#cwfc48

This show was going to be different for me and for the viewers, as a new production company was responsible for the broadcast.  As presenter and commentator, I can’t deny that I was a little nervous, after all producers have their own ideas and I needed to make sure I met expectations.  Those nerves however quickly turned to excitement as the new producer, Ian, went out of his way to communicate with me his new vision and way of delivering the show.  Couple this with the new Cage Warriors roaming team of Brad Wharton and Tommy Lakes and this show was set to be stacked with the usual action…and lots more! Whilst preparing research I had also managed to help my good friend and coach, Max (Denniston Sutherland) get onto the Cage Warriors bill.  How cool would this be; commentating one of your coach’s fights? I was to later learn it can also make you feel quite sick! check out my interview with Max http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5VxF7Rzg_o

On the Saturday I felt unusually relaxed before a CW show.  This was surprising given the new dynamics etc, but I was happy for it.  Being too nervous is energy sapping and when the main event is after 10pm, there’s no room for slacking!  I had managed to get hold of most of the fighters and I particularly enjoyed new introductions like Hardiman, Pariente and Danny Roberts…he signs off his emails Hot Choc- gotta love that!  I’ve had quite a few conversations this year about getting across the individual fighter’s message and building characters.  I heard an interview with the WWE’s Jim Ross which spoke about how they managed to become mainstream and a lot is spoken about entertainment.  When you add to this the real people behind the fighter, Joe Public can relate, follow and support.  Cage Warriors recognise this and are trying to get this across.  I think Kris Edwards is a really good example of someone with bags of talent and potential, but also is a young dad working a shift job trying to realise his dream.  Some will relate to that and those that perhaps don’t can respect that.

There was definitely an air of anticipation around CWFC48.  The fight card was top drawer (of course), it was a remarkable anniversary celebration and a new production team.  It made you feel like something really big was about to happen.  I had selected an appropriate bow tie and jacket, so all that as left was provide informative commentary!  After a quick interview with Brad and Tommy it was time to go to work.  It was a great show and although we had pretty significant technical problems the show looked great.  Oh the joys of live TV!  I managed to hold it together for Max’s fight (just) although I lost a pen whilst flailing my arms and also frightened a cameraman (yes I did, I can be scary y’know…in an unpredictable rather than intimidating sort of way).  It was a really good experience working with a new crew and I look forward to getting to know them better in the future.

Now here’s something properly significant… #cwfc48 was the top trend in the UK! Above the UFC!! On a Saturday!!! This is such good news for the sport, let alone the organisation.  Its evidence that the sport is growing and that UK MMA is in some way moving in the right direction.  Certainly in terms of physical promotion and establishing media links, we are ticking a lot of the boxes.  I reserve judgement about the way some shows go about their promotion, but that’s an aside to the point.  MMA is out there, being watched, heard and read.  Now it’s there, we need to make sure its positive, coherent and representing positively.

Keep stopping by over the next month as I’m hoping to bring some new stuff to this blog including more videos and my new injury blog which will detail my journey back to fitness using an American technique advocated by the awesome, Rener Gracie.

Photos by me and Dolly Clew.  Poster from Cage Warriors.  Check out the following clips from Brad and Tommy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21yZESCplgg&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vfrnf9W36Ow&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2zvdyrCWg0&feature=relmfu

Going home to Bahrain

Travelling to Bahrain came as a real surprise.  Cage Warriors were originally scheduled to go to Qatar if I remember rightly, which looked very cool, but this changed and Manama was set. I had previously hinted to the CW man in the Middle East that we should go to Bahrain as its where my gran is from.  In fact she only recently passed away and visiting her homeland really did stir some emotions.  Much like most of the CW trips I would be there for 2 nights and returning home so there was no time to visit what family we have left.  That aside, it was very cool (and surreal) to stay in my gran’s country.  Actually, cool is not the word…its very hot…too hot.  I think it was 45 degree the day before we landed and we were filming outside in the high 30s.  There was also this incredible sand storm that resembled fog in the UK, but dry and, well…hot!

The first day I was there we were out filming the VTs and I did the interviewing.  I had spoken and met a few of the guys before.  One guy I had chatted to via the various social media was Jay Mortimore, but I’d never had the pleasure of meeting him.  What a top man!  We travelled back to the UK together and had a bit of a giggle with his coach and all round good guy, Dave Matthews.  I’ll get a little ahead of myself and mention Jay’s unfortunate loss to ‘Mothers Milk’.  Now I’ve come under criticism both from inside and outside the CW camp for using this term, but it’s what my coach Dave Lee uses to describe the smothering technique Jay suffered.  After having recently watched an Erik Paulson documentary, I can see it’s a technique he uses, but I’m not sure if he describes it the same way.  Anywho, it caused a little stir and to Jay I’m sorry for that as I understand he took some stick.

Another standout point for me was my various conversations with Jim Alers and his coach Hank Porcher.  Firstly, Jim is a bad-ass MMA fighter with the best personality.  The kind of personality that I love to see in this sport and one that I think we need to take the sport mainstream.  He’s a primary school teacher with a big smile and a kids sense of fashion- on his way to the venue to fight, he dressed in a comedy hat, Simpsons pyjamas and possible some comfy bedtime footwear.  He was so respectful and humble taking time out for anyone that spoke with him whilst also being just as interested in other people.  His coach Hank is a crazy, alligator hunting, wrestling expert who very kindly sent me a full description of the various forms of US wrestling and the different levels e.g. all American, div 1 etc (I’ll post that for all to see).  It’s meeting guys like this that really encourages me.

I now feel bad for not mentioning all the other fighters- shout out to Big Daddy Mike Ling who is a gent outside the cage and a warriors inside; Gael Grimaud and Anthony Rea with whom I exercised my French language skills; Matteus Lahdesmaki who tried his very best with limited English (crazy little dude…wish we spoke the same language as I reckon he’s a real laugh) and of course Jesse JT Money.

Now, it wasn’t so much myself who suffered an incident, but more those around me.  To protect identities, I will not name anyone apart from JT Money and Mitch the producer.  After the show, things got a little messy.  Due to the flight home being early hours, it’s not worth the risk in going to sleep in case you don’t hear the alarm, so that’s my excuse to have a beer!  About 10 of us ended up in a very suspect bar, with some of us being very drunk.  I don’t really get ‘drunk’, so watching the shenanigans was entertaining.  JT Money tried his best with his poetry and general tomfoolery, whilst another unnamed party pulled a very sly ol’ trick to make a swift exit.  Beyond this someone missed the plane home even after I persuaded them to stick with me in the lobby so to not miss the coach, and someone else was never really physically present even on the plane home after JT (no) Money had cleared them out and clearly aided their over-indulgence.  I never saw Producer Mitch return and hope he’s ok!!!

Operation February: Part 2

Part 2 of 'Operation February' was a little closer to home in London.  With 1 week to prepare however, that week was fraught.  Amateur, semi pro or professional, I will always try my best to research each individual as they are just that.  Everyone makes a sacrifice to fight so I make it my responsibility to learn about it and try to portray it in the commentary or show opener.  That make for about 30 fighters to connect with as well as watching fights, writing the script for the top of the show and also the script for all the VTs that are broadcast for the main card.  I'll make no secret that I check out the Big Shows in the US and get an idea of tempo and content to help write these.  At about 10pm after the weigh ins we set up in the corner of the MMA Clinic where we recorded them.

I always love the London show.  It gives me the chance to invite some friends along and I normally get to commentate a team mates fight.  This time Shah Hussain was up against the MMA Clinic's Jacek Toczydlowski.  Shah never takes an easy fight and it was tough night for him as Jacek out wrestled him and took a points victory.

I wasn't feeling great before this show...a huge argument with the wife and no bow tie around my neck wasn't the best preparation and it wasn't my finest hour.  The show however, was again, excellent.  It had knock outs, high level submissions and text book wrestling...what more could you ask for?!

I was really pleased I dropped into the after party where I had a drink with the SBG guys following Conor McGregor's win and also some of the finest UKMMA people, where I was advised about the game, some of the people and the pitfalls of the sport- and to that person i am grateful.

Part 1 of February 2012

2012 was always going to be an interesting year as 2011 was pretty damn special;  I got married and had the most incredible day with the most amazing woman which culminated with a dreamy honeymoon; I had helped create two new business under our existing business umbrella; I had survived 6 days and nights in Vegas; planning permission had been granted on our house extension and Cage Warriors announced 17 shows in 12 months.  Oh, and they were going to be aired on Sky Sports as well as other international networks!  There was little time to consider 'how?' and it was time to get my head down!

February was a pretty good benchmark as we had 3 shows, 2 abroad so it was going to a tight process.  The good thing was the continuity- as a presenter and commentator who has  only really been active in the last few years (my earlier attempts during my young 20s aside), camera time and establishing your style is key.  Whats more, developing the relationship with whomever you are working alongside is also important.  Despite the fact that these exploits are currently part-time for me, I want to deliver something that looks seasoned.  Having plenty of practice will help me get there, but there are obstacles!!!

My first challenge for our opening show in 2012 came to light when I checked into my room in Beirut, Lebanon.  It was a fine hotel and I actually had my own room, which saved my usual room-mate, Josh Palmer, from listening to my pre-show playlist (we have slightly different tastes) and slightly frantic behaviour on show day.  After throwing my (over-sized) suitcase on to the bed, it became clear I had lost the key to the new lock.  This was then followed by having to search out the most sturdy tool I could find to break said lock.  That sturdy tool came in the shape of a butter knife!  So with tired eyes and a carpenter's precision I took to sawing the padlock off my case so that I could unzip the case free the suit and bow tie that awaited selection.  Needless to say, there was a small injury, sweat, expletives and a broken zip!

Meeting the various fighters on this show was very exciting; guys like Tommy Speer, Matts Nilsson, Victor Cheng and Kyle Watson.  Special mention to Tommy Speer's brother who was pure entertainment and also to Domingos Mestre for being one of the nicest guys with some great stories.  One of the thigns I love about meeting people is learnging about their story of how they came to be here and Domingos had a great one.