Headhunters play by play and results round up
77kg Pro MMA for the Headhunters Fighting Championship Welterweight Title
Dan Hope (Higher Level/DNFT) vs. Stefan Almazov (Alex’s MMA Fight Club)
Round 1
Almazov is very calm and relaxed, hope immediately using his footwork to pick his shots and move, both men exchange and clinch against the cage with hope pushing the pace
Hope working foot stomps and knees whilst looking for the takedown.
Hope gets the takedown into half guard as Almazov attempts a guillotine. He gets full guard and for a second it looks tight until Hopes head pops out. Hope landing strikes from guard top with excellent coaching from Dean Riley and Gary Christie.
Dropping the ‘bows. Ends round in guard top
10/9 Hope
Round 2
Hope lands a body kick out the gate, picking his shots. Hope hitting and avoiding the counter, but he’s caught by an overhand right and dropped. Almazov attempts a guillotine as Hope shoots for a reactive takedown, Hope escapes and is now on top in half guard. Hope passes to mount, maintaining patient. Hope starts to land elbows, Almazov manages to regain half guard. Another couple elbows from Hope follow, once again controlling the round. Hope moves to side control, his constant pressure not allowing Almazov to get any offence going. More elbows from Dan but Almazov regains guard as he throws them. Almazov trying to tie Dan up, the round ends with Dan on top.
10-9 Hope
Almazov looks exhausted as he goes back to his corner
Round 3
Almazov realises he is two rounds down so tries to push the pace. Hope looks calm and fresh, ducks an attempted left hook from Almazov and gets a double leg into half guard. Almazov is attempting a guillotine but having no joy.
Passes into side but Almazov regains half guard once again.
Almazovs face is starting to wear the shots from the ground and pound. Mount for Hope but again ends up in half guard but lands two huge elbows from top.
Hope being patient with his ground and pound shots!
Almazov has literally done nothing this round. Hope finishes strong with ground and pound and dominates the title fight!
10/9 Hope
Hope wins and is the new welterweight champion
Tomasz Dworakowski (Highlanders Muay Thai) vs. Tam Clarkson (Headhunters Martial Arts)
Round 1
Tam Clarkson another popular fighter here, and he wins walkout song of the night with TNT by AC/DC.
Tomasz opens with a head kick, hard kicks exchanged by both fighters. Both guys landing in wild exchanges, Tam being the aggressor in the fight. Tomasz gets Tam against the cage and unloads with a combination. Big shots being landed by both fighters, Tam landing a bit more often. Tomasz trying to use his length to keep Tam away, but Tam walking through to land punches. Big leg kick from Tam, the leg kicks are adding up.
10-9 Tam
Round2
Tom is actually the terminator, just walks forward whilst Tam lands the more consistent shots. Tams connects with a huge left hook and has Tom’s attention now. Tom gets Tam against the cage and lands some great punches to the head and knees to the body. Separation and the same again. On the break Tam lands a huge cross and the crowd goes crazy. Tom seems to be much more aggressive this round and pushing the pace in a very close round however Tomasz did do more damage and land more shots
10/9 Tomasz
Dead even going into the final round
Round 3
Tentative start to the round, neither fighter pushing the pace. Tomasz attacking the legs. Both guys throw leg kicks at the same time, clash knees and Tam come off worse, he hobbles to the fence and the ref stops the fight as he can’t continue.
Tomasz Dworakowski wins by TKO at 1.18 of round 3.
Lee Johnson (Higher Level Martial Arts) vs. Douglas Lord (Combat Ready Wrestling)
Johnson clinches immediately and gets the body lock takedown into half guard. Attempts to take the back but Lord springs back to his feet but is immediately taken down again and is mounted.
Johnson lands heavy ground and pound forcing Lord to give up his back as Johnson sinks in the RNC and gets the tap two minutes into round 1.
Winner: Lee Jaggy Johnston first round RNC
Erlandus Paplouskas (309 Phuang Malai) vs. Patryk Jablonski (Headhunters Martial Arts)
We’ll be going with Erl vs. Pat for commentary.
Round 1
Pat starts with a jab, both guys swinging for the knockout. Erl being more aggressive, Pat landing shots of his own but on the back foot. Erl doing some nice body work, keeping a high pace that Pat doesn’t seem to be able to keep up with. Erl doing well to thrown combinations, Pat replying with single shots. Two knees to the head by Erl, continuing to come forward with heavy punches and when in close going for knees. Strong round from Erl, always in control.
10-9 Erlandus
Round 2
Pat tries to start the round aggressively but Erl uses his footwork and he is now the aggressor.
Common theme where Erl will use his beautiful combos to back Pat against the cage and devastate the body with knees. Pat has been on the back foot the whole round but is tough as hell and keeps fighting back. Erls ability to mix up combinations and target the head, body and legs is just a thing of beauty to watch!
10/9 Erl
Round 3
Erl immediately takes the centre and attacks. Going after the body with kicks, Pat is throwing back b it Erl swarms on him and Pat gets an 8 count after being wobbled. Erl continues his onslaught when the fight continues, Pat trapped against the cage taking punches and the ref steps in to stop the fight.
Erlandus Paplouskas wins by TKO at 1.01 of round 3.
Jordan Struthers (Higher Level Martial Arts) vs. Hayden Murray (Headhunters Martial Arts)
Both fighters get the loudest reactions from the crowd so far during entrances, very excited for this one!
Round 1
Close exchanges with both fighters connecting with strikes, Struthers attempts a takedown but is unsuccessful.
Another exchange and Struthers perfectly times ducking an attempted hook and lands the best double of the night. BEAUTIFUL!
Murray is back to his feet and more great exchanges, Struthers appears to have the better footwork, another takedown attempt by Struthers, Murray attempts a jumping guillotine but Struthers is safe and slams him finishing the round with ground and pound from guard top!
10-9 Struthers
Crowd is going insane!
Round 2
Crowd at cageside being told to take their seats, getting wild in here. Murray swinging, neither fighter landing much to start. Strut hers starting to land, picking his shots and avoiding the counters. Struthers using better footwork, making Murray miss. Spinning backfist from a Struthers, rushes in but nothing comes of it. Struthers went for a double leg, takes a knee to the face for his efforts. Lands a great judo trip right into mount, the crowd are going mental! I’ve seen at of crazy crowds on Scotland, anyone at a Stevie Ray fight can say that, this is certainly up there. Murray doing a job of defending but Struthers maintains mount and picks his shots. Murray manages to get back to his feet with 10 seconds to go and again the crowd erupts. Struthers has a cut across his eyebrow.
10-9 Struthers
Round 3
Struthers immediately using his footwork to pick his shots, hits a double leg lands in guard top, Murray manages to push off and get back to his feet.
More standup and another takedown from Struthers. Murray throws up a triangle and looks like he could have finished but didn’t have a clue how to lock it up?
Struthers stands and the ref stands the two up
Struthers with yet another takedown to finish the round
Struthers 10-9
Jordan is definitely one to look out for and by the looks of things the most popular amateur fighter in the country as the crowd are going crazy for him!
Jordan wins a unanimous decision
Gareth Mitchell (Sit Ayuthaya) vs. Mark Ewen (Headhunters Martial Arts)
Round 1
Head kick from Mitchell to start, receives a low blow for his efforts. Mitchell catches a kick and lands a trip. Both fighters trading in the clinch, they separate and trade kicks. Ewen pressures Mitchell as the round ends. Too close to call
10-10
Round 2
Ewen lands a huge left hook that has Mitchell on the back foot, he then lands a huge right followed by a massive flurry, Mitchell appears to be ok but Ewen connect on lots of shots, most of the round is spent in the clinch and finished with Ewen being the busier fighter
10-9 Ewen
Round 3
Mitchell with a big knee to the body to start, they trade knees in the clinch. Ewen lands a right hand on the separation and starts attacking with heavy leg kicks. Ewen attacking the body and head, mixing up his attack well. Mitchell showing his chin, taking 3 big right hands. Ewen backing Mitchell up against the cage, landing big right hands. Another strong round for Ewen.
10-9 Ewen
Round 4
Immediate trip from Mitchell, Ewen is looking for the overhand right, lands two beautiful leg kicks Mitchell’s face is evident that these leg kicks are getting through.
Feeling out process and Ewen straight away hits a huge leg kick which drops his opponent as the ref gives a standing count, the bell goes and Ewen drops Mitchell with a perfect cross and the round ends, this fight isn’t going to last much longer, Mitchell’s leg is jacked!
10-8 Ewen
Round 5
Ewen starts with a nice punching combination, follows up with a leg kick. Mitchell retreats and turns away, the ref steps in to save him from more damage.
Mark Ewen wins by TKO at 11 seconds of round 5
Ross Cleave (Team Unity) vs. Keir Harvie (Headhunters Martial Arts)
Round 1
Cleave misses with a spinning kick, keeping the pressure on Harvie. Cleave landing with some clean strikes, enters the clinch against the cage and lands a few knees. They separate and continue striking. Cleave getting the better of the striking exchanges, catches a kick and enters the clinch where he misses a big knee. Cleave lands a takedown from the clinch and avoids the guillotine. Harvie tries to work his way back up, cleave keeps the pressure on him against the cage. Harvie lands a big uppercut and the crowd erupt. Cleave attempts a flying armbar to end the round but it doesn’t amount to anything.
Close round, we’ll go 10-10
Round 2
Feeling out process to start the 2nd, both landing nice leg kicks. Harvie more aggressive here, landing more leg kicks. Harvie taking the centre of the cage, landing consistently on Cleave. Cleave pushing back, but Harvie goes back to pressuring him. Harvie taking control of the round, picking his shots and landing frequently.cleave grabs a body lock and gets the takedown but ends up on bottom, Harvie in full guard. Cleave trying to be active off his back, Harvie stands and let’s cleave up. Harvie ends the round with a couple knees in the clinch.
10-9 Harvie
Round 3
Cleave trying to pressure Harvie early, lands a huge head kick! Harvie unphased, Cleave attempting a takedown against the cage. Pressing the action landing strikes, Harvie reverses position and another reversal. Cleave lands some knees, wearing out Harvie against the cage. Harvie slowing down under the cage pressure, Cleave winning this round so far. They separate and begin to strike, Cleave getting the better of the exchanges. Cleave clinches again, looking for the takedown. Harvie goes for a standing guillotine and it looks tight. He’s wrenching on it and Cleave has to tap.
Best fight of the evening so far.
Keir Harvie wins by standing guillotine at 3.39 of round 3.
Jamie Whiteford (Elite Fight Gym) vs. Les George (Headhunters Martial Arts)
Round 1
Big support for George as he comes out. 2 huge right hands from Whiteford. George lands a trip. Back and forth exchanges, even on the feet. A lot of clinch work, both men landing knees. Both guys going after the knockout punch.
Too close to call, 10-10
Round 2
Whiteford very aggressive landing some good punches, clinch and George gets the trip, Whiteford falls to floor after groin strike, red tells him to get up and doesn’t give recovery time. George hits two hay makes and Whiteford just takes them!
10-9 George
Round 3
Whiteford landing punches to start, eats an illegal spinning back elbow and goes down. Seems like it was intended to be a backfist, he’s given time to recover and we start again. Whiteford lands some heavy leg kicks, being the more aggressive fighter in this round and landing consistently.
10-9 Whiteford
Round 4
Wild exchange! Fairly even for the first minute, both men being very aggressive. Lots of clinch work end the round but again a very close round 10-10
Round 5
Touch of gloves and a hug to start the round. Immediate trip by George. Whiteford looks for the clinch, George looking to stay in striking range. And other trip by George, starting to take control of the round. Straight into a 3rd trip, these are taking their toll on Whiteford. DJ decides the last minute is a great time to start the smoke machine. Whiteford seems to end the round strong, but not enough to win the round.
10-9 George.
Les George wins a decision in an entertaining bout.
Ryan Lafferty (Higher Level Martial Arts) vs. Ian Davis (Combat Ready Wrestling)
Lafferty is apparently a very popular guy. Plenty of support and a cracking beard
The MC just announced UAR as ‘united amateur rules’ and 5 minute rounds. Oh dear. On to the fight!
Round 1
Lafferty working nice boxing combos forcing Davis to shoot in and clinch against the cage. Lafferty turns him, lands knees and breaks.
Same again.
Except Lafferty keeps Davis pressed against the cage with beautiful control and head positioning landing shots. Davis doesn’t appear to have an answer to this.
Lafferty attempts the takedown but with no luck just goes back to keeping Davis pressed against the cage landing shots.
Davis is cut on the face somewhere.
Coach James Doolan is confused as this was actually a 5 minute round. Confusing.
10-9 Lafferty. Very dominant
Round 2
Doctor has postponed the start of the fight in Laffertys corner.
It’s actually Lafferty that is cut, perhaps from a clash of heads.
Lafferty gets a HUGE double leg and lands closed guard top. Keeping active with heavy strikes, Davis creates space and kicks Lafferty off, Lafferty standing over landing kicks, dives into half guard, passes to mount, landing huge punches for a whole minute until the end of the round. Davis has a huge mouse under his left eye!
10-9 in another very dominant round for Lafferty
Round 3
Boxing combo by Lafferty pushing Davis against the cage and another double leg into half guard top and passes to mount.
Incredible coaching from James Doolan. Big ground and pound, red is seconds away from stopping the fight before Lafferty locks in an arm triangle and forces the tap!
Ryan Lafferty wins by 3rd round arm triangle, was in control of the fight from the get go
Ross Docherty (Elite Fight Team) vs. Joe McCarthy (Headhunters Martial Arts)
Round 1
Heavy kicks from McArthur early, big left hook follows. Docherty coming forward late, starting to land more often. Close round.
10-10
Round 2
McArthur is vicious in the opening, pushing the pace for the first half of the match with heavy kicks, Docherty even attempts a guillotine in the clinch.. WHAT!? McArthur the busier fighter and even ends the round with a sweep from the clinch
10-9 McArthur
Round 3
Docherty starts more aggressive this round, landing a couple nice punches. McArthur slowing down, being kept on the defensive by Docherty’s pace. Round ends with a Docherty trip.
10-9 Docherty
Round 4
McArthur off to another fast start! Docherty moving nicely and gets 2 sweeps of his own.
These two are hitting very hard, Doherty pushing the pace more with nice leg and body kicks again. Ends the round with another sweep
10-9 Doherty
Round 5
Docherty offers a touch of gloves, McArthur declines. Docherty with another 2 trips at the start of the round. McArthur goes down from an inside leg kick and gets an 8 count. Docherty keeping a high pace, finish strong landing more strikes.
10-9 Docherty
Ross Docherty wins by decision!
Kyle Murphy (Elite Fight Team) vs. Graham Baird (Headhunters Martial Arts)
Round 1
Murphy throws two leg kicks which Baird actually laughs at, mind games early, Murphy throws one more body kick and Baird just unloads with a massive 10 punch flurry backing Murphy against the cage resulting in the ref giving the standing count (this isn’t going to last long)
Baird gets straight back in with another flurry and drops Murphy straight away!
Fight is over
Graham Baird wins by TKO in the first minute.
Erin Scorgie (Aberdeen Muay Thai) vs. Victoria Storrie (Headhunters Martial Arts)
Round 1
Storrie opening up with a head kick, very good exchanges from both.
Storrie gets the trip from the clinch. Scorgie landing very clean punches to the head and Storrie landing some beautiful leg and body kicks.
Fantastic exchanges!
10-9 Storrie (very close but more aggressive)
Round 2
Kicks traded early, Scorgie getting through with some punches. Scorgie lands some good knees in the clinch, too close to call
10/10
Round 3
both fighters continuing a high pace. Another equal round as both fighter land often, Scorgie slightly more aggressive, she takes the round on my card.
Round 4
Actually can’t believe the standard, fantastic!
A lot of clinch exchange, Scorgie landing very clean boxing and using great footwork. Storrie finishes round with a big flurry but not enough to win the round
10-9 Scorgie
Round 5
Storire coming out more aggressive this round, landing well on Scorgie. Both fighters going for it, Storrie landing with more frequency in this round and takes the round on my scorecard. Scores will be interesting, very close fight. Great action to start the night, well appreciated by the crowd.
Judges score it a draw, understandably so! Fantastic fight to kick us off!
