final

Sherwood opened up quickly with a string of leg kicks and body shots before Divine replies with a vicious inside leg kick. Sherwood takes matters to the ground where he begins to control the fight. Landing constant right hand shots into Divine’s ribcage from the top. Sherwood risks his position attempting an Achilles lock but fails. Divine uses the opportunity to pull guard then reaches around to attempt a knee bar and switching to an Achilles lock. Sherwood defends well and causes a stalemate until the end of the round.

Round 2 began with a good stand up display from both fighters before clinching and Sherwood pulling Divine down into guard. Sherwood attempts triangle and arm bar attempts before Divine decides to get things standing again. Once again a good flurry of blows are exchanged to the whistle.

After a well fought contest, Steve Devine by judges decision.

Pete Tyers v. Glenn Cutter
Middleweight Quarter-Final

Both fighters were quick to engage and it wasn’t long before Tyers attempted a standing guillotine. Cutter gains the takedown, slamming his opponent to loosen the submission. Cutter escapes and spins across Tyers from side control securing the armbar.

Glenn Cutter via armbar

Paul Somerwill v. Alex Griffin
Middleweight Quarter-Final

Griffin was eager to go as soon as the round started, running across the mat and quickly engaging his opponent. After being stood up for going off the mat, Somerwill pulls Griffin to the floor in his guard and reverses his position into Griffins guard. Somerwill passes and attempts a choke from side control which Griffin escapes, reverses position and lands solid body shots to the end of the round.

Round 2 begins in the same manner with both fighters clinching and going to the mat. After jostling for position, Griffin attempts an Achilles lock on Somerwill. The attempt is stopped when the ref notices Somerwill’s leg twisting, something not allowed under amateur tournament rules. Back standing, Somerwill uses a flurry of leg kicks and body shots to setup for the takedown before using his legs from scarfhold to apply an armbar.

Paul Somerwill via armbar

Mike Pickersgill v. David Gill
Middlewight Quarter-Final

Pickersgill gained the takedown early with Gill pulling guard. Pickersgill is able to land some good body strikes until Gill ties him up in his guard and defends well until the end of the round.

Round 2 was more active with Pickergill again taking the fight to the mat. In what seemed like a repeat of the first round, Pickersgill was more active landing more shots on target and not allowing Gill any submission attempts.

Mike Pickersgill via judges decision.

Matt Howell v. Tom Mayes
Middleweight Quarter-Final

Both fighters opened up quickly with a flurry of punches before clinching. Mayes began a guillotine attempt, which Howell breaks escapes from and pulls Mayes to the mat in his guard. Mayes passes into side control and lands some strong punches to the body. Howell does well to reverse but ends up in another guillotine and this time is unable to break free.

Tom Mayes via guillotine

Michael Ravenscroft v. Darren Hession
Light-Heavyweight Semi-Final

Ravenscroft opens quickly with a string of body punches. Hession responds by clinching and taking the fight to the mat. As Ravenscroft reverses, Hession uses the opportunity to sink in a triangle.

Darren Hession via triangle

Jim Bentley v. Keith Rhodes
Light-Heavyweight Semi-Final

The fight began with Rhodes quickly looking to take it to the mat ending up in Bentley’s guard. Rhodes begins to land strong body punches before attempting an Achilles lock. Bentley defends well until the end of the round.

Round 2 began with Bentley pushing the pace through good kicks and body punches. Rhodes gets the takedown into Bentley’s guard who again ties Rhodes up well, although they are stood up after going off the mat. Rhodes again gets the takedown but Bentley reverses into side control landing good knees and body shots until the end of the round.

A two-minute overtime was brought in after the judges could not separate the two fighters. This time both fighters were mostly standing, at times when going to ground they were stood up after going off the mat. On the stand up though, Bentley was the more active and aggressive - sealing the points for the win.

Jim Bentley via judges decision.

Juri Sialoho v. Tony Bentley
Heavyweight Semi-Final

Sialoho opens quickly with some good strikes standing up before being taken down by Bentley. Bentley then controls the fight holding position well and landing good body punches until the end of the round.

Round 2 begins with Siaholo quickly getting the takedown into side control. Bentley still keeps active landing knees from the bottom before getting the reversal and gaining full mount where he continued his heavy mid section blows until the end of the round.

Tony Bentley via judges decision.

Paul Pestell v. Duncan Windsor
Heavyweight Semi-Final

Windsor opened up the round strongly landing a series of strong leg kicks on Pestell setting him up for the takedown. On the mat Windsor quickly gained side control and used effective knee strikes to gain an opening for the full mount and apply a neck crank.

Duncan Windsor via neck crank

Steve Lettin v. Aaron Blackwell
Lightweight Semi-Final

Lettin opened the round by quickly taking Blackwell to the mat and landing a series of blows from inside Blackwell’s guard.

Round 2 began with both fighters landing some strong leg kicks until Lettin secured the takedown on Blackwell. This time however, Lettin managed to pass Blackwell’s guard and take his back, looking for a choke. Blackwell escaped to half guard but Lettin again managed to pass and attempt an armbar, but Blackwell defended well until the end.

Steve Lettin via judges decision.

Alex Owen v. Mark Wilson
Lightweight Semi-Final

Both fighters began well, exchanging a series of leg kicks before clinching and Wilson getting the takedown into side control. Owen showing his submission skills quickly moved around for an armbar attempt. Wilson managed to break free and bring the fight standing where he landed a hard kick to Owen’s leg that took him off his feet. Owen again pulled guard and attempted another armbar only for Wilson to escape and stand again. Both fighters clinched before Owen pulled off the move of the day - with a flying armbar on Wilson!

Alex Owen via flying armbar.

Glenn Cutter v. Paul Somerwill
Middleweight Semi-Final

Somerwill was quick to take the fight down by pulling Cutter into his guard and attempting an armbar. Cutter managed to stand, pick up and slam his opponent. The fight was then delayed with Somerwill injuring his neck but was in the end able to continue. Cutter again landed strong body punches before the takedown, gaining full mount and punching the mid section of Somerwill until the end of the round.

Round 2 began with a good exchange of strikes from both fighters. Somerwill attempted a takedown but ended with Cutter in full mount landing strikes before an armbar attempt. Somerwill escaped and rolled into Cutters guard where Cutter attempted a triangle just as the round ended.

Glenn Cutter via judges decision

Mike Pickersgill v. Tom Mayes
Middleweight Semi-Final

Mayes opened up quickly with a series of strong leg kicks before getting the takedown and gaining side control. Mayes got off some knees to Pickersgill before managing to stand back up. Again Mayes uses leg kicks to open up the takedown attempt into side control. This time Pickergill gains guard but Mayes continued to pound away until the end of the round.

Mayes opened Round 2 with a takedown but gets reversed by Pickersgill. Pickersgill moves to side control and a kimura attempt, which Mayes defends well. Both fighters continued on until the whistle, where it went to the Judges.

Tom Mayes via judges decision.

Steve Lettin v. Alex Owen
Lightweight Final

Both fighters opened with strong leg kicks until Lettin gaining the takedown. From the guard Owen attempted a guillotine, which Lettin escaped before reversing and attempting his own Achilles lock.

Round 2 again saw Owen start with good leg kicks until Lettin gained the takedown. Owen’s triangle attempt fails and Lettin stands back up. Again both fighters exchanged strong leg kicks until Owen gets the takedown, gets reversed, but quickly secures the armbar.

Alex Owen via armbar

Paul Holmes v. Steve Devine
Welterweight Final

Quickly going to the mat, Divine and Holmes exchange various leglock attempts. Holmes managed to gain a scarf hold and locked in an armbar using his legs.

Paul Holmes via armbar

Glenn Cutter v. Tom Mayes
Middleweight Final

Both fighters exchange a flurry of body shots before clinching, where Mayes attempts a guillotine. Cutter does well to escape although Mayes is still in control. Pulling Cutter into guard, Mayes attempts another guillotine but the fighters are stood up after going off the mat. Again, both fighters clinch and Mayes pulls Cutter into guard where a third guillotine attempt is successful.

Tom Mayes via guillotine

Darren Hession v. Keith Rhodes
Light-Heavyweight Final

*Rhodes was brought in as the replacement for Jim Bentley who had sustained a broken rib in his previous fight.

Both fighters went to ground early with Hession quickly gaining the full mount on his opponent. Moving to scarfhold, Hession uses his legs to apply the armbar to Rhodes.

Darren Hession via armbar

Tony Bentley v. Duncan Windsor
Heavyweight Final

A good start to the round saw both fighters exchanging strong leg kicks and body punches. Windsor took the fight to the floor where both fighters stayed very active with Bentley using his strikes well and Windsor attempting a guillotine before they get stood up for going off the mat. Bentley is quick to take matters back to the mat pulling Windsor into his guard. Two armbar attempts fail and the end of the round is called.

Round 2 begins again with strong blows exchanged by both fighters. Bentley clinches and takes the fight to the mat. Windsor reverses and lands body punches to Bentley before again being stood up for going off the mat. Bentley again gets the takedown and uses his knee strikes from side control until the end of the round.

As this is a Final, there is an automatic two-minute overtime round in addition to the standard two rounds.

In this period both fighters were happy to keep the fight standing with Bentley edging the decision with his aggressive approach and more accurate strikes.

Tony Bentley via Judges decision.

It was once again another top quality display from some very talented fighters. All the winners walked away with their championship belts, and in the case of Alex Owen, for the second consecutive year.

Congratulations to all fighters involved on the day for reaching this stage. They showed a lot of spirit and determination, not just in the finals but during the Open Trials season over the course of the year.

And so the 2003 Combat Sports Open Trials season came to a end. Four new Champions were crowned and one defending Champion remained victorious. After a memorable and exciting year, it was time for everyone to say their good-byes – until next year at least!