Will Cooling is live at Birmingham’s National Indoor Arena bringing you all the action from BAMMA’s ninth event, headlined by Tom Watson vs. Jack Marshmann. Watson is best known for being one half of the most high-profile MMA fight in British history, defeating reality show star and tabloid talking point Alex Reid in front of a televised audience of up to one million people. He will be looking to cement his claim for a place in one of the leading American promotions by impressing against the challenger to his ‘world’ title, British titlist Marshmann. The full card is as follows:
MAIN CARD
BAMMA World Middleweight Championship: Tom Watson (14-4, 183.2lbs) vs. Jack Marshman (10-0, 184.6lbs)
Jason Ball (18-10, 156lbs) vs. Colin “Freakshow” Fletcher (7-1, 154.8lbs)
Przemyslaw Mysiala (16-6, 204.4lbs) vs. Jason Jones (16-9, 204lbs)
Mark Tucker (3-1 [1NC], 170lbs) vs. Tom Breese (3-0, 171lbs)
Jake Murphy (2-2, 155.8lbs) vs. David Round (6-5, 155.8lbs)
Andrew Punshon (10-4, 182lbs) vs. Patrick Vallee (7-2-1 [2NC], 185lbs)
Antanas Jazbutis (11-14, 153lbs) vs. Dale Hardiman (5-2, 155.4lbs)
Matt Ewin (22-11-1 [1NC], 186lbs) vs. Leeroy Barnes (9-9-0, 184.5lbs)
Rab Truesdale (4-1-1, 205lbs) vs. Sam Mensah (1-0, 202lbs)
Marc Godbeer (7-1, 240lbs) vs. Catalin Zmarandescu (6-3, 230lbs)
Lee Johnson (5-1, 184.2lbs) vs. Luke Barnatt (2-0, 185.2lbs)
Due to technical difficulties we’re joining the action with the third fight.In the first two fights Luke Barnett needed less than three minutes to submit Lee Johnson with a rear naked choke after getting him onto the ground with a trip. In the second fight, Catalin Zmarandescu dominated most of the first round against Marc Godbeer, getting numerous takedown’s on the fighter from Essex. But he badly tired as the fight progressed and end the fight on the end of several punches to the head and knees to the body while desperately trying to complete a single-leg. Between rounds his corner decided that he had had enough and pulled him from the fight, so giving the victory to Godbeer.
Rab Truesdale (4-1-1, 205lbs) vs. Sam Mensah (1-0, 202lbs)
Round One
Rab Truesdale earns mega brownie points from me by initially coming out to ‘Bear Necessities’. He then throws it all away by quickly changing his song to some Scottish dirge. Ah well. Mensah opens with some kicks to the right leg. Truesdale responds. Mensah looking lively on the feet. Truesdale tries to respond with a takedown but eats some knees to the mid-section. They separate and again we get some leg kicks from Mensah. Another takedown attempt from Truesdale is brutally rebuffed. Mensah looking good here. Truesdale again goes for a takedown, not much skill or authority in these attempts, just clumsily lunges for the clinch. He does however manage to hold on this time and get the fight briefly to the ground. Truesdale gets back to his feet and takes Mensah down, showing better wrestling technique in the process. Mensah escapes Truesdale’s guard and takes his back looking for a choke. Plenty of time left in the round but Mensah struggling to fully apply it. Mensah’s jiu-jitsu is unpolished and gives Truesdale the chance to escape that he duly takes. Truesdale sweeps from the bottom and starts applying some nasty ground and pound on a prone Mensah. All Truesdale now and the referee has no choice but to stop it at 4minutes 32seconds. That’s two come from behind victories in a row.
Matt Ewin (22-11-1 [1NC], 186lbs) vs. Leeroy Barnes (9-9-0, 184.5lbs)
Round One
Ewin starts the action off, striking from range while Barnes maintains his position in the pocket. Ewin looks hesitant to engage on the feet. Barnes starts throwing his hands only for Ewin to get the takedown. Barnes however gets a guillotine that at one point looks tight. Ewin manages to escape only for Barnes to go for an armbar. Ewin escapes and regains top position after another takedown. Ewin now working his ground and pound near the cage. Barnes gives him his back but Ewin continues the ground striking, landing multiple punches to head. Barnes roles back onto his back but that doesn’t stop Ewin continue his offence. Barnes struggles to his feet only to be taken down with authority again. Both fighters seeming to tire. Barnes gets to his feet again, only to be taken down yet again. He briefly threatens with an armbar but the round ends with Ewin working his ground and pound. Ewin’s round 10-9.
Round Two
They start the round throwing leather with Barnes pushing Ewin back with a couple of heavy punches. Ewin throws himself into a straight right which creates the space for Ewin to change levels and try for a takedown. However Barnes blocks and ends up taking the fight to the ground himself. Barnes on top, working his ground and pound. Ewin gets back to his feet and quickly gets a takedown of his own. Ewin on top now. Barnes keeping Ewin in guard, so limiting the effectiveness of the man on top’s ground and pound. Barnes however gives his back up. They scramble and Ewin grabs a headlock. Both men very tired now, not much action now. Barnes cedes the advantage, and Ewin is now on top. They get back to their feet and now Ewin goes for a takedown. However Barnes again catches him in a guillotine and with only seconds left forces Ewin to submit at four minutes and 57 seconds.
Antanas Jazbutis (11-14, 153lbs) vs. Dale Hardiman (5-2, 155.4lbs)
Round One
Tentative opening to the fight as both men sought to strike from range with Hardiman stalking Jazbutis around the cage. Hardiman struck with some straight jabs and a very nice front kick, while the stouter Jazbutis had to come inside to land short punches. On one of those forays inside he got caught with a knee to the head and dropped to the ground although with Hardiman choosing to stay standing. After Hardiman had failed to push the action with strikes to the head, the referee stood up Jazbutis. They continue to exchange from range with Jazbutis being the aggressor although his momentum was cut off by a poke to the eye. Jazbutis was still the brighter after the restart and went close with a jumping kick before connecting with a nice overhand right. Jazbutis’ round 10-9.
Round Two
Hardiman more aggressive in the second round, pushing the action with leg kicks and quick punches. However again Jazbutis is able to come inside and land short punches on the taller, longer man. Hardiman comes back strong however, putting together his own combination. The fight goes to the ground with Jazbutis looking to work his ground and pound. Hardiman forces Jazbutis to give up the position after threatening with an armbar attempt. Back on their feet, Hardiman gets a takedown of his own. Hardiman beautifully rolled through to briefly get Jazbutis’ back but couldn’t maintain the position. Jazbutis on top but not much happening. The referee stands them up. Hardiman looking better on the feet than he has previously, a fact recognised by Jazbutis quickly going for another takedown. Jazbutis pushes Hardiman up against the cage and that’s where they stay for the end of the round. Difficult round to score but I would go with Hardiman 10-9 to make it 19-19.
Round Three
Jazbutis opens things up with a nice spin kick and continues to push the action in the opening exchanges. Hardiman lunges for a takedown but misses terribly. Jazbutis goes for a jumping crane but kisses. Hardiman sneaks in a jab to the head. He follows it up with a half-hearted kick to the upper body and a much more convincing side kick to the mid-section. They clinch up and Jazbutis gets a nice, clean left hand to the head that clearly stuns Hardiman. Jazbutis cranking up the pressure on a fading Hardiman, refusing to follow him to the ground when he’s dropped. They’re back on the feet and Jazbutis is throwing a variety of kicks and looking much the better fighter in the process, even if not all of them are landing. Hardiman is looking very lethargic out there. Jazbutis puts together a one-two boxing combo. Fight is very open now as both men are looking ragged. Both are throwing and Hardiman goes for a takedown. He however can only manage to pull guard from where he lands several rapid elbows to the head of Jazbutis as the fight ends. However its not enough to give him the round on my scorecard, as I have the round for Jazbutis, giving him the fight 29-28.
The three judges disagree with all giving it 29-28 to Dale Hardiman. The crowd does not like that even though Dale was the British fighter and Jazbutis from Lithuania. That was a bad decision in my eyes although the first round was close just because so little happened.
Mark Tucker (3-1 [1NC], 170lbs) vs. Tom Breese (3-0, 171lbs)
Round One
Big cheers for the hometown fighter Tom Breese. Breese much the bigger man, drawing over his opponent. Tucker trying to land leg kicks but his lack of reach is hurting him. Breese gets in a nice shot to the mid-section. Tucker really throwing himself into these leg kicks…the point its putting him off balance. Breese putting the pawing jab out to keep his distance. Lands a nice left hook, followed up by a straight jab. Grabs a quick Thai plumb to get a knee to the head. Tucker finally lands a leg kick and it does indeed have a lot of power behind it. He’s like a pale Jose Aldo with whacky hair and tatootes. He goes for a back fist but misses. Breese picks up the pace and is close to get Tucker out of there when his opponent goes for a takedown. Breese counters, rag-dolling him the ground. Breese in side control and starts landing some good elbows to the head. Tucker trying to get back to his feet but Breese continues to work his ground and pound. Tucker gets back to his feet and Breese looks to be isolating the arm for a standing armbar. He instead works his striking up against the cage, landing several knees to the head. Good performance from Breese there as he impressed to the extent that his opponent looked overmatched. Breese 10-9
Round Two
Tucker comes out swinging but he’s giving up such reach to Breese that the hometown fighter is easily able to avoid the punches. Instead they clinch up against the cage. Breese lands a knee to the mid-section and Tucker goes down like he’s been shot. Breese follows up with punches from top position but they are frankly unnecessary as Tucker is done. He taps out to strikes atone minute and forty seconds. Referee really should have ended that fight sooner. Breese celebrates as Tucker is treated by the medics on site. Tucker does eventually get back to his feet.
Andrew Punshon (10-4, 182lbs) vs. Patrick Vallee (7-2-1 [2NC], 185lbs)
Round One
Boos for Patrick Vallee when people realize he’s from FRANCE! They start quickly with both landing shots at the start. Vallee goes for a takedown, pushing Punshon up against the cage. Punshon doing a good job staying on his feet but can’t get Vallee off him. They exchange knees to the mid-section. Punshon gets a trip of his own, taking the fight to the ground. Vallee however gets a tight guillotine choke. He holds onto it for a long time although when he realises that Punshon is about to escape he uses it to sweep and so reknew the grappling exchanges in top position. He lands some solid shots there although Punshon threatens to grab a leg at one point. Vallee takes Punshon’s back looking for a choke but the Brit successful spins around to get top position. Punshon tries for a choke of his own but Vallee is able to escape. Some lovely grappling on display here. The round ends with Vallee threatening to get an armbar as the bell goes. Great stuff. Really close but Vallee’s round, just. 10-9
Round Two
Vallee takes control of the round early on, backing Punshon up with his striking before completely the takedown. Punshon tries to stand up but Vallee isn’t letting him off the ground so easily. Vallee trying to get the back of Punshon but the Brit doing a really good job of avoiding the danger- when Vallee does have him spread out, Punshon manages to escape into top position. It doesn’t keep Vallee off him for long, with Vallee grabbing an armbar. Punshon fights valiantly to resist but Vallee will not let go, even though the fighters are awkwardly up against the cage. Punshon is forced to tap at two minutes and sixteen seconds. A really fun fight, far more technical grappling than you would normal expect from British fighters.
Jake Murphy (2-2, 155.8lbs) vs. David Round (6-5, 155.8lbs)
Round One
Jake Murphy dominated a round that was mostly contested on the ground, opening up a bad cut on the forehead of David Round with repeated short elbows to the head. Round tried to get back to his feet on several occasions but by the mid-round point it was clear his resistance was broken. The crowd was silenced as Murphy clinically controlled the fight without threatening to finish. 10-8 to Murphy.
Round Two
Round shows signs of life early on but the pattern of the previous round is soon reestablish with Murphy dominating on the ground. He takes Round’s back and calmly chokes out the Welshman with a rear naked at 1 minute forty six seconds.
Przemyslaw Mysiala (16-6, 204.4lbs) vs. Jason Jones (16-9, 204lbs)
Round One
Jason Jones easily defeated Przemyslaw Mysiala, twice taking him down with authority. On the ground Mysiala offered nothing as Jones dominated positioning. After the second takedown, Jones was seemingly working for an arm triangle before Mysiala gave up his back. Jones started working for a rear naked choke before unloading some hard shots to the head of a prone Mysiala. Mysiala was cut and from my vantage point looked so lethargic that its possible that he had passed out from the choke. The doctor stopped it at three minutes and fifty-one seconds.
Jason Ball (18-10, 156lbs) vs. Colin “Freakshow” Fletcher (7-1, 154.8lbs)
Round One
Really fun round that was contested entirely on the feet. Both fighters have sound technical kick boxing and were looking to be aggressive although Fletcher landed the better of the shots as the round progressed. 10-9.
Round Two
Fletcher starts the round by throwing some wild leg kicks. Ball checked some of them but one landed hard. Ball moving forward catches one of the kicks but can get no offense off in return. Ball’s right eye seems to have a cut above it. Ball again catches a kick from Fletcher but does nothing with it. On the third attempt Fletcher gets the side kick to the mid-section through. Ball looks to have lost a step since the first round and is much more tentative. He gets a couple of straight punches through but Fletcher’s kicks are keeping him at bay. Fletcher lands a NASTY leg kick that draws gasps from the crowd. More kicks from Fletcher who is taking control after the even first round. They exchange furiously against the cage but Fletcher gets the better of it with a knee to the mid-section. Fletcher throwing more kicks to the mid-section as Ball comes forward. Ball rushes in with a right hand. Fletcher again goes for the kick to the mid-section. Ball responds with some good one-two boxing combinations. Fletcher connects with a jab while walking back. They trade kicks as the round end. Got of to a slow start but picked up pace towards the end. Fletcher’s round and so I now him two rounds up on 20-18.
Round Three
Ball comes out aggressive at the start but Fletcher stands his ground and repulses the onslaught. Ball taking the center of the ring while Fletcher throws kicks off the back foot. Fletcher misses with an overhand right. Ball is much more aggressive than he was in the second. Fletcher misses with a slashing left hand and Ball counters with a short punch. Ball lands a crunching kick to the mid-section. Ball throws another, but its caught by Fletcher. Fletcher gets the punch off while still holding Ball’s leg, so knocking him off his feet. Fletcher follows up with a diving punching and some hard shots from top position. Ball gives up his back and Fletcher hits a suplex on him after being denied a rear naked. Ball manages to get back to his feet and again starts pushing the action standing. Ball backing Fletcher up with his punches but Fletcher landing some kicks in return. Fletcher much less aggressive than in the second round. Both really bring it to each other in the final seconds. slugging it out in a grandstand finish that draws the cheers of the crowd. Really fun fight. Ball’s round for sure although on my scorecard that means he loses out 29-28. However the first was very close and could go either way.
All three judges scored it 30-27 for Colin Fletcher. I thought Ball did enough to earn the third round but Fletcher is a deserved winner.
BAMMA World Middleweight Championship
Tom Watson (14-4, 183.2lbs) vs. Jack Marshman (10-0, 184.6lbs)
Round One
Watson starts looking to strike from the outside, connecting with several kicks. Marshman responds with some short punches. Marshmann pushes Watson back with his boxing threat. Watson comes for a crane kick. Marshmann looking to push the action with his punches. Watson beginning to walk Marshmann down, connects with a kick to the upper body. Both exchanging from range at the moment. Watson connects with a straight jab. Watson seems to want the clinch but Marshman keeping his distance. Divided crowd cheering both fighters on. Watson lunges forward but misses with a punch and is on the receiving end of some shots from Marshman. Watson is bleeding. Watson grabs a half-thai plumb but Marshman escapes after taking only elbow. They both land punches to the head as Watson tries to push the action. Watson puts together a late flurry, landing a head kick to close the round. Really close round, with Marshman having the better of the first four minutes before Watson came back into it. I’m going to give the round to Marshman but it could have gone either way. 10-9.
Round Two
Watson on the offense early with kicks to the legs and body. Marshman thunders back with some punches inside. Watson is landing multiple leg kicks but can’t stop Marshman connecting with his boxing. Watson’s leg kicks are increasing ina uthority as the round progresses. Marshman lands a good hook to the head. Watson mixing in the jab and scores with a high kick. This fight is much more even than many expected coming in. Marshman puts together a good boxing combination but Watson fires back with a leg kick. They’re up by the cage and Watson catches Marshman, dropping the challenger badly. Watson half goes for a choke but eventually puts Marshman on his back. Watson dominating Marshman with his ground and pound, and after a long unanswered run of punches the fight is stopped at four minutes and fifty seconds.
Very fun show with some very entertaining fights throughout.
