Ashbourne Events (360k+)

[Mannetosen]

Another day, another Russian for TKY to punch. He's stepped up his training in anticipation of the welterweight grand prix.

 

[Ashbourne]

MARQUEE Event Preview

Thank you to Cheorge Guvalo who kindly supplied the above poster without us even asking! He hates empty event posters as much as we do.

A&E's MARQUEE 4

2020-08-08

Helsinki

Aaron Deuce (2-1-0) vs. Ricky Youngblood (2-0-0)

Lightweight - 155lbs

We kick off the biggest MARQUEE yet with a coupe of Lightweights that can do heavy damage. Two teenagers that are used to being on a Rising Stars event, one of them will gain a lot of momentum with a win in this MARQUEE opener. They have fought on the same card twice before and now they get to fight each other. They say that we don't meet people by accident. They are meant to cross our path for a reason. After walking past each other at previous events and sharing a similar opponent in Mikko Vesalainen, Deuce and Youngblood will finally go at it.

Youngblood has two first round TKO wins to his name. A third such win here would get Buzz buzzing like a buzz saw. Deuce on the other hand, has done something extremely rare. I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like it. He has submitted fighters with only one second left in the first round and one second left in the second round. That's how dangerous he is. He can submit you at any time. Even when you think you have him beat. His weapon of choice up to this point has been the armbar. He will need to utilize it quickly because there are no questions about Deuce's ground game. There are questions about Deuce's chin however. He bounced back from a 28 second loss to Kaki Mountain with a win and a finish in his last fight. But the concerns are still there. Ricky Youngblood's punches are as devastating as they are quick. Just like with any grappler versus striker matchup, the key to this fight is whether Aaron Deuce can get the takedown before Youngblood can land the perfect punch?

Boby Tiger (3-3-0) vs. Chris "Chrissy" Leopoldo (3-0-0)

Super Heavyweight - 265+lbs

Boby Tiger knows all about championships. He defeated Jin Lung to win the PL MMA belt before making the big move to Ashbourne Events. It was here where he came up short against current Super Heavyweight champion Jan Nycz. Boby will also be aware of how easily ex-champions can turn into gatekeepers after a string of losses. They are often targeted by those up and coming fighters, looking for a solid win on their resume to help push them into title territory.

Enter Chris Leopoldo. Who enters himself, without a single blemish on his record after three fights. Those three fights all came against the same opponent - Thanos Eternal. That may seem strange to some but if you look into it Eddie Bravo style, you will see something far more remarkable. On 7th July Leopoldo won a unanimous decision against Eternal in a fight he won comfortably yet he couldn't get the finish. When they fought again only five days later, Leopoldo needed only 43 seconds for the KO win. Now that would satisfy many of fighters. But not Chris Leopoldo. The pair fought again. Another five days later, Leopoldo knocked Eternal out again. This time in only 29 seconds!

Chris Leopoldo is his own worst critic. He sets lofty goals for himself and expects nothing short of greatness. Boby Tiger is coming off a three fight losing streak but we cannot forget that he started his career with a three fight win streak. Both fighters have the ability to turn their careers around with a win here. They also have the ability to hurt each other both inside and outside the cage.

Eldar Yanbaev (3-1-0) vs. Miguel Tyson (1-0-0)

Middleweight - 185lbs

The A&E record for the fastest KO ever used to belong to Miguel Tyson. It took him only nine seconds to win. Nine seconds. And it was against an opponent who went the full three rounds in his previous fight. It's the stuff of dreams. Hands up if you've ever dreamt of winning your MMA debut in nine seconds via a flying knee? I know I have. A nightmare for his opponent but a dream come true for Tyson. I wonder how Yanbaev has been sleeping.

The 23 year old from Kaliningrad has only one loss on his record and it was to top opposition. Is Miguel Tyson to be considered top opposition? We'll know soon enough. Yanbaev is a kickboxing and sambo practitioner with a military background. That loss was against the one and only Wilhelm Bar who will be fighting for the title later in the card. Yanbaev responded with a Sub of the night performance against Nick Diaz. The Russian showed his class in that fight. He rocked Diaz in the second and cut him up to pieces before taking him down and getting the submission. It was a typical Yanbaev performance. A masterclass. Pure domination on all sides of the cage. He won't have to worry about his defensive grappling against Miguel Tyson and his white belt. We know he has a granite chin. We know he can win a decision. But all it takes is Miguel Tyson's knee in your face. Granite chin or not, physics takes over and your entire body shuts down without your permission.

Nine seconds.

We can't guarantee that this one will last much longer but we can guarantee that it will be just as, if not even more exciting.

Ogum Jung Min (2-0-0) vs. Mickey "The Mouse" Fernandez (3-0-0)

Featherweight - 145lbs

I'm calling it right now. One of these fighters is going to fight for the A&E Featherweight Championship one day. Who knows, maybe even both of them will! But who is better in this moment of time? That I can't call. This is a close fight between two undefeated young prospects. Some organisations like to keep such prospects away from one another. Give them the easy fights. Pad those records. Build that hype. That's not A&E's style. If you're not willing to take the tough fight, there are another 15-20 fighters behind you who will happily take on the challenge. So a big thank you to these two fighters for accepting this fight and not running!

The Korean Jung Min has won all of his bouts by first round TKO. The Philly native Fernandez has won all of his bouts by first round submission. Something's got to give. If we had to pick one problem with their careers so far, it's that neither fighter has fought higher level opponents. In fact, the total record of the fighters Jung Min has faced is 0-5-0. For Fernandez it is, 0-6-0. That's not their fault at all. You can only beat who's put in front of you. But is someone about to get exposed? This is a fight that will separate the contender from the pretender.

Brilliam Yago (4-0-0) vs. New Kid "Newton Kid" (2-1-0)

Light Heavyweight - 205lbs

Don't sleep on Brilliam Yago. If he wins this fight, he will become the first 5-0-0 fighter in A&E's history. And yet he still seems criminally underrated. Hype wise and according to online polls, there is more excitement surrounding Bison Jury and Jake Smith who both have two losses to their name. There's even more hype around Alfredo Alliterez, a fighter that Yago knocked out in the first round! It's baffling. When A&E's inaugural rankings are released after this weekend, I think they will be a lot kinder to Brilliam Yago. There are too many trolls online. A five fight win streak will go a long way in determining who is next in line for a shot at the title. So will defeating a former title challenger in New Kid.

New Kid has had a tumultuous last few months. He started his career 2-0-0 with two devastating KO punches, including that shocking win over the Grumpy Bastard managed Stinky Armpits, earning him the KO of the night. But he was cheating. Or his manager John Wayne (Lors Lori) was. It was a scandal that rocked A&E. We're still getting review bombed because of it. Days before his title fight against Dolph Lindgren, Lors Lori was banned by MMAT and John Wayne banned by A&E. Kid's new manager Lee Smith took the helm. He didn't have much time to prepare, going into the biggest fight of either of their lives. This Saturday is a chance for both of them to start anew. They've had a full camp together. John Wayne's stench has left the building. Now it's all about Lee Smith, New Kid and whether they can recapture old glory while blazing a new path all of their own.

Zett "The Martyr" Jukassa (1-1-0) vs. Ando Rowan (3-0-0)

Middleweight - 185lbs

Every now and again there comes along a fighter that simply put, is born to fight. Born to punch. Born to learn. Born to win. Born to strive inside the fighting cage. That fighter is Zett "The Martyr" Jukassa". Yes he has only two fights so far, losing one of them in a little under two minutes. But reports from his camp back up claims that he is one of the fastest learners of this era. I would hazard a guess as to the reason why he hasn't fought as much as some of his peers, is because people don't want to fight him. They're scared. If there's one fighter to duck, it's probably "The Martyr".

Ando Rowan doesn't think so though. We sat down with him in an exclusive interview that will be released over the next few days. Rowan has taken full advantage of the A&E: Rising Stars cards that are reserved for teenagers only. But make no mistake, this is no ordinary teenager. Three first round wins in three Rising Stars events. His last fight was perhaps his most impressive. His opponent Alan Tal was known for his superior Muay Thai but it was Rowan who got the knockdown from inside the clinch following a big uppercut. It just goes to show that there are so many facets to MMA and these style matchups. Anything can happen as strikes are being thrown from all angles. If Ando Rowan wins this, it will be hard to argue that he's not next in the title picture. Rowan has the ranking. Jukassa has the skill. Who has the win?

Moana Tautua (3-0-0) vs. Tim Cut (1-0-0)

Lightweight - 155lbs

Let's call this fight what it is. This is the Lightweight number one contendership. This is to see who will be fighting the winner of Finger vs. Kurilenko for the Lightweight title. We've only seen 19 seconds of Tim Cut. But it was enough to know that we are watching something special. Cut can cut. Go figure! He cut his debut opponent with his very first professional punch. Not many people in the world can say that. That was against a 1-0-0 fighter, not a scrub. A proven winner. But what can he do against a 3-0-0 fighter?

Tautua has thousands in the bank. Sponsors love him. But he still trains at the $195 a week Blanc Fitness Academy. We're not sure why. But who are we to judge? Whatever he's doing is clearly working. He has been unfairly criticized in the past by fans for being too "boring" following a couple of 27% fight ratings. I don't think he cares. He still wins and wins comfortably. Against good opposition too. He was able to have his way with the formidable Kaki Mountain in his last fight. He took him down with a 66% takedown success rate. Got the sub. Shouted out Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing. Just another day at the office for Moana Tautua. Tim Cut will have to work very hard to prevent more of the same from happening.

John "Stahley" PG (3-0-0) vs. Phin "The Real Deal" Phorreal (2-0-0)

Welterweight - 170lbs

The word legend gets thrown around so easily nowadays but when it comes to A&E legends, you can look no further than John "Stahley" PG. He is a personal favourite of many around here. From the moment he won his debut in ten seconds to the moment he destroyed and retired the 4-1-0 Best Best, John has stolen the hearts of the A&E fans. Some are even more excited for this than they are the title fights that follow it. The people's main event.

John PG is undoubtedly one of the best 360k welterweights in the world. However, he will NOT be taking part in the A&E Welterweight Grand Prix 2020. As per the rules, only one fighter per manager is allowed and that will be the Andy Huge managed Ethan Van Vactor. Phin Phorreal will be there for real. All of the fights these welterweights have undertook so far, helped determine their rankings and seeds from which the groups were drawn from. It wasn't all for nothing. Now the groups are drawn. Phorreal enters the tournament as the No. 7 seed. If he wins this MARQUEE fight against PG, we will know that that seed was way too low and the rest of his group members should be quaking in their boots.

Phin Phorreal needs to pray to the MMA gods that he won't leave this fight with severe injuries and cuts. His opening Grand Prix fight is only one week later. He goes up against the 10th seed Rod De Minaur. Injuries and cuts would make that fight a far more difficult task. Facing John PG and hoping to come out of it with a pretty face is not an ideal scenario. For John PG, it's business as usual.

Middle Finger (3-0-0) vs. Alexandr "Desantura" Kurilenko (3-0-0)

A&E Lightweight Championship - 155lbs

Speaking of legends, this is Grumpy Bastard's world and we're all just living in it. That may upset some. But there's no denying it. The well renowned manager had a Bantamweight champion in Little Bastard before he recently lost it. He currently has the Featherweight champion Joe Biden under his wing. And he'll be looking for his third A&E champion here with Middle Finger. All of that without ever turning down a difficult fight. But then again, there aren't many difficult fights when you're a Grumpy Bastard fighter.

Kurilenko is a problem. Three fights. Three wins. Three first round submissions. He has a real chance of submitting Finger and must be excited at the prospect of facing off against a white belt for the title belt. These fighters know each other fairly well, coming from the same MMA alliance. But any friendships will have to be left behind. Because when that cage door is locked, it's everyone for themselves. These are two relatively quiet fighters that prefer to walk the walk rather than talk the talk. They let their fists do their bidding. One of them's better at it than the other and I can't wait to find out who it is.

At A&E's MARQUEE 4, we will crown our very first Lightweight champion.

"Il Monachus" Principo Adam (3-0-0) vs. Wilhelm "Arm" Bar (3-0-0)

A&E Middleweight Championship - 185lb

VS..

And now to the main event. This fight wouldn't look out of place in a TWGC final. A combined 6-0-0 with 6 submissions and 4 Sub of the night awards. A grappler's wet dream, if ever there was one. Adam has been in the MMA game for a little longer but it's negligible when we consider how talented Bar is. The promise he has shown up to this point is frightening. The fight is most likely going to be played out on the ground and there's really little to separate these two. Bar has the brown belt to Adam's purple. Adam walks around a little heavier. Bar has a 4cm height advantage. It's neck and neck at the top of the Middleweight rankings.

Principo Adam cuts a mysterious figure. Every word out of his mouth is as measured as his Jiu jistu. Whether it's on the training mats at GWad's Playpen or inside the A&E cage, no one is quite sure what he's thinking at any given time. Is it for real? Is he for real? We're not quite sure what to think. We're just going to enjoy the greatness as it unfolds before our very eyes. Two fantastic fighters. Not limited to their grappling. Facing off at the highest of levels in a MARQUEE event.

The transitions are going to be awesome. The escapes are going to be important. The result is going to be historic.

************

We hope you've enjoyed this preview of the weekend's biggest fight card. Our coverage is just getting started as there's plenty more to talk about. Stay tuned for fighter interviews. We'll be hearing from Ando Rowan, Principo Adam and many more over the next couple of days. As usual, we appreciate you giving this preview a thumbs up / upvote if you deem it worth it.

Have a great day! And don't forget...

A&E's MARQUEE. It's the place to be.

[GeorgeC]

Beautiful work as usual

[GeorgeC]

 

Punch Drunk McDermott

 

Crunch Time with Punch

 

Note: CTE is not a joking matter. It is a devastating and irreversible disease so the following is not meant to make light of, or diminish the condition. It’s for entertainment purposes-only.

 

In the doctor’s office on Cote-des-Neiges near Westmount in Montreal, Punch McDermott is sitting in his johnny, casually flicking through a five-year old Sports Illustrated magazine. The doctor, a white middle-aged man with impeccably groomed silver hair, walks in holding a chart. His face looks grim.

 

Pointing to the SI magazine, Punch says: Looks like this Johnny Manziel kid is going to be some player, eh Doc?

 

Mister McDermott …

 

Punch, please.

 

Err, yes … Punch. Apt name that one. Which brings me to the reason you’re here today. Going through your regular pre-fight physical, we became a little concerned with some of your poor results and we’d like to run further tests. All we’d need is a little bit of protein, it’s a very unobtrusive …

 

7 days to go, Doc. Going to be the biggest fight of my career so far. Imagine this if you can; six weeks, 16 fighters, one champion. It’ll be an amazing tournament. And did you know who my first opponent is?

 

The doctor sighs: Ethan Hawk?

 

Yes! Ethan Hawke, can you believe that? Wait, how did you know?

 

As I was trying to say, we’re a little troubled by the cognitive results and …

 

I have to admit, my scouting hasn’t been going too good so far. You know how many fight clips this guy has? None. Zero. Never been in the ring in his life. So what I did, doc, I rented all his movies, watched them over the weekend. Didn’t get me much farther ahead in my gameplan, I guess, and some of those films were shi…

 

Are you always this obtuse?

 

Is that greater than, or less than? I can never remember.

 

The Doctor removes his glasses, pinching his nose. You may have CTE, Mr. McDermott. It can be a very serious disease.

 

Punch blinks once. Then twice. CTE is Championship?

 

Chronic …

 

Transmutation …

 

Traumatic …

 

Energy?

 

Encephalopathy, Mr. McDermott. CTE, brain trauma, likely caused by repeated blows to the head. Given your lengthy record and your, uhm, inability to concentrate, I think we can safely say that you’re …

 

Indestructible!

 

No, no Mr. McDermott, not at all. As a matter of fact, even the lightest slap could …

 

Yes, indestructible

[Ashbourne]

A&E Spotlight (8/8/20)


Peter Woodcock (336868)

We are live from right next door to Hayashi's Lounge - Helsinki - where tomorrow night, twenty fighters will be locked inside the A&E cage to do battle. The Lightweight and Middleweight divisions will crown their first champions. New contenders will emerge. New highlights will go viral. You've heard from us and our in-depth look at each of the MARQUEE fights. Now it is time to hear from the fighters themselves in a very special edition of A&E Spotlight where we are on site and right in the thick of the action.

Peter: Today I try to crack the enigma that is "Il Monachus". Today I get to sit down with one of the best Middleweights in any 360k+ organisation. It's his third MARQUEE event in a row. They keep inviting him back because he keeps winning. Winning the fights and winning the performance bonuses. Two fights in A&E. Two wins in A&E. Two Sub of the Nights in A&E. The first Middleweight Champion in A&E? It's entirely possible. Please welcome the undefeated, unrelenting, often imitated, never duplicated - Mr. Principo Adam.

Principo, I really appreciate you taking the time to sit down and talk shop with me.

"Il Monachus" Principo Adam (360489)

Principo Adam: Blessings onto you Peter.

Peter: Principo, you're facing a fighter that on the surface, looks very much like you. You're both 3-0-0. You're both submission specialists. You've both beaten fighters that were near the top of the 185lb division at the time. What do you think separates you and how do you see this fight going?

Principo: We shall prostrate ourselves on the mat before the almighty and let his holiness decide our fate. I have complete faith. Does Herr Bar?

Peter: Oh my, I thought you said prostate. We might have to put a trigger warning on this interview. The bad memories came flooding back. Herr Bar as you refer to him, he may end up with some of his own bad memories after this fight. We've seen you win two Sub of the Night awards from two kimuras. I have to ask. Is that your specialty? Do you have a favourite submission move?

Principo: I have no favorite submission, but my favorite position is most definitely the crucifix.

Peter: Are you? ... Is that? ... Nevermind. In your last fight against a very game Nario Gwan, you lost that opening round. There were some on Buzz saying that Gwan even dominated that first round. You did get the takedown but he managed to escape not long after. How on earth did you turn it around so quickly in the second, ultimately getting the finish there and then? How?

Principo: The path of the righteous is full of trials and tribulations. With faith, all things are possible.

Peter: Amen to that! Bar is three fights into his career and he has never thrown a single punch. Your boxing seems to be improving however, connecting on more punches from one fight to the next. Should you want to, do you think you posses the power to knock Wilhelm Bar out cold?

Principo: I too am excited at the prospect of what fate has been preordained.

Peter: Who should I bet on then? I still have a mortgage and these interviews don't pay for my gold plated toilet. But we can....we can talk more about that off camera. There seems to be a light that follows you everywhere you go Principo. A mysterious light for a mysterious fighter. Can you tell us one thing about yourself that A&E fans don't already know? Enlighten us, if you will.

Principo: This glow is what the crack Vatican photography team refers to as “special effects”. But I agree, they are truly men of miracles. Principo is on a mission to spread submission before the almighty to the nihilists and sinners populating this platform.

Peter: I can get behind that! Now just over one month ago, you and Wilhelm Bar were on the same MARQUEE 2 card. You defeated John Carter in 4:56. He defeated Eldar Yanbaev in 1:24. The Sub of the Night went to you instead of him. Do you believe that was the right decision? Do you think that could act as extra motivation for Bar going into this fight?

Principo: I cannot question Mr. Ashbourne’s conviction and judgement. It would be an insult to Herr Bar to assume he feels any differently.

Peter: Very well played sir! Once again Principo, I want to thank you for being here and for taking the time out of your fight preparation to come be with us. I hope that wasn't too taxing. I'm one of the many fans that have been looking forward to this one ever since the fight was made. A real gift for the real fans of MMA. Good luck for tomorrow!

Principo: Thank you. And may god have mercy on your soul.

Peter Woodcock (336868)

Well that was...something. What a character! I'm not quite sure what just happened but I'm here for it. Did I just confess all of my sins? Did I just give him my credit card number and my mother's maiden name? I gave him my full attention, I know that for sure. And he'll have it again when he fights Wilhelm Bar for the Middleweight Championship in a few hours. At this very location.

Peter: Up next we have a fighter that is featuring in the co-main event. He fights out of Helsinki by way of Crimea. Besides MMA, he also competes in Jiu jitsu and No Gi grappling tournaments. He's undefeated. Never even been past the first round. He's a purple belt that poses a serious threat to his white belted opponent. He's Alexandr "Desantura" Kurilenko.

Alexandr, thank you very much for joining us here today. We are just days away from A&E's MARQUEE 4. How are you feeling right now?

Alexandr "Desantura" Kurilenko (363440)

Alexandr Kurilenko: I feel great. Can't wait to get in the cage and fight for the title.

Peter: And we can't wait to see it! A lot of people see you as a huge underdog going into this fight. Mainly because you are going up against a fighter that is managed by one of the best in the game. But then there are others who say that you have a significant grappling advantage. What do you say?

Alexandr: I started to grapple since I was 5 when my dad took me to a judo lesson. I think I definitely have an advantage on the ground but each fight starts standing. This is not going to be easy considering my opponent trains at one of the best camps in the world.

Peter: You're not wrong there! That camp currently has SIX world titles under their banner and looking to add the seventh. Is it true that you are friends with your opponent's manager? Mr. Grumpy Bastard. Was that a problem when accepting this fight?

Alexandr: Sometimes we spar together with his fighters and we are on friendly terms. However, this fight is for the title and I want to test myself against the best opposition there is.

Peter: It doesn't get much bigger than this. What does it mean to you Mr. Kurilenko? To be the A&E Lightweight Champion of the World?

Alexandr: It means to be the best lightweight out there. I want to win gold for my country.

Peter: What a great moment it would be for Russia. Now I have some statistics with me here. Middle Finger has connected on an incredible 94% of head punches thrown so far. On the other hand, and just as incredible, you have never been hit in the face. Not even once. Do you think your striking defense and chin can withstand Middle Finger's attack? Excuse me for being blunt here but what I'm asking is, can you take a punch Alexandr?

Alexandr: This is nothing new for me. I've been hit to the face many times during sparrings. And in Russia sparrings are tough...

Peter: I bet they are! I used to spar with a Russian back in the day. We called him The Werewolf because whenever he was around, there would be someone howling in pain. Incredible fighter. He improved my game 1000%. Alexandr, I want to thank you again for taking the time to chat with us. I know that you have other things you should be doing right now so thank you very much and good luck for tomorrow!

Alexandr: Thank you very much.

Peter Woodcock (336868)

This fight card is just ridiculous. You know what else is ridiculous? Not buying your supplements from © Trap House. © Trap House - supplements that will have your fighter's rocked. The pictures may say 159Q but the quality is the best you can get. One puff, one toke, one hit and you'll be running into that cage looking like a Greek god. Build that muscle. Increase that stamina. And make sure you are not losing too much energy when training. Keep that energy above 90% with my personal favourite - the Blueberry Kush Recovery 160. © Trap House - because you're worth it.

Peter: If you've just tuned in or if you've been living under a rock, this Saturday's MARQUEE 4 card has Principo Adam facing off against Wilhelm Bar for the A&E Middleweight Championship. But there is another Middleweight on the card who has caught the attention of many. In fact, some are even saying that he should be the one fighting for the title. He's also 3-0-0. Also with three finishes. Also all in the first round. Also still only 19 years old. He fought at A&E Rising Stars I, II and III and now he's getting ready for the big time. Please welcome Ando Rowan to the show!

Ando, pleasure having you here.

Ando Rowan (362510)

Ando Rowan: Pleasure being here, better late then never!

Peter: Absolutely! I do want to get to talking about you but I would be stupid if I didn't ask, who do you think is walking away with your division's belt on Saturday and why? Principo Adam or Wilhelm Bar?

Ando: I honestly don´t really care which of them wins. But if you really need an answer I am going for Wilhelm Bar. Why? I have a gut feeling, cant really choose between them to be honest. Will be an interesting fight for sure.

Peter: That's starting to look like the consensus out here. Do you believe you are next in line for a shot at that belt?

Ando: That depends on how I do against Zett, a quick KO should put me up there, we´ll see won´t we

Peter: Yes, all will be revealed soon enough! As you mention, your next opponent is Zett Jukassa. He's coming off a 10 second knockout victory which earned him the KO of the night award. He has some serious KO power. But we know that you have devastating KO power too. Is this fight a case of who lands the cleaner shot first? It this a don't blink fight?

Ando: He has power for sure, but he hasn't really proven himself now as he? 1-1 and that KO was against who again? I am a much better fighter with a stronger chin.

Peter: I love it. We love that kind of fighting talk around these parts! But we have it on good authority that Zett learns very quickly in training. With all due respect, you seem to be a little behind in terms of growth. This is a dangerous fight. Could it be a step too far for you?

Ando: We´ll see how quickly he learns when he gets taken to school.

Peter: Daayyyumn! Ok now I'm even more excited for this fight. Looking around at the division, are there any other fighters that you have your eye on? Which fights interest you?

Ando: No, just offer me a fight, whoever you want me to fight, I´ll fight.

Peter: And I'll watch. It's no secret that you are most comfortable in the clinch. You have already beaten one fighter who had better Muay Thai than you. That was Alan Tal. Can you do it again against Zett Jukassa?

Ando: I dont see why not, this is MMA, anything can happen.

Peter: Truer words have never been spoken. Well Ando, you may not be in the main event on Saturday but you are the main event in today's show. Thank you very much for being here on A&E Spotlight. That's it for today. Is there anything else you want to say to your fans that will be listening in?

Ando: Thank you for having me. And to all my fans, I promise to do my best to keep you entertained. Every. Single. Time.

Peter Woodcock (336868)

And that's a wrap! I want to thank Principo Adam, Alexandr Kurilenko, Ando Rowan and all of their managers who helped set these interviews up. We are only hours away from A&E's MARQUEE 4 where we will remain on site to break down all of the action as it happens. A lot has been said. A lot has been hyped. The only thing left to do now is to sit back and watch these amazing fights.

See you soon A&E!

The above interview answers have come from the fighters/managers directly. None of the content has been edited except for one or two typos.

[Ashbourne]

Wrapping Up with the Boss

A&E's MARQUEE 4

2020-08-08

Helsinki

"We're here backstage at Hayashi's Lounge where any minute now Dave Ashbourne will be giving us his thoughts on tonight's action - and here he is! The man himself. Look at that smile!"

"Hey Jeanette, the year is 2020 and we just had two grapplers go at it in the main event of our highest rated show ever. EVER! IN THE HISTORY OF TIME! And it wasn't even close. I mean this thing blew up across all of the metrics. Highest rated event. Highest attendance. Our first ever 100+ rating. Our first ever sellout in this beautiful 2,000 capacity arena. This event has moved A&E to the next level and I want to thank each and every person that was involved."

"Fantastic! Of course it was headlined by that Middleweight title fight between Principo Adam and Wilhelm Bar. Were you surprised by that fight at all?"

"Not at all. Great fight. There were a couple or irks and murmurs in the quieter moments, just as there is with any BJJ heavy fight but Helsinki is an educated crowd. They know their MMA here. Did you hear that applause break out in the first when Adam nearly had his back but Bar managed to get back into Adam's guard? Beautiful. As for the result, listen. Principo fought a perfect fight tonight. Bar looked a little tired whereas Principo grew into it. A professional job that was very well done."

"What's next for Principo Adam?"

"Rest. He just fought five hard solid rounds. And at the highest level. I saw him moments ago and he looked wrecked. We won't be rushing him into anything. Except for signing a new contract! He can expect a call right after this in regards to that."

"The same for Middle Finger? A lot of money followed by a lot of rest?"

"If that's what he wants! We'll talk. The situation at 155lbs is a little different. There is a clear contender for Middle Finger's first defence and that is the 4-0-0 Moana Tautua who looked fantastic tonight finishing the undefeated Tim Cut. We need to wait and see though. I don't like talking future fights right after an event. Especially in a MARQUEE week where we have another event tomorrow and another event the day after that. Anything could happen over the next two days. Let's see what the inaugural rankings say when they come out on Wednesday."

"Finally! Some rankings to make sense of it all. What did you think of Mickey Fernandez calling for a title shot right after his win? He looked impressive?"

"He looked very impressive. I love it. I love the ambition. The drive. Hey, didn't I say to you a few weeks ago that I like this kid? That I like where the future of the organisation is heading with fighters like Mickey Fernandez? He picked up the Sub of the night award tonight. Four wins and four finishes. He's certainly in the running to face the winner of Biden vs. Fitzgerald."

"The KO of the night award went to Ricky Youngblood. He looked pretty animated right after the knockout, did you catch what he was saying?"

"Wait what? That's not right. Best KO was Zett Jukassa and that superman punch."

"That's not what the producers were saying...look...check my notes..."

"Ok that's a mistake. Hold on..."

"What are you doing?

"Sending Zett 10k right now...ok done. I'll see if I can get the award history rectified in the system. Where were we?"

"Ricky Youngblood looked pretty animated right after the knockout, did you catch what he was saying?"

"No I couldn't hear it, the atmosphere was electric in there. He made a big mark on the evening with that performance. No doubt. He would have gained some fans on and off Buzz. But he's still very young. Let's not forget that. He's one of the youngest fighters we have at lightweight. He can go all the way but he should take the long way round. Don't rush into a Middle Finger. There's plenty of competitive fights to be made."

"Wise words! Another Super Heavyweight looked good tonight! Just like Big Chungus did last week, Chris Leopoldo made light work of his opponent in his A&E debut. Both fighters won in exactly 29 seconds. Will we be seeing these two titans face off anytime soon?"

"Leopoldo is ready to fight for the title now. He'll have to wait to see what happens between the champ Jan Nycz and the challenger Liam Ghambe first though. There's also talk of a champ versus champ fight with Denis White moving up from Heavy if he comes through his first defence against Sylvester Coltrane. Lots of options. But Big Chungus needs one or two more wins before he gets his shot at the top brass."

"John PG did it again..."

"Holy shit this guy. Get this guy a sponsor, for Christ's sake! Phin Phorreal looked phenomenal. He was limping coming out of the cage so I don't see how he's going to fight in the Welterweight Grand Prix next week. I was kind of hoping one of them would get rid of the other nice and early and everyone go home in one piece - injury free. What we got instead is one of the best fights I've ever seen and I have no doubt it contributed to our 100+ event rating. John PG is incredible. Certified box office at this point. I thought the Brilliam Yago vs. New Kid fight had everyone beat. With Kid getting the early knockdown and Yago coming back to win it. But then John PG happened. Again. He's never fought anyone as talented and tough as Phin Phorreal. This very well could have been a title fight. I'm excited to see where these two end up from here."

"Onto the Welterweight Grand Prix next week?"

"That and more! We will be having a full tournament preview and an in depth look at every fighter taking part. But let's not forget that we have another 40 fighters in action, tomorrow and Monday. Every fight was a spectacle tonight. I could talk all night about this night. But I see my wife over there and she's giving me the dagger eyes. I'm one strike away from three strikes after that unfortunate boating accident with a Thai stewardess."

"I shouldn't ask..."

"No, no. Probably for the best. Coming dear!"

Event Rating: 107.54 (1st highest)

Attendance: 2,000 (1st highest)

KO of the Night: Ricky Youngblood

Sub of the Night: Mickey Fernandez

Fight of the Night: John PG vs. Phin Phorreal

[Mannetosen]

http://mmatycoon.com/gallery/20/20w9.jpg

 

Toby Time: Welterweight Prospect and International Sex Symbol Toby Keith Yrkje Breaks Down His Bracket

 

Hi guys, Toby Keith Yrkje here. After easily destroying my last two opponents, I had to set my sights higher. The barnyard animals I've been mauling in preparation for the fights put up more of a fight than that Russian guy in particular. Anyhow, my manager and I decided to sign me up for the Ashbourne Welterweight Grand Prix.

 

I wasn't sure if I wanted to join at first, as I was confused and thought it was some kind of shitty Eurovision Song Contest knock-off. We call it 'Melodi Grand Prix' in Norwegian. When Tosen told me it was ESC but for punching people, though, I was on board. I am eager to be the first rural Norwegian since Alexander Rybak to win a Grand Prix abroad.

 

My first opponent is another Russian. In my experience, punching them in the face tends to work. I'm kinda concerned about grappling with him, I'll admit. Not because of his grappling credentials, mind you. He's garbage. No, what concerns me is his nickname, 'Furious Fisting'. In summary, I expect to punch him really hard once and then watch him go cross-eyed.

 

My next fight is against a guy with a green beard. Seriously, the dude looks like he took the wrong turn during a St. Paddy's parade and ended up in the cage by accident. He's finished both of his opponents from half guard, and I expect to take his back from there and choke him out cold. He's probably not gonna try to fist me, so that's nice. I might even give him a celebratory peck on the cheek after I'm done choking him. Kiss me, I'm Irish and all that.

 

My third fight is against a guy Tosen told me was named 'Hardbody' Henry. Yeah. That won't be pretty.

 

In summary, I need better opposition and a pay raise.

[Rocket]

"So that's nice" ????

[Ashbourne]

The Ultimate Guide to the A&E Welterweight Grand Prix 2020
(not a singing competition)

Welcome to the A&E Magazine! A shiny one-off, hot-off-the-press, full-of-hyphens, bumper limited edition print, that takes an in-depth look into the upcoming A&E Welterweight Grand Prix 2020. The rundown. There are four groups of four fighters, so every fighter is guaranteed at least three fights. The top two from each group progress to the quarter finals where they will be one step closer to $2,500,000 + 1 Year's VIP + New Welterweight Championship Belt + Custom Tournament Trophy!

Let's meet the fighters. Group by group.

Group A

Ethan Van Vactor (MMA 4-1-0 | A&E 3-0-0)

Owen Alvarez (MMA 1-0-0 | A&E 1-0-0)

Dwight Schrute (MMA 4-1-1 | A&E debut)

Warren Jackson (MMA 1-1-0 | A&E debut)

This Week's Matchups:

#8 Owen Alvarez vs. #9 Dwight Schrute

#16 Warren Jackson vs. #1 Ethan Van Vactor

We asked the hosts of the infamous and previously cancelled "Shooting The Knees" ""Podcast"" to break things down for us.

***TRIGGER WARNING***

Peter Woodcock: Alright Matt, kick us off here. Who ya got?

Matt Curtis: Alvarez and Van Vactor.

Peter: That easy huh? Should we just end the group now?

Matt: No, I'm on about this week's matchups. Who I think will win this week. No idea past that. None of these groups are foregone conclusions. Except maybe Group D. Literally the only thing I can guarantee in all of this, is that Toby Keith Yrkje will qualify from Group D. Outside of that, I don't have a Scooby Doo.

Peter: Well break it down for us Matt. Give us a little something more. Be an expert. Why does Owen Alvarez beat Dwight Schrute this weekend?

Matt: Because he's better than him.

Peter: Matt...

Matt: What???

Peter: We've got ten pages to fill in this magazine.....otherwise we don't get paid.......please elaborate......

Matt: He's better than him! Owen has been training while Dwight has been fighting. He's got the jump on him.

Peter: It is unusual to see a teenager fight six times in less than a month. But I think you're writing off Dwight a little too easily here. He has fought fighters that are much older than him and won. He's the only man to have knocked out 25 year old Pierre Ragout who is now 4-1-0.

Matt: True. But the only time he has fought a teenager who started training before him was Gul Dukat. And he lost.

Peter: In his debut!

Matt: So! It counts doesn't it? I'm not saying Dwight Schrute is a bum. Far from it. He's a fighter's fighter. Loves to get stuck in and I respect that. But he hasn't put enough work in in the gym. I don't see any way whatsoever that he wins this fight. Tell me how he's going to stop Alvarez's wrestling?

Peter: Pierre Ragout was a superb wrestler. Schrute destroyed him.

Matt: Ok who in God's name is this Pierre Ragout? Isn't that a French snack?

Peter: You don't even listen to me during these conversations do you?

Matt: A dessert? All I'm saying is, Owen Alvarez is better than all of these guys we've mentioned so far. Ain't no gangsta like a north east gangsta.

Peter: What? Maine? Rhode Island?

Matt: I dunno, why don't you ask him!

Peter: I...um...Warren Jackson vs. Ethan Van Vactor then. An easy win for the number one seed?

Matt: I think so. I think this tournament comes a little too soon for Warren Jackson. I think he has a lot of potential but he's one of the youngest guys in the field.

Peter: Do you see Van Vactor as the number one seed?

Matt: I think that's a fair reflection of their careers so far. But this is not an easy group. I wouldn't be surprised if he wins the whole thing but I also wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't make it out of the group. It's entirely possible. Stranger things have happened.

Peter: But you see him beating Jackson on Saturday?

Matt: Van Vactor is a god on the ground. Those two Sub of the Night performances were no fluke. On both nights there were two other submissions that could have won those awards. But Van Vactor is slick with it. Very comfortable on his back and extremely dangerous regardless of what belt his opponent has. He just got done choking a purple belt in 44 seconds.

Peter: Ok the editors have asked us to make a BOLD PREDICTION for each group. What's your © Trap House BOLD PREDICTION for Group A Matt Curtis?

Matt: Well I just touched on it. The number one seed Ethan Van Vactor does not qualify from his group. No! I will go even further. Ethan Van Vactor finishes BOTTOM of his group, making a joke out of Ashbourne's rankings that he's been hyping up for months. Proprietary formula, my ass.

Peter: That's a bold one for sure! Onto Group B.

Group B

Niko Vaktoria (MMA 3-0-0 | A&E 2-0-0)

Phin Phorreal (MMA 2-1-0 | A&E 1-1-0)

Rod De Minaur (MMA 2-1-0 | A&E 2-0-0)

Kaki Mountain (MMA 2-2-0 | A&E 1-2-0)

This Week's Matchups:

#7 Phin Phorreal vs. #10 Rod De Minaur

#15 Kaki Mountain vs. #2 Niko Vaktoria

Peter: A lot of variables at play in this one.

Matt: This group is cursed.

Peter: Here we go...

Matt: First of all, fire the guy that placed Rod De Minaur as the tenth seed? He should be way higher. The disrespect...

Peter: Secondly?

Matt: Isn't Phin Phorreal injured? He just went through a war with John PG.

Peter: Ok yes, it's not looking good for him this week...

Matt: Not looking good? He would be up against it even if he was at 100% He's got to fight Rod De Minaur with a handicap?

Peter: So here's the thing. Phin Phorreal was the last fighter out of all sixteen to fight. And it was a rough one. The seeds and groups were all set long before his fight.

Matt: Ok whatever, I don't care about any of that. Rod De Minaur picks up the easy win. But that's not going to be an easy win when Phorreal faces Vaktoria and Mountain. Because he will most likely be fully healed by then. It kind of messes with the whole group dynamic no?

Peter: Matt......Dave doesn't pay us to talk bad about A&E.....pick a winner.....

Matt: Rod De Minaur because Phin Phorreal is going into the fight injured. Aaaaanndd......Niko Vaktoria.

Peter: Why?

Matt: Because he's be-

Peter: NO! Don't say it. Give us the expert analysis that we deserve.

Matt: No I do like Kaki Mountain in this. He's moved up from 155lb where he's been struggling against those pesky grapplers. I think he'll be very excited to be facing a white belt.

Peter: But? There's a but isn't there?

Matt: The but is Niko Vaktoria. But...Niko Vaktoria has wins over very good fighters. But...that is how we tell the great from the good. But...I would go as far as to suggest that Vaktoria has a better resume than number one seed Van Vactor.

Peter: You're talking about his win over Punch McDermott?

Matt: Sure. Beat McDermott in a fantastic fight. Won an award for it. But he's also the only man to have beaten the 3-1-0 Fried Slobberknacker.

Peter: I used that same logic earlier and you.......nevermind.....

Matt: So you think Vaktoria loses for the first time this weekend?

Peter: I do actually. I think Kaki Mountain is going to really enjoy moving up in weight and it starts with a win on Saturday. What's your © Trap House BOLD PREDICTION for Group B?

Matt: Phin Phorreal qualifies from the group, even though he started the tournament injured.

Peter: That would be something! What a story that would be. It's Group C time.

Group C

Ethan Hawk (MMA 3-0-0 | A&E 2-0-0)

David Night (MMA 2-0-0 | A&E 2-0-0)

Ferele Athram (MMA 3-2-0 | A&E 1-0-0)

Punch McDermott (MMA 4-3-0 | A&E 2-1-0)

This Week's Matchups:

#6 David Night vs. #11 Ferele Athram

#14 Punch McDermott vs. #3 Ethan Hawk

Peter: Your thoughts on a very tough group?

Matt: Since when is a David Septim managed fighter only an 11th seed? Get the f%#* outta here!

Peter: It doesn't look right does it?

Matt: It looks weirder than Owen Alvarez' nose.

Peter: Jesus Matt...

Matt: David Night is good. But David Night is young. I think he may even be the youngest in the entire Grand Prix.

Peter: He is yeh, Pikel Bouldershoulder being the next youngest.

Matt: Punch is Punch. He's going to talk trash and it's going to be amazing. He's already at it and he may do enough to get inside an opponent's head. Get them to make a mistake. This is a high pressure tournament. Winning it makes you one of the very best of your era.

Peter: It really does. Saying that, do you think David Night versus Ferele Athram is the A&E Fight of the Week?

Matt: I do. Ring that bell!

A&E's Fight of the Week

vs.

David Night (2-0-0) vs. Ferele Athram (3-2-0)

Welterweight - 170lbs

Two fighters that thrive when they're on the ground but for very different reasons. Night vs. Athram. Wrestler vs. BJJ. A fighter with two wins versus a fighter with two losses. Under normal circumstances, that would have the bookmakers leaning towards the undefeated guy but there's a lot more going on here.

David Night's opponents so far have not been......great. They are still yet to win a fight. And whereas Night beat them both comfortably, he didn't particularly look great in doing so. On the other side of the cage. Ferele Athram tends to blow hot and cold. Will we be seeing the Athram that lost all three rounds in his debut? Or will we be seeing the Athram that won the Fight of the Night when he submitted Ahktar Rasul in 55 seconds? It's anybody's guess. Both of his losses have come via decisions. He's a counter fighter that sometimes takes too long to pull the trigger.

To be fair to David Night, yes he doesn't have a 55 second finish on his record but he is 4 for 4 on takedowns. Albeit, against far worse wrestlers than Ferele Athram. It's going to be very interesting to see which fighter can dictate the level changes inside the cage.

The key to Group C lies within Night and Athram's takedowns and takedown defense. Win that battle and they win this fight. Win this fight, and they will be in a great position for the quarterfinals.

Peter: Coming back to the other fight in that group this week. Ethan Hawk has been making waves since his move to A&E. How do you like his chances?

Matt: He looks good. His win against Best Best cemented him as a favourite in my books. And to follow that up with a 43 second knockout of Evgeny Kolesov. When you've already knocked out someone in this tournament before the tournament has even started...you know you're on the right path!

Peter: Funny way of putting it! Punch McDermott though...

Matt: I love Punch. Always have, always will. But he is stuck in a terrible group here. Nobody can question his heart. He's had seven fights. Four of them have gone the distance, all of which he won. The man doesn't give up. He has been knocked out three times but never in the first round. Punch McDermott is not an easy fight.

Peter: Never said he was...

Matt: I'm just saying. We ought to put some more respect on this man's name. He could easily turn this group on its head.

Peter: Do you think he beats Ethan Hawk this weekend?

Matt: No, no way.

Peter: But......you were just......

Matt: It's Ethan Hawk Peter!!!!! The fighter, not the actor. Hawk has looked better against better opposition. We're only just scratching the surface with this guy, let me tell you that.

Peter: Okay bold prediction time.

Matt: My © Trap House BOLD PREDICTION for Group C is that we end up with at least THREE draws and we have to go to the tiebreaker to see what's next.

Peter: No one likes a draw.

Matt: I love a draw.

Peter: Yes but no one likes you.

Matt: I love me.

Peter: I need a raise. This is stupid.

Matt: Group D?

Group D

Toby Keith Yrkje (MMA 2-0-0 | A&E 1-0-0)

Pikel Bouldershoulder (MMA 2-0-0 | A&E 2-0-0)

Henry of Skalitz (MMA 2-1-0 | A&E debut)

Evgeny Kolesov (MMA 3-2-0 | A&E 0-1-0)

This Week's Matchups:

#5 Pikel Bouldershoulder vs. #12 Henry of Skalitz

#13 Evgeny Kolesov vs. #4 Toby Keith Yrkje

Peter: You said earlier that the only thing you're sure about is Toby Keith Yrkje will make it out of his group. Is that because the other three fighters aren't on his level?

Matt: No. The other fifteen fighters aren't.

Peter: You think TKY is the best fighter in the Grand Prix?

Matt: I didn't when we first sat down to talk about this but after diving into everything the way we have, I think he's the best 170lber in the 360k era.

Peter: That's...a little premature. He's had two fights.

Matt: But look at the skill-set though. I don't see a single weakness. All that cow punching has helped him tremendously.

Peter: You think he cruises in this group?

Matt: Absolutely.

Peter: Then who's getting second here?

Matt: Now that I have no idea. And therein lies the beauty of this group. That second place is up for grabs. Who wants it more?

Peter: We have a fighter that has never fought in A&E in Henry of Skalitz. A fighter that has only ever fought in A&E in Pikel Bouldershoulder. And a fighter that tasted defeat in his A&E debut in Evgeny Kolesov.

Matt: When in doubt, always give it to the grappler.

Peter: Two blue belts and a white belt in Henry of Skalitz.

Matt: Christ! Who has the better nickname?

Peter: Evgeny "Fists Of Fury" Kolesov. "Hardcore" Henry of Skalitz. Pikel "Oo Oi!" Bouldershoulder.

Matt: I'm sorry, come again?

Peter: Evgeny "Fists-

Matt: No no, that last one. Pikel who who?

Peter: Pikel "Oo Oi!" Bouldershoulder.

Matt: I take it back. TKY's getting wrecked by "Oo Oi!".

Peter: Oo?

Matt: Oi!

Peter: We're going to get cancelled again aren't we?

Matt: Yep.

Peter: Matt Curtis, what is your © Trap House BOLD PREDICTION for Group D?

Matt: My bold prediction for Group D is that Toby Keith Yrkje wins all of his fights in two minutes or less. Every single one.

Peter: Wow, that would set him up very nicely for the quarterfinals! Alright Matt, it's been a pleasure. Thank you for laying it all down for us. And thank you for not being so vulgar this time. It's much appreciated.

Matt: Matthaus Gold is a Wet Ass Pussy.

Peter: Fantastic. Really great Matthew. Top of the line high jinks.

Matt:

Peter: Don't forget folks! A&E Welterweight Grand Prix 2020 kicks off this Saturday with the first round of matches for the Group Stage. There are sure to be some upsets and a lot of highlights. As we round off our first look at the sixteen participants and their opening fights, here are our 11 burning questions:

• Is this really Toby Keith Yrkje's tournament to lose?

• Is Pikel Bouldershoulder being overlooked?

• Will the grapplers reign supreme throughout the tournament?

• Will Niko Vaktoria still be undefeated when the Grand Prix ends?

• Could a #16 seed Warren Jackson make it all the way to the end?

• Is Rod De Minaur the dark horse?

• Will Kaki Mountain be a better Welterweight than Lightweight?

• Will David Night be the youngest fighter AND the best?

• Can Ethan Van Vactor live up to his #1 seed?

• Will Punch McDermott remember who he's fighting?

• Is Owen Alvarez' nose really that bad?

We'd love to hear your thoughts!

As always, don't forget to check out our tournament page for all of the info you need to know, centralized in one convenient section. All of the prize winners will be recorded there, including our first Tournament Lottery taking place on fight night. $50,000 + 3 Months VIP will be awarded on Saturday to a lucky random participant.

Thank you for everyone involved in our first ever tournament! Good luck to all and even if you lose the first fight, there's still plenty to fight for afterwards.

GOOD LUCK!

Ash Presents: Welterweights

Date: 15 Aug 2020

City: Helsinki

Arena: The Underground - Helsinki

[GeorgeC]

 

 

 

August 13 – Crunch Time

 

Near Gate 63, Dorval International Airport

 

Leaving The Loop, on his way to board Air Canada’s 787, Punch Drunk McDermott is talking excitedly on his cell phone.

 

“Yes, Mr. Disney. Of course, Mr. Disney. I’ll do my best, Mr. Disney!”

 

He hangs up the phone, smiling to himself.

 

“Hype is building around Punch McDermott heading into the Welterweight Tournament. That was the second call today I’ve received from a sponsor. First, Dirty Needle called while I was on my way to the airport. The Dirty Needle Project, proven 160Q products, calls me out of the blue, offering some White Powder of Dubious Origin. That’s not sketchy at all! So needless to say, I was flying pretty high when my phone rang again. This time, HELLBENT clothing and do you know what they said? ‘Punch’, Mr. Disney says to me, ‘we want you to darken the skies with the ashes of your enemies’. Well I’m sure I heard him wrong, especially after experiencing the Dirty Needle, but who am I to argue?”

 

He wipes perspiration off his forehead, picks up his bag and moves towards Gate 63. A short line has formed and Punch begins shifting impatiently from foot to foot.

 

 

“It’s an odd feeling, you know? Not the White Powder, that stuff is just great!” He scratches his arms absent-mindedly. “No, it’s the support I’ve received. At the start of the summer, I was working at the single worst discotheque in all of Montreal, spending all my down-time across the street horking down Papa Burgers and onion rings. And now? I work in the best company with the best competition, and I’m heading to Helsinki for the most-hyped tournament any of us have seen. It’s humbling, you know?”

 

The line begins moving towards the gate. Punch stands still, distractedly combing his eyebrows with his fingers. The man behind him, a middle-aged businessperson, coughs to get his attention.

 

“Voitko liikkua?”

 

“Well, humbling for most people I guess. The younger generation, the self-entitled punks who’ve never been hit outside of a controlled-gym situation. They’re the type to take the sponsorship calls and complain because they didn’t receive enough.” He shakes his head. The businessperson behind him is loudly tapping his toes, willing Punch forward to get on the plane.

 

Tule, ääliö, etkö kuule heidän soittavan meille!?!

 

“The ashes of mine enemies …. This one’s for you Mr. Disney!”

[MiikeSnow]

 

#8 Owen Alvarez vs. #9 Dwight Schrute

• Is Owen Alvarez' nose really that bad?

 

 

 

 

He may have a bad nose, but he's still winning in life.

 

It's a shame that his first tournament win is going to have to come against an alliance member - but Alvarez has to do what he has to do.

[DkkoO]

http://mmatycoon.com/gallery/24/24b7.jpg

 

Niko "No House MD" Vaktoria

 

Best of luck to "Drunk" in the Grand Prix opening tomorrow. I'll gladly give you a rematch if you make it out past your next physical appointment! But please, refrain from breaking my hand with your head again... how am I going to make it as a surgeon otherwise?! Don't take it easy though, I'm unsure of how you were able to take so much punishment but I'm rooting for you just because of our last battle. And if anything goes wrong, my senior colleagues will patch you up... just so I can play Punchball with your head one more time!

[Ashbourne]

Our first ever rankings are out!

 

We have been fine tuning the formula for weeks. We know it's not going to please everyone. Bear in mind that a winning streak helps a lot. Welterweights will have to wait a little longer, I'm afraid. Super Heavy is restricted to a Top 5 because we don't want a 0-3-0 fighter being ranked (WE NEED MORE SUPER HEAVY FIGHTERS PLEASE!). There are some situations where the #4 and #5 ranked fighter is fighting for the title soon. This will correct itself as we schedule around these new rankings. They will be updated as much as possible on the rankings page.

Thank you for your patience and support!

 

Rankings are based on different weightings of the following:

- Win Percentage

- Win Streak

- Fights vs. Ranked Opp and their Rank

- Finishes

- Different Type of Finishes (KO, TKO, Sub) - can thank McGregor for this one.

- of the Night Awards

- Dave Ashbourne's Interest

- Skill Estimate on Fighter+

Official Rankings (as of 14/8/20)

P4P - to be released after A&E Welterweight Grand Prix 2020.

Bantamweight (135lbs)

Champion: Samuel Little (3-0-0)

1. Sam Salter (5-2-0)
2. Little Bastard (4-1-0)
3. Scotty Jameson (2-0-0)
4. Chris Stillman (2-0-0)
5. Gagong UnEqual (1-0-0)
6. Kofi Jamay (2-2-0)
7. Lindsay Apollo (1-1-0)
8. Gunars Zonbergs (1-1-0)
9. Dean Freeman (1-1-0)
10. Noah Diaz (2-3-0)

Featherweight (145lbs)

Champion: Joe Biden (4-0-0)

1. Mickey Fernandez (4-0-0)
2. Anton Smolin (5-0-0)
3. Greg Fitzgerald (3-0-0)
4. Peshek Fence (3-0-0)
5. Oluwadare Kwande (3-0-0)
6. Richard Betts (2-0-0)
7. Dwayne Fletcher (2-0-0)
8. Gary Bellamy (2-0-0)
9. Guy Masterson (2-0-0)
10. Andrei Magomedsharipov (1-0-0)

Lightweight (155lbs)

Champion: Middle Finger (4-0-0)

1. Moana Tautua (4-0-0)
2. Ricky Youngblood (3-0-0)
3. Adam Ng (2-0-0)
4. Teppo Taavitsainen (3-0-0)
5. Conan Kennedy (2-0-0)
6. Alexandr Kurilenko (3-1-0)
7. Jimi Tank (3-1-0)
8. Shaun Gow (1-0-0)
9. YaDaruis Queel (4-2-0)
10. Khalabib Magomedov (1-0-0)

Welterweight (170lbs) - to be released after A&E Welterweight Grand Prix 2020.

Middleweight (185lbs)

Champion: Principo Adam (4-0-0)

1. Charles Murdock (2-0-0)
2. Jan Sleziacik (4-1-0)
3. Miguel Tyson (2-0-0)
4. Anthony Webber (2-0-0)
5. Johnny Somebody (2-0-0)
6. Wilmer Fudd (4-1-0)
7. Fran Griggs (5-1-0)
8. Zett Jukassa (2-1-0)
9. Wilhelm Bar (3-1-0)
10. Ricky Conway (4-1-0)

Light Heavyweight (185lbs)

Champion: Dolph Lindgren (4-0-0)

1. Brilliam Yago (5-0-0)
2. Jake Rizzo (4-0-0)
3. Tomas Hric (4-1-0)
4. Greg Sharty (3-0-0)
5. Eli Rambeau (2-0-0)
6. Tourn Champ (4-1-0)
7. Alfredo Alliterez (2-1-0)
8. Luca Myles (4-2-0)
9. Julian Rourke (1-0-0)
10. David Choke (1-0-0)

Heavyweight (265lbs)

Champion: Denis White (3-0-0)

1. Roberto Vieira (7-1-0)
2. Koua Kamara (3-0-0)
3. Kazuo Sakuraba (6-2-0)
4. Sylvester Coltrane (2-0-0)
5. Ali Amir (3-1-0)
6. Peoples Champion (1-0-0)
7. Hub McCann (1-0-0)
8. Jan Klauss (4-2-0)
9. Joseph Krakowski (1-0-0)
10. Trent Wrigley (1-0-0)

Super Heavyweight (265+lbs)

Champion: Liam Ghambe (3-0-0)

1. Chris Leopoldo (4-0-0)
2. Jan Nycz (6-2-0)
3. Gregor Saabo (2-0-0)
4. Big Chungus (1-0-0)
5. Sergei Ivanov (1-0-0)

SEND US YOUR SUPER HEAVYS!!!! (please)

[Ashbourne]

We'll be creating more events and sending out fight offers after tonight's big show.

[jhm5]

How are there 10 undefeated fighters at 145? Jeez, that class is a bloodbath.

[Ashbourne]

I know right! It went from being one of the weakest divisions to one of the strongest in a matter of weeks.

[Parriyah]

Looking at the fighter rankings, the fact that my below average fighters were given the chance to join this organisation makes me feel honored...and a little scared for the well being of my fighters lol. Here's hoping they do well

[poraan]

I was little scared about Mountains group. Honestly i wasnt really sure how he will perform, but seems like he can strike

 

Mountain has lately trained a lot defensive ground game, so he can focus now 100% physicals and striking.

[Ashbourne]

[Xyel]

Ethan Hawk

 

I would like to thank Mr. McDermott for the great fight, and I wish him the best of luck in his future matches.

 

And because I'm not stingy at all, I will consider donating a percentage of one of my future purses to CTE research.

 

 

 

And on a managerial side note, I love the Punch-related content so much that I feel bad about beating the soul out of him. But business is business.

[Mannetosen]

Shame TKY couldn't shave 34 seconds off his win, he just missed your prediction.

[GeorgeC]

 

 

 

 

Round 2 - Ferele Athram

 

August 17, Lobby of the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel, Helsinki, Finland

 

Punch McDermott is waiting behind a microphone stand, occasionally glancing down at his prepared notes as he waits for the press to find their seats. He taps the microphone and begins:

 

“Arturo Gatti. Julio Cesar Chavez. Sugar Ray Leonard. Muhammed Ali. These are Hall of Fame caliber fighters whose hometowns are real. You can look at a map and find Italy, Mexico, and the Americas. My Round 2 opponent, Ferele Athram, hails from a small community on a small island in the middle of … imagination. That’s right, ladies and gentlemen of the press, Tel Aruhn is NOT a real place! I ask you, good people of MMA Tycoon, if you’re willing to officially lie about where you’re from, what else are you lying to us about? What are you trying to hide from the fans, Ferele Athram? You come into A&E, my home and native land, armlocking this guy, and hyperflexing that guy and that’s fine, it really is. We expect you to beat up small children and invertebrate insects, but lying I will not stand for! I’ll now take questions from the press. Yes, you. The buck-toothed lady in the back.”

 

The camera swings around to the audience, revealing ten rows of chairs (150 in total), empty except for one man. The reporter looks over his shoulder where Punch is pointing, perplexed. Punch seems to be nodding in agreement.

 

“Great question. As you know, I’m a stand-up guy and I’m not one to make excuses. A loss is a loss and it doesn’t matter if you get punched by Niko Vaktoria when you’re not looking, or whether that imposter, Ethan Hawk, hits you after you’ve slipped on some water. I don’t like hitting defenseless people, but that’s just me. Next question? You … the gentleman in the front with the snowshoes on.”

 

Again, the sole reporter looks to where Punch is gesturing, confused. Punch is furrowing his eyebrows, clearly disagreeing with whatever he is hearing.

 

“I’m going to stop you right there. First off, you look ridiculous. Do you see yourself? Are you trying out for a part in Frozen? I take precious time out of my day, time I could be using to rest and recuperate, to spend time with my family and this is the treatment I get? No and again, no! I am not retiring, I am not considering retiring and no one can make me retire. Is there anything else from you useless excuses for journalists?”

 

The one, lone man, tentatively raises his hand, pointing and a brochure in his hand and speaks in halting English.

 

“Free breakfast?”

“What?”

 

“Radisson … give free breakfast?”

 

“I hate each and every one of you. This press conference is over.”

[Ashbourne]

Monday Morning Fighter (on a Tuesday)

 

 

It's been an incredible few days here at A&E. So much so, that it's getting hard to keep up! But we've got you covered right here. The A&E Welterweight Grand Prix 2020 has kicked off AND we have a new champion at 205lbs. Meet Jake Rizzo.

 

The one time paramedic good guy burnt out during Covid-19. His discontent with the system grew so strongly, now his only joy is putting his opponents into the overloaded health system.

 

Everything about this man is impressive. Inside and outside the A&E cage. For starters, he's a blue belt with 2 Sub of the Night awards. That's as rare as it gets. There was no submission this time against the purple belt and champion Dolph Lindgren however. The challenger's game plan was clear from the get-go. Take the fight into the clinch and keep it there. 33 head punches and 13 body punches was enough to put the Swedish champion down. Down but not out because in the grand scheme of things, Lindgren is the top tier talent in a division that is lacking it.

 

Next up for Rizzo is the 5-0-0 Brilliam Yago. Another purple belt but one with much better wrestling than Rizzo's last opponent. So far in his career, Yago has avoided 80% of strikes in the clinch. In comparison, Lindgren only avoided 41% against Rizzo before succumbing to it.

 

************

At the end of our preview for the A&E Welterweight Grand Prix 2020, we asked a lot of questions. We now have some of the answers but with another question. What was the biggest surprise of the opening fights? Here's our thoughts on it:

1) The #1 seed Ethan Van Vactor got cut to smithereens by the #16 Warren Jackson, before the doctor called it off after 3:14 of the very first round. Warren Jackson immediately becomes one of the new favourites going forward and that group is now officially the Group of Death. In a battle of alliance mates, Owen Alvarez made his friend Dwight Schrute tap out due to strikes. Strikes! Alvarez takes on Van Vactor next, who will be looking to keep his tournament hopes alive.

 

2) Henry of Skalitz looked amazing. He dismantled his undefeated opponent in 49 seconds, waking up the rest of the field. In a group where it looked like Toby Keith Yrkje was going to dominate, it's fair to say Skalitz is not here to just make up the numbers. Can he go one step further and trouble TKY?

 

3) Kaki Mountain is a welterweight. And a very good one. He became the first fighter to beat Niko "No House MD" Vaktoria proving that his power carries well at the higher weight. And just like that, Group B is WIDE OPEN. Round 2 of the group stages will be very interesting. It's Niko Vaktoria vs. Phin Phorreal to see who is going home early. And Rod De Minaur vs. Kaki Mountain to see who is in pole position for the knockout stages. Or is this the Group of Death? Because we feel like any of these fighters could qualify from the other groups. A great fighter or two is not going to make it out of this.

 

4) There was not enough Ethan Hawk talk last time out. We want to take this moment to appreciate his beautifully precise combo that shut up put out Punch McDermott. We hope that Hawk keeps punching like he does and McDermott keeps talking like he does. Two legends for two very different reasons. Both with a good chance of winning some of the many prizes at stake. Ethan Hawk looks like he can be the one to beat TKY. But Ferele Athram looks like he can be the one to beat Ethan Hawk. As the Grand Prix goes along, there's going to be some incredible match-ups.

 

5) Will we see someone who lost in the first round, go on to progress from their group? Our money is on Dwight Schrute. He tapped out with only 4 seconds left in the second round. What could've been, in that last final round. Everything can change in an instant when you're swinging for those fences. Schrute's next fight against Warren Jackson will tell us who's the contender and who's the pretender in that group.

 

************

Koua Kamara is no longer with A&E. He's also no longer undefeated. Kamara had made it very clear that he was ready to leave the organisation. The fighter from Cameroon has looked incredible with his unmatched KO power. Those heavy hands helped him to a 3-0-0 record with two performance bonuses. But there is a new name in the Heavyweight division.

 

Look at the face!

 

This fight was an absolute bloodbath and narrowly missed out on the Fight of the Night to Bison Jury vs. Riyu Mendes. There was cuts galore in this one. The cage floor looked like something from out of CSI. See for yourself. WARNING, it's not for the faint-hearted:

 

His name is Peoples Champion.

 

The heavyweight division is not looking as deep as it used to but the quality is better than it has ever been. Denis White is our champion. At A&E's MARQUEE 5, he takes on Sylvester Coltrane in his first title defence. At the same event, the Super Heavyweight title will be on the line with newly crowned Liam Ghambe taking on the 4-0-0 challenger from Australia, Chris Leopoldo. As long as both parties want it, it's setting up beautifully for a Champion vs. Champion fight. But at Heavyweight, there is also the 7-1-0 Roberto Vieira whose longstanding rivalry with Kazuo Sakuraba looks all but done after two convincing wins against his nemesis. Vieira is next in line but he's not waiting around. He goes up again the #8 Jan Klauss next.

 

Denis White. Jan Klauss. Roberto Vieira. Peoples Champion. Sylvester Coltrane. Ali Amir.

 

The Heavyweight division looks alive and well. Add to it Hulk Hogan, who just won KO of the Night after a 38 second knockout win in his A&E debut. The Heavyweight division looks better than Halle Berry does at 54.

[RozzaD]

Can’t wait to get some of my guys in this org. They’re all 364k so just a bit more training and they’ll be ready.

[Ashbourne]

Can’t wait to get some of my guys in this org. They’re all 364k so just a bit more training and they’ll be ready.

 

Music to my ears!!!!