The Troxy in London’s East end was once again host to the UK’s top MMA warriors. 3 titles were on the line and the chance to shine in front of sky sports crew, MMA fans, dizzee rascal, and loads of beautiful women.
The event will be shown on Sky Sports 3 tonight at 10PM
Neil ‘Goliath’ Grove (champ) vs Stav ‘Crazy Bear’ Economou
This was a fight for the UCMMA Heavyweight Title. I had recently interviewed both Stav and Neil. Both had trained together in the past and both carried alot of respect for eachother coming into the fight.
Stav Economou almost ended the fight very early on in the 1st round with a barrage of strikes in typical crazy bear style, which dropped Goliath Grove. Neil recovered and seemed to have the advantage in the clinch, landing a few hard knees. Neil looks like the early knock down has affected him, and Stav finishes the round the stronger fighter.
Neil Grove improved in the 2nd and 3rd rounds. Neil connects with some good shots throughout, and also manages to keep Stav on the ground for some time in the 3rd. Economou finished the 3rd in much the same way as the beginning of the fight, with some great punches which very nearly knock Grove down.
I think if it weren’t for the final flurry, Grove would of edged it, but the judges ended up scoring a split draw and Grove retains the title.
Jimi Manuwa (champ) vs Reza Meldavian
Independent fighter Reza Meldavian had recently stepped in for injured Valentino Petrescu to try and take the light heavyweight belt from Jimi ‘Posterboy’ Manuwa. Reza would of been confident coming into this fight after his devastating ground and pound TKO in his last fight, but Jimi Manuwa isnt the undefeated champ for no reason.
After watching Reza’s last fight I thought he’d showboat, and he didnt dissapoint, winding a punch up, a la Muhammad Ali. Jimi Manuwa isn’t fazed though and mixes things up with some technical strikes. He knocks Reza down a couple of times in the round before finishing with some solid punches to his downed opponent.
This takes Jimi’s record to 8-0 and he’s reunited with his belt by Dave O’Donnell and UK rapper Dizzee Rascal. He’s still after a fight with Valentino Petrescu later in the year.
pictures courtesy of http://www.ringpics.co.uk/
| Heavyweight Title | Stav Economou | vs | Neil Grove (Champ) | Neil Grove retains title after a split draw (29-28 28-29 28-28) |
| Light Heavyweight Title | Reza Meldavian | vs | Jimi Manuwa (Champ) | Manuwa wins by TKO 1st Round |
| Middleweight UK1 | Luke Sines | vs | Mark Epstein | Sines wins by unanimous decision |
| Middleweight | Earl Brown | vs | Paul Cahoon | Cahoon wins by TKO (injury) after 2nd round knee bar |
| Lightweight | Djo Lema | vs | Scott Jansen | Lema wins by submission (armbar) 3:05 1st round |
| Welterweight | Dyson Roberts | vs | Jamaine Facey | Facey wins by submission (rear naked choke) 2:13 2nd round |
| Welterweight | Lee Wiezorek | vs | Dean Bray | Wiezorek wins by submission (north south choke) 2:52 1st round |
| Welterweight | Jody Cottham | vs | Colin French | French wins by TKO 3:51 1st round |
| Featherweight UK1 Title | Dan Smith | vs | Brad Wheeler | Smith becomes new UK1 Featherweight champ after unanimous decision |
| Welterweight | Andy Gooch | vs | Michael Brown | Gooch wins by TKO 4:49 1st round |
| Welterweight | Carl Kinslow | vs | Luke Newman | Newman wins by TKO 2.09 1st round |
| Featherweight | Tom Dixon | vs | Dan Shortman | Dixon wins by submission (guillotine choke) 2:38 1st round |
