Some of the country’s most promising mixed martial artists entered the gladiatorial arena once again as they battled it out at Bolton’s Reebok stadium for Full Contact Contender 10.
Martial arts fans witnessed a spectacle of technique and heart as one of the UK’s biggest amateur MMA events put on a show to remember for its landmark tenth event.
The night was a mixture of exciting prospects in the amateur ranks, including three title fights, and headed up with four professional fights.
Rochdale’s Martin Stapleton, fighting out of Team Kaobon, took time out from competing in America’s Bellator promotion to top the FCC bill, facing off against Bulgaria’s Stanislav Enchev.
Stapleton showed his class by quickly disposing of the Bulgarian, defeating him via standing guillotine just two minutes into the first round.
“I didn’t really go in with a game-plan, what’s the point? I just went in there to win and that’s what I did,” Stapleton told MM.
“Preparations were fantastic, probably the best they’ve ever been.
“I changed some things in my life, I don’t really want to go into them as they’re a bit personal, but I made the changes and it really showed.
“I’m fighting again in Bellator later this year, and from then it’s onwards and upwards. I want to be the champion. Simple.”
In the co-main event, Manchester’s Kane Mousah, fighting out of Rough House, also dispatched of his Bulgarian opponent, Martin Stoyanov by TKO in the first round.
After coming out on top in a grappling exchange, Mousah rained down some heavy blows while his opponent lay helplessly on his back.
“I was a little tentative at first, which is not really like me, but we knew he liked the takedown so I was being cautious,” Mousah said.
“We had a bit of a tussle there, but once I got on top of him I knew it was game over.”
Liverpool’s Aaron Aby bounced back from his points loss at FCC9, defeating Scott Gregory three minutes into the first-round by arm bar.
Aby, who has cystic fibrosis, used the event to try to raise £1000 for Toby’s Fund, in aid of a one year-old boy who also suffers from cystic fibrosis.
“Toby needs the money for equipment to help extend his life, something he has no control over,“ Aby told MM.
“I spoke to his parents who told me his story and thought I would use tonight to try and help,”
The winning team last night! 4 wins out of 4 for @the_mma_academy at @fcc! #winners #fightingtobreathe pic.twitter.com/rpQixbgnpo
— aaron aby (@aaronabymma) June 22, 2014
“Getting the win tonight was also brilliant, after my last fight, which was extremely disappointing. I’ve just got to push on now and keep racking up the wins.”
On the amateur’s, Reece Ackers and Morgan Starkey bravely fought it out in a brutal battle which was undoubtedly the best battle of the entire evening.
The pair fought like warriors for five rounds, with Ackers taking a unanimous decision victory to become the new FCC Amateur Featherweight champion.
The crowd gave the two warriors a thunderous reception at the fight’s end. Incredibly, Ackers revealed he fought almost the entire fight with a broken hand.
“I broke it during camp. We were hoping it wasn’t going to give me any trouble but in round one I hit and I just hear ‘crack’, and I knew I’d broke it,” Ackers said.
“I tried to mix it up with some kicks and just fought on. I hit him with a big shot in round four, and he just stood there like it was nothing.
“He’s got some chin on him; he’s a real tough guy.”
Manchester’s Ashley ‘the Beast’ Reece, fighting out of Team Monkey MMA Studio, treated the crowd to another thrilling battle against Daryl Golding, of Blackledge MMA.
Reece displayed just why he has earned his nickname, laying on some brutal ground and pound.
The fight was stopped in round four, which began with a right hook from Reece that would have put most hardened men down.
The referee stepped in after a barrage of hammer blows from Reece, who retained his FCC Amateur Lightweight title.
“It was a tough fight. I was on top for most of it but I still got my licks. He was really good off his back. He was very wriggly for a while and I couldn’t really get my shots off,” Reece said.
“I wanted to stand and strike with him but he’s ultra aggressive so I went for the takedowns to try and control him there.
“I’m not normally an aggressive fighter, I like taking my time. As for who’s next, I’ll whoever really. It doesn’t matter to me.”
Reece’s team-mate, Javvone Morrison, tasted the sour taste of defeat as he lost his FCC Amateur Flyweight title to Aaron Robinson, falling victim to a rear-naked choke in the first round.
Morrison started the fight well, landing some vicious kicks on his opponent, who seized an opportunity to get Morrison’s back before locking in the submission.
Morrison valiantly held out as Robinson locked in the choke, falling to the ground in an attempt to shrug him off, but his opponent simply locked the submission even tighter causing Morrison to tap out.
“I was absolutely gutted, especially after starting so well. Going to the ground after he locked in the choke was probably the worst thing I could have done really, but that’s MMA,” Morrison told MM.
Speaking about his team-mate’s fight, Morrison said: “Reece’s performance definitely took the edge off my own loss. He was awesome tonight.”
Robinson, fighting out of Next Generation Liverpool, had a special supporter in the Crowd, former UFC fighter, Rosi Sexton.
Sexton, who announced her retirement from MMA last week following her defeat to Joanna Jędrzejczyk at Cage Warriors Fighting Championship 69, was impressed with the new generation of mixed martial artists.
“In the past some of the guy’s from the UK weren’t quite as rounded as those from other parts of the world, but this is starting to change,” Sexton told MM.
“There’s a lot of fantastic talent coming through, including Aaron who did really well, and I’m excited to see them come through.
“That’s what’s great about FCC, it’s a really well run promotion and gives these young fighters a platform for them to further their careers.”
Robinson will now defend his new title against Dominic Wooding, who extended his record to 7-0 with an impressive points victory over Conor Hignett.
“I was really impressed with him tonight. His striking was really unorthodox. It’s going to be a tough fight for Aaron, but I think he’ll be ok,” she said.
ULTIMATE FIGHTER: Sexton was impressive by the level of talent on display
Wooding, fighting out of Terror Squad, said: “I always come into my fights relaxed. I don’t go in with emotion, that way everything goes to plan.
“If you go in emotionally attached then things don’t go to plan.
“I knew he was one of the best amateur’s in the country, that’s why I took this fight. He was very tough, but I expected that. It won’t be easy, but hopefully I can come away with the belt.”
Bolton’s Tom Aspinall was disappointed to not extend his unbeaten record to 10-0, after he had three opponents pull out.
The twenty-year-old, fighting out of Team Kaobon, was set to defend his FCC Amateur Heavyweight title against Jordan Mckie, only for his opponent to pull out late in the day.
A replacement was found, who also pulled out only for a third opponent to be found and then to pull out also.
“I’m gutted to be honest with you. I’ve been training really hard so I feel a bit deflated,” Aspinall said.
“This is my home-town, and with it being the tenth show I really wanted to come out here and do a number on someone really.
“Things move on though, I’ll get back in the gym and then whatever my coaches tell me to do I’ll do.”
For more information on the FCC, please visit here.
Main image courtesy of FCC: Full Contact Contender, via YouTube, with thanks. (More images to follow)
