Paul Sass v Jason “Daddy Cool” Ball

The fight went to the deck early in the first. With a little help from the fence, Jason managed to secure top position in half guard. Even though Ball has won fights from there before- he chose to stand up. No way was he going to get tied up. No way was he going to be the ninth guy in a row to end up in the Sass triangle.

Sass scored another takedown and got Jason’s back in front of the Wolfslair’ corner team. Assisted by wise words from Tom Blackledge, Jason held off the rear naked choke attempt and finally managed to escape. With Sass now on his back- Ball began battering him. The end of the round sounded. Ball didn’t hear. The ref dived in to separate them. Jason thought it was a stoppage and raised his arms in triumph only for Marc Goddard to shake his head and break the bad news.

Round two. Sass shoots. Jason manages to get on top again. Ball then started to beat Paul up- dropping proper, Welterweight strength punches onto the Scouser. Sass swept his man- but was unable to make much impression from the top.

Going into the third- I’d given them a round each- but the momentum seemed to have swung in Ball’s favour. Paul looks for the single leg. Jason sees it coming a mile off. He’s on Sass and unloading from half guard. This is relentless stuff.

It must be all over.

Sass’s other leg sneaks round Ball’s back and starts to creep up. It meets the other. Jason is the last one to know- as they tighten. The choke is on and there’s no way out.

Daddy cool is on his knees; a disbelieving look on his face.

Sass by triangle.

A superb win for Paul Sass. A class opponent took him to some bad places and he hung in there and pulled off the victory. Jason Ball looks great since dropping a weight class. Daddy Cool kept his head and put on a performance which would have been too much for most domestic lightweights.

Great fight. Hopefully- they’ll do it again some time.


Stefan Struve v Mario Neto


Stefan Struve is going to be massive. Obviously-“The Skyscraper” is already massive in terms of feet and inches- but this lad is going to be a superstar. On previous visits to the Olympia, he has subbed Tom Blackledge and blown away Colin Robinson.

This time out- he was faced with the top class jiu jitsu skills of Neto. Predictably, Mario took the Dutchman down and worked for the submission. Stefan more than held his own and, as Netto’s gas tank ran down, began to take control.

The second opened with another takedown by Netto. In the ground exchange, Struve took the back of his black belt opponent and got his hooks in. From there he executed what I would describe as a side choke from the back or a rear naked choke with the arm in. Basically- he choked out a Heavyweight in a way only someone with phenomenally long arms could.

Stefan Struve retains the Cage Gladiators Heavyweight Belt. It definitely won’t be the last belt he wins.


Rob Sinclair v Aidan Marron

Rob Sinclair started the fight as favourite to take the Lightweight belt, but Marron went close to pulling off an early win. After being slammed to the canvas, the Irishman caught the challenger with a tight armbar. It looked like game over, but after a couple of anxious moments- Rob escaped and stacked Aidan up against the fence. He battered the champion mercilessly, but Marron kept doing just enough to prevent the fight from being stopped.

The barrage continued in the second. Rob Sinclair let the hammer fists go. As always, there was no quit in Marron. After one blow, the Irishman’s head wilted slightly and the referee dived in to save him.

A performance worthy of a champ from Rob Sinclair. Aidan Marron went out on his shield: a genuine tough guy.


Chris Rice v John Maguire

John Maguire took the vacant Middleweight strap after three gruelling rounds against Chris Rice. The two cancelled each other out, but Maguire did enough to earn a unanimous decision from the judges.


David “CFD” Johnson put on another performance which summed up why he is the strong favourite to scoop the hurtbusiness Fighter of the Year award.

His shift at Cage Gladiators was a masterclass in crowd pleasing. Entrance to (yet another) gay anthem, followed by a classy Muay Thai display and polished off with fight finishing ground and pound.

The “Macho Man” does the business again. Colm Gillan was never allowed to get into it.

Carl Noon simply blew away Nerijius Mikelatius. Within seconds, Noon scored with a huge knee to the head and it was clear there was no way back. The Lithuanian’s corner immediately threw in the towel.
 

Lee Chadwick defeated Jay Keiron by way of rear naked choke.

Aaron Wilkinson dominated his contest with Murad Utsaev but never really broke through his opponents spoiling tactics. He comfortably earned the votes of all three judges.

Neil Fraser took a unanimous decision over Lee Barnes. Barnes has his moments- notably in the second with his explosive stand up at the start and later with a rear naked choke attempt but, overall, Fraser was in command. His long periods of good work from top position caught the eye of the judges.

Ashley Smith’s bout was like Groundhog Day. Each round saw him punching Marius Buzinkas, the Lithuanian rolling away and Smith taking his back. It was third round lucky when he finally sunk in the rear naked choke to end the fight.



Event

As good a set of fights as you will see anywhere. Despite horrendous problems with pull outs- the Cage Gladiators team put on an ace card. Tremendous entertaiment.

 

Crowd

Sparse.

Any event in the run up to Xmas is likely to take a hit. Add in freezing fog and the credit crunch and you’ve got problems.

Ring Walk Tune of the Night

I’m Coming Out – Diana Ross


Following on from Macho Man by the Village People and his Internet requests for tight pink shorts, the only question left is: where does David “CFD” Johnson go from here?

 

Best Team Outfits

Team Schreiber.

Dirty Bob and the guys come to Liverpool and out tracksuit the locals. Superb green custom numbers that show continental Europe can still teach us a thing or two about style.

 

Technological Leap Forward

 

Signalling ten seconds to the end of the round by bashing the cage with a two foot long iron bar.


 

Fight of the Night


Paul Sass v Jason Ball


 

Fighter of the Night


Hard to pick on a night of such quality. There were plenty of fighters on show who look like they have the potential to go onto big things.

In typical, contrary hurtbusiness fashion- I pick:

Aidan Marron

Despite a shocking year results wise- he always comes to fight. Went out like a true champion and almost pulled off a shock sub win.
The kind of fighter who makes the sport what it is.