UGP 34: LATTIMORE vs SANTOS II
[The arena is littered with a fervent crowd that grows more impatient by the second for impending chaos. Red spotlights scan all through the building while laser lights and a brilliant white strobe light flutters on the main entrance stage.]
[The air, which hours ago was cool and fresh, now reeks with the toxic aroma of alcohol and that sweet leaf. The pyrotechnic explosives drown out the sounds of cheers from the crowd with each detonation, havoc has descended upon these grounds.]
[The stage of a bloody war is set. The conquerors envision nothing but execution towards success, while the meek is flooded with doubt. Down in the trenches, we are greeted with Bodie Sullivan and Hall of Famer Jason Jackson, ready for their cue.]
BODIE SULLIVAN:“Ladies and gentlemen, the octagon is officially open for business! We are live exclusively on the Battleground Network here at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia for UGP 34! Hello everyone, I’m Bodie Sullivan and standing next to me as always is the man, the myth, the legend, Jason Jackson! It’s good seeing you again, my friend. Last time we were here in Melbourne, you made your triumphant return to combat in a Fight of the Year candidate split decision thriller over Viktor Volkov. Tonight, though, you can rest easy in the booth and enjoy the show.”
JASON JACKSON: “Yeah, that was a hell of a fight, wasn’t it? I know, I know. I should’ve finished him, but I was a little rusty coming off such a layoff and Vik is such a game opponent that I just couldn’t close the deal. It was a good time though. Felt good to be back out there, and it feels equally as great to be back in this seat chopping it up with you, uce. But, let’s get into the meat of things. What do we have for these awesome fight fans here tonight, big fella?”
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Jason, as always we have a stacked card lined up for these fans, and the fighters are all primed and ready to go. But you’re right, let’s break it down, shall we? First up, to set the tone for the night, we have a Lightweight Bout between the Aussie Alistair McKay taking on Alex Cox. When we were here in Melbourne at the Marvel Stadium, Alistair McKay was in the Main Event against Delaney Donovan for the Lightweight Championship. He fell short in a somewhat controversial manner, but he did rebound against Cameron Moss at Boss Fight XXXIII. He’s back in his hometown and the heavy favorite tonight, do you see this as a trap fight for McKay, or do you see the destructive performance we’ve known to see him unleash?”
JASON JACKSON: “You want my honest opinion? Of course you do. That’s why I’m here. I think McKay is going to knock Alex Cox stiff in…. That’s a bad choice of words. Haha. Man, the words ‘stiff’ and ‘cox’ definitely don’t belong together there, I apologize. Anyways, I think he’s going to knock him out. I mean, that’s nothing against Alex Cox either. I think he’s a real decent fighter, and anyone has a puncher’s chance on any given night… but Alistair is just a different beast, Bodie. He’s built differently and he’s got a newfound drive about him after taking his first loss. For some people, that loss breaks them and it’s a long road back to the former glory they had. For Alistair though? It’s been a quick bounce back, and he looks to continue that bounce back here tonight. Standing in his way though is Alex Cox, who will be looking to upset the #10 Pound for pound former Everest champion and put his name in the ring for a potential title fight down the road.”
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Keeping things moving, we have a Heavyweight Bout between the two-division Title Challenger Viktor Volkov taking on an unbeaten newcomer, Ka’ili Tuiasosopo. Similar to McKay, Volkov came up short at UGP 31 in Melbourne, but bounced back against Cortez Gaines and handed “King” Cortez his first loss in MMA. Volkov has the same opportunity to test an unbeaten newcomer and show where these next gen fighters stand in the rankings.”
JASON JACKSON: “Listen, one of the things that these Heavyweight newcomers are going to have to learn is that they aren’t me. They may have watched me stand on a napkin and trade shots with Vik, but I’ve been known for almost a decade as having one of the best chins in the game. I still haven’t been knocked out in my career, and I’ve fought some heavy hitters. So that being said, I wouldn’t recommend ANYONE stand in front of Vik and eat those shots. He has the power to put most men to sleep in an instant by reaching out and touching them on the chin. Do yourselves a favor and move your head, use that footwork, and keep your hands up. Otherwise you’re going to find yourself looking up at the ceiling asking what happened. Ka’ili is a huge threat to Vik though. He’s big, athletic, and his ground game is outstanding in comparison to well… really most Heavyweight fighters. As long as he doesn’t get baited into standing and trading in a phonebooth, I think he will do well by taking the fight to the ground and grinding one out. He might even walk out of here with that undefeated record intact. But if he doesn’t respect the power and the boxing of Volkov he’s going to take a nap. Simple as that.”
BODIE SULLIVAN: “After that, we have our featured undercard bout between Tim Vu and Lilly Dunne in a Bantamweight bout. Tim Vu has been on the cusp of earning a title shot, but has come up just short in key fights that would have pushed him to that conversation. Lilly Dunne on the other hand, has slowly worked her way up and has a chance to continue the ascension and become a true title contender. We know that Gianna Howard will make her next title defense against Isabel Azevedo, so you have to believe that the winner of this fight is next in line.”
JASON JACKSON: “The winner of this fight will DEFINITELY be next in line, and in my honest opinion, it’ll be very deserving too. Both of these fighters are mainstays.. PILLARS of the Bantamweight division, really. Both are very deserving of their chance in the spotlight, and both are hungry for a win here so they can move on and attain what they’ve been working so hard towards. Bodie, THIS is one of the fights I’m most excited for tonight. It will suck to see one of them lose and have to start the journey over from the beginning, but win or lose I think they both deserve praise here and I’m going to be hyper focused on this one. Shout out to both of you and best of luck.”
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Now moving into the Co-Main Event of the evening, it’s the highly anticipated return of Byron McCall taking on the Middleweight Title Challenger Nigel Musgrove. The last time we saw Byron McCall in a Union GP cage, he defeated Erick Costa in a Lightweight Bout. After unsuccessful runs for a shot at the Middleweight Title and the Lightweight Title, we all thought we saw the end of a decorated career. However, McCall has that fire to make another run, and it all begins again against a top five opponent, which if he walks out victorious, makes you wonder if he could leapfrog right into a title fight.”
JASON JACKSON: “Beans, Rice, Jesus Christ, and BYRON. Man, look. I’m hype to see him back! I can’t be the only one that is like “ Man fuck this, I made a dumb decision and I still want to punch people in the face.” right? That being said, I think that a strong showing here might catapult him back into the Title picture in Middleweight. These days contenders are slim pickin’s and we’ve been seeing the same matchups materialize over and over and over because the matchmakers really only have a few stars to work with in this division lately. So a potential chance to see Decker versus McCall? Sign me up. But first he has to get through Musgrove who has been a real reliable fighter in the middleweight division for some time. A fighter who also boasts a win over our current champion, by the way. We’ll see if the “magic man” has the magic to get a win over a MMA legend like Byron though and spoil his return. I can’t wait. ”
BODIE SULLIVAN: “And finally, in our Main Event, a five round bout for the Cruiserweight Championship as Gauge Lattimore looks to defend his crown against Michael Santos in a rematch from the Triple C Grand Prix. We are all aware that this is the final MMA fight for Michael Santos, and he wants that storybook ending to a very respectable career. I couldn’t think of a better way than to finish on top, with gold around your waist, taking down one of the pound-for-pound greats. However, Gauge Lattimore has proven that he has a bottomless gas tank that can push a high pace in deep waters. I think the best chance for Santos is to look for that killshot knockout early, because the younger Lattimore will wear him down the longer the fight continues.”
JASON JACKSON: “He’s gotta look for that shot while in return avoiding those big shots from Gauge. We’ve seen in the past that he can throw anvils and knock folks out with one punch, but he’s also content biding his time and taking things into deep waters. It’s the same for Santos here. All it takes is one big shot. Who will land it first though? That’s the key. I’m also wondering how things will play out IF Santos wins this belt here. I mean what a wild situation. He wins and still retires? That vacates the belt and we’re left with a championless division. It’s going to be interesting here to see how this plays out. Most folk’s money is on Gauge Lattimore. Let’s not even pretend it’s not… but you never know about this sport. If Mike Santos wants to go out on his shield as a champ? This is his chance to do it and crazier things have happened. ”
BODIE SULLIVAN: “As they say, everybody has a puncher’s chance. Alright folks and with that, It’s Bout Time! Let’s turn it over to the mouthpiece of MMA, the iconic hype man, Mike Dempsey!”
MIKE DEMPSEY: “Ladies and gentlemen, we are live exclusively on the Battleground Network here at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia for UGP 34! And now, this opening contest is scheduled for three rounds in the Union Grand Prix Lightweight Division! Introducing first, fighting out of the blue corner, a Kickboxer holding a professional mixed martial arts record of 3-3-0. He stands 5’8”, and weighing in at 155 pounds. He is from Boca Raton, Florida, presenting the number seven ranked Lightweight Contender in the World, Alex “Dinamita” Cox!
[Alex Cox looks very relaxed and ready in his corner.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Kicking the night off we start with a David versus Goliath type of fight in the Lightweight Division. Alex Cox has had a shaky start through his rookie contract, but there’s more to it than what the .500 record advertises, and there’s reasoning to his extension. Dinamita has willingly gone through a grueling schedule against the likes of Xabier Belazco, Paige Holloway, and now tonight with Alistair McKay despite having just a handful of professional fights under his belt. Give the credit he’s due, he’s not afraid to throw down, but he’s a major underdog tonight.”
JASON JACKSON: “Major underdog indeed, but what I like about this guy is he takes any fight offered, no second thoughts, and he comes out here ready for war. It doesn’t matter who is standing across from him. There’s been a few times that I do believe fights have fallen through and Dante hit this guy up and he was all-in without having to check with a manager or coach. That’s the type of guy promoters love. He’s a game fighter, and he’s here for the love of the sport. Also, anyone can turn a shitty start around. I think Travis Decker is a prime example of that. So tonight Alex Cox hopes that his climb back to the top starts here with Alistair McKay.”
MIKE DEMPSEY: “And his opponent, fighting out of the red corner, a Boxer holding a professional mixed martial arts record of 8-1-0. He stands 5’6”, and weighing in at 155 pounds. He is from Melbourne, Australia, fighting out of Real Killas MMA, presenting the former Union Grand Prix Lightweight Title Challenger and the number two ranked Lightweight Contender in the World, “Artillery” Alistair McKay!”
[Alistair McKay scowls at his opponent from the opposite corner.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Bombs Away McKay is back in action tonight here in his hometown of Melbourne and the crowd absolutely loves him, and for good reason. He’s one of the most exciting fighters in all of MMA, and he’s still learning, progressing, and growing as a fighter. Last time out in Melbourne, McKay suffered his first loss at the hands of Delaney Donovan in a controversial fashion, but rebounded in a big way when he introduced Cameron Moss to the big leagues. He’s one of those guys that wants to stay active and has taken these fights against lower ranked opponents to help rebuild that incredible momentum he had through Everest and the beginning tenure of Union GP.”
JASON JACKSON: “This man is a danger for anyone matched up against him. He’s got some of the best hands not only in the division, but I’d say top 10 at least in the entire company. Maybe top 20 in the entire history of the sport. That’s saying something. This man will shut your lights off and he’ll do it in spectacular, entertaining fashion. That’s why folks love Alistair McKay. I think the key to victory here tonight for McKay is to just let the past be in the rearview and focus only on what’s ahead of him. Focus on FEASTING on Alex Cox, and continuing to remind the world just who the fuck ‘Bombs Away” McKay is.”
[The fight starts with a touch of gloves–and then McKay nearly puts Cox out with the first punch! A looping overhand left slams into Cox’s jaw and stumbles him backward, forcing him to fend off an Artillery barrage. Cox lands a couple counter shots and circles away to get his bearings, but McKay keeps pressing and lands a nice one-two combo. Both men land a straight shot, but Cox gets the better of the exchange with a follow up uppercut that might make McKay think twice–for a second, at least, before he slams a straight right hand between Cox’s eyes that puts him back on his bicycle!]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Big shots landing for both men, but McKay seems unfazed and walks through the storm to put the pressure on Alex Cox.”
JASON JACKSON: “That first one almost sealed the deal right out of the gate. Cox is in survival mode though and he’s doing everything he can to just stay in the fight as he circles out and regroups. Alistair keeps the pressure on him though.”
[Cox avoids any follow up damage, but he’s on the back foot as McKay presses forward, getting the better of any exchange the two have for the moment. A straight left gets through Cox’s guard, nearly buckling his knees, before a solid right hand stumbles him back against the cage! McKay starts to unload, body and head shots; a wicked power shot to the ribs nearly buckles Cox, before the official steps in and waves the fight off to prevent any further damage.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “And this one is all over folks! Referee Dusty Whittaker had seen enough and put a stop to this fight before Alex Cox suffered anymore unneeded damage! Big win for Alistair McKay here in his native Melbourne!”
JASON JACKSON: “That was just a steamroll victory for Alistair McKay, Bodie. He came out of the gates throwing bombs and lived up to his moniker tonight. I think that was a good stoppage by the ref. Alex was in real big trouble there and McKay is relentless. He could’ve gotten hurt if that fight hadn’t been stopped when it did. Hats off to McKay. Hell of a win.”
[The crowd explodes into cheers and McKay is swarmed by his corner crew in celebration. Doctors tend to Cox for a while before helping him to his feet. After doctors and cut men finish their work, both fighters meet back to the center of the octagon for the official call.]
MIKE DEMPSEY: “Ladies and gentlemen, referee Dusty Whittaker has called for a stop in this fight at three minutes seven seconds in the very first round, declaring your winner by technical knockout, “Artillery” Alistair McKay!”
[The crowd cheers once again as McKay has his hand raised in victory. Both fighters shake hands as a gesture of mutual respect before splitting off to each one’s crew. A graphic pops up on screen, breaking down the statistics of the fight while the commentators recap.]
Winner: Alistair McKay by TKO (Hook) at 3:07 Round 1
Statistics: Alistair McKay
Punches 26/37 (70%)
Kicks 0/0 (0%)
Clinch strikes 0/0 (0%)
Takedowns 0/0 (0%)
GnP strikes 0/0 (0%)
Submissions 0/0 (0%)
Clinch Attempts 0/0 (0%)
Time on the ground 0 s
Statistics: Alex Cox
Punches 8/17 (47%)
Kicks 0/0 (0%)
Clinch strikes 0/0 (0%)
Takedowns 0/0 (0%)
GnP strikes 0/0 (0%)
Submissions 0/0 (0%)
Clinch Attempts 0/0 (0%)
Time on the ground 0 s
BODIE SULLIVAN:“Welcome back ladies and gentlemen! In attendance tonight we have the Union GP Middleweight Champion Travis Decker! He’ll be looking to defend his title for a fourth time, which would tie the all-time record in the Middleweight Division, against Aries Reed at UGP 36 in Rio de Janeiro.”
JASON JACKSON: “His last time out he went up against Robert Guilliman and completely DECIMATED him, Bodie. I was saying that I wanted the old Travis Decker back and he did not disappoint. I’m excited to see him go up against Aries, but I’m really hoping to see a Decker Vs. McCall fight down the line if Byron gets through Nigel Musgrove tonight. Either way, enjoy the night of fights champ! We are ready to see you back in action soon!”
MIKE DEMPSEY: “Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for three rounds in the Union Grand Prix Heavyweight Division! Introducing first, fighting out of the blue corner, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Grappler holding a professional mixed martial arts record of 7-0-0. He stands 6’4”, and weighing in at 235 pounds. He is from Apia, Samoa, presenting the number six ranked Heavyweight Contender in the World, Ka’ili Tuiasosopo!”
[Ka’ili Tuiasosopo raises his fists in his corner. He seems confident.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Ka’ili Tuiasosopo is the latest Heavyweight newcomer entering the ranks of Union GP through DRIP. Despite the late start of his professional MMA career, Ka’ili boasts an unblemished record and is a highly touted BJJ practitioner. He’s got a mountain of a hurdle ahead of him, but he looks focused and ready to send shockwaves through the division with a monumental debut win against a two-division title challenger.”
JASON JACKSON: “A mountain of a hurdle indeed. I watched this guy’s highlights over the weekend though and his Jitz is crazy, Bodie. This man is out here rolling with folks like a Lightweight and pulling subs out of his ass from nowhere. If Vik takes this fight to the ground like he did against me he might be in some big trouble. But if Tuiasosopo decides to stand and bang? It could get ugly for him.”
MIKE DEMPSEY: “And his opponent, fighting out of the red corner, a Boxer holding a professional mixed martial arts record of 7-5-0. He stands 6’5”, and weighing in at 250 pounds. He is from St. Petersburg, Russia, fighting out of Volkov Fighting Institute, presenting the former Union Grand Prix Heavyweight Title Challenger, the former Union Grand Prix Cruiserweight Title Challenger, and the number two ranked Heavyweight Contender in the World, “Big Vik” Viktor Volkov!
[Viktor Volkov looks like he has been waiting for this fight forever.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Big Vik Volkov returns to Melbourne and is looking to have a little better luck this time around. He has been a staple for Union Grand Prix since its inception and has competed against the very best for so long. After his split decision loss against the man sitting next to me, Volkov bounced back with a decisive victory over the former undefeated Cortez Gaines. Volkov looks to do it again and welcome another unbeaten newcomer to Union.”
JASON JACKSON: “Volkov is a killer. I’ve stared into those eyes, and he has the heart of a lion. He’s not backing down, no matter what the challenge may be. That was one of the most difficult fights of my career, the last time we were in Melbourne. I think that people take a look at the record and underestimate Vik and that is something that can get you dropped off. Real Quick. One thing about Vik too is that he loves feasting on newcomers like Cortez, and Ka’ili. For a vet like him this is just another day at the office doing what he loves. If this newcomer doesn’t take this man seriously? Tsk. It’s gonna be a bad night. Let’s get this one underweight though. Hoss fight of the night? Let’s find out. ”
[There’s no touch of the gloves for this fight; Volkov comes out swinging, landing an absolutely MASSIVE straight left between the eyes, then a right hand that stumbles Ka’ili back! The Samoan covers up as Volkov unloads punches, but he can’t really absorb the Russian’s power. Ka’ili drops his guard to throw a punch of his own, showing some blood coming from the nose already…and Volkov seems to smell that blood, winging a massive right hand that slams into Ka’ili’s temple and drops him to the mat. Volkov looks ready to follow up that shot, but the official rushes in to save Ka’ili from the very unnecessary hammer fists that might’ve been coming!]
JASON JACKSON: “Well goddamn….That was quick.”
BODIE SULLIVAN: “OOOOOH! From Russia, with Glove! Viktor Volkov tucks him in tight and turns the lights out on Ka’ili Tuiasosopo!”
JASON JACKSON: “Oh, you said GLOVE I thought you said ‘love” for a minute and I was like.. no .. that was pure hate. He stampeded that man. Wow. I guess I woke that beast back up in Viktor Volkov. What a fuckin’ finish big guy. Holy hell, uce.”
[The crowd explodes into cheers and Volkov is swarmed by his corner crew in celebration. Doctors tend to Ka’ili for a while before helping him to his feet. After doctors and cut men finish their work, both fighters meet back to the center of the octagon for the official call.]
MIKE DEMPSEY: “Ladies and gentlemen, referee Jack Gibbs has called for a stop in this fight at forty-seven seconds in the very first round, declaring your winner by knockout, “Big Vik” Viktor Volkov!”
[The crowd cheers once again as Volkov has his hand raised in victory. Both fighters shake hands as a gesture of mutual respect before splitting off to each one’s crew. A graphic pops up on screen, breaking down the statistics of the fight while the commentators recap.]
Winner: Viktor Volkov by KO (Punch) at 0:47 Round 1
Statistics: Viktor Volkov
Punches 6/7 (86%)
Kicks 0/0 (0%)
Clinch strikes 0/0 (0%)
Takedowns 0/0 (0%)
GnP strikes 0/0 (0%)
Submissions 0/0 (0%)
Clinch Attempts 0/0 (0%)
Time on the ground 0 s
Statistics: Ka’ili Tuiasosopo
Punches 0/1 (0%)
Kicks 0/0 (0%)
Clinch strikes 0/0 (0%)
Takedowns 0/0 (0%)
GnP strikes 0/0 (0%)
Submissions 0/0 (0%)
Clinch Attempts 0/0 (0%)
Time on the ground 0 s
BODIE SULLIVAN: “We are back folks, ready to move on to the Bantamweight clash between Lilly Dunne and Tim Vu. But first, we have to acknowledge that the Everest MMA Season 1 Featherweight Champion CC Flynn is here tonight. Perhaps once Season 2 is wrapped up we may be seeing her in this very star-studded octagon.”
JASON JACKSON: “The infamous CC Flynn. Personally, I like her. I said that she had to come out here and back the boldness of her words up and so far she’s done a damn good job of that. I respect it. I ruffled a few feathers in my career too. It equals dollar signs if you do it right, and again, so far she has. I’m excited to see how her MMA Career pans out in the future. I think she’s a future star.”
MIKE DEMPSEY: “Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for three rounds in the Union Grand Prix Bantamweight Division! Introducing first, fighting out of the blue corner, a Taekwondo Striker holding a professional mixed martial arts record of 7-4-0. He stands 5’9”, and weighing in at 135 pounds. He is from Brisbane, Australia, fighting out of the Yongsa Gym, presenting the number three ranked Bantamweight Contender in the World, Tim “The Intimidator” Vu!”
[Tim Vu looks like he has been waiting for this fight forever.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “First up in this high stakes Bantamweight bout is the Aussie Tim Vu. This is a guy who has been on the brink of breaking into a title shot, but has fallen short on a couple occasions. His losses in Union GP consists of an Openweight Grand Prix contest with the much larger Eamon Wojcik, the current Bantamweight Champion Gianna Howard, and he’s split the series so far with the current #1 Contender and upcoming Title Challenger Izzy Azevedo at one a piece. He’s got a win over former inaugural Champion Lauren Moore, and now he just needs to build some momentum behind him to launch into a title shot. Tim Vu is an excellent striker, particularly with his kicks which he likes to implement on the perimeter, and he’s got the cardio to be consistent in deep waters.”
JASON JACKSON: “Excellent, excellent striker, Bodie. Like I said at the opening of the show, this is the fight I’m most excited about. This is going to be a WAR. Both of these fighters have something to prove. They each want to go on to challenge for the title. They each have losses to atone for. Vu with Gianna, and Lilly with Izzy Azevedo AND Gianna Howard.. The sad thing is someone has to lose here. Someone has to reset from step 1, and Tim Vu wants to make sure that is Lily Dunne and not him. Look for him to snipe from the outside and use those kicks to keep Dunne at bay. ”
MIKE DEMPSEY: “And his opponent, fighting out of the red corner, a Muay Thai Kickboxer holding a professional mixed martial arts record of 6-2-0. She stands 5’ even, and weighing in at 135 pounds. She is from Las Vegas, Nevada, fighting out of Throne MMA, presenting the number two ranked Bantamweight Contender in the World, “Deadlift” Lilly Dunne!”
[Lilly Dunne looks very relaxed.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Next up on the docket is the explosive Lilly Dunne. Jason, there’s a saying that dynamite comes in small packages, and that fits Dunne to a ‘T’. She has a small frame, but capitalizes her elite Muay Thai striking in clinching situations and keeping the fight at close range. Polar opposite of Vu, which should make for an interesting clash of styles. We haven’t seen Lilly Dunne since January at Boss Fight XXXII, where she earned Fight of the Night honors against Terrico Harris. As she ascended the rankings, she became the odd-woman-out in the matchmaking department at the top of the division. She patiently waited for the call, sharpened her skills in the gym, and now has the opportunity on the big stage on the main card to showcase her capabilities against a very tough opponent.”
JASON JACKSON: “Let’s back up to when I said she needed to atone for losses against Izzy and Gianna. Let it state for the record that these are her ONLY losses, and both of these women are fighting for the belt next. That should tell you the caliber of fighter that Lilly Dunne is, Bodie. She’s a tiny little whirlwind of kicks, knees, and elbows and she will close the distance and smother you in the clinch to punish you with a relentless attack. Again, I don’t know how many times I have to say this tonight, but I am SUPER excited for this fight. Vu will either keep her at bay from the outside, or Lilly will close the distance and maul him. I guess we’re about to find out which one plays out. Let’s get this underway!”
[The bell announces the first round and both fighters touch gloves to get things started. Lilly Dunne and Tim Vu cautiously circle around at a distance, looking for any openings. Dunne makes the first move and rushes in to secure a double underhook clinch. The two pummel back and forth for position, but Dunne has the better angle on Vu and backs him up against the fence. Dunne grinds the crown of her head against Vu’s face and digs at the ribs with a couple big shots. Tim Vu tries to answer back, but Dunne’s underhooks keep him at a great disadvantage.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Great control for Lilly Dunne, getting that clinch in early and often. That’s the key.”
JASON JACKSON: “I told you. Didn’t I just tell you? She’s going to smother him and grind him down. Beautiful work out the gate from Lilly Dunne.”
[Tim Vu shows some incredible strength by turning his opponent into the fence and shucks his shoulder out to escape. He throws a solid low kick that Dunne checks, but it’s enough for him to start circling back toward the center of the octagon. However, Lilly Dunne isn’t about to allow him to create a ton of space, so she pressures in and blasts him with a big right hand that causes Vu to slip to the mat.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Boom! Big shot lands for Lilly Dunne and Tim Vu hits the canvas!”
JASON JACKSON: “That pressure is key. Tim likes to take his time and fight outside with precision. But getting up in his face throws that gameplan off and makes him readjust. I think the impact of that made him slip more than him being rocked… but it should’ve taught him that she’s going to keep coming forward so he needs to be first. Make her pay for coming in.”
[Dunne is standing while Vu is on the ground on his back. Several times Lilly tries to work her way in, but has to back off when Tim Vu launches an up-kick intended for her head. Eventually she backs off entirely and referee Archie Driscoll halts the fight to allow Vu to stand up. Back on the feet, Dunne looks for angles as she throws a few jabs that are countered by Vu’s punches. Vu steps forward and catches an uppercut to the face from Dunne that stuns him and allows Dunne to fire off a nice flurry.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Punches in bunches land for Lilly Dunne, who has established a precise rhythm that has Tim Vu guessing.”
JASON JACKSON: “Lilly is fighting calm, cool, and collected. This is her fight and she’s in full control at this point. Striking? Check. Grappling? Check. Aggression? Check. Octagon Control? Check. Check, Check, Check. She’s winning the round right now in every way. Vu needs to figure out what to do to slow her down, and quickly.”
[Vu slips out of danger but Lilly wraps him back up with double underhooks. The two pummel back and forth, but Lilly is clearly more advanced in the clinch and unloads a flurry of punches! Tim Vu can’t escape, in fact he gets pushed back into the fence and eats a few sick punches in the process. Lilly Dunne fires off a couple of unanswered uppercuts, giving Tim Vu the jelly legs. Vu tries to push off, but Dunne starts launching a flurry of hooks and body shots. Vu stumbles back but Dunne chases him and continues the rain of blows!]
JASON JACKSON: “This is bullying. She’s bullying that man right now.”
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Lilly Dunne is firing on all cylinders right now with those underhooks. You see her staying low, pressing the crown of her head up underneath Tim Vu’s chin. That keeps Vu off balance and wide open, which allows Dunne to fire off those filthy hooks to the body.”
JASON JACKSON: “Gave him bambi legs with them uppercuts. He tried to get on his bike but she chased him down like “that’s my bike punk!” Man, Lilly Dunne is dominating right now with this forward pressure.”
[Lilly Dunne postures up and launches another series of punches, landing some bone breaking punches to Vu’s ribs. Tim Vu’s main concern is breaking free from the clinch and working on his offensive strategy, but Lilly Dunne continues to showcase some incredible strength and grip to maintain the clinch. Every time he tries to escape, Dunne repositions and unloads a relentless combination of punches. Tim Vu’s corner is worried and knows he can’t take many more shots like that. Lilly Dunne burns the rest of the round out by keeping Vu pressed against the fence, landing big uppercuts and combinations to the body until Archie Driscoll separates the two at the sound of the horn.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Dominant first round for Lilly Dunne. She did exactly what needed to be done in order to be successful. Keep the fight close and suffocate Vu with the clinch game. We’ll have to see what kind of adjustments Tim Vu and his cornermen can do in order to turn it around because I’d say that was a borderline 10-8 round, what did you think, JJ?”
JASON JACKSON: “10-8 for sure if I’m scoring it. It was a one sided round. Well, I guess it all comes down to if you score that a knockdown or not. I think I’d give it to her. She’s been controlling this man, and this is NOT how I thought the fight would go. I think Vu should take her down. Why not? Use that forward pressure against her and make her think twice about coming forward. Or a front kick could work too. He’s gotta do something though because it’s a mauling at this point.”
[The cutman had his work cut out for him in Tim Vu’s corner. Despite the best efforts, Vu is sliced up in a number of places and is leaking from every cut. Lilly Dunne keeps the same energy and strikes first, measuring Vu with her jab. A left hook from Dunne grazes the chin of Vu, but a crispy follow up uppercut and jab rocks Tim Vu back a few steps. Vu launches a body shot but Dunne dodges and catches him with a hard cross.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Highly concentrated power from Dunne. It’s amazing how she can generate so much force.”
JASON JACKSON: “She’s starting back right where she left off and Vu is instantly in trouble here. ‘Lil Dynamite’ is what I’m gonna start calling her because she’s got some real explosive power for someone so tiny. Small or not, she is whooping some wholesale ass right now, Bodie.”
[Lilly Dunne just won’t stop and continues to rain punches, causing Vu’s right eye to swell up. The two exchange wildly, with Dunne connecting on a few more significant punches and at this point, the blood is starting to become a problem and a concern for Tim Vu. Lilly Dunne continues to measure Vu with her jab, working her way in close enough to catch him in a Thai plum clinch and pushing him up against the fence.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Tim Vu is in trouble here. He looks hurt and fell right back into Lilly Dunne’s clinch.”
JASON JACKSON: “He’s been hurt. I think she’s just toying with her food here now. I gotta tell you, I was super excited for this fight, but I was expecting a back and forth battle and this has been ALL Lily Dunne.”
[Dunne postures up and launches another series of punches which gives Vu all kinds of problems. Dunne tries a knee to the midsection but it looks like it might have hit Vu’s groin! Archie Driscoll doesn’t notice the possible foul, which leaves Vu in a very vulnerable position. Dunne keeps Vu pressed against the fence and launches a string of brutal punches. A couple of unanswered uppercuts collide with Vu’s chin and referee Archie Driscoll has seen enough! The fight is over! Vu was not intelligently defending himself!]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Archie Driscoll waves off the fight and this one is all over folks! Lilly Dunne proves to be too much for Tim Vu as she caps off another spectacular performance here in Melbourne!”
JASON JACKSON: “I don’t want to be that guy, but I think that knee was low. Can we get a replay of that?”
[The commentators are quiet for a minute as they watch multiple angles of the replay being shown.]
JASON JACKSON: “It’s hard to tell. It hurt him badly though. Could’ve been to the family jewels. I can’t say for sure.”
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Yeah, I’m not going to be the one to call that. You hate to see it though. She dominated this fight from start to finish, and for the win to be called into question like that at the end is just –”
JASON JACKSON: “It’s shitty is what it is. I’ll say it for you. It sucks having a win questioned, but to be stomping someone’s ass like that and then that happens? Man. Either way, you have your winner. Shout out to Lily Dunne for a dominant performance. Hats off to Tim Vu. I have no doubt we’ll see him back but It’s Lilly Dunne who moves on to most likely face the winner of Gianna Howard VS Izzy Azevedo.”
[The crowd booms with mixed emotions as Dunne rushes around the octagon in celebration. The Ringside Physicians tend to Vu for a while before helping him to his feet. After the medical staff finish their work, both fighters meet back to the center of the octagon for the official call.]
MIKE DEMPSEY: “Ladies and gentlemen, referee Archie Driscoll has called for a stop in this fight at two minutes twenty-two seconds in the second round, declaring your winner by technical knockout, “Deadlift” Lilly Dunne!”
[The crowd cheers once again as Dunne has her hand raised in victory. Both fighters shake hands as a gesture of mutual respect before splitting off to each one’s crew. A graphic pops up on screen, breaking down the statistics of the fight while the commentators recap.]
Winner: Lilly Dunne by TKO (Uppercuts) at 2:22 Round 2
Statistics: Lilly Dunne
Punches 25/32 (78%)
Kicks 0/1 (0%)
Clinch strikes 55/84 (65%)
Takedowns 0/0 (0%)
GnP strikes 0/0 (0%)
Submissions 0/0 (0%)
Clinch Attempts 1/1 (100%)
Time on the ground 0 s
Statistics: Tim Vu
Punches 0/7 (0%)
Kicks 0/2 (0%)
Clinch strikes 0/4 (0%)
Takedowns 0/0 (0%)
GnP strikes 0/0 (0%)
Submissions 0/0 (0%)
Clinch Attempts 0/0 (0%)
Time on the ground 40 s
BODIE SULLIVAN: “We are back from station identification and heading into the Co-Main Event. As you can see, and hear by the crowd’s reaction, Australia’s very own Paige Holloway is in the house! It’s a shame we couldn’t see her compete here tonight, I heard that there were talks but ultimately nothing was able to get finalized.”
JASON JACKSON: “It’s good to see her back too. I heard that since she was the last CGFC Dragon Champion, and I was a long time reigning Dragon Champion who helped make that belt what it was, that she wanted to run it with me at some point. I love and respect Paige Holloway and I’d be honored to mix it up with her at some point. Can you imagine? That would be a scrap. Either way, I’m excited to see her make the decision to come back and I can’t wait to see her step back into the cage and do some work. Whether it’s against me, or whoever.”
BODIE SULLIVAN: “I smell a Super Fight in the making!”
♫
NOW YOUR HEROES HAVE FALLEN.
CHAMPIONLESS,
THE SEAS ARE RISING.
SO TORCH EVERY BANNER.
♫
[“Idols and Anchors” by Parkway Drive shreds over the PA System and the veteran Byron McCall emerges to the main stage wearing his walkout fight with his 36th Street MMA crew following behind. McCall never breaks stride with a stoic look across his face, a look of focus from the decorated fighter.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Welcome back, Byron McCall! The Hall of Fame Middleweight has made his triumphant return to combat here in Melbourne, and it still hasn’t sunk in yet for me, Jason. Fighters like yourself, Byron McCall, and Paige Holloway are pioneers of this sport who laid the foundation and paved the way to what it is today. The last time we saw Byron McCall in action was in a Lightweight bout on June 7, 2020 at Boss Fight XIX when he finished Erick Costa in the second round. Since then, he’s become a father and an inductee into the Union GP Hall of Fame. He’s built a decorated and storied career, but it seems evident that he wants to add a Union GP championship to his résumé. Tonight he’s in a true measuring stick fight to see where he’s at. Is he still at the elite level or has he taken a step back since his two year retirement?
JASON JACKSON: “It’s not easy coming back after taking an extended leave. Especially when you’d convinced yourself that you were done. The whole leadup to the fight you’re questioning yourself on whether you made the right decision or not. Or if you knocked off enough ring rust in camp or not. It’s not an easy task to do what Byron is doing, and to do it against a contender in this division like Nigel Musgrove? It’s a bold move. But if you’re a real fighter, with a true love for the game? It’s hard to hang it up. Especially if you still remain involved with the sport. You watch these folks out here doing what you love and you begin to think, “Maybe I’m not done.” or “Maybe I CAN still do this.” and you have to test yourself. As a fighter, as a man. So I get it. I relate. If there’s anything I can say about my own journey with returning it’s that this for sure will tell you where you’re at. He’ll know as soon as the first few strikes land whether this was a good decision or a mistake.”
[McCall reaches cageside where he strips down to his trunks and goes around one-by-one with his corner crew and gives each one a hug before turning to get inspected by the fight official. Once he’s cleared, McCall races up the steps and jogs a few laps around the perimeter of the octagon before posting up in his corner, rolling his neck to stay loose in the meantime.]
♫
I WAS CAUGHT
IN THE MIDDLE OF A RAILROAD TRACK (THUNDER)
I LOOKED ‘ROUND
AND I KNEW THERE WAS NO TURNING BACK (THUNDER)
MY MIND RACED
AND I THOUGHT, WHAT COULD I DO? (THUNDER)
AND I KNEW
THERE WAS NO HELP, NO HELP FROM YOU
♫
[The arena is pitch black. The crowd grows louder as the iconic riff by Angus Young shreds the airwaves. The building flashes with brilliant white light to the tempo of the kick drum. Nigel Musgrove strolls out to the main stage with a Union Jack flag draped over his shoulders like a cape. The Magic Man keeps his stride, never losing sight of the octagon ahead of him.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Fighting for the first time in 2022, Nigel Musgrove is a man on a mission to get back on track and re-enter title contention. Musgrove was on the losing end of a decision loss to Middleweight Champion Travis Decker in their trilogy bout at UGP 30. He’s gone through the gauntlet with the 185 pound division’s very best, and has cemented himself as part of the top tier fighters. The Magic Man is a well rounded fighter who’s patience allows him to strike at the right moments and is sure to be a tough task for Byron McCall’s return.”
JASON JACKSON: “You said it best, the magic man is versatile. A jack of all trades, but a master of none, essentially. He has the skills to hang with most folks in any area of the game, but being elite in those areas is a different story. Someone who IS elite can often overwhelm him and Byron McCall is super Elite. This is going to be a test for Nigel, just as much as it is for Byron. I love this matchup.”
[Musgrove finally makes it to cageside, where he undresses down to his tights before getting inspected by the fight official. Once he’s been cleared, Nigel races up the steps and right through the entrance. Nigel keeps a calm demeanor and jogs a few laps around the perimeter of the octagon before finally settling into his corner and awaiting for the introduction.]
MIKE DEMPSEY: “Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time for the Co-Main Event of the evening! Sanctioned by the Professional Boxing and Combat Sports Board, our three judges scoring this contest at cageside are Patrick Thomson, Gabriella Wall, and Oliver Jacobs, and when the action begins, our referee in charge in the octagon is Lars Levy! AND NOW, the following contest is scheduled for three rounds in the Union Grand Prix Middleweight Division! Introducing first, fighting out of the blue corner, a Kickboxer holding a professional mixed martial arts record of 21-10-0. He stands 6’1”, and weighing in at 185 pounds. He is from Boston, Massachusetts, fighting out of 36th Street MMA, presenting the former Union Grand Prix Middleweight Title Challenger, “The Last Call” Byron McCall!”
[Byron McCall is beating himself up in the corner before the fight begins, smacking himself in the face, body and legs to get ready for this fight.]
MIKE DEMPSEY: “And his opponent, fighting out of the red corner, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Grappler holding a professional mixed martial arts record of 5-3-0. He stands 5’11”, and weighing in at 185 pounds. He is from Birmingham, England, presenting the former Union Grand Prix Middleweight Title Challenger and the number five ranked Middleweight Contender in the World, Nigel “The Magic Man” Musgrove!”
[Nigel Musgrove raises his fists in his corner. He seems confident, but knows the magnitude facing him from across the octagon.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “There’s a familiar face calling the shots. Former Union GP Middleweight Contender Lars Levy draws the bout assignment! Here we are folks, just moments away from this tremendous Co-Main Event that will have big implications for the Middleweight rankings. I’m ready, JJ, are you?!”
JASON JACKSON: “Ohhhh I’m ready, uce. I’d also like to say how I love that Lars retired and became a ref. I considered that, or judging. But Dante was like, “Nah, we’re putting a microphone in your hand.” and here we are. Couldn’t be happier. But enough about me and Lars. It’s all about Byron and Nigel and here. we. go. ”
[The referee steps to the center of the cage and motions for both fighters to meet. With the announcer standing behind, holding the microphone, referee Lars Levy gives one final pep talk.]
LARS LEVY: “Alright fighters, we’ve gone through the rules in the back. Protect yourself at all times, follow my instructions, touch gloves and let’s do it.”
[Without much hesitation, both fighters touch gloves and backpedal to their corners. Lars Levy checks off with each fighter one last time and signals for the bell!]
[The opening bell tolls and this fight is underway. As soon as both fighters close the distance, they engage in a wild exchange of punches. McCall is getting the best of the exchange as he lands a few more blows and the crowd is quickly on their feet. During the exchange, McCall hits not one, but two switch kicks right to the body and goes for a third, but Musgrove finally catches on and blocks it before circling away to create some distance.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “It looks like Byron McCall has kept up with his Muay Thai. Beautiful switch kicks that will keep Nigel Musgrove hyperfocused on his defense.”
JASON JACKSON: “That’s always been a signature skill of Byron. Those switch and questionmark kicks that come out of nowhere. Nigel really has to be wary of those.”
[McCall tries to cut off Musgrove with a hook to the body, but Nigel narrowly moves aside avoiding contact. This quick shift nearly costs him dearly, as McCall launches a zipping head kick but Musgrove just barely dodges it to the sounds of “ooohs” and “aaahs” from the crowd. The two reset their stance then slowly make their way into striking range. McCall connects with a couple stinging calf kicks then rushes in, swinging for the fences! Musgrove quickly gets on his bike and quite literally runs to keep space between the two, which causes McCall to give up on the attack but not without openly mocking him.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Nigel Musgrove wanted no part of that exchange!”
JASON JACKSON: “McCall is trying to bait him back in. He just said “Where are you going, houdini?” oh man. You gotta love it. Nigel did an escape act there. Poof. ”
[At this point the pace simmers down a bit as the two play some mental chess. Byron McCall flicks a low kick that tags Nigel Musgrove’s ankle, which mostly is used to measure his range. Byron then comes in, feinting one direction then fires off in the other with a nasty liver kick that nearly folds Musgrove like a lawn chair. Byron rushes in and the two trade punches but neither one lands anything significant. Both target different areas of the head and body, but come up empty handed or blocked by the other. At this point, both fighters back off, take a breather, and reassess their strategy.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Wheeew! These guys are letting the fists fly early. If one of those landed, that could have been the end.”
JASON JACKSON: “That liver kick landed, and it nearly sawed the magician in half! See what I did there?”
[After a pause in the action, both men square up and let the fists fly once again! Both fighters are connecting this time and the crowd is on their feet, feeling like the end could be coming soon if either one lands that lucky punch. Through the chaos, Musgrove slowly starts gaining a slight edge as he moves in to land some strikes and then quickly stepping out of Byron’s range. A big hook to the body from Musgrove misses that nearly causes him to slip to the mat, but it’s a long enough break in the action for Byron to step back and regroup.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “I like the aggressiveness from Nigel Musgrove, but he can’t get careless or McCall will capitalize in the most devastating way possible.”
JASON JACKSON: “Careless? You mean like whiffing at the air like he just did? Yeah, he definitely doesn’t want to keep doing that. Byron will eventually make him pay if he does.”
[Both fighters circle back to the center of the cage and seem a little hesitant to initiate any offense. It’s clear that both of these guys are showing each other a ton of respect. Byron finally makes the first move as he side shuffles and throws a fierce low kick that gets checked. Musgrove tries to counter with a flurry of punches, but McCall slips out and creates some space. Byron isn’t in the clear though, as Nigel keeps the pressure on him and this time tags him with a solid combination. This catches McCall off guard a bit and leaves himself wide open for Nigel to unload a big uppercut right at the horn.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Round one is in the books and that was a great sequence for Nigel Musgrove to finish the round. Byron McCall was largely in control with strategic kicks and well-designed punches. Bit of a toss up here, but I think you have to give this one to McCall.”
JASON JACKSON: “Yeah, I’d say 10-9 McCall due to those kicks. The one liver kick nearly folded Nigel, and I have to give the round to “The Last” Bodie. Both guys are looking good out there though. This is a good matchup.”
[Both fighters still look like they have plenty left in the tank as they begin again. McCall fires off a straight left that Musgrove ducks and counters with a flurry. McCall backpedals as the strikes only glance off him but he does get backed up into the fence. Musgrove changes levels for a takedown, but McCall fires back with an absolutely filthy knee that wrecks Musgrove!]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “OOOH! Byron McCall is out here cracking eggs with a sledgehammer! Nigel Musgrove just got rocked with a lethal flying knee!”
JASON JACKSON: “BEAUTIFUL counter knee to stop that takedown attempt in its tracks. I’m a big fan of that. Throwing a knee to make a motherfucker second think shooting in on you. A-1 vet move to scout that and make him pay.”
[Somehow, Nigel Musgrove stays on his feet but he’s clearly buzzing. McCall tags him a few times with some solid boxing then chops at the thigh with a stinging low kick. McCall throws another low kick, but switches targets and lands a superb body kick. Byron tries to follow it up with a hook to the body, but Musgrove circles out and narrowly escapes the damage. McCall cuts him off with a looping right hand while Musgrove jumps back and jabs. Musgrove gets rocked and McCall runs to capitalize with a bunch of jabs and crosses before hitting another switch kick to the body!]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Byron McCall is unloading the clip! Hey Jason, he still got it, huh?!”
JASON JACKSON: “Yeah, it looks like this was a good decision on his behalf. He’s looking just as primed as he was before he left. Those kicks are eating Musgrove up and McCall is slowly pulling into the lead here in this fight.”
[Musgrove fakes a punch to freeze McCall long enough for him to shuffle out and regain his wits, but McCall is still wanting to push the pace. Musgrove throws some tentative punches in an attempt to keep McCall at bay, but Byron walks through them and throws a couple of jabs right back. Musgrove connects with a stiff cross and we have a solid exchange unfolding! Musgrove lands a couple more alternating lefts and rights before the two start swinging on each other again!]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Nigel Musgrove rallies back and we got ourselves a firefight!”
JASON JACKSON: “Yeah buddy. This is what we all came to see. I love when guys throw caution to the wind and stand in front of each other to trade until someone drops. Listen to this crowd.”
[The crowd is eating it up as they continue to throw caution to the wind. By now, both Nigel and Byron are starting to miss more than land and decide to break away to conserve some energy, or so it seemed at first. McCall starts to backpedal away and gets surprised by a handful of punches and then a brutal hook to the body from Nigel Musgrove. The Magic Man looks to finish off the ambush with a low kick that clips the ankle, but McCall fires back with a streaking middle kick that Musgrove narrowly avoids.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “The Magic Man barely avoids taking another big kick to the body but it looks as though he’s found a successful cadence with his striking and is putting the pressure on McCall.”
JASON JACKSON: “He needs to do something because right now he’s looking at going down by two rounds and in that instance you’ll HAVE to get a finish to walk away with the dub. He’s got the right idea though. Turn that pressure up and don’t let McCall walk you down.”
[Musgrove creates a ton of space as he moves back, but Byron McCall doesn’t like this. He aggressively taunts him and points at the mat, signifying that he wants to fight in the phonebooth. McCall struts over and the two wildly go back and forth with interchanging punches. The momentum swings back and forth for both fighters as the roar of the crowd rises to a near deafening volume. Nigel Musgrove begins to control the situation with some brilliant combinations that forces McCall to defend more than attack. With the final seconds ticking away, McCall starts targeting the legs with vicious kicks with mixed results until the referee steps in at the sound of the horn. Both fighters head to their corners, confidently believing they have won the round.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “That was a much better round for Nigel Musgrove. His patience finally started to show some positive results and may have exposed a weakness in McCall’s game plan. We’re now five minutes away if needed to determine the winner and as it stands right now, this fight could very well be tied up with one a piece. How do you see it, JJ?”
JASON JACKSON: “That was a close one but I still have to give McCall the nod. I think it’s 2 rounds to zip. McCall clearly rocked Nigel at the beginning of the round and he keeps exhibiting aggression and control. I think Nigel needs a finish here in the third to pull off a victory, Bodie.”
[With five minutes remaining, it’s still very much anyone’s fight. The attrition is apparent on both fighters, each possessing bruises, swelling, and cuts all across their faces. Byron McCall looks ready to leave it all out there on the battlefield, but Nigel Musgrove is a bit wavering with a look of exhaustion. Musgrove stalls in his approach but McCall is ready to push the pace and starts the round firing off calf kicks that visibly pains Musgrove. Byron steps forward and fires a high kick, but Musgrove blocks decisively with his hand. The Magic Man backpedals away and wags his finger, as if to say, “Not today”!]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Musgrove is now chirping back at McCall a bit there. You can tell these guys are relishing the moment.”
JASON JACKSON: “I mean but how intimidating is chirping back while you are running away? It’s amusing, but it’s also a little sad. If you wanna bump gums then step up, bite down on that mouthpiece, and do some work. Don;t talk shit while running away.”
[Gradually the two inch their way closer to striking range. Nigel paws at Byron to throw a wrench in his timing and try to continue to stall out as much time as possible. Byron then rushes in with a flurry, and the two exchange wildly, but both fighters are mostly hitting air. They continue trading, and now Byron comes in with a looping right hand while Nigel jumps back and jabs and creates some separation to put a halt in the exchange.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Nigel Musgrove has reverted back to a more conservative approach. I’m not sure if that is a strategic move or more out of a necessity to preserve what little energy he has left.”
JASON JACKSON: “Either way, it’s a poor decision. You’re down 2 rounds in this fight and you’re doing nothing but evading an exchange. That’s not going to win this fight.”
[McCall studies his opponent, looking for an opening in his defense as he carefully circles his way in, and launches a hook to the body. Musgrove dodges it and tries to fire back, but McCall keeps him on the perimeter of his range by firing off some leg kicks. Musgrove forces the situation and tries to rush in, but has to retreat from a middle kick by McCall. At this point, Byron knows Musgrove isn’t going to willfully engage with him, so he starts picking him apart with an assortment of leg kicks.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Those kicks continue to be a problem for Nigel Musgrove. You see him becoming a bit reluctant to engage, which is allowing Byron McCall the chance to fight on the perimeter of his striking range.”
JASON JACKSON: “Yeah, he doesn’t want the smoke. He has felt the power of McCall and he’s not willing to eat any more of those shots. At this point his “reluctance” is going to lose him this fight. He needs to engage.”
[McCall throws a low kick that Nigel Musgrove bites on before switching targets again, landing another superb body kick. McCall quickly feints a move and launches another liver kick that wrenches Musgrove. You can see it in Byron’s eyes that he wants to finish this fight and he unloads a brutal head kick that wobbles The Magic Man.]
JASON JACKSON: “BANG!”
BODIE SULLIVAN: “OOOH! He’s hurt! Byron McCall rocks Nigel Musgrove with a head kick!”
JASON JACKSON: “McCALL LOOKING TO FINISH THIS FIGHT!”
[While Musgrove is on Bambi legs, McCall jumps in the air and connects with a flying knee! The devastating impact causes Nigel Musgrove’s mouthpiece to fly out of his mouth and before he knows what hit him, McCall follows it up with a big straight left. Nigel is operating on pure instincts at this point and mails in a takedown attempt. Byron reads it from a mile away and delivers a powerful kick to his head! Somehow Nigel Musgrove is still standing, but his legs are now getting lit up from Byron. Each kick leaves bright red welts on his calves and somewhere in the process it looked as though Musgrove may have hyperextended his knee. The closing horn sounds, saving Musgrove from any further punishment.]
JASON JACKSON: “Saved by the bell.”
BODIE SULLIVAN: “What an incredible display of resilience from both men! Listen to this crowd, they are just eating it up!”
JASON JACKSON: “Yeah, that fight was all McCall though. I don’t know how they can score that any other way. That flying knee was a thing of beauty. Welcome back, Byron. What a performance.”
[The crowd bursts into cheers, hearing the final horn, while both fighters embrace with a respectful hug. Both men exhausted, they turn to head back to their corners to get worked on by the Ringside Physicians. After a few moments pass, the medical staff file out of the octagon and both fighters meet back to the center of the octagon for the official call.]
MIKE DEMPSEY: “Ladies and gentlemen, after three rounds, we go to the judges’ scorecards for a decision. The judges scored it 29-28, 30-27, and 30-27 for the winner by unanimous decision, “The Last Call” Byron McCall!
[The crowd cheers once again as McCall has his hand raised in victory. Both fighters shake hands as a gesture of mutual respect before splitting off to each one’s crew. A graphic pops up on screen, breaking down the statistics of the fight while the commentators recap.]
JUDGE PATRICK THOMSON
Nigel Musgrove 9 9 9: 27
Byron McCall 10 10 10: 30
JUDGE GABRIELLA WALL
Nigel Musgrove 9 10 9: 28
Byron McCall 10 9 10: 29
JUDGE OLIVER JACOBS
Nigel Musgrove 9 9 9: 27
Byron McCall 10 10 10: 30
Winner: Byron McCall by Unanimous Decision
Statistics: Nigel Musgrove
Punches 31/59 (53%)
Kicks 1/2 (50%)
Clinch strikes 0/0 (0%)
Takedowns 0/0 (0%)
GnP strikes 0/0 (0%)
Submissions 0/0 (0%)
Clinch Attempts 0/0 (0%)
Time on the ground 0 s
Statistics: Byron McCall
Punches 28/52 (54%)
Kicks 27/36 (75%)
Clinch strikes 0/0 (0%)
Takedowns 0/0 (0%)
GnP strikes 0/0 (0%)
Submissions 0/0 (0%)
Clinch Attempts 0/0 (0%)
Time on the ground 0 s
BODIE SULLIVAN:“And we are back ladies and gentlemen with our final break in the action and we are ready to head into the Main Event of the night. We’ve got some Cruiserweight company in the audience as the current number one contender Reggie James is in the building. You know he’s got a lot of interest in seeing who comes out on top in this one.”
JASON JACKSON: “Shit, the whole division is paying attention to this one. If Mike Santos wins tonight, and retires? That puts the future of this division up in the air. There may very well be a tournament for the belt if that happens. You gotta think Reggie James’ name would be in that bracket if so and If Gauge wins then Reggie won’t be too far away from a crack at the champ. Either way, I have a feeling he’s going to try to strangle people and collect limbs all the way to championship gold if he has his way about it. Enjoy the fights Reggie! Cheers Uce.”
♫
WALKING THROUGH THE BADLANDS
I WATCH THE TYRANTS SCAR THE RED SANDS
THEIR GREED IS LIKE MORPHINE
DRILLING INTO THE VEINS WITH MACHINES
THE PUREST FOR OF EVIL THAT I’VE EVER SEEN
♫
[The arena begins to dim as the soft intro to “Badlands” by In Hearts Wake begins to play. Just as the heavy metal guitar riff shreds through the PA system, the building explodes with blinding white lights. Michael Santos is illuminated by strobe lights as he walks out to the main stage. Santos never breaks stride and heads straight to the octagon with his corner crew following behind.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “One last walkout. Soak it all in, Michael Santos. The final fight in an exemplary career where he was doubted all along the way to this point. Championship opportunity in your hometown against a man who is 1-up on you. Santos has a chance to not only finish the final chapter with a Championship victory, but he can also etch his name in the history books as being the oldest Champion in Union Grand Prix history. So much is at stake for the two-time IYHWF Champion, he’s bringing the heavy artillery and leaving it all out there in the octagon.”
JASON JACKSON: “This is what it’s all about right? This is one fighter I do believe won’t be making a return after he’s gone, like Byron, Paige, and I did. He’s going to ride off into the sunset and Bodie… I remember how I felt when I made this walk. When I thought it would be the last time. I’m sure there is a flood of emotions going through him right now. Most folks don’t know this, but I was already thinking about retirement when I fought Roscoe. My wife had almost died having our daughter and she was in the ICU, and all I wanted was to spend time with my family. But I came and fought, and that entire walk to the cage I soaked it up and thought about how this was the last time I’d feel this energy of the crowd and the jitters that come with it all. I know he’s feeling some type of way right now, and I hope he uses that as fuel and doesn’t let these emotions impact his performance here in front of his home crowd. ”
[Santos reaches the cageside area and begins to strip down to his trunks. He steps over to the fight official and gets inspected to ensure he’s fit to fight. Once he’s been cleared, he grabs a bottle of water from one of his cornermen and takes a quick swig before handing it off and stomping his way up the steps. Santos goes straight to his corner, where he then shadow boxes to stay loose.]
♫
LOOK ME IN MY EYES, NIGGA, I’MA WIN
I’MA GET THIS MONEY, NIGGA, I’MA LIVE
FIRST NIGGA IN MY FAMILY WITH SOME LEGAL BREAD
HAD TO RISK IT ALL JUST TO WIN BIG
♫
[The arena dims to darkness as “Win” by Tee Grizzley begins to bump over the PA system. A single spotlight shines on the main stage and not long after, Gauge Lattimore steps out from the back with an intense scowl on his face. Gauge is laser-focused and doesn’t miss a beat or parade down the aisle, just a smooth, continuous walk as he gets closer to the octagon.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “… And with the final walkout of the night, it’s the self-proclaimed Most Hated Man in Melbourne, the Union Grand Prix Cruiserweight Champion, Gauge Lattimore. The Detroit native is looking to make his second successful title defense on enemy territory, while simultaneously scoring his twentieth victory. We all know that Lattimore possesses a high motor in which he obliterates his opponents with volume striking. He’s already called out a few names as he wants to stay busy. You gotta love a guy like that.”
JASON JACKSON: “Listen to the boos this man is getting here right now. Most Hated Man in Melbourne for sure. Rightfully so too, because these fans know that all it takes is one punch. Gauge can ruin the fairytale ending of Mike Santos with one single shot. They know it, we know it, and Santos knows it too. He looks super calm and ready for war. Reminds me of Niko Holst. Dude was emotionless. That is a staredown I’ll always remember because he had these cold, dead eyes. Your champion ladies and gentlemen. Whether you love him or hate him, you have no choice but to respect him and all that he’s done. I believe he’s a future hall of famer himself. Mike has his work cut out here for him tonight but there’s some fight left in that old dog and I believe we’re going to see that here tonight. Especially after the heat that Gauge has thrown at him verbally. I mean… He said he was going to send him to the retirement home… Bold statements from the champ.”
[Once Gauge makes it to cageside, he undresses down to his fight gear and hands off his warm ups to the coach closest to him. He gives a quick fist bump to each member of his corner before facing the official to be inspected. Once he’s been cleared, Lattimore sprints up the steps and explodes in the air with a battle cry. Lattimore then slowly walks to his corner.]
MIKE DEMPSEY: “Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time for the Main Event of the evening! Sanctioned by the Professional Boxing and Combat Sports Board, our three judges scoring this contest at cageside are Patrick Thomson, Gabriella Wall, and Oliver Jacobs, and when the action begins, our referee in charge in the octagon is Archie Driscoll. AND NOW, this is the moment you’ve all been waiting for! The following contest is scheduled for five rounds and it is for the Union Grand Prix Cruiserweight Championship! Introducing first, fighting out of the blue corner, a Boxer holding a professional mixed martial arts record of 7-4-0. He stands 6’2”, and weighing in at 225 pounds. He is from Melbourne, Australia, fighting out of Throne MMA, presenting the former Union Grand Prix Cruiserweight Title Challenger and the number two ranked Cruiserweight Contender in the World, “The Punisher” Michael Santos!”
[Ferocious staredown by Santos while Archie Driscoll recites the rules.]
MIKE DEMPSEY: “And his opponent, fighting out of the red corner, a Boxer holding a professional mixed martial arts record of 19-3-0. He stands 6’3”, and weighing in at 225 pounds. He is from Detroit, Michigan, fighting out of Gold Blooded MMA, presenting the reigning, defending, undisputed Union Grand Prix Cruiserweight Champion of the World, Gauge “Lights Out” Lattimore!”
[Ferocious staredown by Lattimore while Archie Driscoll recites the rules.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “And here we go, ladies and gentlemen. We are all set for a possible twenty-five minutes of Championship fighting. There’s no question who the fan favorite is right now, this place is booming for Michael Santos!”
JASON JACKSON: “They may be booming for Mike here in Melbourne but 61.9% percent of fight fans that took our poll says that we will see the current champion retain here tonight. Only one way to find out though. I know you’re ready Bodie. Let’s take it down to Archie to get this underway. ”
[The referee steps to the center of the cage and motions for both fighters to meet. With the announcer standing behind, holding the microphone, referee Archie Driscoll gives one final pep talk.]
ARCHIE DRISCOLL: “Alright fighters, we’ve gone through the rules in the back. Protect yourself at all times, follow my instructions, touch gloves and let’s do it.”
[Without much hesitation, both fighters touch gloves and backpedal to their corners. Archie Driscoll checks off with each fighter one last time and signals for the bell!]
[Both men come out swinging before Gauge tags Michael with a looping right hand, staggering him for a second, but Michael blocks the follow up uppercut and unloads a flurry of punches at Gauge’s head, a few connecting in a big way. Michael steps back to find his range before firing off a stiff jab, but Gauge steps past it and unloads a vicious haymaker right into Michael’s face! Gauge tries to push him towards the cage but Michael stands firm, both men continuing to trade shots with each other.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Fistic fireworks, JJ! No feeling out process here, just a test of perseverance!”
JASON JACKSON: “No feeling out process, and no give in either man. Mike ate a nasty shot there and still stood firm in the pocket to trade. That’s one hell of a chin.”
[Gauge steps back and halts the offense, Mike taking the initiative and following up with a combo of punches, but Gauge ducks under and catches him with a counter straight! Santos swings again, only to get countered once more! Santos senses the danger as Gauge goes to step back in and he starts swinging for the fences, tagging Lattimore with his own haymaker. Gauge steps back to find his range and you can see he now has a cut on his right cheek. He blocks a couple of jabs and a hook from Santos, but gets caught with a crisp uppercut followed by a hard jab, causing Gauge to stumble back. Lattimore charges back in with a burst of power as he throws a flurry of fists at Michael, but he manages to get out of the way. He then sees an opening and grabs Gauge’s right leg before sweeping out the left and taking him down!]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Boom! Big takedown by Michael Santos. Jason, we know Lattimore is not known for his ground game, so to drag the fight down is a pretty smart move.”
JASON JACKSON: “Smart move, but I’m a little sad. I was enjoying that exchange on the feet. Looks like one of those shots cut the champ open though. He’s leaking! I think he needs to use that power to scoot back against the cage and use it to muscle back to his feet.”
[Michael Santos is in side mount over Gauge Lattimore, and after a short struggle manages to transition to full mount. Before he can posture up though, Gauge manages to free his leg going back into half guard. This doesn’t slow Michael down though, as he manages to work back into full mount. Gauge keeps moving and working on the bottom to prevent Michael from focusing on striking, but when he tries to roll to his side and get to half guard, Michael rolls him to his stomach and takes his back!]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Santos has his back! Gauge is in big trouble here!”
JASON JACKSON: “That’s a slick move by Santos to sweep him and get the back. Mike needs to get his hooks in here though if he wants to keep Lattimore in this dangerous position.”
[Santos is in rear mount over Lattimore and manages to quickly get a hook in. He keeps working to get that second hook in but Gauge blocks the attempts until he finds his opening, holding Michael’s arm over his shoulder and then rolling on the ground, getting himself to half mount! Michael works quickly on the ground, managing to trap Gauge in his guard after a short struggle. Gauge tries to break the guard but Michael keeps him in it, eventually forcing Archie Driscoll to stand the fighters up due to a lack of activity.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Nice reversal for Gauge Lattimore on the ground to get himself in a more manageable position for a fighter who has very little skills on the ground. That’s the best case scenario for the champ.”
JASON JACKSON: “Yeah, he knew Mike would be looking to slide that second hook in there and he was ready for it. Great counter to get yourself back in a good spot. Good standup too for Archie. He let them work until it got stale. Good stuff.”
[Both fighters have climbed to their feet and they continue the fight standing. The two exchange wildly with neither man landing any significant hits until Santos fakes a move and launches another nice uppercut that lands square on Lattimore’s chin. They both are still swinging until Gauge lands an uppercut of his own, followed by a jab that sends Mike back a step. Michael throws a massive haymaker out to try and catch Gauge coming in, but the Champion had learned from earlier in the fight and doesn’t follow up right away, causing the shot to wiff. He then steps in and gets the better of an exchange, Michael still trying to find his footing and strike at the same time. Michael disengages as both men take a deep breath before the horn sounds calling an end to the round.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Great finish to a great first frame in this championship bout. A lot of back and forth momentum swings and a lot of action, especially for guys their size. This one is hard to judge, I say I might give the nod to Lattimore. Hit us with some knowledge, JJ. How did you see it?”
JASON JACKSON: “It was pretty even on the feet. Both guys got some good offense in, Significant strikes they are about even. They both did damage, they both got rocked a bit.. but I think that I gotta give Santos the edge though and award him the 10-9. He secured the takedown and took Gauge’s back. I mean, yes, Lattimore survived and he got back up to finish the round on his feet. But that was due to the ref standing it up because the action stalled. During that time, the control belonged mostly to Mike Santos and I think that got him the round. You never know with these judges though. They all see things differently.”
[Both men pick up where they left off, stepping forward and exchanging wildly before Michael nails a high impact cross to Gauge’s face and follows up with a great combo. He then throws a jab but Lattimore counters and launches a furious hook that hits Santos’ chin like a wrecking ball! Santos loses balance and goes to the mat.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Big left hook drops Michael Santos!”
JASON JACKSON: “Yeah that was gonna definitely be scored as a knockdown. No slip there. He got his shit rocked, son. Gauge is smart and not diving in right away though. I think he’s gonna make him get back up.”
[Lattimore is standing while Santos is on the ground on his back. The two men smirk at each other before Gauge steps away and gestures for Santos to stand up. Michael Santos is standing now. Gauge starts showing some evasiveness as he dodges a body shot and then a shovel hook from Michael. He goes to counter with a looping left hand but Santos moves to the side before stepping in and grabbing Lattimore’s right leg, before once again sweeping the left and taking him to the ground!]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Good takedown from Santos. Go back to what worked for you in the last round and try to improve on it.”
JASON JACKSON: “That single leg is on point. See how he shucks it and “runs the pipe” as it’s called? Textbook stuff by The Punisher.”
[Michael Santos is in side mount over Gauge Lattimore, who manages to trap him in half guard. Gauge tries to move to full guard but Santos instead slips into side mount. He tries to go to full mount but this time Gauge catches him and goes into full open guard. After a brief struggle he manages to close the guard around Santos, but he manages to escape it and after a few tentative moves manages to jump back to side mount! He doesn’t stay in side mount for long however as he slides his knee across and gets to full mount! Gauge tries to roll to his side to get to half guard, but again Michael Santos rolls him to his stomach and takes his back!]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “And again Michael Santos takes his back! Now he needs to stay calm here and keep the action going.”
JASON JACKSON: “That’s the same thing that happened earlier. The same exact thing. I don’t know if Gauge is trying to roll and get up or what his thought process is there but he’s getting countered every time and getting put in these bad positions.”
[Santos is in rear mount, Gauge breathing deeply on the ground. Santos manages to get his first hook in quickly, before looking for the second one. Lattimore blocks one attempt, but the second attempt succeeds, getting his second hook in. It doesn’t look like Gauge can escape, However he has a firm grip on Michael’s arms, not allowing him to posture up or transition. Michael struggles to break Gauge’s grip, but can’t in time as Archie Driscoll stands the fighters up due to a lack of activity.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Referee Archie Driscoll decides to stand these fighters back up after a stalemate. Even though Santos didn’t get much out of the takedown, all of that wrestling will wear your opponent out, especially if he’s not well versed.”
JASON JACKSON: “Not just that, but like I said, that’s control time and that wins rounds. If he’s in a dominant position then he’s controlling this fight.”
[Both fighters are back to their feet as Lattimore throws a one-two combo then fakes a move to fire a big right hand on the chin, but Santos’s defense muffles the blows. Michael then fakes a punch before stepping in and grabbing Gauge by the waist, picking him up and slamming him to the ground with another takedown! He lands in open guard, quickly freeing a leg into half guard. After a struggle Gauge manages to get Santos back to full guard, just as the buzzer sounds, marking the end of the round. Michael gets off of Gauge as the ref tells the fighters to go to their corner.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Another action-packed round is in the books and I think we are seeing the path to victory for Santos. The takedowns are keeping Lattimore immobilized and draining his tank. I like what we’re seeing from the challenger so far here.”
JASON JACKSON: “Yep. That’s another round for Santos, and he’s up two-zip right now. The champ really needs to dig deep and take this next round. He’s landing clean and his standup looks great. He’s just gotta defend the takedowns, or he’s going to lose this fight.”
[The third round starts and Gauge wastes no time, stepping in and unloading to the body, punishing Santos’s ribs with a couple of hooks. Michael tries to counter jab but Lattimore feints and moves forward to drill Michael with a hook to the face. Gauge is relentless as he senses blood in the water, hitting another crispy uppercut causing Michael to stumble back! A wicked cross to the head by Gauge Lattimore rocks Santos before another big hook to the ribs puts him up against the cage!]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Gauge Lattimore is firing on all cylinders to begin round three! Santos is getting worked over right now.”
JASON JACKSON: “Oooh that was a huge shot. Santos is hurt pretty badly here. Gauge has him against the cage and is looking to tee off and finish this fight. Santos showing tremendous heart though Bodie and this crowd is deafening right now as they try to rally him to fight back.”
[Another brutal combination lands from Gauge Lattimore and Santos is in a bad spot, his legs look wobbly! Archie is right there in preparation to end this fight! Mike barely dodges a haymaker to the face, stepping in and faking a grab at Gauge’s right leg, causing the Champion to sprawl back a bit before Santos blasts him with a wicked uppercut! His head snaps back as it’s his turn to stumble, a bruise visible on his left eye as Santos goes after him, both men exchanging but Michael getting the best of it.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Ooh, Santos rocked him! Lattimore is hurt! He’s fighting off instincts!”
JASON JACKSON: “OH SHIT! I don’t know how that didn’t knock that man out. That was a naaaasty uppercut, Bodie. Did you see his head snap back? They are trading now in another firefight! WHAT?!”
[Gauge’s back hits the cage as that bruised eye now has a cut over it, Michael stepping in with a vicious shovel hook! Archie is once again in position as the Champ is now the one in trouble! Gauge tries a desperation swing to try and get some distance, but Santos counters with a brutal hook to the body, Gauge crumpling and sinking to the mat as Michael follows up with heavy punches to the face! Archie Driscoll is asking Lattimore to defend himself! Archie Driscoll jumps in between the fighters and stops the punishment for Lattimore! The fight is over!]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “AND THIS ONE IS ALL OVER! WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION CROWNED TONIGHT AND HIS NAME IS MICHAEL SANTOS! WHAT A COMEBACK FOR THE MELBOURNE NATIVE!”
JASON JACKSON: “It was that uppercut. That uppercut changed the fight. He was down bad, and he threw everything he had into that shot and now he gets to retire a champion. What a fight. Wow. I did not see that happening like that.”
[The crowd explodes into cheers and Michael Santos is swarmed by his corner crew in celebration. Doctors tend to Lattimore for a while before helping him to his feet. After doctors and cut men finish their work, both fighters meet back to the center of the octagon for the official call.]
MIKE DEMPSEY: “Ladies and gentlemen, referee Archie Driscoll has called for a stop in this fight at two minutes twelve seconds in the third round, declaring your winner by technical knockout, AND NEW Union Grand Prix Cruiserweight Champion of the World, “The Punisher” Michael Santos!”
[The crowd cheers once again as Santos has his hand raised in victory and the belt wrapped around his waist. Both fighters shake hands as a gesture of mutual respect before splitting off to each one’s crew. A graphic pops up on screen, breaking down the statistics of the fight while the commentators recap.]
Winner: Michael Santos by TKO (Punches) at 2:12 Round 3
Statistics: Gauge Lattimore
Punches 39/60 (65%)
Kicks 0/0 (0%)
Clinch strikes 0/1 (0%)
Takedowns 0/0 (0%)
GnP strikes 0/0 (0%)
Submissions 0/0 (0%)
Clinch Attempts 0/0 (0%)
Time on the ground 340 s
Statistics: Michael Santos
Punches 38/52 (73%)
Kicks 0/0 (0%)
Clinch strikes 0/1 (0%)
Takedowns 3/3 (100%)
GnP strikes 0/0 (0%)
Submissions 0/0 (0%)
Clinch Attempts 0/0 (0%)
Time on the ground 353 s
[Michael is standing in the center of the cage just taking in all the love from his home crowd before Bodie Sullivan joins him in the cage with a microphone.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “First and foremost Michael, congratulations on becoming the Cruiserweight Champion! It was one hell of a fight you two put on tonight, and in my mind it lived up to the absolute brawl we were expecting. What I didn’t expect though was the takedowns from you throughout. Did you plan on trying to end things on the ground once Gauge started getting comfortable on the feet, or was that always the plan?”
MICHAEL SANTOS: “Actually I didn’t really plan on ending things on the ground at all. If I did then great, but it wasn’t the plan. When it comes to straight up boxing Gauge is better than I am, I can admit that. so I had to make him focus on something else. I wanted him to be afraid of the takedown so he couldn’t commit as hard to shutting me down so I could avoid getting knocked out early again. Gauge had some damn good wrestling defense, but I had the advantage on the ground and used that possibility to end the fight.”
BODIE SULLIVAN: “And again what a fight it was! One more thing before I let you get back to your people, are there any last words from The Punisher after his last fight in mixed martial arts?”
MICHAEL SANTOS: “Thank you. Thank you to Gauge, to Dante, to UGP as a whole, to every single person that enjoyed watching one of my fights whether you wanted me to win or not. To every opponent I fought in my 12 fight career. To Marissa and everyone at Throne. You made it a second home for me during my career, you made me feel like I belonged and helped me every step of the way, through the highs and lows. I would not be here as Champion in my final fight without all of you. And finally my family. Angie, Grace, and little Gabrielle. I love you girls so much and I wouldn’t be here without your love and support. I’m just so fucking happy right now Bodie and I can’t wait to celebrate with this Championship and live at least one night as the best Cruiserweight fighter on the fucking planet!”
BODIE SULLIVAN: “It’s been an incredible journey and it’s been an honor to call your fights. Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for your NEW Union Grand Prix Cruiserweight Champion, Michael Santos!”
[With that Michael steps away and raises his arms to a massive cheer, Bodie smiling and leaving the cage. With the final frames focusing on Santos and his cornermen celebrating together, the feed fades to black, leaving just an illuminating Battleground Network logo.]
