The Exmouth coastline was packed for Knuckle Up’s first venture to the South West and the action did not disappoint.
We had knockouts, submissions and a roof-raising atmosphere….
First to step into the cage were
John Lulek and
Craig Clarkson. Lulek looked to keep Clarkson at bay with leg kicks as the bout started but Clarkson quickly closed the gap and controlled his opponent with some dirty boxing. A big takedown was then scored by Clarkson, dropping into side control. Working for control, Clarkson pins Luleks arm and looks to inflict some damage with strikes. Lulek escapes momentarily before Clarkson gains full mount position. Taken the back and sinks in a rear naked choke.
Craig Clarkson wins via
RNC – 2.45 Round 1
Bout 2 is Harry Mclenan vs. John Hobbs
Both fighters came for victory with a fast paced exchange of fists. Mclenan takes his opponent down with a hip throw and secures mount. Posturing up he rains shots down on Hobbs. Knowing he needs to find a way out, Hobbs gives up his back. Mclenan hooks up the body triangle. Hobbs manages to pull guard.
Passing to side guard, Mclenan continues to throw punches before passing to side control and eventually full mount. Not enough time for much more though.
End of round 1
Hobbs comes out and throws a good straight. Mclenan returns fire before both fighters clinch and release. Mclenan’s found his range and is demonstrating good counterstriking. Hobbs lands a big right hand and Mclenan shoots, securing full mount. He’s working from the top well here and is a position to do some damage. GNP! Referee Nathan Webbe has no choice but to call an end to the fight.
Harry Mclenan wins via
TKO – 2.55 Round 2
Dave Smith and Chris Langford up next. A quick one for you! Dave Smith comes out looking the slicker of the two fighters, landing some nice punches to his opponent. Going to the ground, Smith pulls guard and is actively working for a submission, the armbar looked like it was a possibility but Langford is countering well. Langford secure side control but Smith escapes and thunders shots down on Langford. It’s all over!
Dave Smith wins via
TKO – 1.07 Round 1
A Featherweight bout next between Ben Rees and Josh O’Shea. Big cheers for both fighters as they make their way to the cage. Another quick one. Both fighters’ looking to work the jab before O’Shea shoots and secures the takedown. Rees’ looking composed and confident he can make things happen from his back. Gogoplata attempt! Rees nearly secured cult status amongst his supporters for a moment but O’Shea escapes to side control and puts on a potentially nasty armbar. The referee wisely steps in before any bones are broken and calls an end to the fight. No chance of Rees escaping that one.
Josh O’Shea wins via
Armbar
Nick Foster vs. the very well supported Joshua Bachbakhi. Bachbakhi starting the stronger of the two imposing some dominant striking on his opponent; resulting in a knockdown. Drops into side control and eventually finds himself in half guard where he throws a series of punches to his downed opponent. Back on their feet and Foster looks to get back into the fight, landing a nice right before Bachbakhi responds with a big shot followed by a teep kick. He’s catching Foster as he comes into range, displaying some decent counter striking. End of Round 1
Round 2 begins with Bachbakhi again the aggressor throwing a solid left followed by leg kicks; connecting well. Both fighters meet and throw a series of wild hooks, much to the excitement of the crowd. Bachbakhi lands a big overhand right and Foster looks a little more reserved now. Bachbakhi flies in and swarms his opponent with strikes, ending the fight with punches to the downed Foster.
Joshua Bachbakhi wins via
TKO – 3.46 Round 2
Up next is my pick for fight of the night. Toby Hartman vs. Nathan Bachbakhi. Hartman not having much impact on this first round. Bachbakhi is throwing a good range of strikes and in combinations with much success. 2 big shots and Hartman is down. Bachbakhi showing his inexperience rushes in to finish the job but gets a point deducted for an illegal elbow. Both fighters clinch on the restart but the first round is over.
The second round starts a bit cagier with neither fighter willing to commit. Bachbakhi closes the gap and continues to throw combinations. Hartman is cut due to accumulative damage under the eye and is looking to take the fight to the ground. He’s successful and gains a dominant position on the ground. He’s looking to finish with some ground and pound but Bachbakhi responds with an armbar attempt which leads to Hartman slamming his opponent to the ground. End of Round 2
Third and final round, Bachbakhi looking the more confident striker throws an audacious superman punch. Hartman clinches with his opponent against the cage and again looks for the double leg. He secures the takedown and passes to side control. Bachbakhi works to guard. Striking to pass, Hartman manages to secure full mount and throws more punches down on Bachbakhi. He’s managed to secure an arm and has sunk in a nice arm triangle; Bachbakhi has no choice but to tap. Excellent comeback from Hartman after a tough first round.
Toby Hartman wins via
Arm Triangle 2.45 Round 3
Simon Stanbury vs. Leyton Williams. A good tussle between two very well matched fighters. The first round saw Stanbury take control with a busier stand-up game, Williams reduced to counterpunching and clinching for the most part. Much of the same in the second round with Stanbury again looking the more dominant despite being clearly very tired. A dangerous moment for Williams at the end of round 2 with Stanbury finishing the round throwing shots from side control.
The deciding round started with a big exchange and a takedown from Stanbury. Failing in the guillotine attempt, Williams is able to get back to his feet. Stanbury shows superior wrestling though late on and slams his opponent, dropping into side control. Switching to North/South then mounting his opponents back, worrying times for Williams who manages to escape only to be caught in a (standing) guillotine and taps.
Simon Stanbury wins via (Standing)
Guillotine – 3.49 Round 3
Phil Wells vs. Naim Alawan.
Wells opens the bout looking the more dominant fighter. Alawan, looking for a way in is getting caught time and again. The fighters clinch and Alawan looks a little more comfortable despite an exchange of knees and punches. Alawan lands a solid punch on the way out of the clinch. Wells takes the centre of the cage again and looks to pressure Alawan who throws a flurry of punches then clinches up with Wells. Wells responds with 3 solid shots leading to Alawan clinching. End of Round 1
Round 2 and Wells throws another good counterpunch catching his opponent. Alawan looks like a different fighter in this round though and throws another flurry of punches followed by a spinning backfist (which lands). Alawan’s swinging for the fences and drops to takedown his opponent. Passes nicely into side control and on to mount. Big shots from Alawan and the ref steps in!
Naim Alawan wins via
TKO – 1.49 Round 2
The main event! Sami ‘The Hun’ Berik vs. Kev Donnelly. The room is buzzing with anticipation for this fight and Berik’s entrance further fuels the atmosphere. Both fighters looking extremely calms as they face each other awaiting instructions from referee Nathan Webbe.
Here we go! Berik, awkward and rangey looks for a way to close the gap between him and Donnelly throwing a superman punch. Donnelly’s well out of the way though and secures a takedown to the delight of the locals. Berik looks comfortable with Donnelly in his guard but cannot stop his opponent from passing. Side control. Mount. Each transition cheered by onlookers. Berik escapes quickly but Donnelly takes a single leg and drops into half guard. He’s passed again. Side control. Mount. Berik offers up his back to escape Donnelly’s punches.
Donnelly is all over Berik on the ground; he has one hook in and is working for the second. Berik is desperately trying to escape but Donnelly is outwrestling him in this first round.
End of Round 1 and Berik looks very tired in his corner.
Round 2. The fighters meet and circle. Donnelly lands a massive left hook to Berik’s temple, dropping him and rushes in with a soccer kick to the body. Nathan Webbe reacts fast and calls an end to the fight.
Kevin Donnelly wins via
TKO – 16 seconds Round 2
