Sensei FC 2 Review
Welcome back fight fans. Sensei FC 2 was promised to be a great event and it didnât disappoint. The event took place from Paddy OâMalleys Bar in the centre of Tokyo with more than 650 rowdy fans in attendance. The show would prove to be exciting as we continue to welcome in the new age of Asian MMA!
Sensei FC 2 was brought to you in partnership with Paddyâs Enhancing Drugs (160Q)
Letâs get into the first fight!
Bantamweight: Max "Midget Man" Denbow (0-1-0) v Henson "Warrior" Jinonaqua (0-0-0)
Starting off with the Bantamweights jerking the curtain for tonights event. Midget Man Denbow took on the the Warrior, Henson Jinonaqua. This bout was important for both fighters, Jinonaqua was making his debut as the Midget Man was looking for a fresh start, as his first fight ended in a loss. This fight was a short contest though as it lasted less than 90 seconds as Jinonaqua did what he could on his feet to take the fight to Denbow, but it wasnât enough as the superior wrestling ability of Denbow proved to be too much and 30 seconds into the fight Denbow took the Warrior down getting into the half-guard position. From here Jinonaqua tried to get out of the position and back to his feet, but Denbow controlled the position until his superior BJJ skill allowed him to lock in a arm triangle only 1:21 in the first round.
Winner by sub. Max âMidget Manâ Denbow
Heavyweight: Rico Verthonghen (1-0-0) v Liam Studd (0-0-0)
Next up we have the big boys as the Heavyweights clash. Rico Verthonghen and Liam Studd compete in what to the naked eye seemed like a close fight, but as the fight came to a conclusion and we see the numbers in black and white the fight was very much one sided. This fight went the difference as Verthonghen and Studd went to war in the cage. Studd put up a good fight, getting in some good shots and working well in the clinch. The fight never went to the ground, although Studd tried to keep Verthonghen in the clinch, there was no takedown attempts in this fight. Both fighters stayed standing in a complete brawl of fists and kicks. It was Verthonghens superior Muay Thai that set him apart from his opponent as when all was said and done and the fight came to an end, it was Verthonghen who impressed the judges and had his hand raised by unanimous decision.
Winner by decision. Rico Verthonghen
Super Heavyweight: Lazor Kwiatkowski (0-0-0) v "Grundy" Cyrus Gold (0-0-0)
From one set of big boys to the really big boys as the Super Heavyweights clash. Cyrus Gold took on Lazor Kwiatkowski in this 1 round thriller. Both fighters make their debuts in this bout and were both looking to impress and they done that. Cyrus Gold went to war in this bout as he put up a great fight against his Polish counterpart. Both fighters are wrestlers by trade so it came as a surprise that neither of these fighters went to the ground, staying on their feet lugging strikes at each other. As the first minute pasted Cyrus Gold was busted out with a cut by Lazor. As the fight waged on this proved to be fatal as Lazor was just better on his feet, his striking was much more efficient and proved to be much more impressive. The fight came to an exciting end as half way through the third minute of the first round as Lazor rocked Gold, bluffed a body blow and when Golds hand were down Lazor landed a sweet left hook to the temple and finished the fight.
Winner by KO. Lazor Kwiatkowski
Welterweight: Patrick Hall (0-0-0) v Jaden Tufalo (0-0-0)
Next up we have two debuts in the welterweight division. Patrick Hall took on Jaden Tuffalo in a bout between two 25 year olds with varied skills across the board. Patrick Hall turned up for this fight, but thatâs all he done. Hall only managed to land one punch in a stand up position with one more in the clinch, Hall did attempt to get the fight to the ground three times to avoid the barrage of strikes coming to him from Jaden Tufalo. Tufalo proved to be too good in the stand up position. Unleashing a bombardment of strikes from the clinch. Tufalo is a master of the clinch, throwing a fury of strikes and elbows. This fight only lasted 90 seconds. In less than a minute Hall was cut open, knocked down and rocked. Hall attempts the final takedown but once Tufalo had him against the cage that was all she write - so to speak. One more sweet elbow dropped Hall and that was it, the referee declared the fight to be over via TKO.
Winner by TKO. Jaden Tufalo
Lightweight: Colby Hughes (0-0-0) v Charlie "C Devil" Crucifer (0-0-0)
Next up we have a bout between the lightweights. Colby Hughes takes on the C Devil, Charlie Crucifer. Both of these competitors are wrestlers but theyâve also spent some time working on their BJJ. This fight didnât last very long on the feet as when the bell rang Hughes shot for a takedown and was successful in his attempt as he takes Crucifer to the ground. The pace was slow as both competitors fight for their position. The first attempt at a submission came in a minute as Hughes looked for a kimura. Crucifer looked at getting Hughes into the kimura in response less than a minute later. At this point Crucifer had changed momentum, changing his position and gaining the advantage in the top position. Another couple submission attempts would come but the fight ended just before the fourth minute as Crucifer was able to work his way into a rear naked choke position, tightened his grip and that was the fight, ending with the choke hold.
Winner by Sub. Charlie âC Devilâ Crucifer
Lightweight: Fung "Homicide" Hao Ming (0-0-0) v Christopher Boyd (0-0-0)
The next fight is another lightweight bout as Fung âHomicideâ Hao Ming made his debut against Christopher Boyd, also making his debut in this bout. This fight unlike some of our previous fights went the distance, lasting the full 15 minutes. It was an exciting fight, back and fourth between the two individuals. Although someone had to win this fight, I donât think anyone really lost. The fight went between free stand up with Homicide dominating the outside of the cage and the clinch with Christopher Boyd constantly getting his way in this position. Although saying that, although Hao Ming scored the most strikes to the head, Christopher Boyd displayed an array of attacks outside of the clinch, from body and head kicks beating up his opponent. As the two fighters delivered a show for all in attendance neither was cut or rocked, constantly keeping up with the barrage of attacks each of the fighters were throwing at each other. By the time the fight came to an end Iâm sure both fighters had a claim to get their hand raised but it would be the excellent control in the clinch and diversity of strikes that would give Christopher Boyd a slight edge and win favour with the judges. Although only one fighter was able to get the win and have his hand raised, Iâm sure I speak for all when I say there was no loser in this fight.
Winner by Spilt Decision. Christopher Boyd
Welterweight: Lee "Rainmaker" Sung (0-0-0) v Roy Sands (0-0-0)
Next up we have some action in the welterweight division as two fresh welterweights make their debuts. The Korean, Lee Sung stepped into the cage against Roy Sands. We saw in this bout how the clash of styles can favour one fighter and this fight that went the distance seemed to be very one sided. Sands attempted to use his Muay Thai to end the fight early but unfortunately for him Lee Sungâs wrestling was far too superior. The majority of the fight was spent on the ground and this is where Lee Sung feels the most comfortable. Each time the fight went to the fight, the Rainmaker made the most of this and let it rain a fury of ground and pound blows in order to get a better position. Sung also had a lot of submission attempts from the ground as well, none of them successful. Although we did see some rays of light for Sands on his feet, his boxing and Muay Thai was quite impressive when he had the chance to shine, unfortunately he wasnât able to show this skill just as much as he would have liked as the Rainmaker was vastly superior when the opportunity to get to the ground presented itself. The fight may have been seen as being a little dull, due to the control and the constant fighting for control on the ground. Eventually the fight would come to an end and Lee âRainmakerâ Sung would be declared the winner by unanimous decision.
Winner by decision. Lee âRainmakerâ Sung
Middleweight: Hideo "HS" Sho (0-0-0) v Nikolai Kaspersky (0-1-0)
In this middleweight contest Nikolai Kaspersky was looking for a fresh start in this fight as his debut in the QFC ended in disaster for the Russian. Hideo Sho was making his debut and looking to impress. First of all, this fight was a war between nations, Russia and Japan - a rivalry that runs deep in history. The wrestler Kaspersky, straight out of the gate went for a takedown and was successful. I thought Sho was the favourite coming into this bout based on Kasperskyâs debut loss to a Muay Thai specialist. However, Kaspersky embarrassed Sho, taking him straight to the ground and maintaining control for the first minute of the fight, all while laying in a fury of punches in his favoured ground and pound style. Little after the one minute mark the fight came to a TKO conclusion as Kaspersky was victorious in his attempt at getting a fresh start and winning the fight for the glory of the Motherland.
Winner by TKO. Nikolai Kaspersky.
Co-main
Super Heavyweight: Yuki Takahashi (0-0-0) v David "Young King Dave" Nixon (0-0-0)
Next up we have the titans once again, the super heavyweights. Young King Dave goes up against the Japanese fighter, Yuki Takahashi. Takahashi is a boxer with a high level of ability at his young age, however this boxing ability proved to be no match for the Muay Thai skills of Young King Dave. Takahashi barely got a shot in, he was terrible in this bout. Young King Dave is a master of the clinch landing 13 shots in the clinch and these 13 shots were fatal as in the second minute of the fight Young King Dave would land a fury of strikes that would bring this fight to an early conclusion in the first round.
Winner by TKO. David âYoung King Daveâ Nixon
Main Event
Heavyweight: Alistair Read (1-0-0) v Veli Kemppainen (0-0-0)
Now we finally get to the main event of this show. Alistair Read took on Veli Kemppainen. This was a heavyweight bout with two of the best young heavyweights in the Asian MMA scene. Both of these fighters are Muay Thai specialists who always want to stay standing, this fight proved that to be true. Both competitors were determined to finish the fight their way. This fight stayed on the feet and although both fighters went to the clinch, neither were very effective in the clinch. Instead, it was Alistair Reads ability to land punches and kicks on the outside that really sparked this fight off. The fight didnât last long, least than three minutes. Half way through the first round - and only round - Read landed his deadly right hand that knocked Veli Kemppainen to the mat. Seconds later the downed man would get back to his fight and was immediately rocked. Read then landed a beautiful array of punches that would prove to be far too much for his opponent and the referee decided that enough was enough and ended the fight there.
Winner by TKO. Alistair Read
Well there you go! What a great show and great event. A true landmark in the Asian MMA scene and a statement made about the future of MMA. Roman Benson put together a top tier card and it never disappointed, from the upsets to the beautiful array of styles.
Take care fight fans!
KO of the night: Nikolai Kaspersky
Sub of the night: Max Denbow
Fight of the night: Fung Hao Ming v Christopher Boyd
