Dave O’Donnell and the UCMMA team pulled off another brilliant card to kick start 2010 with. I’m a recent convert to UK MMA, and I’ll be the first one to admit that I used to only follow big name promotions such as the UFC. All of the recent UCMMA events have been brilliant to watch, and the upcoming talent here in the UK is vast. So wherever you are in the UK, book your tickets for the next event: UCMMA Adrenaline Rush – 27/3/2010

7/2/2010 @ The Troxy, East London, UK

Dean Amasinger vs Alberto Mina – Welterweight Title
There was amazing support for Dean at the Troxy. The bell for the 1st round sounds, and Alberto Mina goes to touch gloves, but Dean refuses. Instead he wastes no time and pulls off a combo across the cage into a clinch. Once they separate Mina starts to mix up his strikes; everything from head kicks to overhand and superman punches. The fight goes to the ground, and Alberto Mina attempts a rear naked choke. Dean Amasinger escapes, only for Mina to start setting up an arm triangle choke from Dean’s half guard. Dean reverses the position but once again Mina seems to be always thinking one step ahead. The round finishes with great transitions from both fighters and an armbar attempt from Mina, who probably won this round with the submission attempts.

The 2nd round has both fighters happy to start off by exchanging strikes again. Amasinger seems to be hurting Mina with some solid looking leg kicks. Mina wants to get it back on the ground, and does so after a scramble, going straight for a heel hook submission. Dean escapes and gets the fight back to their feet for a short time. The round finishes back on the ground, after Dean escapes another armbar attempt to gain top position.

The final round starts off with Dean connecting with some great hooks. Alberto Mina waits for his opportunity and takes Dean back down to the canvas. He gets Dean’s back and smashes him with lefts and rights. There’s nothing Dean Amasinger can do, and the referee has to stop the fight at 2:30. Mina wins by TKO @ 2:30 3rd round.

Mark Weir Vs Mark Epstein – Middleweight UK1 Title
The Beast vs The Wizard. Combined age of nearly 80! But don’t let that fool you, these guys were exchanging blows harder than fighters half their age. Mark Weir wins by unanimous decision, after dominating the last 2 rounds with a variety of kicks. Side kicks, spinning heel kicks, you name it. He catches and drops Epstein on quite a few occasions.

Shola Adeniran Vs Stav Economou – Heavyweight Bout
I watched Shola’s last fight recently on the net, and thought he really needed to work on his ground game. On too many occasions was his guard being passed, and I was sure Stav Economou would have seen this weakness too.

Stav goes for the takedown early on in the 1st. He transitions to full mount and then gets Shola’s back. He sinks in a tight looking rear choke and Shola taps out at 1:30. Economou wins @ 1:30 of the 1st round via submission due to rear naked choke.

Edgelson Lua Vs John Maguire – Welterweight Bout
Maguire dropped a weight class and this was his 1st fight at welterweight against a tough opponent in Edgelson Lua. The 1st starts with both fighters keeping their distance and picking their shots. Maguire gets a good takedown, but Lua is constantly moving and doesn’t make it easy for Maguire to do any damage. The fight goes back up and both fighters clinch. John Maguire pulls guard and attempts a guillotine choke. Edgelson escapes and the round finishes with him in top position.

The 2nd starts off with both fighters keeping their distance once again. Both are carefully picking shots and Lua is successful with a few one-two combos. The round ends on the ground, with Lua escaping from a kimura attempt.

The final round is dominated by John Maguire. He controls the fight on the ground and attempts another kimura and a heel hook towards the end of the round. John Maguire wins by split decision (27-29, 29-28, 29-28)

Peter Yandel Vs Karlos Vemola – Heavyweight Bout
Karlos lives up to his nick name “the terminator” and demolishes his opponent in only 49 seconds. Vermola steamed out from the bell with a big combo and then slams Yandel to the canvas. Vermola wins @ 49 seconds of the 1st round by KO after teeing off with some nasty looking ground and pound.

Azran Quasid Vs Scott Jansen – Lightweight bout
Scott Jansen’s 1st ever submission victory and another quick finish at the troxy.
Scott Jansen wins @ 4:44 of the 1st round by submission due to a Kimura.

Jamie Hearn Vs Valentino Petrescu – Light Heavyweight UK1 Bout
This fight was called off. Dave O’Donnell says Petrescu was involved in an accident and injured his hand. Jamie Hearn thinks otherwise, and says Valentino got scared at the weigh ins the day before.

Jamaine Facey Vs Ben Craggy – Welterweight Bout
Jamaine wins @ 35 seconds of the 1st round by KO

Dave Nobel Vs Rafiq Benziada – Light Heavyweight Bout
Nobel win by decision

Pablo Ben Vs Colin French – Welterweight Bout
French wins @ 1:49 of the 1st round by submission due to a triangle choke

Steve Dossett Vs Chris Greig – Middleweight Bout
Greig wins @ 2:51 of the 1st round by submission due to a guillotine choke

Ryan Campbell Vs Dan Movahedi – Middleweight Bout
Movahedi wins @ 1:16 of the 1st round by TKO (GNP)

Richard Griffin Vs Chris Woolcott – Welterweight Bout
Griffin wins @ 3:17 of the 2nd round via submission due to a rear naked choke

Brad Wheeler Vs Dominic Plumb – Lightweight Bout
Wheeler wins @ 34 seconds of the 1st round via submission due to an armbar

Galore Basando Vs Jerome Carol – Welterweight Bout
Carol wins @ 1:20 of the 2nd round by DSQ (illegal knee)

Earl Brown Vs Bola Omayele – Middleweight Bout
Omayele wins @ 2:16 of the 1st round by TKO (Standing)

7/2/2010 @ the Troxy, East London, UK.

Welterweight Title
Dean Amasinger vs Alberto Mina
Mina wins @ 2:30 of the 3rd round via TKO (GNP)

Middleweight UK1 Title
Mike Weir Vs Mark Epstein
Weir wins by Unanimous decision

Heavyweight Bout
Shola Adeniran Vs Stav Economou
Economou wins @ 1:30 of the 1st round via submission due to rear naked choke.

Welterweight Bout
Edgelson Lua Vs John Maguire – Maguire wins by split decision

Heavyweight Bout
Peter Yandel Vs Karlos Vemola
Vermola wins @ 49 seconds of the 1st round by KO

Light Heavyweight UK1 Bout
Jamie Hearn Vs Valentino Petrescu
Fight off. Petrescu injured.

Lightweight bout
Azran Quasid Vs Scott Jansen
Scott Jansen wins @ 4:44 of the 1st round by submission due to a Kimura

Welterweight Bout
Jamaine Facey Vs Ben Craggy
Jamaine wins @ 35 seconds of the 1st round by KO

Light Heavyweight Bout
Dave Nobel Vs Rafiq Benziada
Nobel win by decision

Welterweight Bout
Pablo Ben Vs Colin French
French wins @ 1:49 of the 1st round by submission due to a triangle choke

Middleweight Bout
Steve Dossett Vs Chris Greig
Greig wins @ 2:51 of the 1st round by submission due to a guillotine choke

Middleweight Bout
Ryan Campbell Vs Dan Movahedi
Movahedi wins @ 1:16 of the 1st round by TKO (GNP)

Welterweight Bout
Richard Griffin Vs Chris Woolcott
Griffin wins @ 3:17 of the 2nd round via submission due to a rear naked choke

Lightweight Bout
Brad Wheeler Vs Dominic Plumb
Wheeler wins @ 34 seconds of the 1st round via submission due to an armbar

Welterweight Bout
Galore Basando Vs Jerome Carol
result to be confirmed

Middleweight Bout
Earl Brown Vs Bola Omayele
Omayele wins @ 2:16 of the 1st round by TKO (Standing)

Dean Amasinger V Alberto Mina

(UCMMA Welterweight Title)

Both fighters have a string of wins behind them and are full of confidence. Alberto Mina is undefeated but I don’t think he has fought anyone of Dean’s calibre. Both fighters have great jui jitsu, so I can see them both slugging it out. My prediction is Dean Amasinger by decision.

Shola Adeniran V Stav Economou

(UCMMA Heavyweight Bout)

I didn’t see Shola Adeniran’s only professional win in 2008, but I know how much experience Stav Economou has in the cage, and there’s not many heavyweights in the UK that have a better takedowns and ground and pound as Stav. That along with a solid chin and constant forward pressure means that I can see Stav Economou defeating Shola Adeniran by TKO.

Edgelson Lua V John Maguire

(UCMMA Welterweight Bout)

This is a tough one for me to call. Both fighters are coming off losses. John Maguire is making his UCMMA Welterweight debut, while Edgelson Lua will be looking to rebuild his route back to the Welterweight belt. I think both fighters have good ground games and submissions, so I think this fight will have some good stand up. I’ve actually changed my mind about the winner of this fight about a million times but I’ll go for Edgelson Lua to win by TKO.

Mark Weir V Mark Epstein
Azran Quasid V Scott Jansen
Pablo Ben V Colin French
Peter Yandel Vs Karlos Vemola
Jamie Hearn Vs Valentino Petrescu
Jamaine Facey Vs Ben Craggy

Doors open at 17.00
Event begins at 18.15 and ends at 22.30

Fightcard

Welterweight Title
Dean Amasinger vs Alberto Mina

Middleweight UK1 Title
Mike Weir Vs Mark Epstein

Heavyweight Bout
Shola Adeniran Vs Stav Economou

Welterweight Bout
Edgelson Lua Vs John Maguire

Heavyweight Bout
Thiago Monstro Peter Yandel Vs Karlos Vemola

Light Heavyweight UK1 Bout
Jamie Hearn Vs Valentino Petrescu

Lightweight bout
Azran Quasid Vs Scott Jansen

Welterweight Bout
Jamaine Facey Vs Ben Craggy

Light Heavyweight Bout
Dave Nobel Vs Rafiq Benziada

Welterweight Bout
Pablo Ben Vs Colin French

Middleweight Bout
Steve Dossett Vs Chris Greig

Middleweight Bout
Ryan Campbell Vs Dan Movahedi

Welterweight Bout
Richard Griffin Vs Chris Woolcott

Lightweight Bout
Brad Wheeler Vs Dominic Plumb

Welterweight Bout
Galore Basando Vs Jerome Carol

Middleweight Bout
Earl Brown Vs Bola Omayele