UK MMA Awards

I've always maintained that getting positive recognition for your work is the biggest compliment. For the 2nd year running I have been nominated in the 'Best Commentator' category, which is amazing. All the others will be embarking on their respective self promotion campaigns, so why should I be any different!! So please support my cause so that I can put an award next to my Bronze swimming badge from 1988 and my 3rd place in go karting from Prague. Thanks so much #kissesforvotes ;0)

http://www.thefightlounge.co.uk/the-uk-mma-awards-2012/

#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

being SHOCKed aNd in AWE

Time for the next instalment of my life, cageside!  And who needs to jump on a plane when the calendar provides a show in Portsmouth and London in consecutive weeks!  First up, Shock n Awe 11.  I was honoured to be invited down to commentate this great South Coast show.  I obviously follow the UK scene closely and have been impressed by what the SnA team have delivered.  It’s run by Gareth Johnson and Brian Adams, who also own the Gym01 team.  I have gotten to know Brian (or Jedi Bri to his team) mostly through Cage Warriors and he’s a man that shares many of my principles regarding UK MMA and he’s hugely passionate about his gym and his show.  Looking at the card, no one can say that Gareth and Bri were paving an easy road for their fighters, in fact there were some incredibly tough tests ahead for their team.  So, on July 14^th I aquaplaned the motor down the M3 to get set for a 20-bout fight card.

I love meeting new people and as the ‘new guy’ I thoroughly enjoyed meeting all those involved at SnA.  Special mention to David Swann, Ricky Wright and Corin from Boom (production co) who all worked doubley hard on the day, pulling together to make the show a success.  Another person that made this ‘special’ for me was the one and only, Ben Cartlidge.  The man who I finally got to share a commentary booth with.  Despite arriving seconds before the 1^st fight due to the awful weather, Ben was his usual calm, collected self.  I have commentated and presented with a number of people over the years and there has to be some chemistry or what comes out of the speakers just doesn’t work- think Mark Lawrenson for the BBC covering the Euro 2012 football tournament.  I am yet to hear the finished product for the SnA show, but I had a ball working with Ben.  He is so full of knowledge and quick witted and I really hope that the fighters, production team and viewers feel that we enhanced the experience!

Those who follow this blog will know that this isn’t an event report, but I would like to say that the talent pool on display was DEEP!  Respect needs to be given to the promoters for putting on competitive bouts and also to the fighters and their coaches for accepting them.  We have a recent problem in the UK whereby certain fighters are being protected and fed easier opposition so that their records look flattering, which subsequently gets them on the radar of the big International shows and this is where they get found out.  This has to stop before fight records look so misleading that the international match-makers select fewer of our athletes.  Or, the fighter in question gets found out on paper and never gets those opportunities.  The MMA community is becoming more transparent, so hopefully this can be flushed out and intriguing fights like the SnA main event become more common.  Every fight delivered, but from memory I can give a quick reflection:

Davey Grant = future world beater

Alexei Roberts = emphatic

Karl Harrison = vicious

Luke Killick = scary

Paddy Moore = tough

Matt Hughes = star

Brett Caswell = technical

A very enjoyable night and further fuelling with a can of Monster I was back in the Shire within a couple of hours to be welcomed by a pickled wife and friends who were discussing the quality of reality TV shows TOWIE and Geordie Shore!  A few hours after that and I had my Cage Warriors head on as it was a countdown to the 10^th Anniversary of Cage Warriors in London!

Music to train to...

Whilst I have been trying to get myself back from countless injuries, I have found the following playlist helps keep my heart rate jacked at just the right time!!  Check it out!

Mobile phone rant number 2 and 3

TWO

The young people of today have found another use of mobile phones: they are mobile sound systems. If you really wanna annoy people, download the top ten 'grime' tracks (probably illegally, through one of those file sharing means), upload onto your mobile phone and whilst your waiting to get served your Big Mac meal at McDonalds, play it at full, tinny volume so that all the other hungry customers can hear that shizzle. When did this become socially acceptable? My tinnitus is bad enough without that angry music in street-speak shrieking out of some bad-boy's pocket. What’s wrong with headphones and an iPod? I've also noticed that the very same groups try to engage in conversation whilst that crap is spitting out of their phones. I blame the parents.

THREE

Mobile phones themselves are a essential part of today's lifestyle, though has anybody thought that the concept is also a little ill-mannered. By switching your mobile phone on you are giving someone, in fact anyone, the opportunity to climb into your pocket, car, onto your desk etc and shout ANSWER ME NOW. ANSWER ME. NOW! When someone contacts you, you could be in throws of passion with someone you love and some bastard on the other end of the phone is demanding your attention. That person wants you to stop the beautiful moment you are enjoying. Its possibly the moment that you sow your seed to bring about the birth of your child. They want you to stop and talk about bloody phone insurance. Yes you can press the silence button, but you have still had to break the rhythm. If it was on silent, it will probably be vibrating against the glass of water on the bedside table. If not then it will be flashing like an SOS signal "STOP SCREWING AND ANSWER ME!". Wrong, very wrong.  And what about those who aren’t satisfied with calling just the once and listening to “sorry I can’t come phone right now I'm having a liver transplant in a bid to save my life, but I'll get back to you asap". No, they call again, just in case that surgery finished ahead of schedule. Afterall, it is ringing!

Mobile phone rant number 1

I have a few issues with mobile phones.  OK, so we pretty much all own a mobile phone. They are no longer luxury items as there were in the 90s with the yuppies. I've had one since I was 17 and now kids of 7 are putting them on their Christmas lists. Old people have them too, I know this as my gran sent me an x-rated joke from hers only the other day! So now that we've established we all have mobiles, young and old, rich and poor, why is it that there's always someone on the train that has to let every other passenger know that he has a phone?? They're not exclusive, mate.  It’s not impressive anymore that you are communicating with someone that you cannot see or that possibly isn't in the same country. So have a little thought and whisper into the phone or shut the hell up.

Y'see, no one speaks into a mobile phone at a normal speech volume. It seems people forget all etiquette and force their conversations on other people. Take for example this situation: You are sat around a table with 6 friends and you are enjoying their company. You are discussing the finer points of why UK summer festivals are so damn expensive, then 2 fellas dressed in suits come flying through air, smash down into the middle of the table and talk over you about a marketing meeting in Birmingham next week and the fact they hope Claire will be there cos her assets are the best in the company. Would this annoy you? Yes it would, and why is that so different from some pleb forcing the same sentiments around carriage number 4 of the London St Pancras to Bedford? Its simple, tell them you'll phone them back. Don't tell the caller you are on a train and carry on regardless. This may in fact find you choking on your Blackberry Pearl after an annoyed passenger, who may share my moan, takes it upon themselves to silence you.

In Japan, it is socially irresponsible to make or take a call on public transport. If they do, because somebody has died or their mistress has just pissed on a stick and its turned blue, they whisper. More than this they cup their hand over their mouth and phone receiver and whisper. Nobody need know they were communicating...much better.

Dublin, Ireland

Cage Warriors 47 was always going to be massive; 2 title fights, 1 womens mma tournament fight as well as the usual top level match making. Wow! For this one, Mrs G was coming along too!  I have to say at this point that my wife is not an MMA fan.  She used to see me as her kind of Rocky, when I would roll home sporting all manner of bruising and swelling, but it all changed for reasons I wont go into right now.  It was therefore a pretty big thing.  As we were over in Dublin, she was going to pick up a travel guide and explore whatever it is ladies like to explore.  Unfortunately, we were staying in a hotel in the middle of nowhere and that put paid to that plan!

After arriving at the hotel, the usual madness set in as the weigh ins were now done and I had to interview the fighters for the VTs.  I actually really enjoy this part.  I would have pretty much interviewed all of these guys before and this gives me an insight into their responses.  There was a real variation of responses in these interviews; on the one hand you had Dave Hill dropping the 'f' bomb quite frequently and on the other David Bielkheden was pretty cagey.  Sitting down with Rosi Sexton was good fun though...she's such an intelligent person and really considers every responses and certainly will not be led- I really like that.

Show morning brought about my first Irish incident just before breakfast.  A couple of the crew advised me there was a short cut back to the main building through some bushes (we were quite bizarrely staying in shared houses a few minutes walk from the hotel).  With time of the essence I thought I'd use this short cut, but I wished I never did.  Y'see at 8am on showday I'm a little preoccupied and sensitive, so skidding on the dead corpse of a cat was not a great start.  The smell will stay with me for a very long time- nasssssty!  Despite this unfortunate incident I was able to hold down some food and get going on the voice overs for the VTs.

There are too many stand out points to this show, but I have to mention the 'commentary position'.  Josh and I have really struggled with the commentary set ups recently.  Overseas they have been a night mare and we were finally back in the neighbourhood where all would be perfect!  It was so good to see we had volume controls, commentary mics, ear pieces and an english-speaking sound man who had a good sense of humour (that helps in live TV!).  Things were going so well too until Cathal The Punisher Pendred started a take down from about 10m away and drove UFC vet- David Bielkheden, all the way across to our position which knocked one of the screens clean off the table!  After our very nice sound man fellow put us back together we were good to go.  The only thing  that could upset our table for technical goodies would be me knocking over a can of Monster or fidgeting so bad I could kick a cable out of a socket.  Well not quite.  What could also happen is that after winning the featherweight world title, Notorious Conor McGregor could be so overcome with emotion he could climb the cage wall just above where we are sat and free fall onto our commentary set up en-route to celebrate with his loyal following.  And, he did!  In fact I took a head shot which knocked my cans off my head and more frustrating; my valuable caffeine based energy drink was hugely depleted after being shared across the commentary mixer!  I wouldn't however change this moment for the world.  What a true expression of someone's feelings after they have achieved their piece of history.  And actually if Conor hadn't joined us in the commentary booth, I'm fairly confident  a few of his enthusiastic supporters would have tried to get in the cage, which might not have been so cool!  Congrats to Conor and DJ Linderman on their title wins, and a special mention has to go out to Aisling Daly, Rosi Sexton and Cathal Pendred who all made for an incredible night of action.

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!!!

Grey Kiev

End of February in Kiev and just a couple of days before my birthday.  I'm still recovering form the strong local beers that were taken on after the show, but I think I have clarity to write a few words:

So Kiev is grey. The sky was always grey, the buildings were grey and the people were miserable. Scary looking miserable. Worse than that was the breakfast!  CW match maker and Oracle of MMA, Ian Wikideania Dean warned everyone that the food was not great and he most definitely got that right with the brekkie.  I couldn't sleep so I was early to breakfast.  I thought I was really early as everything before me was most certainly dinner menu bites; curried stuff...everywhere and just stuff that my weak-ass stomach would not be able to deal with.  They did have some cereal and fruit, so my mind was made up.

Outside it was well below zero, but better than the -30 from the previous week. I had actually bought special boots (oh and I mean special, special looking), socks and thermal accessories. They weren't really necessary and I had thankfully kept all receipts. I had some good fun trying to get my tongue around the names on this card. I remember sitting in Comedy Paul's (show editor) hotel room trying to record the voice overs, but failing miserably. On the night it wasn't too bad, but trying to interview fighters via a translator who didn't understand ground and pound, submission or head kick in her mother tongue, made for a lengthy process. It wasn't an easy card to commentate either. I would never be disrespectful to a fighter as I feel it takes huge cahoonas to compete in MMA, but too many fighters just didn't want to engage. That left a fairly quiet crowd and Josh and I having to create some energy. The main card was a whole lot better and I think this is where i started my thing for Gym 01! James Brum and Phil Harris were fighting and were a joy to interview. Over and above that they are super talented and have become 2 of my favourite fighters in their respective divisions. Also on tour with them was Callum Jones who will be taking on my good friend Luke Dalmedo in a few weeks, so we had some fun discussing that one. The Gym 01 guys have a really good bond and that's alot to do with their coach Brian Adams who is a real entertainer.

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.