The South Coast; Ten of the best: Part 1
So let's not ponder on the politics of this article anymore, because they simply do not exist. This is the South Coast 'Ten of the Best' and I have another ten waiting to be unleashed on you later this week.
So in no particular order, let's get started.
1. Tom "Kong" Watson
Clearly an obvious choice. Tom has recently been smashing it on another level, taking out Ninja Rua and Jack Marshman with relative ease. Tom has fully outgrown the domestic scene in the UK and is at the point in his career where he needs the best opponents in the world to showcase his skill set. The North American market really needs to see Watson's devastating leg-kicks and his fast hands. 'Cos let's be honest, if your felling guys like Ninja Rua with leg-kicks then surely something must be up? Add to this a diamond chin and a disgustingly violent use of elbows during GnP, Mr Kong is more than ready for the big show.
2. James "The Power Weasel" Pennington
It took a while to find the right fight for James, but that is exactly what happened when Chris Garry stepped into the cage with The Weasel at Shock N Awe 10. What ensued was a classic fight that the audience will never forget. James walked away the victor by a cats whisker, but in doing so cemented his worth as one of the toughest and most dangerous S.O.B`s in the U.K`s bantamweight division. Just how far this young lump of raw talent is capable of going will become clear over the next 12 months as he has just signed up to the Cage Warriors promotion, but we at AddictedMMA have a strong hunch that he's going to the top, and quickly.
3. Oli Thompson
He's an ex-British strong man champion and he has made a huge impression on the U.K`s domestic scene in no time at all, Hulk smashing his way through the best UK heavyweights that UCMMA have to offer. It was inevitable that Oli soon found himself in possession of a bright and shiny U.F.C contract. His debut with the planets premier promotion did not go to plan, but if Oli can channel the incredible determination and focus that it takes a man to become his country's strongest individual, then it doesn't take a genius to see his future is at the top of the game.
4. Jeff "Ippon" Lawson
Who could ever forget The Ultimate Fighter UK vs USA reality show? Let's be honest, the UK team did us all proud for more reasons than just white washing the show. And one of the members of the U.K team just happened to be Bournemouth`s own Jeff Lawson. Famously laid back in his demeanour, inside the cage it is a different kettle of fish. Utilising his high level judo coupled with jui jitsu and an array of unorthodox striking straight from the movies, Jeff is a cold calculating finisher of fights. It is rumoured that his family homes walls are decorated with the many arms of his victims. Nobody is quite sure if Jeff is retired or just taking a break from competition, but what we do know is if one of the South Coast's best does step back into the cage, he will be looking to add to his collection of limbs.
5. Phil Harris
Phil is another member of the GYM 01 Ultimate Mini-Avengers team. Smashing his way to being regarded as not only the best flyweight in the UK, but also in Europe. You can see plenty of Phil making short work of his opponents at the Cage Warriors promotion. Never in a boring fight and incredibly well rounded, it's looking more and more likely that there is no other place for Harris than the world's number one promotion, the U.F.C. Whether you're seeing Phil winning fights with a cut the size of a whales vagina on his head, or he`s breaking the jaws of some of the top upcoming talent the U.K has to offer in training, you know once he`s taped his hands up and slipped his gum shield in, he`s ready to compete. And he`s not taking any prisoners.
6. John Hathaway
Or the beast of Brighton to anybody that's ever stepped in the cage with him. John is a young, ex-rugby player, who has achieved incredible things at the highest level. Arguably John's greatest feat so far has been the complete and utter rag dolling of Diego "The Dream" Sanchez. Going into the fight John was a huge underdog with many critics around the world frowning about the match-up. Coming out of the fight John left every member of the audience with their mouths wide open. But not the critics though, they had firmly shut their mouths one minute into the first round. Many of them still have not spoken to this day.
7. Tolly Plested
The undefeated Tolly Plested is a conundrum for any of his opponents. In fact, in his professional career Tolly has only been taken into the second round once, and that was on his debut. Well-rounded with three TKO victories via punches, and three victories via submission, (two RNC`s and one kimura) it could be argued that Tolly needs to take on a higher calibre of fighter. What can't be argued is that Tolly is a man-beast who has destroyed all in his path so far. Tolly is a bad man once that cage door is closed and at we at AddictedMMA are expecting big things from this young fighter.
8. James Brum
James recently acquired a new moniker! It's simply "Job Done". And that's exactly what he sets out to do. Firstly he takes his opponents soul with a mixture of relentless pressing, fast hands, and most importantly his unbelievable use of his patented South Coast Leg Kick. And then he wins, it's as simple as that. Job Done! Brum is another member of the GYM 01 uprising who has been contracted to the brilliant Cage Warriors promotion. Mild mannered and well-spoken outside of the cage, he is violent and Terminator-esque once the bell has rung. Brum has been sent from the future and every opponent is Sarah Connor. Except this time Sarah Connor gets her legs welted for fifteen minutes and her face dismantled with violent combinations. Hasta La Vista Baby!
9. Mark Adams
Mark is another undefeated fighter from the U.K domestic scene. Mark has torn a hole through his opponents in a way that any fighter would be proud of. Happy standing or on the ground this is a guy that loves to scrap. Add to this Mark trains out of Team Kaobon in Liverpool and is the BAMMA featherweight champion, Mark has every right to be part of the AddictedMMA South Coast 10 of the best. It's been a while since Mark last stepped into the cage, but when he does a lot of eyes will be watching this young man.
10. Sam Watling
Five and zero in his pro career so far with his last win coming against Leigh Cahoon, Sam is showing all the potential it takes to be a top pro. Also capable of winning his fights in a variety of ways, boasting wins via subs, TKO`s and a decision, Sam is another fighter to make the first half of this two part article on merit as well as skill. The fire burns brightly in this young man and he will be looking to add new scalps to his collection.
So that is the first part of the South Coast Ten of the best. Later this week I will be adding another 10 to the list. Who`s it going to be you may be thinking, well I'm not telling you, you are just going to have to wait like everybody else. And if you start hassling me and in-boxing me asking if it's you or why you deserve to be in it, well I will make sure you're not in it. Because I'm the Boogeyman and I can. You have been warned.
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Published by Boogeyman - Sun, 17 Jun 2012 20:16
