Nottingham's Harvey Haddon arena played host once again to the popular fight show. A packed out arena was set to watch local fighters from the Rough House take on the UK's and Europe's best in this 12 fight card.
Keeping with a popular format, Ian Freeman was the MC, with Marc Goddard looking after the fighters inside the cage.
The card was to see 2 'Braves' fights, which showcased up and coming talent, with a view to going onto professional bouts. After seeing what these youngsters brought to the table, they are destined for Pro careers. Also good to see what the future has to hold for MMA, as these guys will no doubt dominate the events of the near future.
The first 2 bouts were Class B rules, so no heel-hooks, cranks, or elbows.
FIGHT ONE
Making his Pro debut, John from the Grindhouse MMA was facing CWFC regular Eddie in a scheduled 3 round fight.
Eddie opens the action with a right hand that lands flush on John's chin. The 2 exchange shots in the centre of the cage before it hits the ground, and Eddie's experience pays dividends as he looks for and secures the rear naked choke.
Eddie is declared the winner at only 2:08 of the first round via RNC.
FIGHT TWO
Another debut fight for Gladiator MMA's John taking on Bushido MMA's Pete.
Both fighters emerge from their corner, feeling each other out with some test shots. John secures the takedown, but his inexperience shows and falls into Pete's triangle, which is switched into arm-bar from the bottom, and John is tapping at 1:05 of Round One.
FIGHT THREE
Kristoff Woodhouse vs Lee Donald
First and only Caged Kickboxing fight of the night. Fighting with K1 rules, this was set to be a 3x3 minute fight.
This went the distance, with the balance of the fight swaying in either fighter's favour right up until the final bell. Conditioning also proved to be an important factor, as after his early attack, Lee was struggling to bring the pace late on in the bout. A tough fight to call for the judges, but after 9 minutes, it was declared a unanimous draw.
FIGHT FOUR
Knowing he was outclassed, Tommy goes for the takedown from the bell. Chris defends, firing in heavy hands that connect with Tommy's chin. Tommy counters and just misses with an overhand right that would have put Chris to sleep should it have connected! The fight goes to the ground, Chris lands dominant and fires in shot after unanswered shot, and the Ref stops the fight at 4:33 of Round one, with Chris the victor.
FIGHT FIVE
The fight kicks off with Rocci headlocking Cliff. The 2 tie-up, clinch, the fight goes to the ground, and Cliff locks on a guillotine, which has Rocci tapping at 2:24 of Round One. The fight never got going, Cliff had barely broke sweat and was looking for a submission from the outset. Another deserving win.
FIGHT SIX
Local favourite Lee was matched against Ultimate Force's Wayne. Both fighting sporting identical records, this was to be a deciding fight.
Wayne comes out from the bell meaning business, throwing kicks. Lee responds, firing in a kick of his own which is caught, and the pair go to the ground. Wayne gets caught in Lee's triangle, and at 1:32 of the first round, Wayne taps to make Lee the clear winner.
FIGHT SEVEN
Returning undefeated to his home event, Wayne was set to fight the menacing Matteo who had travelled over from Italy.
Matteo opens the action with some hard Thai low kicks, clinches, and connects with a knee through the middle of Wayne's guard. Wayne gets the takedown, and Matteo pulls guard. Both fighters look out of place in the guard, Matteo being a kickboxer, and Wayne the boxer.
Wayne looks for the finish with some ground and pound, but with the cut he receives in his earlier clash with Matteo bleeding heavily, the fight is stopped to let the Paramedics in to tend to him. 3:34 in, and Matteo is declared the winner as Wayne is deemed unable to go on.
I'm sure we will see a rematch of this, Wayne can't be happy at his first loss via cut. No-one wants to see a fight won or lost this way.
FIGHT EIGHT
A three round fight, one of the few to go the distance. The 15 minutes to follow tipped the balance of the fight in either fighter's favour.
With Abdul cut in the first round, he did well to keep on until the final buzzer. Each time Abdul had Andre on his back, he picked him up and carried him to his corner, so he could work his ground game, under the watchful eye of his cornermen.
A controversial decision of a draw is the result, with many believing that Abdul had done enough to secure the win early on.
Sure there will be a rematch on this one, with it being the first draw for either of them.
FIGHT NINE
Fighting for the CWFC Bantamweight belt, held by Paul, this was set for 5x5 minute rounds.
Knowing this could go on for 25 minutes, the first round is both fighters feeling each other out. Paul comes out from the buzzer in the second, catching Steve with an accidental low blow. After the fight is restarted, Paul gets the takedown he was looking for, and gets the hooks in on Steve's back. It can only go one way from here, as the rear naked choke is applied, Steve is tapping and Paul retains his title at 2:37 of R2. A deserving win and holder of the title, who will be next to step up to try take his belt of him?
FIGHT TEN
No love lost between these two fighters from the outset. Lucky to make the event, Fabricio had flown from the wrong Airport in Italy, to the wrong airport here, so after a £300 cab ride, the card was juggled and he made it in time. This allowed Jimmy some extra time, and seemed to be taking it in his stride.
The first round saw an exchange of blows from both fighters, the round and fight nearly being won by Fabricio who caught Jimmy in a heel-hook that could have ended it there. He's not called Judo-Jim for nothing, and relaxed into the sub, and soon as Fabricio relaxed his grip, Jimmy escaped.
The locals really got behind their fighter in the second round, with Jimmy landing some heavy shots, along with some Superman punches, and typical Rough House Muay Thai clinch work. Each time Jimmy landed a heavy shot, Fabricio came back wanting more.
The third and final round was less pace than that of 1 & 2, and looked set for a Judge's decision.
Jimmy is declared the winner. A well deserving win, Fabricio has a chin of steel and a huge heart, you could tell he loved being in the cage and fighting a local favourite. I'm quite sure CWFC has not seen the last of him!
FIGHT ELEVEN
Stockport vs Scandinavia for this penultimate bout of the night.
Simeon comes out for the bell looking for the takedown knowing the danger 12 Gauge poses stood up. 12 Gauge is to be the victor and easily taps Simeon out with a Kimura at 0:51 of the round.
FIGHT TWELVE
Main event of the evening and eagerly awaited judging by the crowd's reaction to Paul's entrance.
Paul comes out and drops Bojan with a knee and body punch combo. Bojan gets to his feet, and Paul wastes no time in hitting him again in the same sore spot. Once again to his feet, and Paul lands a hook that has Bojan out way after the fight has finished.
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