There’s a reassuring lack of ego attached to Brad Pickett and Mickey Papas’ Rise of Champions (RoC) promotion.
Unlike in boxing, there’s a curious vacuum that exists from one organisation to the next in mixed martial arts – everyone is a world champion and the competition don’t exist. Numerous belts can be on the line when a boxer steps into the ring, but cross promotion – or even acknowledgement of another show’s existence – is something of a taboo in MMA.
Champion²
So when Rise of Champions billed the headline bout for their sophomore showing as a ‘battle of champions’, it was a pleasant surprise to find that neither fighter held a title on their show.
Both Craig White and Mike Shipman earned their belts fighting on other promotions, but their achievements were not only recognised in the lead up to their fight, recognition was actively encouraged. Neither man was a champion in ‘another organisation’, they were Ultimate Impact and UCMMA title holders respectively.
It’s this approach that’s quickly establishing RoC as the promotion it’s OK to like.
The Stars Of Tomorrow, Today
Their ethos from the start was to help nurture and grow regional MMA talent, perhaps their best method of ensuring this is their ability to position themselves as a show that compliments existing, recognised UK promotions. Whilst blooding in new talent at the base of the show, the more established fighters from those others shows sit atop of the card, drawing eyes.
[gdlr_quote align=”centre” ]If Rise of Champions can continue to find that sweet spot between introducing talent and feeding up-and-comers to the ‘bigger’ shows, they may just play an important part in the UK MMA scene.[/gdlr_quote] That’s not to say other events aren’t bringing through the stars of tomorrow – there are plenty that have been doing this for many years (Shock ‘n’ Awe springs to mind) – it’s more the way in which RoC are going about it that can set them apart.SHIPMAN (c) vs. CRAIG WHITE (c)
It won’t be long now before Mike Shipman finds himself fighting Stateside. Despite accumulating quite an impressive record under the UCMMA banner, Shipman has – until now – largely been out of the conversation.
Taking on a dangerous opponent in Craig White, Shipman put on a dominant performance, controlling his man on the ground and raining down shots. In the short space of time they spent on the feet, White managed to open up a cut on the head of Shipman, but it wasn’t enough. Despite being active off his back, White wasn’t able to catch Shipman with anything, and when the fight was curiously stood up, Shipman landed the killer overhand right, scoring his third successive first round stoppage.
Mike Shipman has yet to go to a decision in his professional career, it’s definitely time to take notice.
Photos (c) Dan Donovan Photography and Rise of Champions, do not use or alter without permission.
MIKE SHIPMAN (c) def. CRAIG WHITE (c) via KO (punch) at 3:31 of round one
Middleweight Bout
MARIUS BOGDAN vs. SHAUN LUTHER
Shaun Luther is tough, really tough.
Despite having what appeared to be a considerable reach advantage over Marius Bogdan, Luther found himself repeatedly on the end of some heavy artillery, painting the canvas crimson early on in the fight. For all Bogdan’s pressuring and constant forward motion, the Team Titan representative found himself planted on his back, in survival mode at the end of the second round. Though looking to be defending himself, the fight was stopped at 4:59 of the second frame.
In the grand scheme of things, this was perhaps the least concerning questionable stoppage of the night.
SHAUN LUTHER def. MARIUS BOGDAN VIA TKO (punches) at 4:59 of round two
Lightweight Bout
KAMS EKPO vs. RADOSTIN MITEV
Radostin Mitev‘s walkout probably lasted longer than his fight.
That’s not to say this one was over in the blink of an eye, more that the Bulgarian has a flair for the dramatic when it comes to making an entrance.
Sadly for Mitev, his performance in the cage didn’t go quite as well. Kams Ekpo is rapidly making a name for himself, now going unbeaten in four appearances. It never looked in doubt, with Ekpo man handling Mitev throughout, before dumping his man on the canvas and finishing off with follow up punches. Not technically a slam KO, but not far off.
Keep your eyes peeled for Ekpo’s fight on Warrior Fight Series 6.
KAMS EKPO def. RADOSTIN MITEV via TKO (slam and punches) at 4:13 of round one
Lightweight Bout
JAVID BASHARAT vs. GINO KROES
We should be talking about just how good Javid Basharat (not “David Baccarat”, thank you autocorrect) looked in his professional debut. We should be remembering how easy he secured top position in the scramble, how clean and accurate his elbows from the top were.
But the lasting impression that this fight left was that of Gino Kroes in need of an oxygen mask.
In my opinion, this was a late stoppage.
Credit to Basharat, he did what was asked of him and looked fantastic in doing so. The London Shootfighter emerged from this show as a real threat to any UK fighter in the bantamweight division.
JAVID BASHARAT def. GINO KROES via KO (elbows) at 1:58 of round one
Bantamweight Bout
Amateur Action
Aside from the professional main card, there were some outstanding amateur fights on the undercard of the show. Worthy of mention was an absolute barnstormer between Josh Herdman and Janusz Walachowski – a fight that could have easily gone either way. Herdman took the decision, but both fighters looked good, giving their all over 9 minutes.
Mike Ekundayo continues to be a miserable night for anyone that steps into the cage with him. Ekundayo did what Ekundayo does, picking up poor Scott Vowles and dumping him on the canvas Matt Hughes-style over and over.
It was a good night for the brothers Basharat, with Farid Basharat getting the first of the two siblings’ wins with a slick D’Arce choke submission of Robbie Brown in the first round.
Stelios Theocharous took home a sweet submission win, securing the guillotine choke finish in the second round of his lightweight battle with Patryk Laskowski.
Luke Trainer is a beast. The 6’6″ light-heavyweight blew the doors off of Piotr Pruszak, getting the tap in under 50 seconds of the first round. Seriously impressive and hopefully somebody we’ll be seeing more of in the near future.
Full Results:
Middleweight: Mike Shipman def. Craig White via KO (punch) at 3:31 of round one
Lightweight: Shaun Luther def. Marius Bogdan via TKO (punches) at 4:59 of round two
Lightweight: Kams Ekpo def. Radostin Mitev via TKO (slam and punches) at 4:13 of round one
Bantamweight: Javid Basharat def. Gino Kroes via KO (elbows) at 1:58 of round one
Amateur Welterweight: Dean Glencross def. Ciarain Shanahan via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)
Amateur Bantamweight: Mike Ekundayo def. Scott Vowles via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Amateur Light-heavyweight: Luke Trainer def. Piotr Pruszak via submission (arm triangle) at 0:48 of round one
Amateur Lightweight: Manuel Zato def. Alex Ignat via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)
Amateur Featherweight: John McFadyen def. Lucas Cox via submission (triangle choke) at 2:50 of round one
Amateur Bantamweight: Farid Basharat def. Robbie Brown via submission (d’arce choke) at 2:17 of round one
Amateur Catchweight 80kg: Josh Herdman def. Janusz Walachowski via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Amateur Catchweight 87kg: Alin Chirila def. Calvin Reynolds via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Amateur Lightweight: Stelios Theocharous def. Patryk Laskowski via submission (guillotine choke) at 1:09 of round two
Amateur Bantamweight: Festus Ahorlu def. Andy Collier via TKO (punches) at 1:21 of round two
Amateur Featherweight: Simone D’Anna def. Tommy Asabre via TKO (punches) at 2:18 of round three
Amateur Flyweight: Oliver Childs def. Gary Taylor via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
See the full Rise of Champions – Fight Night gallery HERE.
