The Nationals 2006! - MMAUniverse.com

The Combat Sports National Championships, sponsored by MMA Universe, is the most prestigious Amateur UK-MMA event of the year. The top ranked competitors from The Open Trials leagues have been invited to return to Hereford Leisure Centre on November 12th to fight it out for the title of Combat Sports National Champion 2006.

This year Titles will be up for grabs in all five weight categories, Lightweight, Welterweight, Middleweight, Light-Heavyweight and Heavyweight. The Champions of 2006 will be found by staging grand-prix eliminators for each title. The fighters will have to beat the best of the best from this year's Combat Sports Open Trials competitions to be crowned National Champion of 2006.

The Lightweight Division G.P. is a smaller tournament than it has been in previous years but the talent contained is spectacular! Not only are Graham Day and Spencer Dummer highly experienced Open Trials veterans but both have wins at pro level in Cage Warriors. Kevin Brown will be representing the submission experts at Black Country Combat and dark horse Donovan Ronson is looking to steal the show. Last year’s Combat Sports Lightweight Champion, Neil Broadbent, can not take part this year’s event as he is focusing on his successful Professional Career.

Lightweight Division (-70.5kg)

Graham Day (Independent)
Kevin Brown (Black Country Combat)
Spencer Dummer (Akins Academy)
Donovan Ronson (Cheltenham Combat)

The Welterweight Division is red hot in 2006 and this year the title could easily go to any one of the entrants. Defending his 2006 title is the unstoppable machine from Impact Martial Arts, Michael Beckett. Although he has not fought in this year’s Open Trials competitions, this guy eats, sleeps and sh*ts Mixed Martial Arts. The other guys in the tournament are going to have to bring their A game to topple him in 2006. Luckily Falcons Martial Arts’ leader Heath Gait, submissions wizard Michael Gill, fourteen amateur fight veteran Craig Thomas, Big Eared Boys' Mark Radon, Valhalla FC semi pro fight champion Phil Smith, Bristol’s tough-man Ross Mould and Iron Wolves member Liam Cronin are all out to make winning a second time round very tricky for him.

Welterweight Division (-77kg)

Defending Champion
Michael Beckett (Impact Martial Arts)

Heath Gait (Falcons Martial Arts)
Michael Gill (LDH Vale Tudo)
Craig Thomas (Tap or Snap)
Mark Radon (Big Eared Boys)
Phil Smith (Cheltenham Combat)
Ross Mould (Bristol Goshin Jutsu)
Liam Cronin (Team Iron Wolves)

Due to an unfortunate series of drop outs, the Middleweight G.P. has been condensed to a solid four man eliminator. The inspiring Chris Simpson has agreed to come back and defend his title against Tap or Snap’s Shaun Charles who has enjoyed multiple victories in the Open Trials and the Grapple and Strike leagues, Trojan Gyms high octane fighter who thrilled us in three back to back fights at Combat Sports Open Trials 2006: 3rd Leg Anthony Peters, and the redoubtable Shark Tank UK representative, Alan Orr.

Middleweight Division (-84kg)

Defending Champion
Chris Simpson (PFS Stafford)

Shaun Charles (Tap or Snap)
Anthony Peters (Trojan Gym)
Alan Orr (Team Iron Wolves)

The Light-Heavyweight Title is left wide open. All four fighters are perfectly matched with one another. First round victor Paul Severn will go head to head with ‘Old Skool’ vet Charlie Hellawell, Black Country Combat’s new talent Tim Redfern and Reading Reapers’ Scott Taylor, who is already testing the professional waters.

Light-Heavyweight Division (-93kg)

Paul Severn (Combat Center)
Charlie Hellawell (Independent)
Scott Taylor (Reading Reapers)
Tim Redfern (Black Country Combat)

To top the day off we have a stacked -120kg division which is Heavyweight in every sense of the word. Eight of the Open Trials’ biggest boys are going to slug it out for the vacated Heavyweight title. One of the National Championships best known faces, 2003 champion Tony Bentley, wants to reclaim the National Title. In his way will be seven highly talented competitors who all also have the tools to be 2006 champion.

Heavyweight Division (-120kg)

Tony Bentley (Len Bate's Fight Club)
Adrian Dimberline (PFS Stafford)
Lee Brook (Thajuka Freestyle)
Hayden Buckingham] (SDCS)
Dylan Fisher (Black Country Combat)
Denniston Sutherland (Hybrid)
Hywel Knight (Bristol Goshin Jutsu)
Jamie Taylor (Reading Reapers)

Tickets for the event are priced at only £10 in advance (£12 on the door) and are available to buy now. Don't miss out - book your tickets now!