The UFC® announced today that UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: POIRIER vs. DUFFY, which sold out in a record-breaking 60 seconds will be airing on free to view channels in Ireland and UK.
With the huge success of last year’s event, the UFC have returned to the 3 Arena in Dublin on October 24th with six Irish stars consisting off Joseph Duffy, Norman Parke, Paddy Holohan, Neil Seery, Cathal Pendred and Aisling Daly.
Fans in Ireland can catch action from the main card live on free to air channels Setanta Ireland and 3e, while in the UK the event will be broadcast on a delay on Pick TV. It will be broadcast in its entirety live on UFC FIGHT PASS.
“The demand for the UFC’s return to the 3Arena in Dublin has been unprecedented and we wanted to ensure all our fans would have the opportunity to see the action live,” UFC Vice President and General Manager of EMEA James Elliot said: “By providing access across three fantastic platforms, Setanta Sports, 3e and UFC FIGHT PASS, we are ensuring maximum exposure of what will be a unmissable event for fight fans.”
Programming will start at 8:00 p.m. on 3e with UFC Breakdown followed by all of the action live from 9:00 p.m. on Setanta Ireland and 3e in Ireland and on a delay at 11:00pm on Pick TV in the UK.
3e is available on 5 on Saorview, Sky Channel 105 and UPC 106
Setanta Ireland is available on Sky Channel 423 and Virgin 401
PICK TV is available on Sky Channel 152
Click here for details on UFC Fight Pass and on how to start your free 7-day trial.
The United Kingdom Mixed Martial Arts Federation (UKMMAF) has announced the UK Amateur MMA team for the 2015 IMMAF European Championships of Amateur MMA.
Try-outs had taken place over the past few months and welcomed competitors from all over the UK.
The 2015 IMMAF European Open Championships will take place in Birmingham (UK) from 19th – 22nd November 2015 at the Walsall Sports Centre at the University of Wolverhampton.
The last two years running has seen the UK team medalled at the IMMAF World Championships of Amateur MMA in Las Vegas (USA). The recent 2015 World Championships saw the UK earn its first gold medal as Josh Ellis titled in the Men’s Lightweight division. Middleweight James Duckett earned silver, while Jake Constantinou scored bronze at Welterweight.
With the European Championships able to permit double entries per weight class, it now opens up opportunities for more competitors on the squad. Additionally, not all of the 2015 World Championships team will be returning for the European event, including most notably IMMAF Lightweight World Champion Josh Ellis, due to injury.
For the first time the UKMMAF will be entering competitors into the Men’s Flyweight, Men’s Heavyweight and Women’s Flyweight categories.
Returning athletes to the UK team are James Duckett (2015 IMMAF World Championships silver medallist), Carl Burton (2014 IMMAF World Championships bronze medallist; 2015 IMMAF World Championships participant), Aidan James and Amy O’Mara (2015 IMMAF World Championships participants). Also re-entering is Ross Gallagher, who was selected to represent the UK for this year’s World Championships but was forcedto withdraw due to injury.
Below are the full UK Amateur MMA team for the 2015 IMMAF European Open Championships:
UKMMAF Amateur MMA Team – 2015 IMMAF European Open Championships*
For more information about the United Kingdom Mixed Martial Arts Federation (UKMMAF) visit:http://www.ukmmaf.org.uk/
For more information about the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) visit: http://www.immaf.org/
Follow the @UKMMAFed and @IMMAFed on Twitter
*Please note that due to the current unregulated status of the sport in the UK, no centralised or official fight records system exists in the country. The stated Amateur records include only the fights that the UKMMAF has been able to verify. However, the fighters may have had more fights that have not been recorded publicly and that it has not been possible to verify at this stage. All fight information is to be submitted to Sherdog and MMA.tv. The UKMMAF will continue to update the competitors’ records as further fights can be verified.
Full schedule of events announced for UFC Hangout including attendance of UFC fighters and Octagon Girls
With just over two weeks to go until the sell-out event in Dublin UFC® has confirmed that Murray’s Bar on O’Connell Street will become the official “UFC hangout” for fans.
The official guest fighters travelling to Dublin, which include number two ranked welterweight Rory MacDonald, top ten ranked featherweight Max Holloway, top ten women’s bantamweight Jessica Eye, will be on hand to meet fans and take part in a number of unmissable activities along with Octagon Girls Carly Baker and Kristie Pearson.
From Wednesday 21st October to Friday 23rd October UFC will host a number of free fan events at Murray’s Bar with tickets available via Eventbrite. Events include a meet and greet, UFC Pub Quiz and Official Pre-Party. Plus, on Friday afternoon between 4pm – 4.30pm fans will be able to watch a live stream of the official weigh-ins.
Below is a full schedule of fan activities taking place at the Official UFC Hangout at Murray’s Bar during UFC Dublin fight week;
MEET & GREET GUEST FIGHTERS
When: Wednesday 21st October
Time: 18.30 – 20.30.
Location: Murray’s Bar: 33-34 O’Connell Street Upper, Dublin 1, Ireland.
Description: Informal Meet and greet session with guest fighters with dedicated hand wrapping station and photo opportunities.
LIVE STREAMING OF THE OFFICIAL WEIGH INS – UFC DUBLIN
When: Friday 23rd October
Time: 16.00 – 16.30
Location: Murray’s Bar: 33-34 O’Connell Street Upper, Dublin 1, Ireland.
Description: Live streaming of the official weighs ins.
Open to General public
OFFICIAL PRE-PARTY FOR UFC DUBLIN IN ASSOCIATION WITH MONSTER ENERGY
When: Friday 23rd October
Time: 19.30 – 10.30
Location: Murray’s Bar: 33-34 O’Connell Street Upper, Dublin 1, Ireland
Description: Official party to celebrate UFC Dublin. Monster Energy will be providing a DJ, merchandise and the Monster Mad girls (fire breathing etc). Guest fighters and UFC Octagon girls Carly Baker and Kristie Pearson will be in attendance.
Pannie Kianzad will be making her second appearance for the all female promotion Invicta Fighting Championships later tonight (12th September) in Kansas City, as the challenger for the Bantamweight Championship Title, which is currently held by newly crowned and long time veteran of WMMA Tonya Evinger.
Born in Iran, 23-year-old Pannie Kianzad and her family moved to Sweden when she was young. Having three older siblings (1 sister and 2 brothers) whom all used to train in Taekwondo and would often compete in competitions.
“My sister competed in taekwondo when she was younger, although she doesn’t want to admit it, but there are the movies (laughs). My older brother is a black belt in taekwondo and he don’t talk about it either – no-one wants to admit it, and he was really good, he had the early Jean-Claude Van Damme thing going on. Persian style, with the long, dark hair (laughs), whilst my other brother did MMA then moved over to boxing.”
Deciding not to waste anytime herself, Pannie started boxing at the of 13 and also competing, week in, week out all the way up until she was 18 years old when she decided boxing was not for her anymore.
“When I turned 18 I was really sick of boxing. It became a burden instead of having fun and training. There was a lot of things going on and I did not get the right support from my trainer, so when I was 18 I decided I was not going to do this anymore.”
After deciding boxing was no longer for herself, Pannie came across Mats Nilsson who convinced her to train in MMA where he was currently training at Kaisho Martial Arts and subsequently moved to Rumble Sports, Copenhagen early 2012 as it also happened to be close to her house. Pannie packed all her stuff from the boxing gym and left, she has not stepped foot back into the boxing gym to this day.
Having no prior MMA experience Pannie decided to take part in grappling tournaments as she had lost her love her striking and was adamant this was not something she was going to go back to. This only lasted four months before Pannie took part in her first shootfighting tournament championships for where she brought home a Silver and then the Gold the following year.
Overall, Pannie was competing in BJJ, Thai, Submission Wrestling, K1 and Shootfighting every other week to gain her transition into MMA as there were no females around at the time for her to have a ‘amateur’ MMA career as such with, for the 2 years she was gaining her experience.
“I couldn’t get any amateur fights in Scandinavia with punches on the ground, there was nothing, but once I went Pro then there were the females coming into the Pro scene who wanted to do the sport. Although technically I have no ‘amateur’ MMA record I do class the 2 years of my transition fights as my amateur record.”
Making her Pro debut on April 14th 2012 in Estonia and winning, continuing to win five straight fights, Pannie was then signed to UK and European promotion Cage Warriors which is where she found her new manager Graham Boylan and is now part of the Intensiti Fight Management Team. Along with her new fight nickname ‘Sexy Scramble’.
Pannie faced Megan Van Houtum at Cage Warriors 71 in a catchweight bout of 140 lbs having previously fought her MMA career at 145 lbs Featherweight, for which she won in the third round via TKO; taking no time she called out Agnieska Niedzwiedz for the vacant Bantamweight Title. Although that fight was scheduled Niedzwiedz later pulled out of the fight injured and was replaced by Eeva Siiskonen (3-1) on Cage Warriors 74, 15th November at The Copper Box Arena London.
The title fight went the distance with Pannie Kianzad gaining a Unanimous Decision and becoming Cage Warriors Female Bantamweight Title Holder in the process.
“I’m not really proud of that fight really just because it wasnt my fight, I didn’t feel it. I felt sharp and everything, I just didn’t feel strong and I felt I could finish her but I didn’t. I was really disappointed with that fight and it actually really bugged me for a long time, so much so I was like I really need to get another fight and not have this feeling.”
Having the longest lay off in her MMA career due to a hiatus that her former promotion Cage Warriors was on, Pannie states she took to eating lots of ‘ice-cream’.
“First of all I was getting fat (as if that is possible – I say) I was growing a third arse. When it disappeared my coach was like – ‘its happened, its gone’. I got so fat because I was so depressed, then I got a bit injured in between so I was even more depressed but then I got the Invicta contract so it was time to get lean again (laughs). I was hanging out with my family more as they are very supportive in what I do and my dad is so supportive he loves MMA, he loves me competing. He saw how miserable I was in boxing and was a bit scared when I first started doing MMA and competing and was like oh ‘she’s gonna get so sad when she loses.”
He told me when I went to the TUF 18 tryout if you’re going to do this do it 100% don’t do it half way just go for it. After I didn’t make it to TUF I just kept on working then caught a few good fights.”
Being signed to all female promotion Invicta FC in March this year, Pannie made her promotional debut against Jessica-Rose Clark on July 9th at Invicta FC 13 in Las Vegas, which was also her first fight on American soil, winning via Unanimous Decision, Pannie was well and truly welcomed to America when her fight went viral on social media after using a unique move phrased by veteran fighter, match-maker and commentator for Invicta Julie Kedzie as the ‘ Butt-Bomb’.
Pannie goes on to describe how she is transferring her body from one position to more dominant position and the move is quite rightly so legal; whilst being in reverse mount and how hard it is to actually push over your opponent’s chest. Although she does admit that she does end up in this position a lot in training and wonders herself how she gets there?!
Pannie doing the ‘Butt Bomb (C) MMAnytt
Talking of signature moves for which I’m sure Pannie will now be fully associated with the ‘Butt Bomb’ we talk about her other love – Pro Wrestling and Rikishi as his signature move was also a form of a ‘Butt Bomb’ but she assures me that move is all hers or maybe watching some footage of UFC fighter Mark Hunt! 😉
If Pannie was not doing MMA she would be a Pro wrestler called ‘Persian Fury’ decked out in full Techno clothing. Neon Green with Orange Fur to go with her Purple hair and of course her love of Buffalo Boots. Playing the part of a good girl gone bad 😉
Back to the task in hand. Tonight September 12th, Invicta FC 14 Pannie will again be in America but this time for a crack at the Bantamweight Title against her toughest opponent to date in that of veteran Tonya Evinger.
“Of course were gonna go to war. I think were gonna show two different styles and that’s going to go well together. It’s going to be tricky because she is very unorthodox and I’m not I think our different styles will match up really good. I’m on enemy turf. I’m going into Kansas City. Its going to be fun. I like being the underdog and I like going to someone elses turf to fight. I like to be the underdog as I like to surprise people. Its like when I went to Russia I had no chance of winning on paper but totally fucked her up! Then I was like, I like this, I like being the under dog, I like coming in there – Fuck things up then walk away 🙂
Being only the second fight for the promotion some may argue that it was a quick turn-around for Pannie yet alone being offered a title shot in the mix.
“I thought they would give it to Raquel Pa’aluhi first but when they asked me I was like YEAH.”
I don’t have time to be polite anymore. I’m working 2 jobs here (Mon – Fri in a school and weekends in Security) and also training here full-time. I’m not wasting anybodies time here. It’s like a lot of those girls just do training and they don’t do anything else. I’m not waiting for anything, I’m working. I’m working myself to the top. I’m not waiting to give somebody else a shot just because she was maybe inline first, but if she was maybe inline she would have got that chance.”
Having already won Cage Warriors Gold but never the chance to defend that title the Invicta Fighting Championships Gold is a hard task to follow especially with such a seasoned veteran in Tonya Evinger (16-5).
“Tonya is already a much more already higher level of opponent, both on paper and as a fighter. She has a lot of experience behind her and in the people she has fought. I think that would put me in line of being one of the greatest female fighters at the 135 lb division outside of the UFC (as im not in the UFC). Its called a title fight but it’s just a name, it’s still just a fight, it’s still just an opponent in front of you. If I would have faced Tonya in a non title fight it would still be the same work, it would still be the same effort, it would still be the same fight. The ‘Title fight’ name is just making it sound more dangerous.”
You can watch Invicta FC 14 live on UFC Fight Pass on September 12th or the early hours of September 13th if you’re watching from the UK.
Pannie would like to say a thank you to the following:
Rumble Sports, her family, her team, Fit4Fight, Dirty Rebel, Massage Templet, MMAnytt, K.O.Store, Revolutionary Fitness Sweden, Intensiti Fight Managment, Tip-a-Fighter, and all of her fans from all around the world.
You can also follow Pannie on the following social media sites:
Undefeated welterweights Darren Till and Nicolas Dalby will square off on October 24th after being added to the UFC Fight Night: Poirier Vs Duffy card in Dublin, where someone’s ‘0’ has gotta go.
Britains Darren Till is originally from Liverpool, England, who holds a professional unbeaten record of 13-0-0 and is coming off a TKO victory over Wendell Oliveria at UFC Fight Night: CONDIT vs ALVES in May of this year.
Denmark’s Ian Dalby, who holds a professional unbeaten record of 14-0-0 and was also in action at UFC FIGHT NIGHT: CONDIT vs ALVESwhere he gained a decision victory over ElizeuZaleski Dos Santos.
UFC FIGHT NIGHT: POIRIER vs. DUFFY marks the UFC’s return to Dublin, following a sold out event, headlined by “The Notorious” Conor McGregor, in July 2014. With tickets to the 2014 event selling out in under an hour, fans are advised to secure their tickets to this year’s event at the earliest opportunity.
This year’s fight card will be headlined by a five round lightweight bout between Ireland’s Joseph “Irish” Duffy and top 15 ranked Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier.
Also featuring on the fight card are Dublin’s Cathal Pendred, who faces English newcomer Tom Breese, Northern Ireland’s “Stormin” Norman Parke, who meets Sweden’s Reza “Mad Dog” Madadi, England’s Scott Askham who faces off against Poland’s Krzysztof Jotkoand South African Garreth “Soliderboy” McLellan who will face AmericanBubba “The Fighting Texas Aggie” Bush.
Tickets for UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: POIRIER vs. DUFFY will go on sale to UFC FIGHT CLUB®members at 10:00 a.m. IST on Wednesday, September 2, with Sun+ subscribers also getting priority access from 12:00 p.m. IST on Wednesday.
Tickets will become available to UFC Newsletter subscribers on Friday, September 4 at 10:00 a.m. IST with general sale taking place from 12:00 p.m. IST.
In order to avoid disappointment, fans are encouraged to register their interest via this LINK for UFC FIGHT NIGHT: POIRIER vs. DUFFY to receive information and reminders about the ticket sale.
RAGED UK MMA staged their second event at the M.E.C.A last night, Saturday August 1st following on from a great sell-out crowd of their first event back in March earlier this year.
Here are the quick results:
12 – Josh Collins Def Phil Wells Via GnP (Punches) 3 mins 34 seconds Round Two
11 – Alex Brunnen Def Brad Warchorn Via Unanimous Decision
10 – Craig Rawlins Def Dale Thompson Via Unanimous Decision
9 –Chris Ogden Def Jay Tovee Via Arm Bar 4 mins 22 Seconds Round Two
8 – Tom Enstone Def Danny Nash Via Unanimous Decision
7 – Guy Lewis Def Billy Glossop Via RNC 2 mins 27 seconds Round One
6 – Dave ‘NEMO’ Llewellyn Def Lee Curry Via KO 1 min 23 Seconds Round One
5 –Dean Hart Def Oliver Harry Campbell Via RNC 0.56 seconds Round One
4 – Shane Mansfield Def Tyler Thomas Via Standing guillotine 3 mins 56 secs RoundOne
3 – Nico Fabri Def Chris Esworthy Via GnP (Punches) 0.56 seconds Round One
2 – Lawrence Jordan Tracey Def Jay Thomas Via Unanimous Decision
1 –Kevin Rodzeiwicz Def Wes Thomas 2 mins 22 secs Via GnP (Punches) RoundOne
Guy Lewis will now face Alex Brunnen on Raged UK MMA 3 for the Lighweight Title
Josh Collins will now face Chris Ogden on Raged UK MMA 3 for the Welterweight Title
UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey is set to make her next title defense against Bethe Correia in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The UFC 190 co-main is a light heavyweight rematch between PRIDE legends Mauricio Rua and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira.
Before we get to the fights ahead we have to make sure they’re all on course to make weight., so onto the scales first it is.
Here are the full results:
Ronda Rousey (135 lbs) vs. Bethe Correia (134 lbs)
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (206 lbs) vs. Mauricio Rua (206 lbs)
Fernando Bruno (155 lbs) vs. Glaico Franca (156 lbs) – TUF Brazil 4 LightweightFinal
Dileno Lopes (135 lbs) vs. Reginaldo Vieira (135 lbs) – TUF Brazil 4 BantamweightFinal
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (240) lbs vs. Stefan Struve (265 lbs)
Soa Palelei (264 lbs) vs. Antonio Silva (265 lbs)
Jessica Aguilar (116 lbs) vs. Claudia Gadelha (116 lbs)
Preliminary Card
Neil Magny (171 lbs) vs. Demian Maia (171 lbs)
Rafael Cavalcante (205 lbs) vs. Patrick Cummins (206 lbs)
Warlley Alves (171 lbs) vs. Nordine Taleb (171 lbs)
Iuri Alcantara (136 lbs) vs. Leandro Issa (136 lbs)
Preliminary Card Fight Pass
Clint Hester (186.7 lbs*) vs. Vitor Miranda (186 lbs) – *Hester has 1 hour to lose .7 lbs
Brad Watchorn [5-6] will be stepping into the cage this Saturday, August 1st at Raged UK MMA 2 in Swindon, at the M.E.C.A, where he will be going into enemy territory and facing hometown favourite Alex Brunnen [3-2].
The 25-year-old from Bracknell, Berkshire is no stranger to entering ‘enemy territory’ so to speak, being a former Grenadier Guard in the Military has taught Brad that stepping into enemy territory is to be doing something you love and is all part and parcel of your job.
Finding a love for Boxing aged 8, Brad decided that is where he would first start his journey into what has now evolved into MMA, but it was not a straight path of just MMA that interested Brad.
“I started boxing when I was about 8 years old down at the local boxing gym and as I was going through my teenage years I started to get into a lot of street fights, I mean a lot, to a point where I knew I needed to go and focus on something. So I found Ian Hawkins gym and I started to train there”
Since the first time he could lace up his own Ice Skates he had always had an interest in Ice Hockey, so much so, Brad made the Professional Ice Hockey Team at the age of 15 playing for the Bracknell Bees which also enabled him to travel to Canada for 2 years to play over there and gain even further experience.
“I’ve been skating since as long as I can remember from around 5 years old. I worked my way up from the Junior set-up in Bracknell to the Pro team at 15. Ice Hockey players are of a special, different kind of breed. It’s a fast paced contact sport with a close-knit ‘family team’ vibe. From the road trips to hanging out together you are all part of a team which even extends itself to the infamous ice hockey ‘fights’ on the rink.”
Upon leaving the Military Brad now juggles working full-time as a Roofer, competing in professional MMA and also professional Ice Hockey, let alone all the training involved for both sports which leaves little to no time for any down time.
“It’s not too bad when the hockey season is on its off-season but when the season is on there is not a lot of spare time. But I always make time and spend time with my daughter no matter what. Family time is important to me.”
Fighting out of Fight Science Gym in Aldershot owned by legendary MMA fighter Nick ‘Headhunter’ Chapman and occasional visits to The Bat Cave for sessions with Brendan Flannigan, Brad is looking forward to Saturday nights event with Alex Brunnen.
“There’s been a bit of banter on social media, mainly by Alex with quite a few private messages I’ve had, which in fairness I find him hilarious. He’s a rangy fighter like myself but come Saturday I’m going to stand and bang with him”
From going from ‘The Warrior’ to ‘Bellator’ which is latin for Warrior, a name given to him by veteran fighter Ian Hawkins, come Saturday night with an army full of ‘Watchorn’ fans making their way down to Swindon one thing is for sure this is going to be one exciting, fast paced, explosive fight.
Brad would like to thank the following people:
The Fight Connection, Fight Science, Paul Dash
Tickets available from all fighters, The Forum, The Khyber, DREAMLOUNGE, Sailor’s grave or www.swindontickets.co.uk £20 Standard £40 V.I.P
RAGED UK MMA will be staging their second event at the M.E.C.A on Saturday August 1st following on from a great sell-out crowd of their first event back in March earlier this year.
With MMA coming back to Swindon, RAGED UK MMA has been able to benefit directly from securing the second show which is able to boast twelve fights, including four title eliminator bouts.
Gary Turland RAGED UK MMA Promoter (c) Point 5 Photography
The event is headlined by Swindon’s Phil Wells, training out of SVT/Scorpion Gym who faces Josh Collins from Huddersfield, training out of AVT under the tutelage of Ex-UFC Fighter Danny Mitchell.
The Co-Main event is Swindon’s own Alex Brunnen, training out of SVT/Scorpion who faces Bracknell’s Brad Watchorn who also happens to be a professional Ice Hockey Player aswell, he fights our of the Fight Science Gym in Aldershot.
Here is the remainder of the card and running order:
10 – Dale Thompson Vs. Craig Rawlins 3×3 mins Amateur
9 – Jay Tovee Vs. Chris Ogden 5×3 mins PRO
8 – Danny Nash Vs. Tom Enstone 3×3 mins Amateur
7 – Billy Glossop Vs. Guy Lewis 3×5 mins Pro
INTERVAL & RAFFLE
6 – Lee Curry Vs. Dave ‘NEMO’ Llewellyn 3×5 mins pro
5 – Oliver Harry Campbell Vs. Dean Hart 3×3 mins Amateur
4 – Tyler Thomas Vs. Shane Mansfield 3×5 mins Pro
3 – Chris Esworthy Vs. Nico Fabri 3×3 mins Amateur
2 – Jay Thomas Vs. Lawrence Jordan Tracey 3×3 min Amateur
1 – Wes Thomas Vs. Kevin Rodzeiwicz 3×3 mins Amateur
Tickets available from all fighters, The Forum, The Khyber, DREAMLOUNGE, Sailor’s grave or www.swindontickets.co.uk £20 0r £40 V.I.P
There maybe some limited tickets available on the day but could be subject to a surcharge.
It appears ever since that is was announced a few hours ago that Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson will be facing Jimi Manuwa next on UFC 191, they have taken to good old twitter for a nice, funny exchange of words.
Five Rounds with Emma 
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