extreme brawl mixed martial arts event

Extreme Brawl was the culmination of promoter Andy Jardine's persistance in his Millennium Brawl series. Jardine has produced far and away the longest running and best series of events in UK MMA's brief history. Millennium Brawl's have showcased the country's finest talent and it's alumni read like a UK MMA's who's who.

By featuring the same fighters time after time, Jardine has gradually built up a following for each turning MB regulars like Neil McLeod, Mark Weir and Alex Evans etc into the stars of the sport.

I've noticed lately that fans hovering round the MB videos, check them to see if their favourite fighters are featured. They can run off each particular fighter's MB history, and make predictions on the latest fights. It's like a MMA Top Trumps!

For Extreme Brawl, Jardine teamed up with top US promoter and manger Monte Cox to pit his Team Extreme fighters against the best of British. Apart from the change of name, the most notable difference from this and the usual MB events was the change of venue. Also notable were the absentees - this must be the first time there's been no fighters from London Shootfighters on the card.

The change from High Wycombe to Bracknell was risky. The venue had 3 times the capacity, the date was near Christmas (which traditionally drains events of spectators), and it had 3 other big events to compete with in the calendar. If the crowd matched the usual MB numbers it would be a success.

It didn't. The place was fully booked in advance. Sold out. Jardine, being Jardine, sold another 300+ tickets on the door anyway LOL. And hey, why not? After years of toil, a good harvest is well deserved.

On to the fights:

92.5kg super cruiser : Nick Franchino (Fairholme VT) v Luke Tamura (Medway Submission)

Franchino dumps Tamura

Quick fight. They close, Franchino dumps Tamura with a slam. Gets side control, then knee on stomach, sticks in some punches from the top, Tamura turns and gives his back, and Franchino eventually sinks in a rear naked choke for a win early into R1.

72.6kg Middle Weight : Rob Hannis (React) v Adam Dickens (Baron's)

what the dickens

Hannis cranks the armbar

They circle and close. Dickens throws out jabs which Hannis slips, gets a bodylock and heaves Dickens to the canvas. Dickens quickly reverses and gives Hannis a few quick rib punches whilst in guard. Dickens looks good, and works the ribs whilst Hannis ties up and tries attempts at a keylock. Still stuck inside guard, Dickens gradually pushes Hannis towards the fence, but as this is happening, Hannis manages to work his hips up and wack on an armbar. Dickens rolls forward and back in an attempt to escape. No luck. An assured looking Hannis gets a win by armbar in R1.

85kg super light heavy Barry Williams (Cage Warriors) v Scott Ireland (Fairholme VT)

If there's a signature style to the Fairholme fighters it's the knees. They all like to stick the knees in, plenty and quick. Scott Ireland grabbed control of Barry William's head from the get go and introduced him to Mr Patella. Williams struggled to grab a leg, get a bodylock, anything to stop the barrage of knees going in. But in they still went. When Williams managed to raise his head, then he was treated to a couple of short left hooks for his troubles. Referee Phil Norman then stops the fighters, and gets a second opinion on a cut above Williams' left eye. No go. It's a stoppage in R1 in favour of the Fairholme man.

72.6kg Middle Weight : Robbie Oliver (Cambridge Free Fight) v Ronaldo Campos (Brazil)

There was a time when fighters from Brazil were expected to beat the British in vale tudo no questions asked. However, the standard on this island has developed rapidly, and Robbie Oliver would be a tough test for Ronaldo Campos. The highly rated Oliver hails from Cambridge Free Fight, which is rapidly becoming one of the very best fight teams in the UK.

Not sure if there's any weight difference but Campos looks a lot bigger than Oliver. They square off and tie up immediately. Oliver twists and throws Campos to the mat. Campos recovers and makes a dive for a single-leg. Oliver spins and gets the back, and he looks like he's looking for a Neil Adams stylee armbar. However he slides down towards the mat and Campos works calmly and gains side control. Lifting his leg up, Campos slams in a few heavy knees to the ribs before trying to get mount. Instead Campos gets stuck in half guard for a while before deciding to spring up and pass over Oliver's legs. Campos looks stronger, but he's held up by some nifty open guard work from Oliver.

Persistance, aided by a clenched fist, pays off and Campos gets the mount. Oliver rolls onto his stomach and Campos closes for the kill. Oh oh. Game over....not quite. They roll and roll and you think there's no way out for Oliver. But he does it. He surfaces on top, in the Brazilian's guard and it's payback time. He's got Campos up against the chainlink and fires off a couple of volleys. He also eats a foot in the process but remains on top. Seeing a stalemate, Phil Norman breaks them up and gets them back to standing.

The bang away at each other (see photo sequence), with Campos marginally getting the better of it, and forcing Oliver to shoot for his leg. Campos sprawls, they scramble for position, Oliver briefly gets on top but is rolled onto his back. From here there's some good ground work from both fighters, with each one briefly reversing to get on top. Eventually Campos reasserts dominance and gets side control. He sinks in what looks to be a side choke (crowd on their feet impairing my view), and Oliver taps.

A win for the Brazilian. Great fight.

66.7kg Welter weight : Ricky Moore (Fairholme VT) v John Waite (Team Warriors)

Moore tightens the triangle as Waite picks him up

We'd been given the tip off to look out for Waite. He'd been dubbed "The Paperboy", by those cheeky pundits of The Colleseum who had witnessed him demolish Lee Shone at UC4. It's not everyday you see someone prefering to fight vale tudo in a gi either, so this was going to interesting in more ways than one.

It kicks off and in screams Moore and in go those Fairholme knees again. It's looking like a route as Moore forces Waite to the fence under a barrage. Waite pivots and gives his back. Somehow he drags Moore into the centre of the octagon and to the canvas. When they pop up again, Moore is in a guillotine. Eventually Moore slips out of it, but gets thrown by Waite. Waite ends up in Ricky's guard and trys to maul him, but Ricky sneaks in an armbar attempt. Waite picks him up, slams him, punches him and repeats. As Moore hits the canvas a second time, he switches from armbar to triangle. Waite picks him up and slams him again. But it's sunk in too deep. He taps. Ricky wins. R1.

Reports from the dressing room were that Waite had never even heard of a triangle submission before - when he susses that one out and ditches the jim-jams his opponents might well be in trouble. A fighter to keep your eye on.

Ricky Moore, like his training partner Chin, continues his renaissance.

64.4kg super : light Kevin Capel (Aylesbury) v Chin Weakasingh (Fairholme VT)

chin gets chinned

Alex Evans says if there were annual MMA Awards then he'd nominate Chin for most improved fighter. I'll second that emotion. His baby-faced countenance belies the fact that Chin's a veteran of many a hard campaign and he's improved dramatically.

Facing off against him is Kevin Capel - Brother-in-arms of British Champ, Neil McLeod, and possessing the same all-guns-blazing style.

The fight goes off at warp speed, with both guys swinging. Chin shoots for the takedown and eventually gets it. A bit reminiscent of his fight with McLeod, Chin starts some GnP. He foils Capels attempts to turn him or escape and pins Kevin up by the fence. Capel never stops being active using his guard and he reverses, only to be flipped back over by Weakasingh. For a second Chin gets Kevin's back but as Capel averts the choke going in, Chin slides round and gets mount. He wails away with punches but Capel covers pretty well.

Capel pushes him off, but again gives up his back. Chins on it right away, looking for the rear choke. Capel wriggles to escape, but only ends up with Chin back in mount. Capel twists out and manages to get back on his feet. He's dropping a few hammer fists, whilst Chin is on his hands and knees trying to get an anklepick. Bell sounds. End of R1.

R2 - Chin gets another takedown, finds the mount position and drags Capel from the centre of the octagon to the fence, where he starts to pound. He tries an armbar, but Capel escapes and reverses. Capel suddenly sits back and cranks on a leglock. Chin rolls to escape. He does, gets up into Capel's half guard. A bit of GnP follows until Phil Norman decides to break them up and start them from standing.

Chin kicks, Capel swings a big right haymaker. Both connect and Chin drops to the ground for the low takedown. Capel sprawls, gets double underhooks and flips Chin onto his back. Capel gets mount and starts to wail away. Chin gives up his back and Capel looks like he's going to get the choke. But Chin gets out of it and puts Capel on his back. Capel works the closed guard until the bell goes for the end of R2.

R3 - kicks off at high tempo again. Kicks and punches and Capel is driven back against the fence. He's got Chin's neck and Chin has got Capel's leg. The drop to the ground and switch position again and again. The crowd is going mental. Chin plays GnP and Capel answers with an armbar attempt. No luck. Chin gets stood up by the ref and has his loose glove sorted out.

They charge at each other again from standing. Both land knees. Capel scores with a right cross and left hook which drops Chin to his knees (see pics). Capel now towers above and is whacking a couple of punches to Chins head. Chin's got hold of Capel's leg and manages to get him down, but Capel is looking stronger by the minute and gets on top into Chin's guard....the bell rings....it's a draw. Brilliant show by both men and the best fight so far.

72.6kg Middle Weight - For the MB British Title

Paul Ramsdale (Colleseum) v Kris Hughes (Range Fighting)

"There's only one Rammy Ramsdale" - chants from a dancing Manc at the back of the hall. Word is that Ramsdale had been training like never before for this one. Up against Kris Hughes from Mark Weir's stable.

R1 - They close, and Hughes rams Rammy up against the fence. Ramsdales got overhooks and they tumble to the mat. Ramsdales got side control and works for and gets the mount. Hughes tried to tie Rammy's head up to prevent any strikes, but a couple get through. Hughes turtles. Ramsdale gets his back and goes for the rear naked choke. Hughes taps and it's a quick win and the British Title belt for Paul Ramsdale.

85.3kg light cruiser - for the MB British Title

Alex Reid (Fairholme VT) v Matt Ewin (Range Fighting)

Anyone who comes from Mark Weir's Range Fighting club has to shoulder a lot of responsibility. Because of Weir's brilliance, you expect all Range Fighters to be fierce and fast. Ewin, I was once again informed by the sandwich-munching Colleseum pundits, was one to look out for and he was going to give Reid a damn good run for his money. Reid's last outing was a controversial DQ/No Contest against the mercurial Jean Silva at MB8.

The fight starts with some standing action. Leg kicks from Reid, knees and punches from both, with perhaps Reid edging it. They clinch, and Ewin gets a double leg takedown, pressing Reid, on his back, against the fence. Reid spins on his back & calmly walks his feet on the fence until he turns them both over and gets on top (why don't more people do that?). Here he lands quite a few punches before Ewin somehow manages to get up, grab a double leg and dump Alex back on the canvas. The only problem is, he's landed right into Reid's triange submission. Reid grabs his crossed ankle and tightens the choke. Ewin taps, and it's another fight ended in R1.

EB report part 2