MIXED MARTIAL ARTS



Mark

             Twenty six year old Mark Godbeer, fighting out of the 'All Or Nothing' Kickboxing and MMA camp, has just recorded his 5th straight win in his Mixed Martial Arts fighting career. Competing under full professional rules in the Heavyweight division Mark took on Frazier Opie of Milton Keynes, who himself has been named as a top prospect in the country, at the South West Fighting Championships in Torquay. Opie has quite an extensive Thai boxing background as well as an impressive mma record, but it took Bridgwater fighter Godbeer a little under three minutes of the first round to submit his opponent with a 'guillotine choke'.

            Opie started the bout with a quick takedown and held Godbeer briefly against the foot of the cage where he landed a few punches to the head, but Godbeer proved his ground game was far too slick to be held too long in such a position. Despite Opie's obvious strength Godbeer kept his head and attacked with submission attempts from beneath his opponent. Godbeer reversed the position he was in and almost finished Opie with a straight arm bar that seemed perfectly executed, but Opie remained resilient and refused to tap. But by this time Godbeer was attacking with other options that saw his opponent running out of ideas in an area where he was clearly second best. Finally, Mark Godbeer wrapped an arm around the undefended neck and throat of Opie that finally forced him to tap out, much to the delight of over one hundred travelling supporters from both Taunton and Bridgwater.This was to have been Mark's toughest test to date but he showed that he has the calibre to one day fight the very best.Mark Godbeer fights again in Bristol in October before facing a French fighter on the next Bridgwater home show on November.

            Another All Or Nothing fighter Danny Poulsom of Taunton was impressive in his third mma bout. Poulsom faced local thai fighter Colin Freel,  who started confidently with some strong kicks toward the legs and head of Poulsom. Poulsom made good use of his footwork to avoid the kicks and then closed his opponent down where he could make good his boxing skills. Thirty eight year old Poulsom defied his age by relentlessly punching the head and body of his opponent. In almost a replica of his last fight Poulsom would not take his foot off the gas and brutally bludgeoned his opponent while trapping him against the cage. Freel fought back valiantly but while trying to get back into the fight exposed his head which Poulsom found with a huge left hook that saw the Torquay man hit the floor. Poulsom still continued punching while the referee hovered but the brave home fighter was saved from any further damage by his cornerman throwing in the towel in the dying seconds of the first round. Danny also plans to keep up the momentum by fighting again in October.



Danny Poulsom


            Stablemate and good friend of Poulsom John Allen was in his second mma fight and took on local man Mark Brown. Both fighters looked well matched at the start with both trying to assert pressure with their boxing techniques. Allen seemed to have the better skill but got caught up against the cage in a clinch that although he was dominating was a little messy and unconvincing. The second round however saw Allen at his best with an assertive boxing style; he stepped up the pressure with big punches to the head that clearly hurt Brown. This encouraged Allen even further who continued to pick his shots against an opponent who was by now backing off, looking for a way out. Allen then found an uppercut that rocked Brown, then another that dropped his opponent. Cage Rage referee Grant Waterman jumped in to stop the fight. Technical knock out for John Allen.


John Allen (left) warming up

            Newcomer to the sport of mma Taunton's Martin Greedy took his first ever fight at just a couple of days notice. Although probably winning the first round he clearly tired and this affected his ability to resist being taken down and dominated from the top mount position. Punches rained down on brave Greedy but he refused to show any signs of giving up, but was finally stopped ten seconds from the end of the last round by the referee. Martin Greedy was smiling after and said how much he wants to get back to training to prove it was just a bad day. Club coach Arthur Meek said this attitude typifies the character of the club and whether they win, lose or draw he is extremely proud to work with all his fighters. See these guys and other local fighters in action in Bridgwater on November 21st at Junction 24.


John and Martin



Preparations


Mark unloads      




Pre fight chat




They even have time to dance