Punch Up Promotions Fight Night 2 Event Report
by Brett Reeve

After a successful debut show in October 2011, fighter turned promoter Dan Korbely put on his second show at the Central Banqueting & Conference Centre in Wolverhampton. The show focused on pitting local amateur fighters against each other including 8 fighters from home gym, Paul Taylor’s Pure MMA. With the addition of some top talent from further afield, anticipation for the event was high, proven by the show being a total sell out.

Fight 1

Scott Cole (Leeds Cage) vs Jake Ellison (Pure MMA)

Amateur B-Class - Featherweight

Cole comes out aggressive looking to strike. After a brief exchange Ellison shoots for a double leg takedown and completes it. Following a brief struggle Ellison takes mount, he then uses a few strikes to the body to set up an arm bar. Cole defends well but Ellison rolls through to complete the submission at 1:45 of round 1

Fight 2

Mark Medcalf (Independent) vs Michael Younis (K-Star)

Amateur B-Class - Heavyweight

Both fighters come out looking to exchange strikes, Younis has cleaner technique but Medcalf is game and throws numerous unorthodox strikes. The first round is fairly even but Younis is starting to edge ahead towards the end of the round as his volume of strikes begin taking their toll on Medcalf

The second round carries on in the same vein as the first but Younis soon lands some big strikes which forces the referee to stop the fight to give Younis the TKO win mid-way through the second

Fight 3

Liam Griffiths (Len Bate) vs Paul Hill (Pure MMA)

Amateur A-Class - Middleweight

Hill opens looking to box and lands hard one twos, with several right hands backing up Griffiths. Griffiths replies with a head kick and they enter a clinch where Griffiths lands a big knee. Hill backs out and drops his opponent with a hard right hand and looks to follow up with GnP. Griffiths remains composed and gets the re-roll, and works from side control to mount then opens up with his own strikes. However, as Hill looks to escape 3 strikes land to the back of the head and after several warnings from referee Mark Woodard the fight is stood back up where the fighters end the round in the clinch. A very exciting and even round.

Both fighters are striking in round two, Hill boxing, Griffiths kicking, Hill gets the takedown after transitions from mount to back control and some hard GnP forces the referee to stop the fight. Hill wins by TKO (GnP) 2:26, r2.

Fight 4

David Williams (Extreme MMA) vs Kieran Beattie (Pure MMA)

Amateur A-Class - Featherweight

Williams, who enters the fight with an impressive 4-0 record, opens aggressively with an array of strikes. Beattie takes his opponent down at the cage and strikes from top position. As Williams looks to escape he gets caught in a guillotine but gets out and attempts a guillotine of his own. Beattie uses this to get another takedown and gets mount, Williams scrambles and an even round comes to an end

Round two opens with Beattie striking. Williams is rattled but lands the takedown. Beattie uses rubber guard to avoid taking damage from strikes but Williams passes to half guard. Beattie sweeps and ends in Williams guard, he passes and lands knees from side control, transitions to mount, then takes the back and locks up a body triangle where the round ends - 10-9 Beattie

The third starts with a big exchange of strikes, Beattie uses the cage to get the takedown, strikes from half guard, Williams turtles, Beattie takes the back and gets the submission win by RNC at 1:33 of the third round. A great fight ends with Williams suffering his first defeat and Beattie moving to 2-0

Fight 5

Mike Burgess (Thaitains) vs Harry Marple (Pure MMA)

Amateur B-Class - Lightweight

Burgess opens by throwing massive shots, forcing Marple to look for, and get, the takedown. Marple works from side control and is looking to step over the head but Burgess defends well. Burgess ties up Marple with head scissors and the round ends with Burgess working a reverse triangle. Marple 10-9.

Marple opens round two with a hard leg kick, followed by a head kick. He then gets the takedown to side control, then mount where he attempts an arm bar. Burgess escapes, and winds up in Marple’s guard. However, he soon finds himself in a triangle giving Marple the submission win at 2:45

Fight 6

Dan Watson (Telford Combat Centre) vs Matthew Richards

Amateur B-Class - Welterweight

The fight starts with a big exchange of strikes before a big slam from Richards. He works for a guillotine, followed by a knee bar but Watson escapes. Richards lands knees to the body from side control before a scramble results in the fighters exchanging strikes at the bell - 10-9 Richards

Round two starts with leg kicks by Richards. Watson gets takedown which results in a fast scramble and ends with a big slam by Richards. The referee stands the fighters and big shots are landed by Watson forcing Richards to clinch. A standing guillotine attempt by Watson allows Richards to get the takedown to side control and the round ends with Richards in mount - 10-9 Richards

The third round opens with Watson clearly knowing he’s behind on the cards and hunting for the KO. He throws big hooks which have Richards looking to shoot. Watson on top but is re-rolled to guard. A guillotine attempt comes in from Watson to no avail, and big shots again by Watson standing. Richardson enters the clinch and gets a big slam and ends the round in mount - 10-9 Richards

Richards takes the decision 30-27 all cards.

Fight 7

James Sherwin (Oswestry Free Fighters) vs Jonny Dawson (Pure MMA)

Amateur A-Class - Welterweight

A wild exchange of strikes from the bell and the fighters clinch against cage. Thai clinch for Dawson and Sherwin looks for the takedown but lands in an arm-in guillotine. He resists but Dawson adjusts and finishes the submission at 50 seconds of round 1.

Fight 8

Kieron Lister (Dungeon BJJ) vs Ross Houston (Pure MMA)

Amateur A-Class - Welterweight

Lister enters the cage in his Gi signalling to his grappling credentials whilst Houston has found success in amateur boxing competition, it turns out that this would reflect in the fights proceedings.

Round one starts with good hands by Houston, however this is interrupted by a big Lister takedown. Lister controls the action on the floor using good positioning and GnP. Lister has the back and locks in a body triangle, the round ends with Lister working for the RNC - 10-9 Lister

Round 2 follows much the same pattern as the first with Houston looking to utilise his superior boxing but he can’t keep the fight standing and once the fight hits the floor it’s all Lister, who takes mount and lands good GnP. Again 10-9 Lister

The third opens with a big left hand from Lister who then shoots but Houston shrugs it off. Houston is landing with strikes whilst Lister is looking to return the fight to the floor. Lister gets the takedown to side control and ends the round in mount landing GnP - 10-9 Lister.

Lister takes the unanimous decision 30-27 on all cards.

Fight 9

Adam Corbett (Telford Combat Centre) vs Darren Moore (Independent)

Amateur B-Class - Heavyweight

A brief exchange of hands leads to a shoot by Corbett but Moore sprawls well and lands knees and hands to the body from half guard, before rolling through for the knee bar and earns the tap at 1:15 of round 1, moving him to 3-0.

Fight 10

A-Class Amateur Welterweight Title

Anas Mounir (Dungeon BJJ) vs Lee Stevens (Pure MMA)

The first PUP title fight pits two of the country’s top amateur welterweights, the 5-0 Made 4 The Cage champion, Anas Mounir vs two time GPUK champion, Lee Stevens 5-1-1.

There’s very loud support for local fighter Stevens but Mounir appears remarkably calm.

A tentative start sees Stevens jabbing and Mounir looking to counter. A solid leg kick by Mounir sees Stevens retaliate by throwing big straight punches. The fighters clinch and Mounir gets the takedown. Stevens stands but Mounir takes his back and works the fight to the floor where he ends the round controlling Stevens back with a body triangle - 10-9 Mounir

Round two opens with a big exchange of hands which is edged by Stevens. Mounir clinches on cage and shows great versatility in his range of takedown techniques. Stevens defends well but eventually is taken to the mat. Mounir dives into Stevens' guard, landing a big shot on the way. He postures up and looks to strike, briefly taking his opponent's back before he is reversed. Stevens is now in top position, with Mounir’s head pressed against the cage. Stevens takes the opportunity to land some heavy strikes, the bell comes as welcome relief to Mounir. 10-9 Stevens.

Round three sees the fighters embrace in the centre of the cage, showing the respect each has earned from the other in the cage throughout this battle. However, the pleasantries are short lived as both fighters launch a ferocious barrage of strikes. As they separate Mounir misses with a wheel kick, Stevens lands a big takedown and looks to resume his GnP assault. Mounir attempts a triangle, forcing Stevens to back out and the fighters stand. This time Mounir shoots and after a struggle he takes side control as Stevens looks to escape. Mounir transitions from Stevens' back to mount and then again to the back. Stevens again scrambles free and is now on top looking to strike. As Mounir stands, Stevens grabs a guillotine but he can’t secure it and Mounir is on top. Mounir looks to stand but is greeted by a hard up-kick, Stevens pushes his opponent away and the round ends. 10-10 round.

A great fight, everyone in the crowd are on their feet applauding both fighters, the only disappointment being that it’s not a five round fight, it was the sort of fight the crowd would just not want to end. A real showcase of what a high level of talent the UK is now producing.

Both fighters raise their hands as they await the decision.

The judges render a split decision, two side with Mounir 29-28 whilst the other scores it 29-8 to Stevens. The new PUP welterweight champion is Anas Mounir. Both fighters can walk away with their heads held high knowing they have a very bright future in the sport and I would not be surprised if these two fighters cross paths again.

Fight 11

Dan Rushworth (Elite MMA) vs Phil Faulkner (Pure MMA)

Pro Welterweight

The night’s main event saw two amateur champions making their professional debut. There was massive support for local fighter Faulkner and it was clear he was extremely pumped up for the fight, looking very intense as the referee brought them together in the centre of the cage

Faulkner looks to open up with his technical boxing skills. The fighters clinch on the cage, Rushworth attempts a guillotine but Faulkner uses this to get the takedown. Rushworth quickly stands and they return to the clinch, Faulkner looking to dirty box whilst Rushworth is looking for short elbows and knees.

Rushworth now looking to utilise his Muay Thai skills and is controlling Faulkner with the Thai clinch before moving to a single collar tie in order to land strikes. Rushworth throws Faulkner to the floor from the Thai clinch and is now working an arm bar, Faulkner escapes and ends the round in top position

Rushworth edges the round 10-9.

Round two sees Rushworth return to his Thai clinch and single collar tie attack, he throws Faulkner to the floor but Faulkner returns with a takedown of his own. Rushworth stands and starts to land big strikes, he breaks free and lands a huge soccer kick to the body and follows up with further strikes forcing Mark Woodard to stop the fight giving Dan Rushworth the TKO win at 1:30 of round 2.

That draws to a close a superb night of fights which created a raucous but friendly atmosphere from start to finish. Everybody in attendance left already looking forward to Fight Night 3.

Your MMA Fight Night Awards

Fight of the Night: Mounir vs Stevens

Sub of the Night: Darren Moore

KO of the Night: Dan Rushworth