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Opinion & Analysis
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The Specialists
UK SCENE: Hathaway's next challenge is a Nightmare, UK-stacked card in Abu Dhabi, Unlucky Al Turk, TUF night for Dean, Bisping, Pickett
You should be careful what you wish for, because it may - just one day - come true.
Undefeated British Welterweight John Hathaway holds a professional MMA record of 12-0. Hathaway was last in action at 105 in November, dominating Paul Taylor and ultimately sending him down to 155.
That victory took the Brit to 3-0 in the UFC and was a very impressive performance. Next, is a huge step up in class. Hathaway will welcome Diego "Nightmare" Sanchez back to the welterweight division when they clash at UFC 114.
Sanchez is making his return to the 170 lb. division, having been comprehensively dismantled for four rounds before being stopped in the fifth by B.J. Penn.
The move back to Welterweight, in my opinion, is a very good one for Sanchez. His first two fights at Lightweight were extremely intense and entertaining to watch, but I have always felt that the cut has taken something out of him. This move back up could revitalise Sanchez again and see him make another run towards the top of the division.
Sanchez has already stated he is targeting rematches with Josh Koscheck and John Fitch. In order to even get close to any of the 170 elite, first he must overcome this talented Brit.
Hathaway is well over six feet tall, very strong, and has a good ground game. This is a huge test for him, but if he is a genuine contender in the making, then this is a test he will have to find a way to overcome. His performance against Paul Taylor was extremely one-sided. So much so that I found myself willing the referee to stop it, so Taylor need not take any more punishment.
I look forward to this one to see if Hathaway could be the next Brit to do big things in the sport.
BRITS HEAD TO ABU DAHBI
The first ever UFC open air event looks set for a real British flair. The 112 event in Abu Dhabi now has no fewer than four UK fighters on the card. Terry Etim will lead a hat-trick of Team Kaobon Lightweights as he takes on Raphael Don Anjos.
"Relentless" Paul Taylor will make his 155 debut on the same card, taking on John Gunderson. After following Paul Kelly to Team Kaobon, Taylor also decided to make the drop to 155 having been outmuscled for three long hard rounds against John Hathaway last November.
Speaking of Paul Kelly, the former Wolfslair member will look to bounce back from his defeat to Dennis Siver, by defeating Matt Veach.
It's not just members of Team Kaobon who are making the trip. Reports have stated that "Slick" Nick Osipczak of Team Rough House, will also star on the card, taking on Rick Story.
Osipczak spoke to MMATorch only last week and when asked if he wanted to fight in America next, Osipczak responded: "I'd rather fight in Abu Dhabi than the States." At the time I found that a strange thing to say but within a week of our interview rumours of this fight began to circulate. A ha!
GRACIE BY NAME.
British Heavyweight Mostapha Al Turk must be one of the unluckiest fighters in MMA today. Firstly, the former Cage Rage Champion was handed a debut showdown with Cheick Kongo.
Coming into this fight Kongo was a new man, having made the move to Wolfslair. Kongo delivered a top drawer performance earning himself a ground and pound victory.
Al Turk then made the trip to Cologne and welcomed Croatian legend Mirko Cro Cop, back to the UFC. Al Turk was holding his own until an accidental eye poke left him reeling as the Croatian came in for the kill.
Referee Dan Mirgliotta didn't see the incident and allowed the assault to go on eventually stepping in to call the fight to a halt.
When the opponent was announced for Al Turks third Octagon appearance I couldn't help but feel this guy was getting no help in his bid to get his first UFC win. Step forward the latest export from the legendary Gracie family - heavyweight, Rolles.
There are no easy fights when you are competing at this level, but as far as tough inductions go, this is up there with the best - or should I say the worst? The upside is that if Al Turk should defeat any one of these big names, then Al Turk himself would instantly be a more recognizable name.
With only days to spare, it was announced that Al Turk had been forced off the UFC 109 card due to visa issues and that Rolles Gracie would instead face Joey "The Mexecutioner" Beltram.
With only a few days to prepare, Beltram stepped up to the plate. After a strong opening two minutes, Gracie began to look slow and clumsy as he staggered around the Octagon. The second round was nothing short of embarrassing as the Jui Jitsu black belt rolled around on the floor exhausted.
At one point referee Herb Dean asked: "Do you want to fight?" An exhausted looking Gracie lay flat out and allowed his opponent to take his back and attack until Herb Dean stepped in to award Beltram a TKO victory.
Al Turk must have been watching from the UK, with his head in his hands. I have no doubt that Al Turk would have destroyed Rolles Gracie. Most likely a first round knockout if this showing is anything to go by. Instead, The Mexecutioner" will take the plaudits for this one.
Beltram deserves credit for this victory. He came in with days to spare and walked this one. Perhaps the right thing to do would be to pair The Mexecutioner with Al Turk for a showdown sometime in the spring.
TUF NIGHT FOR DEAN
Dean Amasinger from Team UK of The Ultimate Fighter came up short in his bid to capture the UCMMA Welterweight Title from Alberto Mina.
It was clear early on that Mina wanted to take the fight to the ground with Amasinger showing good defence and superior strength.
The first and second rounds were relatively close with Amasinger struggling to really impose his will on Mina. As the fight went into the third Amasinger looked like he wanted to end the fight in this round but was taken down by a single leg. Mina landed some strikes from the mount position before working into the rear naked choke that ended the fight mid-way through the round.
I interviewed Dean Amasinger in last weeks "UK Scene" and he was one of the nicest people you could ever wish to meet. He also has a strong belief in himself and a very positive outlook.
As a member of Team Rough House he has the people around him to help him back to winning ways. Hardy, Daley, Winner and the rest of the team have all had to come back from defeat in recent years. All of them have rebounded strongly onto the winning trail and so will Amasinger.
Also on the card was the battle of UK MMA Legends as Mark Epstein and Mark Weir went head to head for the Middleweight crown. Epstein, who once faced Michael Bisping, was making the drop to 185 to take on Weir but came up short as he dropped a unanimous decision with Weir remaining the UCMMA Middleweight Champion.
"Resurrection" will air this Wednesday at 10.30pm on Sky Sports 3.
OTHER NEWS IN BRIEF
-Next Up for UCMMA is "Adrenaline Rush" on March 27 live at Troxy. The event will once again be broadcast, midweek, on Sky Sports 3.
-Michael Bisping has been training with Rampage Jackson ahead of his clash with MMA legend Wanderlei Silva in Australia.
-Brad "One Punch" Pickett has upped his assault on the WEC Bantamweight division. Pickett is set to relocate to the States in March, to train full time at A.T.T with Mike Brown.
COMING UP INSIDE THE OCTAGON
If the reports are to be believed and all fighters stay injury free then we have a phenomenal roster of fights coming up for UK Fighters. Here's what's coming up over the coming months.
MICHAEL BISPING vs. WANDERLEI SILVA
DAN HARDY vs. GEORGES ST PIERRE
ANDRE WINNER vs. COLE MILLER
ROSS PEARSON vs. DENNIS SIVER
TERRY ETIM vs. RAPHAEL DOS ANJOS
PAUL KELLY vs. MATT VEACH
PAUL TAYLOR vs. JOHN GUNDERSON
NICK OSIPCZAK vs. RICK STORY
PAUL DALEY vs. JOSH KOSCHECK
JOHN HATHAWAY vs. DIEGO SANCHEZ
JAMES WILKS vs. PETER SOBOTTA
A great run of fights involving our fighters starting with Bisping in a couple of weeks time. Fight Night 21 will showcase the skills of the Lightweight TUF finalists Ross Pearson and Andre Winner. The card in Abu Dhabi is looking stacked and the addition of the four Brits is great news.
Dan Hardy has his shot at GSP's crown on March 27 while Paul Daley will face Josh Koscheck at UFC 113.
With all that in mind, the future has never looked brighter for UK MMA.....Until next time.
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Chris Park is the MMATorch UK Specialist. Please email any comments to Chris at mmatorchpark@gmail.com or look us up at http://www.facebook.com/mmatorchuk, our new MMATorch Facebook home for UK fans!
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