The Fastest Wheels in Bangkok

This weekend marks the sixth show that I will have attended in five weeks that started way back with BAMMA 5 at MEN Arena.

I covered BAMMA 5 for MMAHQ before attending OMMAC as press, Fight UK as a judge, Night of the Gladiators as commentary, Lockdown FC as a judge/commentator and tomorrow I'm off to sunny London for UCMMA: Lights Out.

Do you hear what this is? This is the sound of contentment pouring out of my fingers as I type and encouraging you to make this happen.

Do you honestly think I'm anything special? I'm nothing more than a fool with a love of tea and a passion about mixed martial arts and videogames. All I want to do is carry on with all the projects I've been lucky enough to be involved in.

You'll have to bear with me if this post sounds like a drunken text message at 3 am but I don't drink anymore so I have to find some way of venting all of this emotion.

Every single one of you people who've read this are as important in this as I am because without you good people being there to support me and encourage me I'd still be wishing that there was some way of making this all possible.

My message today? Just work hard at whatever it is that you believe in and you'll believe more and more that you can do it every single day. It's not important how long it takes you to get where you're going it's more important to appreciate the journey every single day.

The next few weeks are going to be a bit of a shitstorm so I apologise in advance for not talking so much. There's a very good chance I love you all and please don't ever be a stranger.

Take Care
Ben Cartlidge

Night of the Gladiators 7

It's been forever since I spoke to you good people and, in the interim, I've got a new place and all kinds of other cool stuff. I'd bore you with my exploits on the Super Nintendo but that can wait.

It's time for a Night of the Gladiators 7 round up that saw Dangerous Dave and I dust off the commentary gear and get involved.

In short probably the best event I've worked for the promotion in terms of fantastic match making and close fights. I'm glad, however, I wasn't judging it although they all did a great job.

Also a quick shout out to GPUK ref Steve McGovern who did another great job.

Robbia Houghton vs. Greg Grimshaw
66kg Semi Pro

Greg Grimshaw certainly wasn't getting paid by the hour as he came out with danger in his eyes and took the fight to the canvas with a well timed takedown. Houghton worked hard but it was the solid wrestling of Grimshaw that made the difference as he postured up and unleashed a barrage of strikes to force a very good first round stoppage.


Yan Sena vs. Chris Lawton
66kg Semi Pro

Once again it was a fast paced start as both fighters came out swinging and looking to end it early. Sena managed to get the top position after a frantic start but was quickly reversed and, following a Kimura that seemed to illicit a tap, it was Lawton who prevailed as he sunk in a tight guillotine choke from the bottom as the time ran out in the opening round.

Jason Scott vs. Carl Lofthouse
55kg Semi Pro

In one of the harder fought battles of the evening Jason Scott and Carl Lofthouse fought out a draw despite both fighters having great chances to finish the bout at different times. Lofthouse locked in a very tight looking armbar early on that seemed to leave his foe little choice but to tap. Scott, however, was not ready to give up and fought back before locking a guillotine choke of his own. The fight never slowed down but both fighters effectively cancelled themselves out in entertaining fashion.


Josh Yates vs. Paul Steed
70kg Semi Pro

Both of these fighters had clearly come for a war and from the moment the cage door closed that was all that was going to happen. It was Yates who drew first blood with a clipping left hook and looked to close his man out early on. Steed did the right thing by backing up and taking his time but, in the second found himself on the deck with a nicely timed takedown. Yates continued to work hard, despite an injury sustained, and was able to see out a rough third round to take the nod from the judges.


Remi Mclaren vs. Ben Ford
77kg Semi Pro

Ben Ford came out swinging and dropped Remi Mclaren like a bad habit with his first punch and quickly took the fight to his opponent with tough ground and pound for the remainder of the round before hitting a good looking armbar right on the bell. It was more of the same in the second as Ford once again got the takedown but the tide turned as Mclaren managed to get top position and nearly secured a submission of his own before the round ended. The last round was also close but Ford edged it with his work rate and finished the fight in the mount position to take home the win.


Levi Powner vs. Dan Rushworth
77kg Semi Pro

Late replacement Levi Powner came in with a point to prove and quickly scored with a textbook double leg and some nice ground and pound. Rushworth, however, showed the determination to get up and quickly put on a brutal display from the clinch with some horrific looking knees before finishing the round in a top triangle following a scramble. In the second round it was clear there was a gap in the striking as Rushworth picked his man apart in ruthless fashion with some hard looking strikes before finishing the job with a great one two combination.

Jamie Sheppard vs. Sam Chamberlin
77kg Semi Pro Bout

Jamie Sheppard's arrival to the cage was met by riotous applause and he certainly did not disappoint as he punished Sam Chamberlin early on in what was a very close encounter. Both fighters exchanged strikes and positions but, in the end, it was the work rate from Sheppard that made the difference as he was awarded a well deserved decision despite Chamberlin showing some very strong grappling.

Anthony Davis vs. Josh Layton
77kg Semi Pro Bout

Anthony Davis came out like a buzzsaw against prospect Josh Layton and looked to have his man in real trouble at several points as he switched up blistering hooks to the head and body throughout an action packed first round. It was credit to Layton that he hung in there and that proved to be the turning point of the fight as Davis expended too much energy in the first round to see him through the rest of the fight. Layton put on a punishing second round from mount and did enough to get the nod in the third to take home a very well deserved and credible victory.

Adam Randle vs. Scott Kimblin  
84kg Semi Pro Bout


Local favourite Adam Randle received a huge cheer but seemed uneasy in dealing with his opponent. Scott Kimblin showed some great hands but, when he took the fight to the canvas, he was clearly streets ahead. It's credit to the sheer toughness of Randle that he was able to survive to the third round as he was mercilessly hammered from the mount position as the second round closed. In the third round he had simply taken too much punishment and the referee made a great call to halt the proceedings as Kimblin smashed home the victory from mount.

Harry Izevbigie vs. Lee Stevens
77kg Semi Pro Title Bout

It was the rematch that everyone was waiting for and both fighters were understandably cautious in the opening stages. It was Izevbigie who looked more precise but Stevens landed the decisive takedown in the first round and again took his man to ground in the second. Harry knew he needed a finish in the third and he dropped Stevens like a hot potato with a whistling hook and quickly moved in for the kill. Stevens, to his credit, did well to survive and see the round out and where it's arguable that he finished the fight in worse shape he'd done enough in the eyes of the judges to get the nod and take the belt.

Conrad Hayes vs. Mark Aldridge
66kg Pro Bout

Local prospect Conrad Hayes got himself a great win in only his second pro bout as he scored a tight choke very early on against Mark Aldridge. Hayes took control with some good striking and locked on the submission from a curious angle that gave his foe very little to do but tap; a very good performance from Hayes who looks to have found his feet since cutting to 66kg.

Chris Fishgold vs. Ben Rose
70kg Pro Bout

The story of this main event bout was the dominant wrestling of Chris Fishgold as he showed a BJJ game to back it up as he took his man down at will and spent long periods of this fight in a very dominant back control.

Rose showed why he's earned a reputation as such a tough fighter by gamely hanging on but, in the end, he had no answer for his opponent's relentless pace and hard ground and pounc. Chris Fishgold took home the win to Liverpool, moves up to 4-0 and also moves straight onto the prospect list.

Results

Greg Grimshaw def. Robbia Houghton via TKO (Strikes) at 1: 59 of Round 1
Chris Lawton def. Yan Sena via Submission (Guillotine) at 2:59 of Round 1
Jason Scott drew with Carl Lofthouse
Josh Yates def. Paul Steed via Decision
Ben Ford def. Remi McClaren via Decision
Dan Rushworth def. Levi Powner via KO (Punch) at 2:19 of Round 2
Jamie Sheppard def. Sam Chamberlin via Decision
Josh Layton def. Anthony Davis via Decision
Adam Randle def. Scott Kimblin via TKO (Strikes) at 2:23 of Round 3
Lee Stevens def. Harry Izevbigie via Decision
Conrad Hayes def. Mark Aldridge via Submission (Choke) at of Round 1
Chris Fishgold def. Ben Rose via Decision

North Star MMA Awards

Fight of the Night - Josh Layton vs. Anthony Davis
Submission of the Night - Conrad Hayes
Knockout of the Night - Dan Rushworth


In Closing

Thanks for reading, thanks for coming and thanks to everyone who made it happen. Thanks to Lee Hughes for the amazing picture and, just for clarity, it looked like a Peruvian neck tie from where I was sitting. Time for bed, speak real soon - Ben

Welcome Home

Has it really been that long since I last wrote on here?

As you might imagine it's been hectic to say the least as I'm currently in the middle of buying a house.

Reading back at these blogs it's amazing to think how this all started and January has been one of the craziest months I think I've ever had in this great sport.

This month I got to interview Anthony Pettis, Scott Jorgensen, Dean Amasinger, Mark Munoz and Brad Pickett and MMAHQ seems to be picking up more and more momentum every day.

Thanks to everyone who's checked out any of my stuff over the last few months, it's really all appreciated. I've also had a Super Nintendo bought for me so I've been spending a lot of time getting a full 96 world clear on Super Mario World.

2011 has the potential to be a crazy big year and I've already done some great press work for Halo, Rogue, UCMMA and a few others.

Castlevania

So why the Castlevania picture? Well it's Castlevania 4 that made me take stock the other day of just what I'd achieved. When I first played that game I was 14 and I had a head full of ridiculous dreams and ambitions. Apart from feeling a lot older now, I guess not a great deal has changed.

I remember playing that game and wondering about life and about what I wanted to do after I left school. I remember thinking all I want is a pretty girl, a nice house and a huge TV with a load of SNES games. Apart from that I had no idea. I'm days away from ticking off the last item on that last as it stands and it made me think whats next?

As it stands at the minute I'm happy where I am and I can't wait to see what happens this year. Reading back on this blog is such a journey and I thank anyone who takes the time.

I love writing more than anything and I plan to do a whole lot more of it in the year ahead. Castlevania might not be my destination, but it certainly was my road map. The plans I made when storming Dracula's castle with Simon Belmont are coming true as we speak but the way onward is something so exciting that I can't even begin to put it into words.

Until next time people
Take care and remember
Cross beats Knife, Bottle, Watch and Axe into the ground.

1st Annual Super North Star MMA Awards

It's fast closing in on the end of the year and, being as everyone always loves presents, I figured it was time for a quick awards ceremony.

It's nice to be able to take the time to recollect on a crazy year and put down my findings.

2010 has been a mad year for me and I thought that I'd show my appreciation to those who've helped me out this year with the first annual Super North Star MMA Awards.

The difference being that these awards translate specifically to shows I've worked with this year and fights and finishes that I've seen.

You good people all know that Silva beating Sonnen was, probably, the fight of the year but this blog was set up so I could record things that are personal to me and this year there has been no shortage of such events.

Super North Star MMA Award for Best Fight of 2010

Winner: Brad Wheeler vs. Djo Lema at UCMMA Kings of the Cage

I don't think I've ever seen a bigger display of heart in my entire life than this. Djo Lema hit young Brad Wheeler with everything but the kitchen sink and dominated the fight from the opening bell.

Wheeler soaked up knees, punches, kicks and submission attempts but, in the second round, came out with a renewed vigor. He was able to capitalise on the energy his foe had spent in the first round and pulled out an unbelievable triangle choke for the submission win.

I've never been so gripped by a fight that I literally felt like I couldn't blink for fear of missing something.

Super North Star MMA Award for Best Knock Out of 2010

Winner: Gary Smallwood vs. Chris Kelly at Night of the Gladiators 4

I've seen some insane finishes to fights this year but few more jaw dropping than when Gary Smallwood caught Chris Kelly with a reaping hook after just eight seconds of the first round. Kelly was out before he hit the floor and Marc Goddard halted the fight with typical efficiency.

Myself and David "Trading" Lethaby were commentating that night and it's clear from watching it back that both of us lost control.

I also look back at this fight with some fondness as it's the first time I pulled out anything like a Schiavello line as I screamed: "Get that man an alarm clock, he is out COLD!"

Super North Star MMA Award for Best Submission of 2010

Winner: Ross Houston vs. Alister Hawke at Cage Control 2

It's not very often you see someone hit an Anaconda choke in all honesty. Cage Control delivered three shows in 2010 and Pure MMA's Ross Houston shocked all the home fans with a vice like Anaconda choke that had his foe asleep in a matter of seconds. Easily one of the slickest submissions I've seen in a very long time.

Super North Star MMA Award for Craziest Moment of 2010

Winner: Cory Tait vs. Dino Gambatesa at UCMMA Unbelievable

If you look this up online anywhere you'll see the same thing. A page full of posts about people saying they've never ever seen anything like it before.

Corey Tait knocked out Dino Gambatesa with a front crescent kick and I, looking back at it, was pretty much shell shocked. One of the most innovative knockouts I've ever seen.

Super North Star MMA Award for Scariest Fighter of 2010

Winner: Mark Potter

A fighter's eyes change when he enters the cage. You can see it every time from cage side. There's a switch that gets hit and you can literally see the fighter come to the surface of the person.

The only person who I don't see any change in at all is Mark Potter.

The ironic thing is that, when I interviewed him, he was one of the most engaging and respectful fighters I've ever spoken to. As soon as his name is called and they start playing the theme to Jaws there's simply nothing behind his eyes.

Mark Potter will do big things in 2011 and, if you get chance to watch him fight, I wouldn't turn up late whatever you do.

Conclusions

I'd just like to say thanks very much to everyone who, over the year, has taken the time to help me in any way. I really appreciate every bit of help and I only hope that in 2011 this list takes me days to write.

Thanks if you've booked me for shows, been interviewed by me or published any of my work anywhere for people to read. A million thanks also to Alison for putting up with me writing for hours on end and making me countless cups of tea. You people make this crazy dream seem more and more real every single day.

Big Thanks to:

Aaron Rubin
Rob Nutley
Dave O'Donnell
Ross Pointon
Ian Freeman
Jay Benjamin
Harry Shoebridge
Andy Sledge
Dan Hardy
Brad Pickett
Nick Osipczak
Tim Boetsch
Chris UG
Doug Wildman
Andy Molyneux
All at Shoot 'N' Sprawl
Del Hit Pit
Aaron Chatfield
George Warriors of MMA
Zara Halo & Team
Mark Millward
David Lethaby
Ricky Wright

And every single one of you good people who've taken the time from your days to read this blog here on Super North Star MMA.

Take Care and, if I don't speak before, have an amazing Christmas and a great new year.

MMA and Music - CFM Look to Change the Record

It's been quite the year for those fight loving beatsters Coalition Fight Music and their recent release of "The Album" surely is a suitable apex for 2010.

CFM have been making waves on both sides of the pond and I was lucky enough to get chance to chat with Tony Savo about their hopes for next year and the sum of their accomplishments in 2010.



Thanks for taking the time. It's been a truly hectic time for you guys, how are things going at the minute?

Things are going great. We have been very fortunate to link up with some extremely talented/like minded people, doing what we love to do. Everyday its like waking up to Christmas :)

What inspires you to make music?

In our opinion, the fight world is the most exciting business in the world to be a part of. When we see fighters climbing up the ranks and making a name for themselves it compels us to do the same with the music. Great fighters need great music behind them. We feel like we have been blessed w the opportunity to be the official mouth piece for a lot of talented/hard working individuals.

How did you first get involved with mixed martial arts?

PrideFC videos/DVD's is what really got us into the sport. We would get together for drinks and Bar BBQ with all the boys and watch the best of the best battle it out in Japan.

How did you originally come up with the idea for CFM?

We were all huge fight fans and saw the parallels between being a fighter and an independent musician. (You know fighting to make good music and fighting to get it played/heard.) then we started thinking... why not make signature tunes for fighters? We could sponsor them (fighters) with the proceeds of our music and really help push the sport into the mainstream.

What has been the highest point for CFM so far?

I think the highest point for CFM so far would have to be all the support we've gotten from others in the fight biz. We just wrapped up our debut release, "The Album" MMA's 1st MixTape http://bit.ly/gW7S57 . And the response we've had from everybody has been wonderful. We got guys like Travis at MMAScrapsRadio, FoxSports/ESPN/Tapout Magazines Adam Villarreal, and MMA WEEKLY's Damon Martin (not to mention The BBC 1xtra's Charlie Sloth) standing behind us, and even doing cameo's on the CD. Its been phenomenal!

What's been your favourite fight of 2010?

That's a hard one, it'd probably have to be Sonnen vs Silva due to the epic battle they both endured. Sonnen came out of nowhere- promoted the fight himself and shut up a lot of naysayers, and Anderson showed the world that a real champion is dangerous down to till the last second of the final round.

What do you think about the trends of fighters choosing walk out music? Do you think it's true to say that most choose to walk out to either Rap or Heavy Metal?

Fighters should be getting paid for who they choose to showcase. Obviously heavy metal has dominated the scene so far but were really starting to see an influx of fighters gravitate towards the newer rap/hiphop/grime songs that are starting to emerge.

What CFM track are you most proud of?

That's a great question. In my heart of hearts it would have to be the song "Darius." The song is named after a real kid who suffers from a disease called "PVL". Every night he has numerous seizures that he must do battle with/endure. Its the worst thing you could imagine if your a parent but the kid still fights tooth and nail every night and finds reasons to smile. He's a real inspiration to the band.

What do you have planned in 2011?

Well 2010 has been a huge year for us and were looking to keep expanding in the year to come. The UK has been very supportive of CFM and so were looking to continually build long term relationships with guys like UCMMA, WarTime TV, and Halo PR. Since we follow the UK fight scene so closely we also fancy ourselves as UKMMA ambassadors to the US and always look for opportunities to tell the world whats going on in the United Kingdom.

Is there anyone you'd like to thank at this point?

Coalition Fight Music would really like to thank Dave O'Donnell, UCMMA, Zara at Halo PR, Nick "The HeadHunter" Chapman and all the great UKMMA fighters, gyms, journalist, sponsors and fight fans who make this the best sport in the world.

Cage Control 3 - Review and Reflections

It's been quite the year for Spartan MMA founders Andy Molyneux and Doug Wildman and they looked to cap off a great 2010 with Cage Control 3 from Shrewsbury Sports Village on December 11th.

The promotion has enjoyed two great events so far and the Spartans were, as always, out in force for a great night of fights and the return of some talented prospects.

Semi Pro Bout
Nicky Bradley vs. Jeff Philpot

Nicky Bradley wasted no time in this encounter as he set the pace early with some aggressive striking.

Philpot did well initially but, once the fight hit the floor, was quickly in trouble and Bradley locked on a textbook triangle choke. Philpot fought bravely but in the end was unable to escape and was forced to tap after just forty five seconds of the opening round

Semi Pro Bout

Alister Hawke vs. Rob Slawson

Alister Hawke came out very sharp against Rob Slawson but ran into a barrage of strikes that soon had him retreating. Slawson looked the more likely to score the knockout and took the fight to his game opponent with huge sweeping strikes. It quickly turned into a wild affair and, although Hawke did well to survive, he was marked up quite severely.

It was testament to the heart of the young Spartan that he found a way to get back into this fight as, once the fight hit the floor again, it was clear this his opponent had little to offer him. Hawke took his time and, once on top, secured an armbar that netted him a hard earned victory in the second round.

Semi Pro Bout
Jess Offermans vs. Kate Jackson

Returning heroine Jess Offermans bought massive support to the cage but was clearly giving up a sizable amount of reach to Kate Jackson. It was all academic, however, as the two clinched early and Jackson began applying pressure.

It was somewhat of a chess game on the ground but Jackson seemed to have more answers than her opponent. Offermans did well to keep working but her foe took her back and, with just one second left on the clock, locked in a tight rear naked choke for a well deserved submission victory.

Semi Pro Bout
Scott Jones vs. Xander Davies

In one of the more one sided fights on the card it was Scott Jones who came out looking to finish his fight early but Davies showed heart and chin in equal measures.

Jones was relentless in his assault throughout the first round and did not repent in the second where he left referee Neil Hall no choice but to call a halt to the proceedings. Jones looked solid for this weight and showed good conditioning to push the pace continually.

Semi Pro Bout
Ste Molyneux vs. Keiran Beatie

It was a very technical display from both Beatie and Molyneux in this bout as the two exchanged strikes and positions throughout a very entertaining first round.

Beatie, a product of UFC veteran Paul Taylor's MMA, showed incredibly crisp striking and in the second round put the fight beyond doubt with some lethal work from guard.

Molyneux fought gamely throughout but Beatie worked well for an armbar and elicited the tap midway through the second stanza. Beatie looked incredibly sharp in this bout and surely will look to build on this success in the future.

Semi Pro Bout
Danny Suter vs. Ben Braund

Danny Suter certainly wasn't wasting any time in his bout as he overwhelmed Ben Braund from the outset with ferocious strikes. Braund struggled to get any offence going at all as Suter dropped him with a reaping shot then proceeded to apply enough pressure to force a good stoppage. It was a very explosive debut from Suter who made his intentions clear with a great debut performance.

Semi Pro Bout
Pete Richardson vs. Ben Kerr

Pete Richardson came into this bout with a clear gameplan which, to his credit, he executed flawlessly. Kerr came forward at the start but Richardson closed the distance and looked to have the fight finished early with a guillotine which he transitioned into a great takedown.

Kerr was not finished yet but Richardson put the bout beyond doubt as he locked on the choke tighter and forced a first round submission after a little over thirty seconds of the first round.

Semi Pro Bout
Dave Llewellyn vs. Ben Callum

Ben Callum is shaping up to be a real force at heavyweight and he put on an impressive performance against Dave Llewellyn. He moved forward constantly and mixed up strikes and levels very well as he landed often throughout the first round.

Llewellyn offered some sharp looking kicks but Callum was not to be stopped and, late in the first, he landed a body shot that quickly dropped his foe to the canvas in agony. It was another great performance from Callum who showed ever improving striking and he remains a difficult ask for anyone at heavyweight.

Semi Pro Bout
Anthony Davies vs. Ross Houston

The main event of the evening saw Ross Houston meet powerhouse Anthony Davies in a very entertaining bout. Houston looked the sharper fighter initially and used a few strikes to set up a nice double leg takedown. Davies stayed calm on the bottom but Houston looked to work from the top position.

Referee Neil Hall made the decision to stand the fighters back up from the bottom but Houston, undaunted, simply repeated the procedure. That was the story of the first round and, indeed, much of the second.

Houston was deducted a point for an illegal elbow in the second round but he remained in top and in control. Davies took his time and, mid way into the round, exploded from the bottom and pounced on his foe's back. Houston defended initially but Davies was not to be thwarted and locked on the rear naked choke for a great victory.

Reflections

At this point I could write paragraphs of angry diatribe about the few fans who turned up and were abusive, aggressive and nearly ruined the evening with their displays of thuggery but there's simply no point. These cretins don't deserve a single word on this blog and I'm sure that more steps will be taken to prevent such occurrences in future.

It's amazing to think that in a year Spartan MMA have put three shows on, opened their doors full time and have a stable of fighters who are active and competitive all over the country. It just goes to show that hard work does pay off and that the Spartan advance in 2011 is set to carry on with increased vigor and momentum.

Where idols once stood

It's not very often you get unique opportunities in life so I've learned that it's best to grab them with both hands when you do.

This Saturday I was given another amazing chance to commentate for Ultimate Challenge on Sky Sports 4. It's an awesome show and it's still surreal to be able to call fights featuring people I've been watching for a long time.

I was, in all honesty, quite nervous when I found out I'd be working with Ian "The Machine" Freeman simply because of what he'd accomplished. I'm proud of what I've been able to achieve so far and thank everyone who's helped me out but this was something different.

I was a bag of nerves when I got to the Troxy and didn't really know what to expect. I walked down the ramp and saw Rob standing by the cage with Ian to one side of him. As I walked in Ian turned round shook my hand and said "Great to meet you Ben, it'll be good to work together." I think I mumbled a thank you as I was both quite flattered and impressed at the same time, I hope I didn't come across as ignorant.

It was the perfect start to the evening as my nerves went and, when the fights began, I felt more comfortable and ready to commentate. I'm legitimately very excited to hear what our work sounded like and can honestly say that it was some the most fun and exciting commentary of my short career.

If you'd have told me that, when I started this crazy journey, that I'd be spending a Saturday night with Rob Nutley and Ian Freeman calling some fights featuring elite fighters it's hard to imagine what I would have said.

I don't know when it's going to stop, I hope it never does. In the mean time I'm going to keep writing and would like to say thanks to Rob Nutley, Ian Freeman, Dave O Donnell and everyone else who made Saturday night possible and an honour from start to finish.

Take Care
Ben Cartlidge