Art of Combat 9 Preview – Fight Talk Scotland
This upcoming Saturday April 25th, one of Scotland’s top three MMA shows, the Art of Combat, returns to the Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline, for their 9th show.
Art of Combat 9 is a great card, continuing the Art of Combat tradition of developing the sport, putting on well matched fights between the best amateur fighters in the country, and this time the show also features two professional fights, just heightening the standard and continuing to raise the bar for the well respected promotion.
Below we have detailed previews of the most interesting fights on the card, and the entire card with running order below that.
Be sure to like The Art of Combat on Facebook by clicking HERE to keep up to date with any and all developments for this and all future Art of Combat shows.
If you can’t make the show, be sure to like Fight Talk Scotland on Facebook by clicking HERE as we will be the only media outlet providing live play by play coverage, allowing you to keep up with the fights from home!
Without further ado, here are the fights we are most excited for;
Imam Doba (0-0) (Crossfight, France) v Scott Malone (0-0) (Shooters Dundee) @ Flyweight Pro
After the last bout between these two was cancelled, Scott Malone of Dundee Shooters ‘finally’ makes his professional MMA debut. Using a combination of World Class Judo, ferocious ground and pound and a deadly armbar, which led one particularly “clever” writer to christen him “Ronda” Malone, Malone absolutely decimated everyone there was to beat at Bantamweight in Scotland at Amateur, until he ran into Aidan Stephen last year at Rise of The Spartans. Undisputedly the two best amateur fighters in Scotland at the time, the two put on the best Amateur fight I’ve seen in Scotland. The narrow decision loss for Malone has prompted the move down to Flyweight and the step up to Professional. Considering how Malone absolutely ragdolled people at Bantamweight, I can’t wait to see how he performs at 57kg. I know little about his opponent, other than this is his debut fight, but he better take his passport, as if “Boom Boom” Malone gets a hold of him he is going flying!
Enzo Parente (1-5) (Forza MMA) v Craig Robertson (2-1) (Shooters Dundee) @ Middleweight Pro
Two real veterans of the Scottish MMA scene step into the cage once again but this time it’s different, this time its for a cause. These two fighters are putting their bodies on the line all for charity, a wonderful gesture on both their parts. It’s always fun to see old boys show the young ones how it’s done and it’s always fun to see the big lads swing – and this bout has it both! Couple that with the fact that middleweight pro fights are so rare in Scotland and you don’t wanna miss this one which hopefully turns into a fun fight that raises lots of money for charity.
Peter McCafferty (DNFT) v Kevin Lobban (Team Unity) @ Bantamweight C-Class
In what is being viewed as a contender bout, meaning that the winner will fight for the Art of Combat Bantamweight Belt (the value of semi pro belts in and of itself is debatable, but it’s well known that if there is any C Class belt in Scotland that matters, it’s the AOC one), arguably the most exciting semi pro fighter in Scotland, Peter McCafferty, takes on the on form Kevin Lobban, who is on a tear at the moment and himself is no stranger to an exciting fight.
I’ve been lucky enough to see Peter fight a few times and he never disappoints, being well rounded enough that he is competitive wherever the fight takes place, having wins by both TKO and Submission. His move to Higher Level to train has seen him develop from an exciting yet reckless fighter (nobody will ever forget his fights with Ryan McShane or Deano Begg), to a fighter who brings the same excitement to the cage, but with much more control, technique and composure. He is a tough out for anyone.
As is Kevin Lobban. Lobban, coming off a dominant victory over well respected Gary Grant, appears to be finally putting the pieces together and showing his real potential. Whilst he will be an underdog here, having not fought anyone at the level of McCafferty yet, if he can turn the bout into more of a scrap than a technical striking contest, and get it to the ground, the scrappy, full of heart, Lobban will have every chance to cause the upset.
They’re two of the top three Amateur bantamweights in the country, they’re both good everywhere and both have a history of exciting fights. What’s not to like!?
Dean Elliot (Team Viper) v Kev Brooks (DNFT) @ Bantamweight C-Class
In a fight that we here at FTS called for after both fighters won impressively at the recent SFC show, we, and the Scottish fans, are getting a real treat.
Elliot is the best pure grappler currently competing at Bantamweight, at the amateur level. His wrestling is top notch and he has managed to take down every opponent he has faced. He also holds a TKO win over Kieran Laidlaw, which started from punches on the feet, so he can hang everywhere. After losing a razor thin decision to what I would call the country’s best amateur bantamweight in Euan Macleod, where Euan just had a bit too much for Dean on the feet, Dean rebounded in style with a dominant armbar victory at the last SFC show.
Kevin Brooks too is coming off an impressive victory, a ground and pound TKO over the “eccentric” Thomas Nelson at the last SFC show. By surviving Nelson’s tricky submission attempts and dominating him on the ground, Brooks showed that his ground game is ever improving, and he is the owner of that rare commodity at Amateur MMA; a head kick KO. Highly touted as a prospect, much like his opponent, I imagine Brooks will look to keep this one on the feet and look for another highlight reel KO.
It’s a classic striker v grappler match up, where both guys are also skilled enough in their opponents specialty to keep things interesting wherever the fight goes. It’s two of the most highly touted prospects in Scotland’s most exciting weight class looking to climb the ladder – don’t miss it!
Steven Kelly (Team Viper) v Stevie McIntosh (DNFT) @ 75kg Catchweight C-Class
In a real “sleeper” fight, two of the better guys at welterweight (let’s not beat around the bush, 75 kg is not a weight class) will clash in a fight that could easily be a fight of the night contender.
Viper’s Kelly is on a strong winning streak, having used his Judo and BJJ to overwhelm his opponents so far. Kelly’s style is enjoyable to watch, often using judo throws rather than the more standard wrestling to take his opponents to the ground in style, where thus far none of them have been able to hang with him on the ground once he gets them there.
McIntosh however does represent a step up for Kelly, who has yet to face anyone at this level. It’s a logical step up for Kelly, as McIntosh, since moving to Higher Level, has really rounded out his game and grown as a fighter. It’s also a logical match for McIntosh, this being the toughest fighter he will have faced so far in his career. The game plan for McIntosh will be no surprise, he’ll look to keep his distance, keep the fight on the feet and utilise his striking.
It’s another classic striker v grappler match up. We might see a big judo throw. We might get to see one or both of these fighters out of their comfort zone and see how much they have developed in their weaker areas. We’ll see two well matched prospects go at it, both in the toughest fight they’ve had so far, and see them try to reach the upper level of a weight class which is currently quite bare in Scotland and the winner will be in the mix at the top of the weight class for sure, a weight class crying out for fresh names at the top.
Thomas Hepburn (Rick Young’s) v Valentine Duke (Team Unity) @ Featherweight C-Class
This one should be a real treat for fans of styles clashes. In Hepburn, we have a strategist, a tall lanky build and a style built on high level BJJ and technical striking, which has made him a favourite of Scottish fans who enjoy seeing high level grappling in the cage. In Duke, we have a berserker, short and stocky who is very much of the “BJJ won’t work when I’m punching you in the face mentality”. It’s a fascinating clash of styles and I would hazard a guess we either see a highlight reel KO from Duke or we see Hepburn work his magic on the ground and rack up another submission. The prospect of watching Hepburns submissions go up against Duke’s ground and pound has me really excited for this one!
Lee Meacher (Tei MMA) v Euan Reid (Team Unity) Junior MMA Bout @ 60kg Catchweight
In another first for Scottish MMA (AOC put on the first C-Class woman’s fight aswell) , Art of Combat continue their trend of helping to develop the sport by putting on to my knowledge the first Junior MMA bout in Scottish history. I don’t know anything about Meacher, but I have seen Reid give adults all they can handle at grappling comps and it will be fun to see if his grappling potential transfers into the MMA environment! Awesome to see the sport grow
Keir Harvie (Headhunters) v Connor Imison (GCG) @ Bantamweight C-Class
GCG’s Imison made quite an impact in his debut, outclassing more experienced campaigner Kam Cheng using excellent grappling for a debut fighter. Harvie, fighting out of Headhunters, will obviously look to keep this on the feet. Two young guys in yet another striker v grappler match up – they’re my favourite type, and this is not one you’ll want to miss!
Paul Halkett (Independent) v Martin Watkins (Shooters Dundee) @ Light Heavyweight C-Class
Michael McMullen (Independent) v Calum Owens (House of Pain) @ 95kg Catchweight C-Class
These two are grouped together as anytime you get to see guys this size throw hands at each other, it is guaranteed fun. Don’t blink!
Below is the full 14 fight card and running order
Imam Doba (0-0) (Crossfight, France) v Scott Malone (0-0) (Shooters Dundee) @ Flyweight Pro
Peter McCafferty (DNFT) v Kevin Lobban (Team Unity) @ Bantamweight C-Class
Dean Elliot (Team Viper) v Kev Brooks (DNFT) @ Bantamweight C-Class
Thomas Hepburn (Rick Young’s) v Valentine Duke (Team Unity) @ Featherweight C-Class
Paul Halkett (Independent) v Martin Watkins (Shooters Dundee) @ Light Heavyweight C-Class
Steven Kelly (Team Viper) v Stevie McIntosh (DNFT) @ 75kg Catchweight C-Class
Dean Barry (Dundee Elite) v Nicky Beveridge (Team Unity) K-1 bout @ Featherweight
Enzo Parente (1-5) (Forza MMA) v Craig Robertson (2-1) (Shooters Dundee) @ Middleweight Pro
Michael McMullen (Independent) v Calum Owens (House of Pain) @ 95kg Catchweight C-Class
Sean Cochrane (Independent) v Ross Cleave (Team Unity) @ 60kg Catchweight C-Class
Keir Harvie (Headhunters) v Connor Imison (GCG) @ Bantamweight C-Class
Jack Demarco (Forza MMA) v Jason Baird (Team Extreme) @ Lightweight C-Class
Piotr Krzysztof Pozdniakow (Headhunters) v Dane Dickson (Shooters Dundee) @ Featherweight C-Class
Lee Meacher (Tei MMA) v Euan Reid (Team Unity) Junior MMA Bout @ 60kg Catchweight
