The Isle of Wight’s first Mixed Martial Arts fight promotion – Island Fight League (IFL) – landed with a bang at GG’s Bar and Restaurant in Newport on Saturday (3rd June).
IFL 1 did not disappoint. With 11 evenly matched bouts under Submission Only, MMA, Muay Thai and K1 rules – the crowd were in for a treat.
8 fighters from Brotherhood MMA in Ryde were on the card. Corey Kent took on 2 Submission-Only Grappling matches and won both by Rear Naked Choke.
Lloyd Williams had an MMA bout against a tough opponent in Tyler James of JM MMA/BE Fit and came away with the win after a Round 1 Technical Knockout after 2 mins and 10 secs.
Niko Shelley took on Mason Smith of NGMA in another Submission-Only Grappling match, which ended in a draw.
Next was Charlie Toogood, up against a highly-talented Frankie Connery of GK1 Striking. After a back-and-forth K1 bout, Frankie took the win with a Technical Knockout in 1 min and 1 sec of Round 3.
Making his MMA debut, Harry Spinks made a lasting impression. After a hard 1st round, Harry brought it back in rounds 2 and 3, and won by unanimous decision. Harry took this fight on after just 5 days notice, taking on Mitchell Powell of Hoddesdon Muay Thai, who weighed in 5kg heavier than himself.
Thomas Lee fought an incredibly strong opponent in Dan James of Rogue MMA. Unfortunately, Thomas lost by Ground and Pound in Round 1.
Up next was the first of 2 MMA Title fights on IFL 1. Will Perrin had a tough match-up with Svetlozar Benev of Predators MMA, and it was an absolute war. Will took the victory with a referee stoppage, 1 minute and 17 seconds in to round 4, and came away the IFL Flyweight Champion.
Finally, the last of the title fights saw Connor Tymon against Anas Nfaou of Submission Factory, who travelled down from Scotland on less than 5 days notice. This was an incredible fight, and – after 5 hard fought 3-minute rounds – it was a unanimous decision by the judges that saw Connor crowned the IFL Welterweight Champion.
The most pathetic “sport” imaginable. Thugs being thugs. Just give them pick axe handles and be done with it.
Wow, what a thoughtful and intelligent comment. Maybe you should educate yourself before expressing such a cliched, out of touch, boomer statement
I would obviously need a lobotomy to appreciate this “sport” in the same manner as those participating. Oh well, I suppose it gives the island knuckle draggers are change of scenery. How fitting that they are in a cage.
Sign up ,see how you get on ! ….you could call yourself the “Masked Muay Monkey Face ” …
Think I would have to come from Wroxall or Freshwater to live up to that moniker. I’ll only play if I can bring my own pick axe handle.
Even with an a weapon these guys would easily control you until the police arrived. This thug mentality is coming from yourself
What about a gun? Are they bulletproof?
Give me 10 seconds in a cage with you and you can have the complete pick axe, absolute drip
You sound absolutely lovely. Ooh chase me … I’ll let you catch me.
A thug is a person who has no control of their aggression and participates in neferious activities. These guys are athletes who are discplined to their core and train all the time. They are real men who walk into that cage on their own and shake the opponents hand when the match is over. The complete opposite of a thug
You forgot that part about kicking the sh*t out of each other. No great skills on show in this non-sport.
I think you will find that the complete opposite of a thug is simply someone who does not behave aggressively, like Gandhi. These thugs are not Gandhi.
These are real men unlike yourself. Better to be a warrior in a garden than a gardener in a war!
Real men don’t need to kick the sh*t out of other people. They live in a more civilized world and can communicate verbally to solve issues without resorting to using their fists and feet.
Real men are ready and capable of defending woman and children. We live in a civilised society because we have centuries off strong men who have created a peaceful world. This has now spawned people like you who hide behind a keyboard and use a pick axe when ever they’re scared. You’re physically and mentally WEAK buddy
Thugs? Have you actually been to brotherhood? Have you ever even trained any sort of martial arts?
All the lads down brotherhood are not only humble but also very respectful.
They’ve helped so many people on this island since day 1 of the gym opening (including myself)…
It honestly takes massive balls to train and even bigger ones to go and compete… so think before typing such rubbish you clearly know nothing about.
And the fact they shake hands before the fight and then give mad respect to each after is alot of levels above “thugs”. I’m proud of everyone of them chaps that stepped in win lose or draw.
Come off it. Thugs in cages doing thuggish stuff. These people should try participating in proper sports that require skills, intelligence, and teamwork. Sports that finish by walking away with a smile on your face afterwards rather than cumulative brain damage.