Ultimate Beatdown 9 De’ Bali Bistro
So Saturday night arrived with a bang literally as a big thunder-storm erupted over Johor Bahru. Inside the De’bali bistro though the cage stood empty expectant what would happen over the next few hours and how would the people of Johor Bahru respond to the event?
Ultimate Beatdown up until this point had always been held at the Ultimate MMA Academy over the other side of the City in Mount Austen. This though would be something different, a new venue, a new cage and a good step up in the level of the main event fights as well.
The scene was set was it time for MMA to break out in Johor or would nobody come?
At 8:30 we had our answer as De’Bali was a buzz with expectation and the crowd looked to be very solid. We had of course representatives from the various gyms who had fighters at this event and friends and family.
There was a very good showing from Kuala Lumpurs, Muayfit who had a couple of people fighting tonight. On top of that they would be providing some of the entertainment in the form of the MC’s. As always seems to happen there was a last-minute hitch as on the day of the event, the original MC bailed. So Will Chope and Matt Pellino kindly stepped in to the breach.
And they entertained us all.
At 9:15 slightly later than advertised the first bout an amateur Muay Thai fight started proceedings.
Mohd Haziq Vs Ngo Zhoo Uang
Rd 1. Very Even in fact our MC’s were really not sure who won it.
Rd 2. Haziq started to take control landing crisper kicks and punchers.
Rd 3. The fight was stopped due to the fact that Ngo Zhoo Uang was unable to defend himself as the toll of punches and kicks brought him to a standstill.
2nd amateur Muay Thai fight
Mohd Hizam b Sahir vs Yong Zhi Hao
Rd 1. Well this was all action with a capital A. As this fight which was low on quality but big on heart swayed first one way and then the other.
Rd 2. Round 2 continued in much the same vein with Hizam being the slightly more skillfull and Hao throwing massive haymakers. Occasionally these two almost transitioned to an MMA fight.
Rd 3. Eventually the power of Sahir told and an exhausted Hao ground to a halt exhausted. Game over.
Next it was time for the first MMA bout.
Weng Sor Tech vs Mohmd Bin Abdullah
Rd 1.This fight started with some big punches from Abdullah and it looked like Tech was out on his feet and the fight could be stopped before it had even really started, but somehow he survived and they went to the ground with Abdulla on top. They then stood up a big punch from Hao put Abdullah on his ass but he was soon up. These two went at it big time and at the end of the round with Hao unable/unwilling to continue the fight was stopped a frankly amazing turn around given the first 30 seconds of the bout.
Jason vs Nick Lee
Rd 1. Lee came out and immediately imposed himself on this fight. He was obviously stronger and had more experience than Jason and his Thai clinch was excellent causing a lot of problems as again and again he used his knees towards Jasons’ head, again it looked fairly easy to pick the eventual winner.
Jason was tough though and held on and started to return the pressure and Lee as though disheartened that his vicious attacks had failed to yield the results he expected. Jason on the other hand started to impose himself and he seemed to have started to wear Lee down although both fighters were looking tired. Jason though had the bigger heart and after throwing Lee to the floor, Lee made it clear he did not wish to carry on.
Jason and won.
Zues vs Nazrim Bull
Rd 1. Although Zeus was some 10kg smaller than his opponent he soon took him down, it was not for long and once it returned to the feet these two both went for it throwing impressive punches and kicks. Then Zeus took Bull down again, this time though Bull had a tight guillotine hold that Zues could not break, they stood up with Zues still in the guillotine and then back to the ground with Bull on top. Zeus eventually managed to turn it around and get on top he immediately started to ground and pound and then went for an armbar – he had a little bit of trouble getting it on but eventually he pulled it off and Bull tapped.
Eugeno Duaz Tan vs Steven Yeoh
Rd 1. A heavy weight bout as these two stood toe to toe and kicked and punched their way through the first round. I was asked to bring up the name Big Country Roy Nelson by Mark Fitzgerald Cooke (of Motor Trader fame) and apart from the beard and the wild hair, well it was close, but also like that dude these guys came to put on a show and they did not stop for the whole round, there was one take down but even then they kept on going and were soon standing up and continuing to bang.
Rd 2. They were both tired how would this continue into round 2? Well, much as the first round, this time though spinning back elbows were tried and then with Yeoh taking the quite a battering and almost looking like he was out of it, he sunk down and took Tan down to the ground and while in top position proceeded to give some back and he controlled Tan. Due to lack of action though the ref stood them up again. Would Yeoh soon regret not working harder.
Again Tan took control and he had Yeoh against the cage and proceeded to punch and then lay knees into him until the ref had to step in and stop it. A very exciting fight.
Break Time
We had a short break to give everybody a chance to head for the loos.
Then for a bit of fun we had an exhibition with JJ Ambrose (Bellator) and Matt Pellino (Muayfit) it was very entertaining to see such high level grapplers at an event like this and the crowd were really paying attention.
Back to the MMA fights
Zeus vs Amal
He’s back! Zeus for the second time tonight. Zeus was in the cage this time fighting somebody more his size
Rd 1. He soon showed he was game for another fight and soon had Amir down in trouble, the ref appeared to stop the fight to save him from further damage but he complained so much that he wasn’t done that the ref eventually sent them out again and Zeus relished the chance to beat him up some more. Zeus proceeded to do just that then they went to the ground and both tried leg locks without success.
Rd 2. Well or was it technically Rd 3? I’m not sure. Amal tried pinning Zues against the cage and that’s a mistake eventually they went to the floor and Zues hit him a bit more before letting him get up and proceeded to work him some more, Amals only plan seemed to be to push Zeus against the cage. That seemed to be his only plan and it was a good one and it stopped Zues beating on him. He tried to take Zues down but could not complete the move and Zues was controlling the fight.
Every time, Zeus got the fight away from the cage he threw some big punches and he continually caught Amal who was bleeding and tired eventually Zues was pounding him and this time the ref stepped in to save him from further damage.
Roger Chan vs Hanif Zainal
Hainal had fought at Legend FC in Macau recently and was a big step up in class for Roger Chan. Roger is a genuinely nice gut but I think taking this fight was a mistake.
Rd 1. As expected Zainal was too good and when Roger tried to take him down Zainal ended up on top and Zainal hit him very hard a few times before slipping in a very effective rear naked choke it was stopped as he approached unconsciousness.
Garrick vs Azlam Sulaman
Rd 1. This was a nice even round with both fighters having their moments of success, both being on top and using ground and pound until finally Garrick took Sulamans back and sunk in a rear naked choke he had hooks in but could not seem to make it tell finally giving up and transitioning into ground and pound, then both stood up and went for it again with Garrick managing to take Sulaman to the ground again and controlling him until the rounds end.
Rd 2. Starting again with lots of action, it went to the ground and with a solid guillotine, Sulaman kept Garrick quiet for a long time, sadly but not long enough as Garrick finally escaped and the he top took control and pounded on Sulaman. Sulaman rolled onto his front and Garrick pounded him and then he rolled onto his back and Garrick pounded him again until the ref stepped in and stoped the fight.
Ismau Himaru vs Luc Rousseau
This was a real grudge match which had been simmering for a while. Round 1 started fairly evenly. It soon became obvious that Himaru had the solid punch but Rousseau had the advantage on the ground and the pattern was soon set.
To win this fight Himaru needed to stand up and fight but Rousseau was having none of that and he had no real trouble taking Himura down and controlling him. The fight was a series of attempted submission attempts from Rousseau and a series of escapes from Himura. However in between these Rousseau controlled the fight and pounded Himaru.
This went on exactly like this for almost three rounds and Himaru was looking much the worse for wear. Eventually Rousseau on top ground and pounding in Himaru who no longer seemed capable of protecting himself and finally the ref stepped in to save him from further punishment.
Leke Machado Vs Long Van Nguyen
Rd 1. Leke took Nguyen down at the first attempt and took top position. Nguyen managed to stand it back up but was soon taken down again and Leke took his back and got the hooks in before attempting a rear naked choke. Nguyen escaped and they stood up but they were soon on the ground again and Leke attempted managed to get Nguyens arm and got a kimura and forced Ngyuen to tap.
And that was it the first Ultimate Beatdown at the De”Bali Bistro and judging by the noise and buzz from the crowd it must be judged a success.
Thanks are needed.
Firstly FS (Tom) Chang and Chian Yik who between them made this happen. Without Tom there would have been no cage, no venue and no sponsor he did an amazing job.
