On Sunday 12th June 2005, Whitchurch Sports Centre was set for a busy night as hundreds of fans descended on the venue to witness Angrrr Management present 'The Battle of the Bronx'. They were not to be disappointed as the event showcased some awesome fighters from the UK and abroad, all of them looking to put on a good display.


(Fans queued into the car park to see the start of the show.)

On hand to introduce the fighters was none other than Ian 'The Machine' Freeman, who seemed to find his newfound mainstream fame a double-edged sword as a few mouthy members of the crowd teased him at the start of the show. But not to be outdone, Ian made a few gently threatening remarks before proceeding to do an excellent job of introducing the show.


(MC Ian 'The Maaaaaaachine' Freeman)

The ring-girls also did a brilliant job of boosting the already vibrant atmosphere...


(It seemed like a late night Pantene advert at times!)

Adam Stanton vs. Nathan Williams

The first fight on the card was a welterweight semi-professional contest, but to my mind there was no difference between this fight and the pro bouts in terms of skill and determination. The opening round saw an absolute war in the clinch - neither man would give ground as they traded knees, uppercuts and body shots. Both men ate a considerable amount of punishment; Adam looked to land the heavier of the knees, while Nathan banged in some gruesome inside low kicks.


(A very impressive, blood-soaked, display of determination from both men)

Towards the end of the round a takedown from Adam led to a fast-paced battle on the ground as both fighters worked to improve their position and strike. Adam initially took the mount, before Nathan recovered his guard. Adam managed to pass to sidemount but a reversal soon put him in his half-guard.


(Nathan works diligently to create an opening in Adam's half guard)

The second round began as the first, with the fighters working out of the clinch and landing bombs. Adam was caught flush with a knee, causing blood to stream from his nose. To his credit, he soon came back with a vicious three-punch combination that rocked Nathan's head back.


(Adam shots into a half-guillotine attempt)

When the fight hit the floor, Nathan seemed to take control of his tiring opponent, at one stage, Nathan managed to execute a backwards roll from his guard in an attempt to regain his feet. Adam, though looking tired, regained control moments later by reversing Nathan from his guard and landing a number of sharp punches to the body.

The fight was justifiably ruled a majority draw.

Rinat Kalamov (Russia) vs. Andy Bridges (N.I.)

In true Russian sporting tradition, Rinat came out to his national anthem, which was a stroke of entertainment genius. To start the fight, Andy flew across the cage and clinched with the Russian, who wasted no time in picking him up and slamming him down near the cage, landing in sidemount.


(Andy, moments before the fight)

Immediately Rinat worked to put his knee on Andy's belly, but he was held up as Andy trapped his arm. For Rinat, two horrific knees to the body secured the release of his arm, but, to escape the position, Andy exploded back tohis feet.


(Rinat works hard to secure his position as Andy tries to find guard)

Sinking low to attempt a takedown, Andy left his neck vulnerable and was distraught to then be caught in a guillotine by his opponent. Rinat wins via submission to a guillotine.

Greg Loughran (N.I.) vs. Tenkei Oda (Japan)

Tenkei kept the crowd moving with some quality entrance music of his own, a bit of energetic Japanese rock! The fighters came out and traded punches, neither seemed to land decisively, but Tenkei began to edge ahead with a couple of painful looking leg kicks.


(Tenkei starts to get the upper hand in the striking)

Greg then showed Tenkei he could kick too by throwing a wild leaping kick, before severely wobbling his opponent with a chopping blow to the head. Tenkei stumbled across the cage, but after clinching, was able to put Greg on the floor and achieve side mount.


(Greg defends as Tenkei tries to work his ground n pound)

Greg recovered his guard, only for Tenkei to stand up in an attempt to pass, all the while looking for openings to strike down with bodyshots.


(Greg goes for the Kimura)

After attempting a guillotine, Greg then worked for a kimura from his half guard, but just as he seemed to be applying some pressure, Tenkei broke out of his grip and spun round beautifully to defend the kimura by countering with a straight armbar. With nowhere for his arm to go, Greg was forced to tap. Tenkei wins via submission to a straight armbar.

Scott McGinty vs. Mark Leonard (N.I.)

To begin the fight, Scott looked the stronger of the two fighters, but Mark looked to be the more refined striker as he landed some excellent leg kicks and looked to thai clinch Scott's head whenever the opportunity arose. To his credit, Scott landed a powerful right hand to the body and came very close to connecting with a couple of bombs.


(Scott, on the right, looked the more powerful of the two)

Scott then applied a headlock, exposing his back, but amazingly, it looked that the tactic might pay off as he fell forwards to the floor, bouncing Mark's head off the floor. No doubt dazed, Mark worked to achieve top position, only to be bullied into his guard. From there, Mark immediately moved to a high guard and caught Scott in a triangle. Mark wins via submission to a triangle.

In a welcome addition to the show, some practitioners of Philippine stick fighting demonstrated their crazy art to the astonishment of most of the crowd. As if smashing each other in the belly when padded up isn't harsh enough, two of the competitors took off all protective equipment except their helmets and gloves to have a no rules fight! It was awe-inspiring and gory in equal measure as the sticks smashed into the body and forearms of both fighters.


(Tough sport!)

Henning Svendsen (Norway) vs. Simon Boulter

From the start it was clear that Hennric was looking to land a huge, fight-ending punch as he surged forward at Simon throwing absolute bombs. Simon did well to fend off the initial attack.


(Hennric looked far more aggressive from the start.)

After again closing the distance, Hennric briefly put Simon on the floor, but stood back to allow him to regain his feet. Once his opponent was standing Hennric launched himself forward, disrupting the guard with a wide left hook to then land the perfect straight right hand.


(Hennric is congratulated by his headlining team mate Jakob Lovstad)

Simon dropped and, worryingly, was out cold for a moment, only to make a full recovery. Hennric wins by Knock Out.


(Simon comes to as the crowd acknowledges his performance and recovery)

Tom Haddock (N.I.) vs. Di Williams (Wales)

In the sixth bout of the night, Di wasted no time taking the fight to the floor by executing a single leg take down. Working past his opponent's guard, Di twice achieved mount position only to be reversed by Tom into his own guard.


(Di picks Tom up for the slam)

When Tom brought the fight back to a standing clinch, Di again put him on the floor, this time with a well-executed slam. Di then landed a couple of knees to the body and attempted a keylock, all it would seem, as a set up to again take mount position.


(Di punishes Tom from the mount)

Once securely in the mount, Di sat up at will to land shots on his helpless opponent. One shot in particular, right down the middle, hurt Tom causing him to turn away from the punches and expose his back.


(Tom falls prey to the rear naked choke)

Di sank his hooks and a rear naked choke, only for the hooter to signal the end of the round. On inspecting the damage to Tom's face the doctor decided he was in no position to continue and called a halt to the fight between rounds.


(Tom applauds the winner as Di celebrates)

Dave 'Speedy' Elliot vs. Kyo Nakao (Japan)

Kyo came out looking to strike and landed two heavy low kicks within the opening moments of the first round.


(Both fighters looked very focused going into the fight)

Dave then closed the distance and held Kyo against the cage. Kyo would not stand for being pressurized and responded by putting in knees to Dave's legs and catching him with an elbow.


(Dave puts Kyo up against the cage.)

Dave clearly wanted to take the fight to the floor and pulled guard to immediately attempt a triangle. Kyo did a good job of resisting the attack and worked his way clear of the attempt by throwing a series of left hammerfists.


(Very slick on the ground, Dave goes for an armbar)

Dave continued to apply pressure by attempting an armbar, which totally destabilized Kyo and gave him a few seriously awkward moments. Kyo patiently maneuvered, eventually punching his way out of trouble.


(Once in sidemount, Dave took a lot of punishment)

As the strikes rained down, Kyo eventually settled in side mount to be able to land his shots most effectively. Dave was caught flush in the face and covered up as Kyo continued the assault, prompting Grant Waterman to step in to stop the fight. Kyo wins via referee stoppage.


(Kyo in victory)

Paul 'Hands of Stone' Jenkins (Wales) vs. Henrique Santana (Brazil)

Henrique looked a lot more comfortable at welterweight than he had done fighting as a middleweight earlier this year for Cage Rage...


(Both men needed a win going into the fight)

The fighter from Brazil also looked more comfortable on his feet, throwing low and middle kicks, before inevitably shooting in to work his excellent ground game. Taking Paul down into side mount, Henrique worked for knee-on-belly prompting Paul to throw his hips out to maintain the distance and attain half-guard and a chance to punch away at Santana's ribs.


(Henrique steps in to throw the left middle kick)

Henrique, however, passed the guard beautifully to achieve the mount. After consolidating his position Henrique sat up to punch, but Paul had been patiently anticipating the move and rolled the second he abandoned his base.


(Henrique in mount position)

Henrique seized on this as an opportunity to take Paul's back, he wouldn't have though, and worked his way back to standing. Henrique, however, would not be denied and laced his arm through to take control on Jenkins's shoulder.


(Henrique takes Paul's back, looking for the choke)

Turning him, the Brazilian took the back fight to the ground and immediately secured his hooks in on Paul's back before tapping him out with a rear naked choke. Henrique wins via submission to rear naked choke.


(Santana jubilant in victory)

Jakob Sverre Lovstad (Norway) vs. Rod Moore (N.I.)

For the main event the 93Kg champion of Finn Fight was flown in to face Rod Moore from Northern Ireland's Dog Pitt Team.


(Both fighters opted not to go eye-to-eye)

Rod started well with a right low kick, but a double leg takedown from Jakob put him flat on his back as the Norwegian moved to side mount. Rod did well to regain half-guard, but Jakob was unrelenting as he worked hard to improve position, until he took full mount. Once comfortable, Jakob sat up high to pound his Irish opponent.


(In goes a brutal elbow from Jakob)

He gave the crowd a glimpse of his Finn Fight Vale Tudo style by aggressively smashing in a right elbow to add to the stream of nasty punches that were taking their toll on Rod.


(Grant Waterman steps in to check on the cut)

Before long, it was clear that Rod had suffered quite a nasty cut above his eyebrow. Unfortunately, after an inspection from the doctor, it was deemed that his injury was too severe to continue.


(Jakob is hoisted up in celebration)

Jakob wins by doctor stoppage due to a cut.


(Jakob outside the cage after the fight)