UK Scene - Park
PARK: Live perspective of UFC on Fuel 5 "Struve vs. Miocic"
Sep 29, 2012 - 9:50:50 PM PARK: Live perspective of UFC on Fuel 5 "Struve vs. Miocic"

DISCUSS ALL THIS IN OUR NEW MMATORCH FORUM

...OH, ONE MORE THING - PLEASE BOOKMARK US & VISIT DAILY!

By: Chris Park, MMATorch UK Specialist

MMATorch's U.K. Specialist Chris Park was live at the Capital FM Arena today for UFC on Fuel 5 in Nottingham, England. He sent in his in-person thoughts on the event as it transpired, so below you'll find Park's random thoughts take on the card as it took place.

Robert Peralta vs. Jason Young

--The Capital FM Arena is bouncing, not quite full yet but the arrival of Jason Young whips the place into frenzy.

--How to silence a home crowd? Do what Robert Peralta just did and spark the home competitor out cold.

--Brutal! And while John Anik is interviewing Peralta - Young is still out. Nasty looking.

--Young is ok, he touched gloves with Peralta and is walking - unassisted - back to the dressing room.

Gunnar Nelson vs. DaMarques Johnson

--This place is going nuts for Nelson. Giving away a lot of weight here.

--That rear naked choke has just set a bomb off in here. Amazing debut for Nelson.

--2 fights, 2 minutes, 2 finishes. Looks like I was right about this card. Ben thought I was being a bit excited when I said it will be the best fight-card  we have ever had out of the UFC. Oh well, time will tell.

Tom Watson vs. Brad Tavares

--Tom Watson has been on the UK circuit since I was watching Hulk Hogan an Ultimate Warrior battle it out. Yet tonight is his first UFC bout. Still better late than never, and his old foe Alex Reid is here to cheer him on, which is good to see I guess. Gotta be a little bit if envy there right? Surely not all good will and all that?

--Watson is popular! No doubt! A lot of domestic fans here tonight. More than usual and a large chunk are here for him.

--Haha very good! Tavares is sporting a Kong mask.

--Why do UK fans find groin strikes so funny? No sympathy for the poor guy

--My chair is literally vibrating from the chants of "Watson, Watson"

--Wow 3 fights in and still waiting for a home win.

--Surely Maguire and Hathaway will gives us one? Hey it could be a draw?

Andy Ogle vs. Akira Corassani

--Any Ogle up now. The TUF contestant is very popular. Lives four miles from my mums house which is bizarre. When I first got into this thing no one knew what it was.

--Crowd loving Ogle. It's like a little Ross Pearson from this angle. Interviewed Pearson earlier by the way. Man he is pissed at George Sotiropolous.

--This girl with the legs, seriously. She shouldn't be allowed to walk around here like that. I've got a fight I'm trying to focus on here.

--At the end of the second Ogle lands a flurry only to be floored a split second after the horn sounds - this lot don't like that.

--As the horn sounds to end the fight the crowd go nuts for him. He spent the majority of that round landing strikes from the top, the flurry of elbows looked nasty.

--Will we have our first home win of the night? Not the best fight so far, quite messy, but in a UFC debut all that matters is the win. This guy is already a fan favourite as he whips the fans into frenzy just before Bruce Buffer announces the split decision against him. Some heavy booing right now.

--That was a tough one to score; you can only assume rounds 1 and 2 went to Akira. I definitely gave Akira the first and round two was close but I did side with Ogle. It's no robbery by any means but we are still waiting for our first home win. Jimi Manuwa perhaps? Looks a good bet. Up next.

Jimi Manuwa vs. Kyle Kingsbury

--Jimi Manuwa is a big guy at 205. If I came home and caught him in bed with my wife, I'd wanna be angry but I'd more likely ask him what he would like for breakfast in the morning.

--Kyle Kingsbury is the Anchorman! Kingsbury is even bigger. If Manuwa keeps this standing then it's his. On the floor? I'm no so hopeful.

--I have just watched one man holding an inflatable banana start clapping then stomping and slowly he had one side if the arena joining in with him

--Kingsbury is a punch and kick bag here. I don't know how he is standing.

--At last we have a home win. Doctor stops Kingsbury in his corner. He showed amazing heart to keep pushing forward but his left eye looks pretty messed up and there was no sign that round three would be any different.

--Wow his eye is swollen shut. As the fans react to his eye on the big screen he blows a kiss to the camera and that got the crowd on his side. Big smile, even in defeat.

--It didn't start too well for Manuwa as Kinsbury got it to the ground but once they were back on their feet boy did Manuwa land some. Head kicks, knees, solid jabs I don't know how Kingsbury made it out of there standing.

Che Mills vs. Duane Ludwig

--Biggest cheer of the bight so far is Dan Hardy's video clip at the top of the show. Good undercard. Two split decisions and three finishes. No too shabby for me.

--We are live. 10,000 join in with Buffers opening line.

--Duane Bang Ludwig vs. Che Mills is the opener for the main card and it surely won't go past a round will it? He who lands first and hardest - wins. Right? Put Mills on his back and he's yours. However I have a feeling Ludwig will want to play tag.

--Bizarre: after spending half the round in Ludwig's guard they are back on their feet and after Mills tosses Ludwig to the ground, the American appeared to ask Mills to stop, Referee steps in and it's over.

--It looks like he twisted or even blew out his knee. Either way he knew he had to stop. It's an won for Mills but as the fight hadn't got going it does nothing for him other than put him into the win column.

--It's bad for Ludwig though, it's hard to see, but he looks to be leaving in a wheelchair.

John Hathaway vs. John Maguire

--Unusual choice for the UFC to pit two young Brits against each other. Maguire is some character and this could be the fight he needs to take him into the top 15. The crowd seem to be more in favour of Maguire as the fighters walk in.

--I genuinely have no idea how this one plays out. Hathaway has used his stand up more recently and may go down that route.

--Wow that was nit what I expected. Quite literally a turn off. I was watching the fight but thinking about what time I have to be back to take my son to the Zoo tomorrow.

--Huge size advantage for Hathaway. Maguire didn't even manage a proper take down until late on the third but by then was too late. Easily a 30-27 for Hathaway but of the worst kind. I felt like i was watching them in their gym.

Paul Sass vs. Matt Wiman

--This is just the test that Sass needs. If he is the real deal then he needs to overcome the likes of Wiman before he faces the elite.

--Sass is a huge lightweight. Or is Wiman small? Maybe it's a bit if both. Whatever. Sass is much bigger.

--The Nottingham Arena is in a state of shock. Sass was looking very strong but Wiman caught him in a couple d triangle attempts. That would have been ironic. He then got him with an armbar and Sass tapped. Wow.

--Fair play to Wiman and he then went straight over to Sass - presumably to give him his props. Wiman very emotional in his pos fight and the crowd here got right behind him. UK fans are the best. They will boo you to deafness just for accepting a fight against a Brit but then take you to their hearts as soon as it's done.

--Still lacking that boost in here I feel. Can Brad Pickett Deliver? Or Dan Hardy?

Brad Pickett vs. Yves Jabouin

--Brad Pickett makes his 1960's East London influenced entrance to the joy of this partisan crowd. There's an uneasy sense in here. This crowd need something to cheer - and quick.

--Huge cheer for Pickett. Possibly the biggest of the night so far. BOOM!! Pickett knocks out Jabouin with an uppercut, two more right hands to be certain and it's over. Pickett jumps up onto the cage and the arena is deafening.

--Just what the doctor ordered for both this crowd and also to help Pickett erase his last home fight from his memory. That was Brutal. I don't think I have seen Pickett finish someone like that since before his WEC days. Well, he has done it tonight and the celebration was pretty amusing too. That went down very well.

Dan Hardy vs. Amir Sadollah

--Just the sight of Dan Hardy on the screen gets this lot going. Hardy has a lot to thank Brad Pickett for as this crowd are up for it again. Sadollah is booed heavily and is wearing red shorts? Hmmmm.

--Hardy's music begins and every single person is on their feet. Wow this a rock concert. It's nice to see Hardy coming in off of a win and hopefully that will continue here.

--Chants of "Hardy, Hardy, Hardy."

--Hardy's shorts are primarily black - like his Mohawk - with only a little red. More chants of Hardy. Can't wait to see him and Buffer stare down. More boos as Amir is introduced.

--Biggest cheer I have experienced for Hardy. More calm looking Hardy. Buffer usually pushes his buttons

--That was a big performance from Hardy. In front of his hometown crowd and he puts on one of his beat ever performances. Dominated Sadollah leaving him a bloody mess.

--That's 6-4 now for Hardy in the UFC, and when you consider that two of those losses are to Carlos Condit and Georges St. Pierre suddenly things don't look to bad for The Outlaw.

--The takedowns were good, takedown defence also looked much improved. There were some savage left hooks, none quite accurate enough to earn the finish but a tremendous effort from Hardy.

Stefan Struve vs. Stipe Miocic

--That was a great heavyweight brawl. Miocic doing well early keeping away from Struve. Definitely need to keep away from those submissions.

--Second round, though, that's what heavyweight is about. Both men rocked, then one man finished. Perfect main event and perfect cap off to the evening.

Final Thoughts

--Biggest highlights here were easily the Brad Pickett and the Dan Hardy's performance. That is the 4th Hardy fight i have been to; it was the smallest crowd of the four but the best reaction. Just pure love for "The Outlaw" here in Nottingham. I am interested to see who the UFC matches him up against next. Perhaps Demian Maia could pose an intriguing challenge.