Ultimate Beatdown Johor Bahru's Very Own MMA Event Just Keeps Growing
Four years ago when I turned up to my first Ultimate Beatdown held in a Gym in the Mount Austen area of Johor Bahru, I remember enjoying the great match-ups but being disappointed because the gym could not hold more than around 50 people. I remember wondering if this event would attract a crowd if it was held in a bigger venue. The general thought was that less than 200 people would turn up and pay on the door.
Well of course since then we have seen the growth of ONE FC and along with it Ultimate Beatdown, with the recent addition of MIMMA it seems that MMA in Malaysia has stepped up another level and Ultimate Beatdown is the perfect proof of that, as for Ultimate Beatdown 12 some 550 screaming fans of MMA converged on Johor's fabled Danga Bay area to witness the second event above Cheers Bar the almost perfect setting for MMA. By the waterside on the edge of Malaysia, so close to Singapore that they could surely hear the cheers everytime a Malaysian fighter defeated a neighbour from across the water.
This show held 8 events in the gym and this was just the fourth outside each one attracting a bigger and better crowd.
The event consisted of 27 bouts and below are the results.
K-1 Kickboxing: 3 x 2 minute rounds
Yuz Rizan (Southern Tiger, Johor) vs James Badril (Juggernaut, Singapore) - Rizan wins 22 secs of Rd 3 K/O
Samir Mrabet (Monarchy MMA, KL) vs Asraf Acap (KL) - Mrabet wins 1:34 Rd 1 Ref Stoppage
Amateur MMA: 3 x 3 minute rounds
Damien Koh (Grasio MMA, Singapore) vs Iskandar (Ultimate MMA, Johor) - Iskandar wins 40 secs Rd 1 ref stoppage
Pranav M (Evolution MMA, India) vs Tung-Lung Ping (Monarchy MMA, KL) - Pranav wins via Decision
Azri Iskandar (Ultimate MMA, Johor) vs Mohd Azhar (Sparta, Singapore) Azhar wins 1:21 rd 2 ref stoppage
Amir (KL) vs Mohd Hanis (Spart, Singapore) - Amir wins 2:45 rd 1 ref stoppage
Dj Ser (Muayfit, KL) vs Niko Soerento (Impact MMA, Singapore) - Soerento wins 2:08 rd 1 ref stoppage
Yves Tan (Ultimate MMA, Johor) vs Syaiful Irfan (Sparta, Singapore) - Tan wins via Decision
Henry Yeo (Impact MMA, Singapore) vs Jason Pillai (Singapore) - Yeo wins 27 secs rd 1 ref stoppage
Raymon Beh (Ultimate MMA, Johor) vs Mohd Rizal (Sparta, Singapore) - Beh wins 16 secs rd 1 ref stoppage
Alex Ander (Ultimate MMA, Johor) vs Mohd Hindra (Singapore) - Hindra wins 40secs rd 1 due to technical knockout
Sub-Zero Submission Grappling 1 x 7 minute round
Amanda Loo (Impact MMA, Singapore) vs Zhen Wei (Muayfit, KL) - Loo wins 5:40 submission
Alfaik Farez (Wavestrike) vs Tan Wooi Kiet (T-Rex MMA, KL) - Draw
Susovan G (Evolution MMA, India) vs Ngeoh JC (Muayfit, KL) - Draw
Kent Yong (Ultimate MMA, Johor) vs Tjun Tjunnie (KL) - Tjunie won due to armbar
Nelson Kim (Ultimate MMA, Johor) vs Jason Lim (Fight G, Singapore) - Draw
Semi-Pro MMA 3 x 5 minute rounds
Khairul A (Singapore) vs Mark Kam (WS Muay Thay, Malaysia) - Khairul 14 seconds rd 1 via armbar
Amar Abaz (Wolverine) vs Bob Junior (Melati Puteh, Malaysia) - Junior wins 3:23 rd 1 ref stoppage
Sanjivan P (Evolution MMA, India) vs Ejam (Melati Puteh, Malaysia) - Sanjivan wins 2:03 rd 1 ref stoppage
Olin (Borneo) vs Stefan Cole (Ultimate MMA and Juggernaut) - Cole wins 1:23 rd 1 RNC
Kumaraysan (Juggernaut) vs Jon Poh (Grasio MMA, Singapore) - Kumaraysan wins 16 secs rd 1 RNC
Putera Rudy (Sparta, Singapore) vs Jun (Philippines) - Jun wins 29 secs rd 1 Gulliotine choke
Haziq (Sparta, Singapore) vs Mohd Zakhir (UMF, Malaysia) - Zakhir wins 45 secs rd 1 ref stoppage
Nick Lee (Singapore) vs Asrul Aseng (Malaysia) - Lee wins 1:34 rd 1 RNC
Helen Harper (Phuket Top Team/Juggernaut) vs Lieze Lumidas (Philippines) - Harper wins 1:55 rd 1 ref stoppage
Mohd Kamal (Sparta, Singapore) vs Nik Harris (Muayfit, KL) - Harris wins 1:32 rd 1 RNC
The only real issue I had apart from the occasional mis-match, which will always happen at this level due to late pull-pouts and people who over or understate their ability, worse than that must be the decision to insert Grappling into the middle of the event. Before it started the crowd were very loud and excited and beyond the ladies fight with Amanda Loo from Impact showing just how much her game has improved since her trip to Rio where she trained daily with top level athletes. The rest of the fights I am afraid while they may have been nice technical affairs they did kill the crowds enthusiasm as they crawled towards a draw - almost a full 30 minutes of drawn fights is not what a crowd wants to see.
These fights deserve a platform but maybe use them as the warm up bouts as the crowd are assembling, those fans who are interested in the more technical aspects of grappling would surely find themselves cage side and the casual fan would not be lost into the night.
I also think that this event does not need ring girls. The cage is too small and the girls really don't look like they are enjoying themselves much and all they did was make the time between rounds longer.
The event itself was much better organised than previous ones, with the cage area kept clear of people and the fights happening in quick succession.
The commentary team of Seth Borges and Fletch were entertaining.
Overall Chian Yik Malaysia's MMA pioneer, ONE FC warrior and owner of Ultimate MMA must be very proud of what he has achieved with Ultimate Beatdown.
Thanks also to the sponsors: REPS Fitness, Drive Energy Drinks, Potosan Corner, Cheers Bar and Danga Bay, Everlast without your support these events could not survive.
But most of all thank you to the many fighters and fans for doing an amazing job!
There will be lots of pictures and videos eventually coming out from this event, but for now please indulge a proud dad!
