War In Workington 2 Sold Out!

ULTIMATE fighting fans have snapped up tickets for the second War in Workington show - making it a sell-out more than a week in advance of the action.

The mixed martial arts extravaganza tomorrow night at Moorclose Sports Centre features 12 bouts involving local fighters against up-and-coming names from across the country.

Workington-based promoter Mark Hodgson, who runs the Hokushinko Fight Academy, is delighted with the response.

And Hodgson admits he is stunned at having had to turn away so many people.

He has also attracted interest from top ultimate fighting organisation Cage Rage, who have contacted him to see if he would like to put on a future show for them in Cumbria.

“Cage Rage is the biggest show of its kind in Europe and I can’t believe they have contacted me,” said Hodgson.

“Dave O’Donnell, who runs it, asked me if they could bring Cage Rage to this area, so I will definitely be thinking about that.

“I can’t believe how big this is getting so quickly, but Cage Rage would take it big time. When I organised the first show I never thought that it would end up this big.”

Hodgson’s first War in Workington in June was also a sell-out and it spurred him on to organise a repeat event.

This time he has attracted a top mixed martial arts organisation which is sponsoring the War in Workington2: The Revenge show.

MMA Universe supply clothing and merchandise for the sport and are backing the Workington event at Moorclose Sports Centre.

There is plenty of local interest, with many of the fighters from the last show returning.

Alan Murdock will be fighting out of the Hokushinko corner. He recorded a Cage Rage success late last year against Dave Legeno in the closed cage heavyweight battle at Wembley Conference Centre, defeating the fighter-cum actor who starred alongside Brad Pitt in Snatch.

Also fighting will be Christian Robertson, who is dedicating his fight to Whitehaven youngster Russell May, who suffers from myeloid leukaemia. Money will be raised through selling programmes on the night for 12-year-old Russell, whose parents are trying to buy a special wheelchair and take him to see dolphins.

There will also be a super heavyweight clash, with local contender Neil Bragg taking on a 24-stone fighter from Wales.

Whitehaven brothers Kevin and Martin Thompson and Gary Elliott, Workington youngster Daniel Park and Maryport’s Sean McGuirk are also all on the bill. Fighters are travelling up from London and Yorkshire to appear in the event.