Returning once again for the fourth installment of the Rough House events, Nottingham played host to the ever popular Cage Warriors.
A sold out arena packed with fight fans filled up quickly looking for some Sunday night fight action.
In keeping with the usual format, Ian Freeman was the MC for the evening and was his usual comical self keeping the crowd entertained. He announced that as he had been picked last year to be the British coach for the upcoming IFL next year he had chosen his 5 fighters and contracts were in the process of being signed. Wouldn't reveal who the fighters were to be, as it was still early days.
Set for 10 fights, 3 Class B fights, so no heel hooks or elbows and 7 full rule bouts, 1 of which was a battle for the CWFC bantamweight belt currently held by Paul McVeigh, more on him later.
FIGHT ONE
Round One
Both fighters making their second appearance on the card tonight they come charging out from the buzzer meaning business. Dave takes Eddie straight to the mat only to get caught in a triangle which he just escapes.
The fight is stood back up due to lack of action and they clinch up. Dave looks the better of the 2 fighters in the clinch and works hooks into Eddie's body and head. Switching style he drops for a single leg and the buzzer saves Eddie from Dave's side control.
Round Two
Looking gassed and needing the win from the first round Eddie tries to finish early in the second with an array of submission attempts. Dave escapes and rains down with blow after blow from the full mount and the fight is stopped at 1:32 of the second round.
FIGHT TWO
Round One
Making their debut in Pro MMA these 2 heavyweights were itching to get to grips with each other after their intense stare down in the pre event introductions. Coming out from the bell into the clinch they swap head and body shots with neither fighter having the advantage in this evenly matched fight. Adam tries to break the clinch and take Darren to the mat with a spinning takedown but not realising the weight of his opponent he pulls him straight down on top of him. Not believing his luck Darren drops in shots on Adam and the fight is stopped.
Darren wins his Pro debut at 1:48 of the first round.
FIGHT THREE
Round One
Meaning business straight from the bell Peter comes out throwing leather with some fast accurate hands. Catching Lee on the button he hits the deck. Somehow Pete accidentally catches him with a low blow and the fight is paused to let him recover earning Lee some well earnt seconds to recover from the shot that nearly put his lights clean out. The fight is restarted and Lee looks refreshed after he was nearly KO'd. Switching styles Pete takes Lee down and goes for a guillotine from the bottom, Lee escapes and tries to finish the fight in the first with some ground and pound. Just as Pete gets to his feet the bell makes the end of an action packed opening round of this scheduled 2 round Lightweight bout.
Round Two
The last of the two rounds was a boxing match, and a quality one at that. Pete's hands were lightning fast, and accurate at that. Lee seemed to be able to throw but struggled to connect as Pete was moving all the time, evidentially having spent some time in a boxing ring.
The fight went the distance and was down to the judges to decide, and it was to be Pete's night as he wins his debut via unanimous decision.
FIGHT FOUR
Round One
Coming out swinging both look to open the fight with some action. It is to be Lola that connects flush first and Manslaughter appears rocked. Aiming to finish Lola takes down his dazed opponent and tries to finish working from the half guard. It was not to be as Manslaughter proved his ground skills and switched from one submission attempt to the next eventually catching Lola in an armbar from the bottom which he cranks on tight. Lola taps and Manslaughter is declared the victor.
Ever the crowd favourite and sporting a new back piece tattoo Manslaughter knows how to entertain and is not afraid to catch a shot or two to get the win.
I caught a few words with Mark after his fight and admitted that Lola rocked him with the opening shot and I imagine he is sporting a rather nice shiner.
FIGHT FIVE
Round One
Showing his Muay Thai learnt in the Rough House stable Lee comes out throwing heavy low kicks to Marius's leg, connecting with an audiable thud. Marius has no choice but to take Lee down as he is not going to win the stand up. Lee is lucky to escape the guillotine attempt and takes advantage of the mounted position and rains down blows on Marius. Making the mistake of giving Lee his back he turtles up and the fight can only go one way from here. The hooks go in and the rear naked choke is cranked on tight and Marius has no choice but to tap.
Lee is declared the victor and retains his unbeaten record.
FIGHT SIX
Round One
Lee opens the action taking Paddy straight to the mat to try finish it early. Paddy sees his opening and catches Lee in a guillotine and closes the guard to force the tap from Lee at only :29 seconds of the first round. Shame this fight was to finish so early had the chance of being a good fight.
FIGHT SEVEN
Round One
Andre opens the action with some Rough House speciality Thai knees from the clinch. AJ fires in a left-right punch combo and drops for the single leg which Andre is lucky to escape. Closing the clinch and grinding in knees Andre shows his Rough House upbringing.
Round Two
AJ opens up this time round coming out from his corner with a kick and his left-right punch single leg combo. Good to see something someone's trained for being utilised in a fight, could tell it had been drilled to fight Andre's Thai skills.
From the clinch it is Andre's game as he fires in knees and elbows which go unanswered.
Andre closes the action in the second round with a clinch combo from Thai heaven, driving AJ's head down with an elbow, and rising it up with a knee. The buzzer saves AJ from serious punishment and it is to go to the third and final round to decide the victor.
Round Three
AJ comes alive on this round and is aware he needs a KO or tapout to secure the victory. Both gassed from R1 + R2 the final round is a bit slow and before long the buzzer is sounded and it is down to the judges to decide the winner, and it can only go one way, and that was to Andre, another win for the home favourite and the Rough House stable.
FIGHT EIGHT
Round One
Anderson opens the round with a low kick - high kick combo then shoots in for the takedown. Most of the round is to be all Anderson as he switches from stand up domination to control on the ground. Right on the buzzer for the end of the round Paul drops Anderson with a heavy shot and follows him to the mat in side control. The buzzer saves Anderson in the nick of time.
Round Two
Paul opens this time round and just missed with a head kick on Anderson. As the fight goes to the ground Anderson gets caught in Paul's triangle and it is cranked on tight. Anderson has no choice but to tap and is declared the winner and still the holder of the CWFC bantamweight belt.
FIGHT NINE
Round One
Leslee looks keen to start the fight as he charges out the corner to get taken down into Matt's guard. That was the highlight of the first round as neither fighter was willing to take a chance for the win and it was to go into the second of the scheduled 3 rounds.
Round Two
Matt comes out from the buzzer and immediately takes Leslee to the mat. Matt pulls guard and tries for the triangle which Leslee escapes and slams matt to the mat and drops in some bombs which sees the fight stopped in favour of Leslee.
FIGHT TEN
Round One
The local and crowd favourite 'Judo' Jim Wallhead immediately takes Steve to the mat and uses his reputation as a feared ground fighter. Making the mistake of giving up his back Steve tries to stop the upcoming rear naked choke and bridges for as long as possible until Jim sinks in the hooks and cranks on the choke until Steve has no choice but to tap at 1:53 of the first and only round.
And that was that, another successful CWFC event at the now famous Nottingham Harvey Haddon arena. Thanks as always go out to Ian Dean, the hardest working man in MMA and a true gent. Never stood still the whole night and was more worried about all of us having a good night than him enjoying the fights he had prepared.
The next instalment is planned for 8th December, I for one can’t wait.
leeroybarnes)
