Join Will Cooling at 9pm BST / 4PM ET for live coverage from BAMMA 7. The major domestic British event is taking place from Birmingham’s National Indoor Arena featuring international circuit stars such as Frank Trigg, Paul Daley and Andre Winner. The main card on SyFy in the UK , Fight Network in Canada and at Facebook.com/BAMMAUK worldwide. The featured fights on the main card:
- Frank Trigg vs. Jim Wallhead
- Paul Daley vs. Jordan Radev
- Diego Vital vs. Rob Sinclair
- Jack Marshman vs. Carl Noon
- Andre Winner vs. Jason Ball
So after several mishap filled days I am not at ringside for BAMMA 7 at the National Indoor Arena as planned, but I’m not going to let that stop me bringing you all the results plus play by play of tonight’s card. BAMMA themselves have had a tortuous road to tonight’s events with middleweight champion Tom ‘Kong’ Watson dropping out of the original main event against Trigg and in the past week Efrain Escudero and Leonardo Santos both dropped. And then yesterday the weigh-ins were disrupted when the sauna at the venue broke down and so prevented co-main eventer Paul Daley from making weight. Still after all the problems tonight is fight night with five televised fights for us to cover.
Andre Winner vs. Jason Ball
Round One
One thing I always get frustrated with BAMMA (and I say this as someone who thinks they do a good job production ways all things considered) is the lack of a round clock. Ah well. We’re standing to begin with as the two move around without engaging. Throwing kicks from a distance, with Winner landing some nice leg kicks and a good front kick to the body. Winner goes for a takedown (!) but can’t complete it, with the fight getting stuck against the cage. Ball reverses on Winner but the TUF9 finalist manages to spin out. Winner is looking good standing, very light on the feet and connecting with a varied array of strikes. Ball is caught with a couple of straight punches. Winner however misses with a big punch. 10-9 Winner.
Round Two
Winner comes out with a roundhouse kick, obviously looking to push the action. Ball misses with a kick of his own. Winner connects with a left hook. Ball stalking Winner, uses punches to set up a strong attempt at a takedown but Winner stuffs it. Winner connects with another left kick. Ball catches Winner with a big right hand as Winner was walking back. They exchange in the clip and Winner gets a NICE trip on Ball but can’t capitalize. They clinch up again and Winner tries for the trip again but fails. He does however connect (weakly) with a spinning back kick. Ball goes close with a left. Winner misses with a left but then digs a hard side kick into Ball’s ribs. Winner goes for a takedown after a brief lull in the fight, and gets it. Ball sweeps Winner and goes for the guillotine, but Winner gets his head out. Ball pushing Winner up against the cage. Winner defending against the takedown well and stays on his feet. 20-18 Winner
Round Three
Winner winning the early striking exchanges of the final round, with Ball surely needing someone spectacular to get the win now. Winner goes for a takedown, ends up pushing Ball against the cage. Connects with some hard knees to the mid-section. Ball reverses and goes for his own takedown against the cage. Winner defends it easily and they go to the other side of the age as Winner pushes Ball up against the fence. I’m getting UFC 118 flashbacks. Winner getting some knees and short punches in. Referee calls a separation. Ball actually completes a takedown after catching Winner off balance. Winner sweeps Ball and is on top, starts to work some ground and pound. Ball is cut open just above the eye. Winner kicks up the intensity of his ground and pound after the ten-second warning but it goes the distance. 30-27 to Andre Winner on my scorecard. All three judges agree.
Andre Winner defeated Jason Ball via unanimous decision
Jack Marshman vs. Carl Noon
Round One
This is for the organization’s British Middleweight Title. Noon fakes an overhand right to engage in the body lock. He gets the fight down and is monstering Marshman on the ground, showing excellent ground and pound. He unloads on Marshman with nasty elbows and punches. Marshman surprises Noon with an attempted armbar but Noon is able to escape and return to top position. Noon is standing up to get better leverage on his ground punches. Dominant round for Noon…god knows how Marshman escaped. 10-8 to Noon.
Round Two
Marshman has a large hematoma above his left eye as we enter the second round. Marshman opens up with a high kick. Marshman is certainly showing signs off life in these opening striking exchanges and as I type that Noon takes him down again. Just in the nick of time as he looked all out at sea when the fight was standing. A quick stand up called…hmm that’s a debatable call even if there was a lull in the action. Marshman’s face looks an absolute mess. Noon goes for another takedown but Marshman catches him and hurts him. Noon is hurt and is going for desperation takedowns. He gets one but Marshmans spins out on top, and Marshman is hurting him with punches to the head. Noon looks exhusted, at one point literally putting his hands on his hips and knees. Noon is moving around very slowly. Noon falls down seemly due to tiredness only and Marshman is eating him up on the ground. Marshman has clearly given up but the referee doesn’t put him out of his misery, even as he ROLLS ONTO HIS STOMACH AND TURTLES UP. 19-18 to Noon
Round Three
Marshman comes in and mixes up in punches and knees to press his advantage from the previous round against a completely knackered Noon. Marshman is landing at will. Noon can do nothing…again he puts his hands on his knees in an example of total fatigue. Honestly he’s breathing so hard I’m worried that the first two rows are going to faint due to Oxygen deprivation. He goes for another tired takedown but Marshman ends up on top and eventually finishes it at 2:09 of the final round.
Jack Marshman defeated Carl Noon at 2:09 of the third round by Technical Knockout
Paul Daley vs. Jordan Radev
Round One
Interesting match up with Radev having a wrestling background which could pose problems for Daley if he can impose his gameplan. Radev comes in, they clinch up and Daley gets some strong knees to the mid-section. They struggling for leverage in the clinch with Radev almost getting the takedown but Daley is resisting well. They separate and Daley hurts him with a nasty body kick. And Daley is swarming all over Radev, with big punches and elbows to the head and knees to the mid-section. Radev is doing well to survive this onslaught…showing tremendous durability. Radev walks through a knee to the head, to make another takedown attempt. Daley responds with a high kick and a flying knee. Radev is incredible still on his feet trying to mount offense as the round ends. Tremendously fun round 10-9 Daley.
Round Two
Seriously? What is wrong with Jordan Radev? Daley just completely destroyed him standing, working him over with more knees to the body, jumping knees to the head and nasty punches and elbows. But throughout it all Radev stays standing and indeed frequently walks through the offense of one of the most heavy handed strikers in the sport. Not only that but towards the end of the round he actually starts to mount offense, landing cleanly up against the cage. The birth of the Bulgarian Zombie? Daley is ahead after two rounds but Radev is the one catching the eye for sheer bloody minded toughness. 20-18
Round Three
Daley is clearly completely bemused and confused at Radev’s toughness and is seemingly content to stick and move; moving around the cage well while peppering Radev with shots from a distance. After Radev bulls forward in attempt to mount some offense. Daley catches him several times but nothing that can drop Radev let alone finish him. Radev gets the takedown but hasn’t the energy to really hurt Daley on the ground, with the Brit doing a good job of maintain close guard and stifling him. Radev sees out the round on top and takes the final round. Incredible performance of durability from him. 29-28 to Daley. All three judges give Daley the victory, although one somehow gives him all three rounds which is baffling. An incredible spectacle.
Paul Daley defeated Jordan Radev via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Frank Trigg vs. Jim Wallhead
Round One
Trigg backing away from Wallhead, connecting with some leg kicks. Wallhead trying to get the jab working. Cagey opening exchange. Trigg using these interesting side kicks to the legs and body but not much more than that. Wallhead staying on the outside. Very little action, with boos starting to come from some sections of the crowd. They finally start to engage, and Wallhead drops Trigg with a left hook and quickly assumes top position. Trigg is in trouble here as Wallhead starts to work his ground and pound. Wallhead getting some elbows in to finish strong. 10-9 Wallhead.
Round Two
Frank Trigg is cut beneath his left eye. That was a close round that in one play went completely away from Trigg. Trigg gets the body lock but Wallhead quickly separates. They start to exchange leg kicks. Wallhead just misses with a straight right. Trigg with a inside leg kick. Wallhead putting together a good boxing combination. Trigg catches Wallhead with a short left and bullies in to connect with some more punches up against the cage. Wallhead gets out of trouble and smiles. Trigg pushes Wallhead up against the cage. Wallhead reserves. They separate. Wallhead trying to get the jab working. Trigg trying to exchange punches with Wallhead but seems to lack the speed to really put together fully effective boxing combinations. The round ends with them in the clinch after Trigg attempted a takedown against the cage. Close round but Trigg recovered well after a terrible end to the first round and midway through the round had the best spell. 19-19.
Round Three
Striking exchanges to begin the third round, Wallhead rocks Trigg! Trigg is able to recover and tie him up against the cage until his head clears. Wallhead has a cut around his eye. Wallhead gets a takedown on FRANK TRIGG! Trigg quickly gets back up. Wallhead almost gets another one. Both standing again and Trigg looking for something to catch the eyes of the judges. Trigg working the jab as Wallhead slows down. They’re just standing and exchanging as the round ends. 29-28 to Judo Jim Wallhead in what will be a memorable upset. We have a split amongst the judges – 29-28, 28-29 and 30-27 for the winner Jim Wallhead.
Jim Wallhead defeated Frank Trigg via split decision (29-28,28-29, 30-27)
