Ceasers Streatham Sunday 8th June 2003. It was Sunday 8th June, all roads led to Caesar's in Streatham, London for Cage Rage 3. After two successful events, the held at The Fusion Leisure Centre in Elephant & Castle, the second at York Hall In Bethnal Green. It was now time for David O'Donnell, (founder of Elite Fighting systems along with Aubrey Henrey and Steve Cooper) and Andrew Geer, (founder of Andrew Geer Ltd and sponsor of Elite Fighting Systems) to put UK Mixed Martial Arts and Elite to the test. By holding the event at a venue capable of containing the demanding crowd for martial arts.
With the UK 's only 24 foot octagon cage (thanks to Dougie Truman), and some of the best fighters from the UK and around the world, this event was definitely one that should not have been missed. With fighters on the night such as Andy Cooper, Ronaldo Campos, Paul Jenkins, Gaz Roriston and Jean Silva, it was going to be an evening of clenching your glass with one hand, banging your fist down on the table with the other, screaming with fury and excitement, and all at the same time as trying to keep your composure and stay seated on your chair!
Walking into the venue said it all for all the hard work and effort put in to organise Cage Rage 3. With the cage in the centre of the floor, there was no way you could have missed the action. There were large screens showing the action, and interviews with the fighters before hand, tactfully telling the opponent how they will surrender to their strength and in effect tap out! Bottles of champagne presented on VIP tables, and Pole Position magazines for all, Cage Rage 3 had special guests, such as Gary Mason, Alan Minter, Dave Courtney, Joey Pyle and Carl Beatie. Also to be seen supporting the event on the night were camera crews from BBC, ITN, C4, The Sun and too many fight magazines and papers to even mention! The lights go down. “This is Cage Rage 3!” The crowd starts to cheer. The curtains go up the hydraulic stage comes down and Redman “Smash Sumthin” starts to play. Nine lovely ladies all dressed in black, start to emerge reading out the words Cage Rage 3. The Elite ladies Mel O'Donnell, Lorraine Campbell, Kaz Dedrick, Danielle Smith, Marie Simpson, Lyndsey Herft, Ruth Derbyshire, Amoy Albert and Trudie Herft opened the show in true class and style. Also introducing us to the evening's host Mark Aplin, the ladies threw t shirts and other goodies into the crowd to get us all hyped up, for an evening that UK MMA would remember.
“Let the fights begin!”
Ryan Norwood VS Wayne Dart
As both men had something to prove in this match, previously meeting before, the action started straight away with Wayne throwing a right hand. Wayne shoots in for the single leg take down, as Ryan tries to fight it off, but fails, taking both men down to the floor. Ryan manages to turn Wayne on his back, but then tries to get a rolling arm bar, Wayne pulls out and laces punches into the face of Norwood . Wayne was the perfect example of ground and pound, as he continuously threw punches into Ryan's face and body. Ryan then tries with a knee bar but to no success, as Wayne keeps his leg positioned, and his knee bent. Wayne repositions himself perfectly for a rear naked choke, leaving Ryan no option but to tap. An amazing fight between these two men, and what a way to start the evening. Winner by rear naked choke is Wayne Dart in the first round.
Lee Shearwood VS Alvin Delemico
A very anticipated debut appearance from Alvin, representing the ever exciting and improving, Elite Fighting Systems. As if to follow suit, Alvin shows no time in feeling out his opponent, as he attempts a lead right hand to the face of Lee. Both men show good aggression, as they trade combinations of lefts and rights. An attempted knee from Alvin, momentarily causes both fighters to lose their balance as they go to ground. Both fighters seem to favour their striking skills standing on their feet, as they exchange powerful and quick strikes. With an impressive burst of speed and strength, Alvin counters Lee's strikes, scoring a leg takedown. Lee shows his ever-growing experience, as he manoeuvres Alvin into a guillotine choke, forcing the debutante to tap. An exciting performance from both men and, an excellent debut fight by Alvin. Winner by guillotine is Lee Sherwood in the first round
Dave Lee VS Dave Elliot
Both men touch gloves. Elliot shows good aggression in taking his man to the ground, as he quickly tries to manoeuvre Lee into a triangle chokehold. Lee makes a brave attempt as he attempts to break out of the choke, by raining down strikes on his opponent. But this is to little avail, as Elliott manages to sink in an excellently applied triangle choke. This fight lasted under a minute. Brilliant performance by Dave Speedy Elliot. Winner by triangle choke is Dave Elliot in the first round.
Lance King VS John Mitchell
As the crowd roared at the entrance of John, entering on the hydraulic stage, with two pimped out gangsters beside him. The look on his face told us all, this was serious. Both men touch gloves and the fight is on. John lands a kick to Lance, but Lance wastes no time in returning the gesture. Fiercely throwing punches at each other, John slips and falls to the floor, waiting for Lance to attack, but Lance allows him up to exchange more blows. Lance manages to take John down, but John manoeuvres leaving his opponent at the side of the cage. Lance trying desperately to get knees to the side of John, succeeding with a couple, John retaliates with blows to the face and upper body of Lance. Lance attacks with heel kicks to John’s legs, but the referee soon stands in and brings both men up. John throws an amazing punch, and takes Lance down, and continues to attack with blows to the head. The end of the first round leaves both men looking comfortable and calm. The second round begins and Lance is in with a kick, but John manages to defend. A spinning back punch from John lands to the back of Lance, resulting in both men to continue striking. Taking John to the floor, Lance throws a combination of strikes, as John keeps his guard up. In a position unable to defend him self properly, John receives minor cuts to his face, as round one is over. Round three starts with both men striking, and John attempting a guillotine choke, but does not get the full leverage needed. Lance suplexes John to the floor, as John tries for another guillotine, but Lance soon attacks with the blades of his arms. It was during this, the Elite corner threw the towel in. For a debut fight at the age of 47, John showed us there were no limitations to age. We hope the results of his first fight will not change his mind about coming back to the ring.
Winner by TKO is Lance King in round three.
Chris Hipkiss VS Shane Burr
Round One sees Shane wasting no time in striking, but Chris manages to contain Shane, and trips him to take him down. Chris throws a combination of short punches, but his opponent still looking comfortable keeping him close. Shane manoeuvres, and starts to attack Chris on his side. Chris attempts a choke, but Shane still keeps him tightly in his grasp. Leaving Shane in control of the first round, round two can only bring more excitement from these fighters. As the second round begins, both men attempt to strike, with Chris having more success with left and right combinations. Shane makes an attempt with a knee, but Chris counters with an excellent takedown and a delightful arm bar, which leaves Shane no option but to tap. An excellent fight by both fighters demonstrating excellent ground skills.
William Elworthy VS Glen Appleby
This fight was Glen’s return to the cage after an injury, and he was bound to set a few things straight. Round one sees Glen take the offensive, narrowly missing with a right hand, but successfully taking Will to the ground. Glen shows excellent base on the floor, and powers Will to the cage. With an amazing show of resilience along the cage, Will is able to reverse to take the mount position. He shows good power and desire in an attempt to ground and pound, whilst Glen shows great knowledge and experience with an excellent guard and defensive moves. With constant pressure Glen is forced to turn his back, and is in danger of being slipped into a well-attempted arm bar. In a ferocious display of power Glen is able to overwhelm Will’s attempt, and unleash a fury of combinations, forcing Grant Waterman the referee to call a halt to the fight.
Winner by TKO is Glen Appleby in the first round.
Graham Connelly VS Jeremy Bailey
After a long awaited entrance from Bailey, he eventually left the stage and made his way to the cage, where the “Bad Boy” was stripped by his “Bad Girls.”
Round one sees Bailey attack with a series of well placed right low kicks, then an awesome right hand to Connolly’s chin. Another leg strike lands from Bailey, and Connolly furiously charges his man to the cage. Connolly manages to show his strength and forces Bailey onto his back. Bailey shows comfort on the ground as he defends Connolly’s onslaught, forcing Connolly back to his feet. Calm and controlled on the floor Bailey shows reluctance in raising to his feet, as Connolly attacks with low kicks. Repeated low kicks to Bailey’s legs forced him to his feet, where he seems to be more at ease, as he connects with well timed right hooks to the aggressive Connolly. Once again Connolly shows great strength as he cuts the cage down, and pins Bailey against the cage. A good attempt was made by Bailey to execute a guillotine choke, but to no avail, as Connolly showed great awareness by sweeping his opponents foot and taking him down into a full mount position. Connolly used his advantage to impose himself on Bailey as he rained down right hands, and an excellent attempt at an arm bar. Bailey showed strength and ground knowledge, as he powered himself out of Connolly’s grasp, and manoeuvred into a side mount position.
For a moment Bailey elects to stand as he circles Connolly, then lunges in with a well-placed right hand, once again into the guard. Again Bailey chooses to stand exchanging skilled punches and kicks with Connolly, bringing an excellent first round to an end. The second round opens with both fighters on their feet, exchanging impressive strikes, Bailey dominating with accurate and punishing kicks, to Connolly’s left leg. Finally, brave Connolly is unable to continue, and turns his back in retirement, as referee Waterman stops the fight. Winner is Jeremy Bailey in the second round with a TKO.
Ross Pettifer VS Mike Fouquet
Round one starts with both fighters refusing to give ground. As they both quickly begin to grapple, Mike scores with an early take down. Ross shows great patience as he withstands his opponent’s ground and pound attack. With impressive subtlety Ross is able to counter with a very well applied reverse arm bar, forcing brave Mike Fouquet to submit. Winner is Ross Pettifer in round one, with a reverse arm bar.
Championship Title Fight Middleweight
Paul Jenkins VS Gaz Roriston
An energetic opening from both fighters, both scoring with a variety of kicks and punches, but Gaz scoring with an early take down. Both men show patience and respect to each other on the ground, but Gaz forces the issue, as he puts together an excellent flurry of punches. The bell sounds with both fighters on their feet, and the reaction from the crowd shows their appreciation, as an excellent first round comes to an end. The second round begins like the first with neither fighter willing to give ground, as once again they become involved in a grapple, leading Paul to score with a take down. Paul shows his experience and strength on the ground, as he overwhelms his opponent, forcing him to a guillotine choke. Winner in round two is Paul Jenkins with a guillotine choke.
Championship Title Fight
Ronaldo Campos VS Andy Cooper (Champion)
The round begins with great intensity. Andy scores the first strike, but Ronaldo opts to go to the floor, and scores with a take down. Both men show great expertise and experience, but Ronaldo is the one who looks more comfortable on the ground, as he manoeuvres into the full mount position, and sinks in a phenomenal choke, leaving Andy asleep. Winner by a choke in the first round, new title holder Ronaldo Campos.
Danny Batten VS Jean Silva
A well anticipated return of the phenomenal Brazilian Jean Silva. There was no disappointment as Jean began on the offensive, with a spectacular high kick, followed by a blistering array of punches to the head of Danny, sending him into a moment of disarray. Danny showed great composure, as he cleverly covered up and weathered the storm, however this was to no avail, as Jean showed his experience, in taking Danny to the ground. Whilst on the ground, Jean dominates, as he lands well picked strikes, but is cleverly forced to his feet by his well experienced opponent, Danny. The eccentric Brazilian continues to show great agility and skill, with strike attacks on his feet and his mat skills. The round ends with Jean attempting a choke, and immediately the response of the crowd shows their appreciation, for two great athletes. The second round similar to the first, with Jean showing imagination and exciting the crowd with his variety of strikes. It was a brave attempt from Danny, but not only did Jean dominate coming forward, his defensive skills were also to be admired. As he scores yet again with another take down, the second rounds ends with Jean dominating most of the round on the ground. Third round opens with Jean putting together another fantastic variety, of kicks and punches, and then scoring another take down. In such a demanding fight, it seems to be Danny tiring, while Jean looks ever more comfortable on the ground, as he continues on the offensive. The final bell sounds, and it is clear to everyone in attendance who the star of the night is. Winner by unanimous decision is Jean Silva.
Paul McVeigh VS Leigh Remedios
Round one starts with both fighters looking very relaxed and comfortable as they grapple, and striking close with knee attacks and short punches. Eventually Paul scores with a take down, only to be reversed. This was going to be no walk over it looked like the beginning of a war 1st round had gone and both men came out hard and pumped for the second again it was a battle of wits until Leigh got his back and sunk in a choke with only 3 second remaining WINNER Leigh Remedios rear choke rd 2
With an outstanding variety of well-matched fights, the whole evening proved to be an amazing night of entertainment. UK MMA is growing, but we can only hope it is seen for the well mannered, controlled sport and profession, as seen at Cage Rage 3.
Excellent night, full of fighters prepared to last three-five minute rounds, and give their all as they stepped into the cage.
If you missed this one, make sure you make Cage Rage 4, on October 12th at the same place, for what is bound to be another amazing night.
