If at first you don't succeed...

On hearing the news of Ant's win, Forrest Griffin needed a lie down

Some of you may be wondering why Anthony Phillips is now walking around the gym like he's the Man, the Boy, the Daddy etc etc. Well, that's because Ant's pro-mma fight record will shortly be showing 1-3-0, having won his latest pro fight against an opponent who, for a change, was not 2 stone heavier. I'd love to give more details about who, where, when and stuff, but despite being told several times, I keep forgetting so please accept my apologies, and feel free to put details in via comments.

Naturally, now that Ant is no longer in training, it means that we can stop with all the "go easy on him to boost his confidence" nonsense, in case Ant starts thinking he's some sort of proper pro fighter or something. After doing a quick spar with him, and slapping on a bicep crush, followed by a guillotine, I ensured that Ant was put back in his place...

Its snowing!!!

Everyone loves ninjas! Not sure what this has got to do with snow, Christmas or new year, but I was bored and stumbled upon it on the internet - Enjoy!

Return of the Mac

Despite practising, he just couldn't get the piggy back right.

Whoop Whoop! Steelo's back!

Journeyman Steele has returned from his travels of beating up kickboxers, to come back to the home of mma and submission groundfighting, and basically get his ass handed to him on a plate by Roger and Aaron the Pest.

What's that you say? Full guard? Half guard? That's old news my friend! You need to work on the rubber guard and x-guard!

See you soon...

Farewell!

I have some terrible news for you... I have defected! Buggered off! Gone AWOL!

Yes, it was only a matter of time, but I have found an mma club that is actually in the same county as my house (I had to pass through 3 counties to get to Leo's Gym!) - Bailang MMA in Telford. It has its own website if your interested in taking a look. I think it originally started life as a kickboxing club, and has evolved into MMA. It has some good facilities such as lots of punch bags, poles (for monkey-style rope climbing), beer barrels and huge tractor tyres for doing some caveman training Sean Sherk style! Still lacking a cage though...

I guess this will be Black Country Combats last post. Take care everyone!

New year, new post

Sometimes, just one beer is simply not enough.

Hello fans. I was looking through the posts and realised that I hadn't put anything up for nearly two months! So here is a random post of crapola to keep you going through the dark wintery nights now that Christmas is over. Don't you just love January?

BCC reign supreme

I'll carry you off... best not get the floor dirty.

Steve drove home in his invisible car

Woohoo! A new post - Spread the word!!!

Last weekend saw more competitions with success of varying degrees. First off was Ant who stepped into the cage on Saturday at Pro Kumite Fight Night, for not only his first pro fight, but also his first title fight! Although eventually losing to ground and pound, everyone agreed that Ant put up a good fight, including his opponent Jared Ferre, who admitted expecting an easy fight and upset that he didn't get one!

Sunday saw Steve looking to claim the british welterweight mma title in Hereford, and shock of the century, he only went and won it! Without any triangles! The first two rounds were finished off in usual quick style, but the final saw Steve unable to tap his opponent out, although he dominated the fight and was given a unanimous decision to win the title! Steve has been allowed to continue training at Leos Gym because of this win, as we don't have room for losers...

I'm thirsty

BCC SOCIAL EVENT
Where: Bridgnorth. When: FRIDAY 8th August. Why: why not. Any questions? As before, see Paul Dunn for travel arrangements via minibus.

BCC trash talk: Wildboar vs The Pest

Aaron trying to put his trousers on.

Stephen "I'll kick your ass" Wildboar, performs his favourite technique

Aaron and Stephen have unwittingly begun a battle for the best grappler at BCC, with Aaron bringing in the trash talk claiming: "I could tap Ste out easily". While Ste continues to perfect his "triangle at 30 paces" technique, Aaron believes that he can beat any man by simply lying on the floor and hoping someone goes into his half guard, including "1000%" Wildboar himself. Both fighters were pencilled in to face each other in the Angrr Management grappling competition (sort of) until Ste pulled out, claiming that the fight would be over in 5 seconds and not worth getting out of bed for. Not to be outdone, Aaron himself then pulled out of the competition as well. While Ste has yet to respond to this obvious challenge to his submission prowess, Aaron was last seen trying to fold himself into a Pretzel. The dispute continues...

Roger "no name" Woodward: Clash of Warriors

Roger had been working on his tan.

Hoping to clash with some warriors not quite as good as himself this weekend, Roger will be representing the mighty BCC in his 3rd professional cage match in Clash of Warriors in Nottingham. Check out the fight card with an interesting photo of Roger here: http://www.clashofwarriors.com/nextevent.html

Beers...

I said SCAMPI fries, not bacon fries, you muppet!

BCC beer outing WAS pencilled in for Saturday 21st June, to Bridgnorth. However, a couple of plonkers have decided that they want to be on holiday then, so it needs to be rearranged to... not sure yet. Any ideas? Let Paul D know if you are interested so that we know numbers for the minibus.

Competitions Update

If you think I'm blinking first mate... you're sadly mistaken!

Domination!

SMACK! Straight into the ribs...

I've yet to speak to either person, but here's a rough report on last weekend's competitions:
Kyle's debut was a successful one, coming home with 2 draws in which Kyle dominated each fight (as you can see from the piccies above!). However, Kyle also got his first taste of the adrenaline dump, where he realised that cardio plays a big part in the fight and that nerves can tire you out!

Ant had a slightly less successful trip to Wales, with him losing to a guillotine choke, possibly from a shoot? Regardless, no one can deny that Ant is definitely game for any competitions going! As I say, details are sketchy since I haven't spoken to either yet. Any photos from Ant's fight?

Competitions

Big shout out to Ant and Kyle who will be representing Black Country Combat this weekend. Ant is once again taking on all comers at Grapple & Strike Fight Night 4 in Nantyglo, Wales Saturday night 17th May. Kyle will be making his mma debut at Hereford's Open Combat Sports Trial (2nd leg) on Sunday 18th May. Good luck to both of you, and make sure to report back to me with plenty of photos!

BCC Beer outing...

Give me a fucking Stella... and some scampi fries.

The sun is shining, the birds are singing, the boys are sweating in the heat while climbing the ladder of rest and doing stair sprints. What better way to cool off and enjoy the weather than with a cool refreshing beer... or 2? Previous trips to Worcester etc have been a success with taxis working out at about £5 a piece (source: Paul Dunn 2008), and it has been suggested doing something similar elsewhere. Bridgnorth perhaps? Obviously I would be very interested in that since I live there, as well as the pleasant surroundings and plentiful pubs. Anyone got any other suggestions or comments?

Grappling competition

The UMA (United Martial Alliance) is holding a no-gi grappling competition on Sunday 18th May, which is not fair off - however the deadline for entries is Wednesday 14th May. Click on the link below for more information and the entry form to print off/email back to UMA.

http://www.umauk.co.uk/UMA_II_UK_OPEN_GROUNDFIGHTING_CHAMPIONSHIPS_NO-GI_SUNDAY_18TH_MAY_2008.doc

Eddie Bravo seminar

I don't smoke cigarettes, I don't smoke cigars, I don't smoke a pipe, pipe, pipe...

Interested in performing the Jiu Claw, Crackhead Control, or the Cock Block? Then head on over to Walsall on 7 June. Wolves MMA are hosting an Eddie Bravo seminar. Advanced tickets are a mere £40 a pop, so I'm thinking of buying 3 so there's a bit more space on the mat.

Follow the link: http://www.mmauniverse.com/events/SS9150

Wanted: Dead or Alive - My pads

Still AWOL since last year: my knee and shin pads. Perhaps an unwise move in hindsight, I lent these cherished items to Lee "unprepared" Bates during the G&S final, only for Lee to then take an early retirement and not be seen since for some weeks. Lee is now back training, but not before handing my equipment over to someone else first. I think Paul "The Animal" Holmes now has them held prisoner in his car boot, and is refusing to hand them over. If you see Paul before I do, get him to give them to Rob instead!

Birthdays

What's this got to do with training and fighting? Don't ask me, but I've been asked to put this up so that we can have even more excuses to go out and get battered, on top of the weekly beers, and basically undo all that good work that we've done in the cage.

5th Apr - Chris "Old Cheese" Smith

30th Aug - James "The Chosen One" Steele

5th Oct - Aaron The Pest

Do you have a birthday? You do? Then let me know!

UFC 1

Here's a UFC event that Aaron might be able to actually get some correct predictions out of. I reckon that the karate guy will win - how can anyone resist the "wax on wax off" technique? Unstoppable!

Upcoming MMA competition

Combat Sports Open Trials - 2008: 1st Leg

10 Feb 2008

Hereford

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Grapple and Strike Wales 2008: Round 1

9 March 2008

Deepest darkest Wales

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I'm going to have a year off.

YOU, however, need to get involved! Grab an entry form - use the link on the right to get to MMAUniverse or Grapple and Strike.

Christmas holiday

Christmas time is upon us again, and Rob wants at least 3 weeks holiday! This means that the last training session will be Thursday 20th Dec, reopening again on Jan 2nd.