As I sit on a heavily delayed and overly packed train at 1am after standing in a dark, cold station filled with tired, angry people, I ask myself: Was Shock N’ Awe (SnA) worth it?
You bet it was!
It was clear from the beginning that Gareth Johnson (SnA promoter) runs a very tight ship. Upon entering the venue – my first time since SnA 17 way back in 2014 – you could tell Johnson was in control. It’s refreshing to finally attend a show that actually starts on time, with everyone from security to the bar staff to the floor manager knowing exactly what they had to do and when.
Charlie Riccard and Scott Smith kicked off proceedings, both fighters set the bar very high in a fun back-and-forth fight, with Riccard taking the unanimous decision.
In another competitive bout, Ed Sheehan vs. Keiran Loveday was up next. At the end of the second round, Sheehan locked in a tight armbar and it seemed the tap would inevitably come. Luckily for Loveday, he was saved by the bell. Sheehan started off the third with more of the same and eventually finished with a TKO.
Adam Conroy and James Wark took on late replacement BKK fighters, both walking away with wins. Conroy finishing Ben Iontton with brutal ground and pound, and Wark taking a decision over Jamie George.
Two fighters who stole the limelight were Robbie Disirens and Alex Maxwell. Disirens defeated Alex Abbott with complete domination, one judge giving him a 30-25 scorecard. Maxwell looked the most composed fighter of the night as he took on Pawel Czyzewski, strunging together a beautiful combo before finishing Czyzewski via head kick KO.
Phil Harris and our very own Jack Sear competed in a no-gi grappling match. Sear stepped up on three days notice to take on the former UFC fighter in his hometown. Sear kept looking for the Iminari-roll and even had Harris in a few dangerous spots. After seven minutes, Harris took control and ended the fight with an armbar.
The controversy of the night (there’s always one in UK MMA, right?) came when Gareth Hales fought James Bakes in the only light-heavyweight fight of the night. Hales had the Bakes’ and proceeded to utilise big ground and pound until the referee stepped in. As the fight was called off, Bakes protested that he was struck in the back of the head. Confusion ensued until the official result was ruled that Hales had defeated Bakes via TKO.
Next up, Elliot Hoye took on Ashley Kilvington for the SnA amateur flyweight title. There was huge support from both sides as the Mountbatten Centre erupted into choruses of chants. Kilvington set the pace with a nice takedown and began looking for the submission. Kilvington kept up the pressure on Hoye, using the cage to his advantage and taking the decision win. Hoye has now lost five on the trot against very tough competition, this should only benefit him more when goes professional.
Another title fight followed as Alex Box vs. Alex Bodnar met in a clash of the South Coast. The first stanza was similar to the Danny Mitchell vs. Igor Araujo fight in London, as both fighters become entangled with their legs, trying to scramble to their feet before the other trips them down again. An impressive display from Box as he slipped in the triangle and forced Bodnar to submit in the third.
Nicholas Fielding won via DQ as his opponent, Andrew Mendes, failed to comply with the new rules. After being deducted two points for outstretching his hands, the referee had no choice but to disqualify the fighter after having continuously ignored the instructions.
Jade Barker walking out to Jimi Hendrix’s ‘All Along the Watchtower’ got my vote as walkout of the night as she took on Sofie Langsford in a strawweight bout. Langsford controlled the fight against the cage until Barker got Langsford down. Langsford got back to her feet then took Barker to the floor herself. Barker looked for the heelhook but left herself open to ground and pound. The second round began with Barker looking for yet another heelhook but Langsford stayed composed and slipped out. Langsford transitioned into full mount and delivered short and sweet elbows for the TKO win.
It was France vs. Brazil in the next bout as Samir Faiddine took on Carlos Do Carmo Motta. One of the best technical fights unfolded before my eyes as both fighters came out uber-charged. The crowd “ooh”ed and “ahh”ed as they both threw bombs looking for that sweet KO. Faiddine found success using the spinning backfist as Motta landed a beautiful head kick. Motta sealed the deal as he caught a low kick and got the takedown in the third. With a minute to go, Faiddine went looking for the big win as he landed a gorgeous flying knee but it wasn’t enough. A must-watch for when it’s released on the web!
The surprise of the night came in the shape of Tyler Thomas as he showed Chris Tallis he’s no pushover. In a rather uneventful fight, both fighters looked for the takedown but it mostly amounted to nothing. Tallis opened up Thomas with what appeared to be an elbow in the second round following Thomas attempted guillotine. Tallis controlled the third and took the decision win.
The main event between Andy Kerr – who was putting his SnA welterweight title on the – line against Chay Ingram, concluded the night. Kerr looked in control in the first round, finding multiple success with his left kicks. More of the same from Kerr in the second as he backed Ingram against the cage and let loose a crushing combo to the head and then body. Ingram did his best to defend and returned to the centre of the cage. Kerr entered the third round with a huge smile, obviously enjoying the moment before securing the win with a standing guillotine.
Shock n Awe is pretty much the full package. Despite taking place in a leisure centre, the production of the show transports the audience to a small arena. The sound system is crystal clear as the sound of metal bands boom from the speakers. The heat of the pyrotechnics embraces the audience throughout the walkouts and the pacing of the show is first-class, cramming 23 fights into exactly six hours.
