On Saturday night as several inches of snow fell on the capital, UCMMA managed to keep the winter blues at bay for those in attendance at the Troxy in London. The promotion’s first event of the year didn’t disappoint with a card of 14 spectacular fights that were peppered with knockouts, submissions and two title fights. UCMMA 26 has set the bar high in what is promising to be a great year ahead for MMA fans.

Luke Sines vs. Peter Irving (UK-1 Welterweight Title bout)

The main event of the evening was a UK-1 rules bout, contested with MMA gloves. The defending champion Luke Sines was originally scheduled to face Strikeforce brawler Paul Daley, who had to withdraw due to contractual obligations with the Californian promotion.

Despite being a veteran on the MMA circuit with 23 fights under his belt, Irving was seemingly stepping out of his comfort zone, making his stand-up debut against one of the country’s most promising welterweight kickboxers.

Sines was last spotted in action taking on Team Roughouse grappler Dean Amasinger, finishing off his opponent in the second round with a ferocious kick to the body.

An impressive performance see Peter Irving crowned the UK-1 welterweight champion and solidified his status as a formidable striker in the welterweight division.

Sines had his moments using his jab and combinations to keep the challenger at reach, but Irving was the aggressor, pushing forward and dictating the pace of the fight.

Irving appeared to do damage with a kick to the body mid-way through the first, pushing the champion back against the cage, where he was able to utilise his clinch game to good effect and unload with some heavy knees to his opponents body.

Sines started the second round off well, landing a push kick that was followed up with a quick 1-2 combination. It was in the clinch that Irving was finding the most success and he was able to back Sines up against the cage and apply the pressure.

It was a close fight going into the third and final round, Sines pressed the action landing again with a 1-2 combination followed by a head kick, but it was Irving’s ability to close the distance and out muscle the champion that decided the fight.

Possibly sensing that the fight was going to be close on the judges’ score cards, a bloodied up Sines engaged the challenger in a toe-to-toe brawl in the centre of the cage, but again Irving managed to close the distance. The fight ended with both fighters trading punches and knees in the clinch.

Official Result – Peter Irving wins by split-decision 29-28, 28-29, 29-28

Aurelijus Kerpe vs. Linton Vassell (UCMMA light-heavyweight title bout)

In the co-main event of the night Aurelijus Kerpe battled Linton Vassell for the vacant light-heavyweight title.

Kerpe was a last minute replacement for Przemyslaw Misiek Mysial, and if Vassell was concerned about out the lack of preparation for his new opponent, he certainly didn’t show it.

Vassell chased his opponent down immediately, firing off with a jab and taking Kerpe down to the ground, where he was able to take side control and then transition into the full-mount. Kerpe did a great job of controlling his opponent’s wrists and limiting the damage he sustained from the bottom. Vassell managed to posture up and attack the head with a barrage of heavy calculated blows. Kerpe bucked his hips in a desperate attempt to escape but gave up his arm in doing so. Vassell locked in the arm bar and Kerpe was forced to tap.

Linton Vassell is now the UCMMA light-heavyweight champion.

Official Result – Linton Vassell defeats Aurelijus Kerpe by Arm bar – Round 1 (3:16).

Spencer Hewitt vs. Cory Tait

In what was anticipated as a fight of the night contender, the fight didn’t go according to plan, at least not for top bantamweight prospect Cory Tait.

As the fighters engaged in the centre of the cage, Hewitt circled left before throwing a thunderous straight right that landed flush on Tait’s chin, sending him crashing to the canvas. Hewitt followed him to the ground throwing another right-hand bomb, but the referee had seen enough and called a halt to the contest after just 10 seconds.

Speaking in the cage after the fight, Hewitt, who was written off by many before the fight had even started, spoke of his spectacular upset victory: “I was scared to fight Cory. I thought, I’ve got to get him out here.”

Cory Tait will need to return to the draw board and analyse exactly what went wrong, whilst Spencer Hewitt has just made a serious statement to future contenders in the bantamweight division.

Official Result – Spencer Hewitt defeats Cory Tait via KO – Round 1 – (0:10)

Tomasz Czerwinski vs. Stav Economou

Top-ranked British heavyweight Stav Economou took on fellow behemoth Tomasz Czerwiniski in what promised to be an explosive clash of two of the UK’s largest heavyweights.

However, the fight didn’t quite live up to the hype – Economou came out of the blocks fast pushing Czerwinski back against the cage and took him down immediately. In side-control Economou started to unload with some online casino pokies heavy punches before separated the big Pole’s left arm and looking for a Kimura.

Then, unexpectedly, the referee stopped the fight claiming Czerwinski had tapped and declared Economou the winner by submission. Czerwinski was visibly upset with the decision, insisting that he hadn’t tapped and was instead placing his hand on his opponents back in an attempt to escape form the position.

A bemused crowd begin to boo when a video replay looked suspect and that the fight may have been stopped early. In light of the situation, the referee has the fighter’s safety in mind and I prefer to see an early stoppage than have a fighter’s health unnecessarily put at risk.

Official Result – Stav Economou defeats Tomasz Czerwinski via Key lock submission – Round 1 (1:41)

Ashleigh Grimshaw vs. Rae Edgar

Featherweight, Ashley Grimshaw, returned to the Troxy after a long absence and immediately showcased to the crowd that he intends on making a 2012 the best year of his career yet.

Grimshaw established his jab early, following up with combination punches. Edgar replied with a wild looping punch of his own, which Grimshaw ducked under and slammed his opponent to the mat. Briefly, Edgar did a good job of keeping his opponent in half-guard, but Grimshaw postured up and began to unleash some brutal ground and pound. Edgar managed to roll onto his front, but it’s wasn’t enough as Grimshaw rained down vicious blows that were finding their target each time. Edgar wasn’t able to defend himself and verbally submitted.

Official Result – Ashleigh Grimshaw defeats Rae Edgar by verbal submission – Round 1 (3:45)

Mohamad Ali vs. Iain Martell

In light heavyweight action fast rising prospect Iain Martell took on eleventh hour replacement Mohamad Ali.

To the surprise of many, Martell shot in for the takedown and forced his opponent on to his back. With little action forthcoming the referee stood them both up. Ali threw a left hook as both fighters engaged in the centre of the cage and, again, Martell took the fight to the ground. Ali looked to have a guillotine choke locked in, but Martell powered out. Martell gained side-control and almost had Ali in the crucifix position, but Ali did a good job of defending the attack. Ali looked to escape and Martell took his opponent’s back and sunk in a rear-naked choke, forcing Ali to tap.

Official Result – Iain Martell defeats Mohamad Ali via Rear-naked choke – Round 1 (4:25)

Other Results from UCMMA 26

Ben Callum vs. Luke Barnett

Luke Barnett Wins via Unanimous Decision 30-27, 30-27, 30-27

Ollie Beard vs. Chi Lewis Parry

Chi Lewis Parry Wins via TKO – Round 2 (1.00)

Andy Cona vs. Walter Gahadza

Walter Gahadza Wins via Armbar – Round 1 (3.27)

Miguel Bernard vs. Jason Radcliffe

Jason Radcliffe Wins by tap out due to strikes – Round 1 (0:45)

Sam Gilbert vs. Dean Bray

Dean Bray Wins via Unanimous Decision 30-27, 30-27, 30-27

Ben Dishman vs. Michael Page

Michael Page Wins via TKO – Round 1 (1.05)

Dan Welsh vs. Sean Carter

Sean Carter Wins via Rear Naked Choke – Round 3 (2.42)

Florian Calin vs. Stephen Stanley

Florian Calin Wins via Split Decision 29-28, 28-29, 29-28

Thanks to Adam Parrot | Katana MMA for the article & Jensen Taylor MMAMail for images.

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