Once again, the home team cleaned up. Sor Thanikul's Thai Boxing squad went unbeaten with Mick Cortos scoring a 2nd round TKO, Mick Terrel a first round KO, and Gary Rowley winning via decision.
Unfortunately things didn't go right on the night for Big Sid, but we're all proud, well done for getting that first one out the way, next time you'll have it.
Mark Platts showed his technique and fitness again with a unanimous decision win over Shamsul 'Black Magic' Haque, with some excellent transitions, going for subs and sweeps right throughout the fight. Excellent technical match.
Rob Mills stormed to another 1st rd. KO, dropping Mac McCaughey of Shotai Kai with the first flurry, inviting him back to his feet only to knock him back to the canvas. The ref stepped in, to Rob's disappointment, once again giving his cornermen nothing to do. I might not even bother going next time.
Simon Gould took apart CCA's Martin Mckie with a combination of heavy handed boxing and aggressive Judo to land him an impressive knockout in the 2nd Round.
Well done guys, once again we showed the fact, we are the North-East's number 1 for Muay Thai and MMA.

Fight Superstore

If any of you fight fashion victims are planning on getting stuff over t'internet, go to fightsuperstore.co.uk
Thanks for the excellent gear.

We are the champions

Newcastle's no.1 for Muay Thai and MMA. Best team, best trainer. You can't argue with the results.

Left to right : Abdul Mohammed, Bryan Moore, Peter Irving, Richie Knox, Hassan Muradi

Geordie Top Team

Double whammy! I stopped Kevin Reed in the second with the Mata Leao, the only sub I know, making me S+S British Champ. Rob 'Robocop' Mills TKO'd the previously undefeated Dan Kennedy in the first to take fight of the night.
The support was massive from the Sor Thanikul/Knuckledraggers team, my colleagues, friends, family, everybody. Thanks very much to everybody who showed up to support, and called, texted or e-mailed to wish me luck and congratulate me. There was too many to answer, so please take this as a blanket thankyou, I appreciate every one. You don't get many times in your life like that, I'm thankful for it.
Thanks to everyone who kept the faith throughout the injury layoff and kept my spirits high with their own efforts in the gym and in the ring.
Well done Rob, now do you believe?

Grease me up woman!

Mark Platts, AKA Groundskeeper Willie, and AKA British Kickboxing champion for that matter, made his MMA debut last Sunday at Cage Gladiators - Gladiator School feeder show. He took on the hometown kid Jay McGuinness, one of Jason Tan's next generation jiu-jitsu fighters. Mark took it all the way to the score cards, fending of stacks of attacks from McGuinness guard to come out with a majority decision for McGuinness. One of the judges and many others marked the bout a draw, and Craig, myself and Yves who were in attendance, considered the fight as resounding success in terms of Mark's transition from kickboxing to MMA, and proved once again that he's a true Sor Thanikul fighter - quit is not in his vocabulary. Awesome work Mark, you're Coca-Cola, the real thing.

Irving vs. Doski - 28th October

I'm fighting Lee Doski for his S+S 77kg British Title at the Fed in Gateshead on Sunday 28th October. Don't miss it. Call me for a ticket.

Craig Jose is fighting the thai at POS 3 on the same day, so it'll be a massive weekend for the gym.

Sorry guys, after long running negligence on the part of Orange, I've finally been reconnected to the modern world by our saviours, British Telecom. So, normal service will resume shortly. I just play catch up with a couple of fights you may have missed.

Strike or Submit 3

Richie Knox battled it out with Doncaster lad Aiden Pulver. After knocking him down with the first jab thrown , Richie chased him to the mat looking to guillotine against the fence. After a good takedown and good ground control Richie got over zealous with his bodyshots and started to throw to the head. After both fighters threw some telling punches and leg kicks, Richie took him down but once again went to the head and was DQ'd. Next time he'll be fighting pro.

War in Workington

Bryan Moore represented the Knuckledraggers against a very hard, very big Lithuanian international. Bryan executed the gameplan perfectly in the first, putting on a clinic of G'N'P and cage control, shutting his opponent out of the fight completely. Unfortunately the second didn't go quite the same and after the lithuanian escaped from the mat after Bryan's first takedown of rd.2, he was caught in the range of exchanges, unable to effectively trade with the bigger, rangier man, and was felled by some huge powerful punches. Bad result, but a masterful performance from the North-East's Randy Couture, Bryan Moore.

Viddy well my brothers, Ultraviolence!

British Champion Craig Jose @ Power of Scotland Muay Thai 8-man tournament -

We are No.1! All others are No.2....or lower!

#define KILL_HUMAN(h) (free(h); (h) = NULL;)
#define KILL_ALL_HUMANS(list_of_humans) \ { \ list *p, *next = NULL; \ \ for(p = list_of_all_humans; p; p = next) { \ next = p->next; \ KILL_HUMAN(p); \ }


Get this peoples, no losses so far in '07, from both the Knuckledraggers in Vale Tudo, or the Sor Thanikul Muay Thai team. 2 Draws and 3 wins in M.M.A. and 3 draws and 9 wins in Muay Thai.
Rock on.

Double whammy!

The Knuckledraggers went 2 for 2 today at Willie Scott's Cage Kombat.

Rob Mills took on a very strong Enzo Parente, and wasted no time taking the Italian/Scotsman to the mat, persisting with the double, passing, mounting and switching off for his trademark Robocana armlock.

Photos courtesy of Peter Falkous/Fighters only mag

Desperate Dan went to war with another Alba Dornadair representative, Liam Holborn. After a to and fro battle of takedowns, mounts, reversals, leglocks, slams and armbars, Dan locked up a guillotine and got the tap close to the end of the first. Dan had a real test from a very well matched opponent, and proved his mettle, showing the only quality that is demanded from the Byker lads - heart.

Photos courtesy of Peter Falkous/Fighters only mag

Two first round submissions, two entertaining and technical performances, we couldn't have asked for more from you. You done yourselves and the gym proud, well done lads. You're now both Bona Fide, purely rock cage fighters. Use these credentials to impress birds.

Pain and Glory

For those of you that couldn't be arsed to go and see Craig in the biggest British event of the year, here's how it went down. Mahy 'Hardhand' Cruz lived up to his name, catching Craig cold with some big, big shots. Just when it looked like it might go completely South, Craig switched into Terminator mode and dished out a classic beating for the 2nd and 3rd rounds. Just when I thought it impossible for Craig to exceed his previous efforts, he goes and puts in this performance. 'Quit' is not in the mans vocabulary, I don't think he would even know how if he wanted to. Amazing, inspirational stuff.
Unfortunately the early digs from Cruz took their toll, and the Doctor refused to let Craig go through to the semi-final. Obviously disappointing, but hardly a disaster, as Craig remains on a long run of victories and can only have got more people excited about seeing him fight next time.
Being there, with the whole arena filled with chants of 'Jose!, Jose!, Jose!' for the duration of the fight, was another priceless experience that was such an honour to be part of. If your voice was not among them then hang your head in shame, because Craig is the one thats always there when anyone of us fights.

Fightzone

Keon fought his heart out in his Semi-Pro debut, that wound up being an absolute war against a much improved Afsul Miah of Fighting Fit. Keon shot countless takedowns, and when the fight did make it to the floor his ground skills dominated, but thanks to slack ropes and unfavourable reffing he was never really able to use his jiu-jitsu. Several of his shots speared Afsul through the ropes, or were restarted on the feet as the sprawl sent them under the bottom rope. The fight went the distance and was declared a draw. Keon showed loads of skill, tenacity and heart; that one hard fought draw is a result to be proud of, worth way more than ten easy wins.
You really proved yourself, I'm really proud of you young man.

Big Weekend - Sunday

In the Year of Darkness, 2007, the Sor Thanikul gym devised the ultimate plan. They would reshape the Future by busting some heads. The plan required something that felt no pity. No pain. No fear. Something unstoppable. They created 'THE JOSENATOR'

Sunday is the big one - the K1 8 man. Craigs first opponent is Spaniard Mahy Cruz - Hasta la vista, baby!