UGP 35: DONOVAN vs PETERSON
[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 just Bodie Sullivan in a very tight frame, ready for his cue.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Ladies and gentlemen, we are live exclusively on the Battleground Network here at The Mecca, The World’s Most Famous Arena, Madison Square Garden in New York City and the octagon is officially open for business for UGP 35! Hello everybody I’m Bodie Sullivan and towering next to me is the former Union Grand Prix Heavyweight Champion, the one and only Kennard Rozier, helping me call the fights tonight! Kennard, it’s great to have you here, my friend!”
KENNARD ROZIER: “What’s going on my guy? I’m excited to be here tonight and get some of this Union action live and up front. The Mecca has been a big part of mixed martial arts in recent years and tonight I have a great feeling the fighters are gonna keep this building riled up and on their feet.”
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Listen, before we break down the card for tonight, I understand you have an announcement you’d like to make. So, I give you the floor, Champ.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “Most definitely Brodie, I’ve been really reflecting on things, and some things that I wanna do…and honestly right now fighting isn’t one of those things. I’ve been extremely focused on other ventures and exploring other avenues…so as of right now I would like to announce that I’ll be retiring from the sport. Who knows Bodie it may not be for long, or it could be forever but as of right now I feel like I’ve had my final fight.”
BODIE SULLIVAN: “It was a helluva career, Pluggz. You revolutionized and elevated the Heavyweight Division to a level we had never seen before and became the gold standard. You’ve been a part of some iconic fights that will be immortalized in MMA lore. Before we get all caught up in our feelings here, let’s break down the lineup, shall we? First up, we have a Middleweight Bout scheduled to see the 185 pound debut of Lovelie Saint-Cyr taking on the DRIP alum Da’Vion Woodard. These are two solid strikers and it’s one I’m excited to see how LSC performs at this weight. In Everest, he competed at 170 and was an absolute killer. He won the Welterweight Championship before being promoted to Union, and surprisingly his power carried over when he moved up to 225 and climbed the Cruiserweight rankings all the way up to earning a title shot. I think this is the perfect move for LSC and could be on a fast track to another title fight opportunity.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “LSC has the makings of a guy who can break through one day and become a Union champion. There’s no doubt about it. Da’vion on the other hand has shown a little, as said he can stand and bang so this fight could produce fireworks.”
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Then it’s our first of two Heavyweight Bouts scheduled for tonight, as Billy Tweeds takes on Everest MMA alum Omar Makonza. You all better keep your eyes glued on this one. Both of these guys stand six foot six, and tip the scales at 265. Big boys slapping meat, this has the feel of an old school freak show fight!”
KENNARD ROZIER: “You know you have to love the Heavyweight bangers. Someone always goes down. For both of these guys this is a big fight. The Heavyweight rankings is wide open and a solid victory could catulpt you.”
BODIE SULLIVAN: “In our featured undercard bout, Paige Holloway gets her first true test tonight since her return from her two year sabbatical as she faces the former Lightweight Title Challenger Erick Costa. This is a true measuring stick fight for Ram-Paige to see how she stacks up with today’s competition. Erick Costa is a well rounded fighter with a ton of heart, and went the distance with Delaney Donovan. This is a fight where the winner could very well catapult themselves into earning the next title fight.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “That’s right Brodie, this is most definitely a big step up in talent for Paige. I’ve watched Costa since his debut and one thing is for sure Bodie, he is always gamed. He should be a solid test to see if Paige could ultimately become a top contender in the Lightweight division.”
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Now heading into the Championship block of the night, we have Owen Barnes looking to make his second successful title defense against former Champion Donnie Calabrese. Dog Face Donnie carries a lot of momentum into this one with a four-fight win streak and is looking to tie his longest streak with a win and a second title reign. However, his hands are full against the towering Twin Cities MMA product.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “Donnie always has that underdog story. Always finds his way back into title contention. A true fighter throughout. The guy standing across the ring from him tonight is no joke. Barnes is a very tough guy to see with and is super big. Of course this is a fight between to heavy’s so of course once again we should expect bombs.”
BODIE SULLIVAN: “And finally, in our Main Event, Delaney Donovan looks to make his record breaking seventh title defense against an incredibly tough and durable Abbie Peterson. The major narrative for Double D is his farewell tour as he draws closer to finishing out his contract and riding off into retirement. Delaney has mentioned several big names for his last fights, like Travis Decker, Dallas Meechan, Gianna Howard, and Byron McCall. The one thing these fighters have in common is that none of them compete at 155 pounds. Nothing is set in stone, but we could very likely be seeing Delaney Donovan compete at 155 pounds for the very last time tonight.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “He’s going to have his hands full with Twin Cities Abbie Peterson. Twin Cities always produce fighters who know what they are doing in the cage. The coaches do a great job. They are really an underrated gym if you ask me. This main event is for sure gonna be a very good one. History for Delaney or a new chapter for Abbie. Gotta love it. The Mecca is on fire. We’re on fire. The action is gonna be everything everyone has been anticipating.”
BODIE SULLIVAN: “And with that, let’s toss it over to our hype man, Mike Dempsey standing in the octagon. It’s Bout Time! Take it away, Mikey!”
MIKE DEMPSEY: “Ladies and gentlemen, we are live exclusively on the Battleground Network here at Madison Square Garden in New York City for UGP 35! And now, this opening contest is scheduled for three rounds in the Union Grand Prix Middleweight Division! Introducing first, fighting out of the blue corner, a Freestyle Fighter holding a professional mixed martial arts record of 12-3. He stands 5’9”, and weighing in at 185 pounds. He is from San Juan, Texas, presenting the number six ranked Middleweight Contender in the World, Da’Vion Woodard!
[Ferocious staredown by Woodard while Darrell Stevens recites the rules.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Alright, first up on the docket we have a man making his official Union GP debut after securing a contract through DRIP. Da’Vion Woodard is a very interesting prospect who has made waves throughout the Texas regional circuit. He’s a well rounded fighter and a man who’s eager to continue the wavelength here tonight.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “He looks ready tonight too. He has that look that he’s ready for any and everything.”
MIKE DEMPSEY: “And his opponent, fighting out of the red corner, a Shotokan Karate Striker holding a professional mixed martial arts record of 7-4. He stands 6’ even, and weighing in at 185 pounds. He is from Flint, Michigan by way of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, fighting out of The Hit Squad, presenting the former Everest MMA Welterweight Champion, the former Union Grand Prix Cruiserweight Title Challenger, and the number four ranked Cruiserweight Contender in the World, Lovelie Saint-Cyr!”
[Lovelie Saint-Cyr looks like he has been waiting for this fight forever.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “And now ladies and gentlemen we have Lovelie Saint-Cyr making his Middleweight debut tonight. I’m very excited to see how this move pans out for the former Everest Welterweight Champion. As we all know, LSC was a behemoth at 170, who would just straight up bully his opponents. His move to Union’s 225 pound Cruiserweight Division resulted in a lot of success, but after an unsuccessful bid at the Cruiserweight Championship in his most recent fight, he and his team made the decision to make the drop down to the 185 pound Middleweight Division. Pluggz, we know what he’s capable of at the much heavier division, what can we expect to see out of LSC in this new division?”
KENNARD ROZIER: “We should see him have the strength advantage over most of these guys. We’re gonna have to see if he can deal with the quickness of the guys in the middleweight division though. That’s how it kinda is when you move down a division. Guys are gonna be quicker so that’s gonna be what I‘’ll be looking at the most tonight.”
[Lovelie Saint-Cyr and Da’Vion Woodard touch gloves in the center to get this fight started, showing mutual respect. They both circle the ring before Da’Vion tries closing the distance with a jab. Lovelie moves out of the way and steps forward with a jab himself that lands. Woodard tries stepping back to find his distance but Lovelie follows him and sends a combination of punches Da’Vion’s way that he isn’t able to block.]
[Da’Vion doesn’t look fazed as Lovelie steps backwards. He steps forward and Lovelie sends a high kick towards Da’Vion’s head that connects. Da’Vion eats the kick and sends a left hook right back but Lovelie blocks it beautifully. Da’Vion doesn’t let up and swings with the right hand but Lovelie ducks under, steps backwards and sends another kick towards Da’Vion’s head connecting once again.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Ooh! Massive head kicks from LSC! Da’Vion Woodard has to do a better job at protecting himself or this is going to be a short night for him.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “The moments by LSC are already being a problem for Da’vion.”
[Da’Vion stands strong, and fires back with a punch that Lovelie weaves. Lovelie looks to throw a combination of punches that causes Da’Vion to back up as he’s getting tagged with good shots from Lovelie. In the midst of the barrage of punches, Da’Vion sends a strong left hook towards Lovelie’s head that Lovelie blocks and responds back with a hard cross. Da’Vion’s left eye starts to swell up.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Saint-Cyr has found a great rhythm and has got Woodard flying blind right now .”
KENNARD ROZIER: “Da’vion needs to try and get settled. He’s letting LSC set the pace and that’s never a good thing.”
[Lovelie looks for another kick to Da’Vion’s skull but Da’Vion sees it coming and fires back a leg kick that Lovelie checks before firing an uppercut that almost levels Da’Vion. Da’Vion quickly regains his composure and once again looks to fire back with a punch but Lovelie gets out of the way and follows with a Superman Punch that sends Da’Vion into the fence. Da’Vion bounces off the fence and into an overhand right from Lovelie that looked like it was capable of destroying a brick wall. The crowd reacts with audible groans, wondering how Da’Vion is still standing.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Gotta give Woodard credit, he’s showing a lot of grit out there, but I’m not sure how much longer he can last, taking this kind of punishment.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “He’s showing that his chin can hold up, but that’s not a good fighting tactic. Get to work. Look for a takedown or something.”
[Da’Vion starts to get on his bicycle but Lovelie keeps up his pace sending punches Da’Vion’s way as he tries to cover up. Da’Vion feints to back Lovelie off of him but he opened himself up to another brutal kick to the head that causes him to stagger. Saint-Cyr launches some tentative punches before slowing down the pace as Da’Vion wipes some blood from around his eye. Lovelie moves forward once more and tries a Superman punch! That crushes Woodard’s face. Lovelie launches a couple of jabs and then a big hook! Woodard blocks the jabs but the last punch hits hard on Da’Vion Woodard’s cheek! Woodard stumbles and falls to the mat as the crowd goes crazy. Lovelie kicks Da’Vion on the thigh a few times before allowing him space to get up. Da’Vion doesn’t look rattled by how this round has gone and looks to push the pace as he throws a few punches that hit the air as the horn sounds.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Lovelie Saint-Cur scores the knockdown late in round one, leaving no doubt that the scorecards will go in his favor. And Pluggz, I’d even argue that it was a 10-8 round.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “Clear round for LSC. Da’vion didn’t have an answer for anything LSC threw at him. He’s gonna have to step it up this round and not let LSC determine where the fight goes.”
[Lovelie comes out of his corner confident and so does Da’Vion who forces Lovelie backwards as Da’Vion jolts towards him from out of his corner. Da’Vion swings with the right but Lovelie ducks and catches Da’Vion with an uppercut that causes Da’Vion to stumble backwards. Lovelie starts opening up on Woodard and raining down combinations as Da’Vion’s corner screams at him.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Big shot lands and Da’Vion Woodard is in serious trouble right now!
KENNARD ROZIER: “He might drop Bodie!”
[Da’Vion Woodard throws a combo. Lovelie Saint-Cyr ducks under and catches him with a counter straight! Woodard swings again, only to get countered once more! Woodard is looking bad here as he tries holding on as the ref steps in almost stopping the fight. He doesn’t and Lovelie sends a solid kick right below Da’Vion’s ribs.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Lovelie Saint-Cyr is putting on a masterclass in striking, Pluggz, and it looks like the referee may stop the fight soon. ”
KENNARD ROZIER: “I don’t think he should. Da’vion has showed a lot of heart and deserves a chance in this fight.”
[Da’Vion pushes forward while Lovelie steps backwards looking for angles as he throws a few jabs. Woodard attempts a takedown but Lovelie sees it coming and sends another perfectly timed kick to Da’Vion’s head but he doesn’t drop and Lovelie Saint-Cyr launches a low kick that almost wrenches Woodard’s knee followed by
superb haymaker that lands on Woodard’s face like a cannonball. Saint-Cyr continues to look for angles as he throws a few jabs that are countered by Da’Vion Woodard before Lovelie counters Da’Vion.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “This is starting to get rough to watch. The official needs to put an end to this. Da’Vion Woodard is just too tough for his own good.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “He came to fight but so did LSC who’s looking better than I’ve ever seen him tonight.”
[Lovelie Saint-Cyr and Woodard engage in a wild exchange of punches and Lovelie is getting the best of the exchange as he lands a few blows. Woodard steps backwards when those punches connect to his face. A wicked punch by Lovelie rocks Woodard and he almost drops to the mat as the crowd erupts. Lovelie follows with an overhand right that lands flush and Da’Vion tries backing up to stay safe before with all his might swinging with a hook. Saint-Cyr dodges the strike and counters with a crushing hook that almost lifts Woodard from the ground!]
[Saint-Cyr launches a furious hook! That hits Woodard’s chin like a wrecking ball! Woodard loses balance and goes to the mat. Lovelie Saint-Cyr steps back and allows Woodard to get back to his feet. Da’Vion Woodard seems hurt!Lovelie charges at Woodard throwing flurries left and right. Not many punches are hitting, but the ones that land are huge shots! Woodard is rocked! Lovelie stalks him sending a one two before another kick to the dome that puts Da’Vion’s lights out. Lovelie holds back from another shot as the crowd goes crazy and so does Lovelie and his corner who rush the cage.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “And this one is all over! An absolutely dominating performance by Lovelie Saint-Cyr puts him back in the win column in an emphatic way.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “This was a great performance tonight. LSC showed his striking ability and was very crisp. Da’vion didn’t get the job done but he showed how tough he is. It’s not always your night. Live to fight another day.”
[The crowd explodes into cheers while Saint-Cyr celebrates with his Hit Squad crew. The Ringside Physicians rush into the octagon and immediately tend to Woodard. After a few moments pass, Woodard is able to stand on his own, so the medical team files out of the cage so both fighters can meet back in the center of the octagon for the official call.]
MIKE DEMPSEY: “Ladies and gentlemen, referee Darrell Stevens has called for a stop in this fight at four minutes twenty-seven seconds in the second round, declaring your winner by knockout, Lovelie Saint-Cyr!”
[The crowd cheers once again as Saint-Cyr 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: Lovelie Saint-Cyr by KO (High Kick) at 4:27 Round 2
Statistics: Lovelie Saint-Cyr
Punches 71/88 (81%)
Kicks 17/18 (94%)
Clinch strikes 1/1 (100%)
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: Da’Vion Woodard
Punches 0/19 (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 76 s
BODIE SULLIVAN: “We are back ladies and gentlemen from our break for station identification, be sure to keep up with all of the latest news and highlights with DRIP, aka Dante Reed’s International Promotions, exclusively on the Battleground Network. It’s a great platform for many of these young up and coming fighters to shine some light on themselves while also getting a shot at impressing the boss, Dante Reed, for a chance at a Union GP contract. Before we head to our next fight, we’ve got to shine some light on the former Everest MMA Welterweight Champion and fellow New Yorker Derrius “Spyda” Webb, who’s in the house tonight! He will be returning for season two, which begins June 25th at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, British Columbia, and you have to assume he is the early favorite to win it all this season.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “You know one thing Derrius is gonna do, and that’s work hard. He’s one of those guys who have been working down in Everest just waiting for their chance to finally get that call up to UGP, and if Derrius plays his cards right after this season we could see him fighting in a UGP cage.”
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 Muay Thai Kickboxer holding a professional mixed martial arts record of 16-8. He stands 6’6”, and weighing in at 265 pounds. He is from Dakar, Senegal, presenting the number eight ranked Heavyweight Contender in the World, Omar Makonza!”
[Omar Makonza looks calm in his corner, but knows he has a tough fight coming up.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “For those of you who enjoy watching a car crash, this matchup is right up your alley. Up first for this Heavyweight tilt, the Everest MMA alum Omar Makonza makes his official Union GP debut. Makonza’s stint in the early stages of Everest was very underwhelming, and was not picked up once the developmental promotion switched to the seasonal, playoff format. However, he honed his skill set on the regional scene and scored this new opportunity through DRIP. Now he’s on the big stage to show what he’s made of.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “We know how it is…every Tom everything doesn’t go your way and Makonza has felt that through his journey here, but he kept his head down and continued to work and finally gets to fight inside a UGP cage here tonight.”
MIKE DEMPSEY: “And his opponent, fighting out of the red corner, a Boxer holding a professional mixed martial arts record of 5-3. He stands 6’6”, and weighing in at 265 pounds. He is from Anchorage, Alaska, fighting out of Red Rock Fighting, presenting the number five ranked Heavyweight Contender in the World, “200 Proof” Billy Tweeds!”
[Billy Tweeds raises his fists in his corner. He seems confident in himself and ready to throw down.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “The Alaskan native Billy Tweeds has become a very respectable and promising prospect for the Heavyweight Division over his eight fight pro career. His only losses come at the hands of Owen Barnes, Viktor Volkov, and Donnie Calabrese — three fighters who have either held the championship, or have challenged for the championship. He’s got a shot at building another winning streak that could propel him into the perimeter of title contention.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “He has to be looking for a big win tonight. So does Makonza. Tweeds is always a fight or two from contention and a win for Makonza over Tweeds shows that he belongs. So for a fight that doesn’t seem like it there is a lot on the table.”
[Tweeds and Makonza move forward as the bell signals the beginning of the fight. Neither fighter gets close enough to initiate a glove touch, which shows the respect these two have for the power that’s about to be unleashed. Makonza seems hesitant, as if he would give the initiative to his opponent, but it’s just a bait and switch tactic as he throws some tremendous strikes. Tweeds is able to block them and counters back with a big right hand that wobbles Makonza!]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Oooh! Omar Makonza wobbled after taking a stiff shot of 200 Proof with that big counter from Billy Tweeds!”
KENNARD ROZIER: “Makonza looking to end it early, but Tweeds has other ideas.”
[Billy Tweeds doesn’t give Omar Makonza even a second to realize the situation as he rolls out a brutal combination that backs Makonza up against the fence. Tweeds continues to charge at Makonza, throwing flurries left and right. Not many are hitting, but the ones that land are huge shots and Makonza is in serious trouble early! Somehow Makonza manages to circle out from the fence and makes his way back to the center, revealing a sizable cut over his left eye.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Omar Makonza got carved up against the fence. He’s got a nasty gash over that left eye that could pose a problem for him.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “Those are some brutal blows.”
[Makonza is still buzzing and it looks like Tweeds wants to push forward and finish this fight. The two exchange wildly and Tweeds is in full control right now. You can see Makonza’s blood making stains on the mat with each shot he takes. Another big right hand is all it takes, and Omar Makonza rag dolls to his back for the walk off knockout finish!]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “And this one is all over! Billy Tweeds hit ‘em with the chin spinner and bounces him like a bad check! Take a bow, Billy Tweeds!”
KENNARD ROZIER: “WOW! Now that’s impressive. Very very good showing from Billy.”
[The crowd erupts with shock and dismay as Billy Tweeds struts the perimeter of the octagon. The Ringside Physicians rush into the octagon and immediately tend to Makonza. After a few moments pass, Makonza is able to stand on his own, so the medical team files out of the cage so both fighters can meet back in the center of the octagon for the official call.]
MIKE DEMPSEY: “Ladies and gentlemen, referee Colin Davenport has called for a stop in this fight at one minute eleven seconds in the very first round, declaring your winner by knockout, “200 Proof” Billy Tweeds!”
[The crowd cheers once again as Tweeds 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: Billy Tweeds by KO (Punch) at 1:11 Round 1
Statistics: Billy Tweeds
Punches 11/14 (79%)
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: Omar Makonza
Punches 0/6 (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: “Welcome back from the break folks. We are readying ourselves for the featured undercard bout, but before we do, we have to spotlight arguably the best MMA prospect in the world right now sitting in the front row, the season one Everest MMA Featherweight Champion and New York native, “Supastar” CC Flynn! As we mentioned earlier in the night, season two of Everest begins June 25th, and this season CC will be facing a whole new slate of fighters, which always makes for great entertainment.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “Always Bodie, to me CC has everything it takes to be a superstar in the fight business. She has charisma, she has spunk, she knows how to promote her fights, and one thing she can do is actually fight. If CC keeps perfecting her craft and winning fights she’ll most definitely be fighting in UGP next year or by the end of this year actually.”
MIKE DEMPSEY: “Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for three rounds in the Union Grand Prix Lightweight Division! Introducing first, fighting out of the blue corner, a Boxer holding a professional mixed martial arts record of 5-3. He stands 5’7”, and weighing in at 155 pounds. He is from San Juan, Puerto Rico, fighting out of the Lion’s Den FC Las Vegas, presenting the former Union Grand Prix Lightweight Title Challenger and the number four ranked Lightweight Contender in the World, Erick Costa!”
[Erick Costa keeps his head lowered down while he bounces in place. He controls his breathing while mentally running over his game plan one last time.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “The first of two highly touted Lightweight battles is set to begin, and first up on the docket is Erick Costa, who looks to snap a two-fight skid against a legend in the game. Tonight makes his ninth pro fight, and already he’s faced five fighters who have either won or competed for a championship, including Holloway. We know the arsenal Erick Costa brings to the table, but it’s the intangibles that separates good fighters from great fighters. Even in defeat, Costa is one of the pound-for-pound toughest fighters in the game. No matter who he’s up against, you know you’re going to have a tough outing when you square up against him.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “Costa is always right there. Another one of those guys who are a fight or two away from contention. If he wins tonight guess what he’s back in contention. You really have to work to take a guy like Costa down.”
MIKE DEMPSEY: “And his opponent, fighting out of the red corner, a Muay Thai Kickboxer holding a professional mixed martial arts record of 24-4-1. She stands 5’10”, and weighing in at 151 pounds. She is from Brisbane, Australia, fighting out of Throne MMA, presenting the number three ranked Lightweight Contender in the World, “Ram-Paige” Holloway!”
[Holloway looks laser focused right now, directing a ferocious staredown toward her opponent while Ron Anderson recites the rules one final time.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “The look of determination on Paige Holloway’s face right now lets you know just how much is at stake right now.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “She has a chance to show that maybe she deserves a shot at the Lightweight title with a win over Costa. It’s gonna be a tough task but Paige is always ready. She is a veteran in our sport and is looking to continue her rise up the rankings tonight.”
BODIE SULLIVAN: “During the pre-fight press conference, Holloway alluded that this fight is a true litmus test to see how she stacks up with today’s competition. Her goal is to win another championship and she wasn’t subtle about it, either. A win here tonight against a former title challenger could be the launching pad that vaults her into the next title fight. And she doesn’t care whether that be Delaney Donovan, Abbie Peterson, Alistair McKay, or the damn janitor. Ram-Paige is on a path for glory, and we’re going to find out whether she flourishes or falters right now!”
[Paige Holloway and Erick Costa touch gloves in the center to get this fight started and begin circling back and forth looking for an opening. Holloway strikes first with a low kick that gets checked and Costa counters back with a burst of good body shots. Holloway throws a hook to the body but Costa dodges it and fires back with a low kick that gets checked. Holloway jabs at Costa to no visible effect then launches a big right hand that goes wide.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “These fighters are showing each other a ton of respect. Great awareness so far to not allow any big strikes to land.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “There are a lot of things at stake. You don’t wanna throw the game plan out the window already. Let the fight come to you.”
[The two step into each other and exchange wildly. Both are landing but nothing significant. Holloway tries a nice one-two combination to get the edge, but it mostly hits air. Costa goes to the body but his punches just graze Holloway’s arm. Holloway tries to catch Costa off guard with a flying knee, but Costa blocks it with his arms and moves laterally to create some distance. As he side shuffles, Holloway cuts him off and wraps him up in a textbook double collar Thai clinch.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Bit of a chess match with the striking on the perimeter, let’s see what unfolds here in the clinch. This is usually where Holloway does her damage.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “Smart, Costa is a sure shot kind of guy. Paige is doing a good job trying to neutralize his punching skills with the clinch here.”
[Holloway and Costa pummel back and forth for position. Holloway fakes a few punches and lands a quick knee to the sternum. Costa winces a bit but then places his forearm behind Holloway’s tricep and shucks his shoulder to free himself from the clinch. Before Costa can assess his next move, Holloway is right back on him and locks him in a single collar tie. Costa tries to posture up and launch a series of punches, but Holloway pushes him forward and blocks most of the attack.]
KENNARD ROZIER: “Must be something they really worked on in camp. Get Costa in the clinch and go to work from there.”
BODIE SULLIVAN: “I’m sure if Holloway can create enough space while still in the clinch, she can use her reach advantage to generate some serious power in close quarters.”
[Costa looks a little more comfortable in the clinch and tries to control Holloway with some dirty boxing, but Holloway pushes him away and off the break, lands a clean uppercut. Costa stumbles back and Holloway follows him with an uppercut and jab combo, but Costa manages to deflect the blows. Holloway keeps the pressure on with a spinning back kick, but again Costa blocks the strike with his arms and leg.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Nice, clean uppercut off the break definitely gets Erick Costa’s attention. He looked a little stunned there but recovered well.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “Paige is doing a good job of being the aggressor but Costa has been slick and ready for everything she has thrown so far.”
[Both fighters circle back toward the center of the octagon and Holloway measures her range with a furious low kick. Costa checks the kick and counters with an unorthodox punch to the torso that hits its mark. Holloway answers back with another low kick that gets checked and then a nice one-two combination that gets blocked. Holloway pushes Costa and moves away from him and it appears she needs a bit of a breather.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Phenomenal awareness on full display by Erick Costa.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “Paige looks a bit gassed already. Costa needs to push now.”
[With less than a minute remaining in the round, Holloway strives to end on a high note. She moves forward and launches a high kick but Costa just narrowly ducks under it. A follow up front kick from Holloway connects and Costa stumbles back on his heels. Holloway unloads some jabs that miss their mark and Costa counters back, digging a nasty hook to the body. Holloway continues to launch combinations at a rapid rate in the final seconds, but Costa’s evasiveness is on full display as he comes out relatively unscathed from the one-sided exchange. The horn sounds and both fighters give a quick fist bump before heading back to their respective corners.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Solid first round for both fighters.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “I would probably give the round to Paige just because she pushed the pace. She looked for the fight. Now this round let’s see if she can get some of those strikes to land.”
BODIE SULLIVAN: “I’d say I’d have to agree with you, Pluggz. Costa was very elusive and made Holloway miss a lot, but when she did land, Costa got rocked. Let’s see what kind of adjustments they made here in the second round.”
[Both fighters come out of their corners breathing heavily but their actions show they still have plenty in the tank. Holloway closes the distance and opens with a spinning back kick but Costa is ready for it and blocks it. Both fighters circle around the center of the cage, measuring their distance with some jabs and low kicks that don’t do much damage.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “You can tell they acknowledge each other’s threat right now, very cautious in their approach.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “Much like the first, this round starts with a feeling out process but I don’t know if that’s the right move from the corners. Someone needs to try and put their imprint on this fight.”
[Holloway goes with a looping right hand while Costa jumps back and jabs. Holloway only hits air but continues with a solid middle kick that wrenches Costa! With Costa hunkered over, Paige fires off a brutal head kick that could be heard from the nosebleed section! Costa is in trouble here as he fumbles on his feet, and Holloway jumps in the air and tries a flying knee! Costa manages to bring his arms up to block it and moves laterally to create some space and regroup.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Oooh! Flying knee!”
KENNARD ROZIER: “Oh boy! She almost took his head off with that one.”
BODIE SULLIVAN: “If that would have landed, that would’ve been the end of this fight, no question.”
[Holloway senses the danger Costa is in and rains down. She lands a stinging jab and calf kick, but the body shots miss their mark. Costa tries to wrap her up in a clinch to slow down the offense, but Holloway pushes off and backpedals away. Both fighters circle around toward the center of the cage before engaging in a wild exchange of punches! Erick Costa is getting the best of the exchange as he lands a few more blows and gradually swings the momentum back in his favor.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Erick Costa is rallying back with a masterful flurry.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “Those shots from Costa are landing. Paige better get out of there.”
[Holloway begins mixing up her target during the exchange, landing a couple leg kicks that do some visible damage. Costa tries to hobble out of the exchange, but Paige rushes in to secure another clinch. Holloway pushes Costa’s head down and launches a heavy knee to his head that leaves a nasty gash across Costa’s forehead.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Big knee from Holloway that opens a nasty cut on Costa.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “This could get real ugly Bodie.”
[Costa is in a daze and looks like he’s just trying to survive at this point. Holloway connects with a few big shots and looks like she wants to finish this and continues launching bombs! You can hear the excitement from the crowd growing louder as Paige Holloway pushes off Costa, spins around, and tries a spinning back kick! Costa blocks it and circles out to create some distance, but Holloway is firing on all cylinders at this point and shows some great footwork moving in to strike and moving away afterwards.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Paige Holloway is putting on a clinic right now.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “She really wants to finish it this round, but like we all know, Costa is always ready for the fight. Never out of it.”
[Holloway closes the distance and secures a single collar tie. Costa’s blood smears over Paige’s shoulder and it’s looking like it’s causing him some issues. With just ten seconds remaining, Holloway launches a knee while holding Costa in a double underhooks. That knee hits Costa in the abdomen, nearly knocking the wind right out of him. Holloway lands one more furious low kick before the horn and Ron Anderson separates the fighters as the round concludes.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Big second round for Paige Holloway. She could very well be up two rounds, but that first one was close. Either way, you know she’s gonna keep the throttle wide open.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “Two rounds for Paige. Costa has to look to end it in the third if he wants to win this fight.”
[Down to the final frame, it’s a night and day difference between Holloway and Costa. Paige, although breathing heavily, still looks like she can push the pace while Costa, despite the cutman’s best efforts, continues to leak from his wounds. The two touch gloves as a sign of respect before they go after it. A front kick from Holloway gets blocked and a counter straight left from Costa misses its mark. Holloway lands a middle kick right below the ribs that stops Costa in his tracks and she follows it up with a nice one-two combination.]
KENNARD ROZIER: “Paige has really found her rhythm. It’s carrying over from that second round.”
BODIE SULLIVAN: “No question, Pluggz. She’s starting to run away with it.”
[The cuts open up again and Erick Costa tries to wipe the blood out of his eyes. Holloway sees an easy target and fires off a straight right then a shovel hook that causes Costa to stumble back on his heels. Paige rushes in with a flurry of alternating lefts and rights, but somehow Costa is able to dodge the traffic. Another middle kick from Holloway hammers Costa’s ribs and it’s obvious those body kicks are taking a major toll.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Those body kicks are completely deflating Erick Costa. Holloway is just firing at will at this point.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “The pressure she has put on has been tremendous tonight.”
[Costa tries to circle out of range, but Holloway works behind the jab and keeps herself close. The two inevitably exchange punches, with Holloway getting the upper hand before she launches herself and secures a Thai clinch. The two pummel for position, but Holloway has the advantage and lays in a couple sharp knees to Costa’s thighs. Holloway gets Costa’s attention with the knees downstairs, and opens him up for a storm of knees to the face! With each one landing, a mist of blood sprays into the air until Costa is finally able to shuck his way out and put some distance between the two.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Erick Costa is in deep trouble! The referee might want to stop this fight soon.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “How is this man still standing Bodie?”
BODIE SULLIVAN: “He’s taken a ton of damage. A lesser fighter would have folded long ago.”
[Holloway takes a few seconds to catch her breath while Costa takes the pause in action to wipe the blood out of his eyes. Holloway steps in with a looping left hand that lands on Costa’s chin and then a vicious middle kick that hits Costa in the ribs. The fighters size each other up in the center of the cage and go right back at it. Holloway gets the upper hand as she mixes up her targets with punches and leg kicks, which keeps Costa guessing and forces him to circle out. Holloway however cuts him off with a quick combo of jabs and crosses.]
KENNARD ROZIER: “Costa needs to do something here. He needs to dig deep and look for a finish.”
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Time for that Hail Mary play.”
[Down to the final minute, the exhaustion has fully settled in for both fighters as they exchange wildly but nothing significant lands. Both fighters look a bit flat footed and seem hesitant to initiate. In the final seconds of the fight, Holloway finds an angle and lands a solid combo that just separates her further on the scorecards and the horn signals the end of the fight.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “This one goes the distance!”
KENNARD ROZIER: “Paige came out and dominated this fight. She understood the task. This is a big win for her in UGP and as for Costa we know he’ll be back and looking to start up another win streak.”
BODIE SULLIVAN: “I’d be surprised if this one didn’t go her way. After a close first round, Holloway dialed in and just unloaded the clip.”
[The crowd roars with cheers as Holloway and Costa embrace each other after a hard-fought battle. The Ringside Physicians rush into the octagon and immediately tend to both fighters. After a few moments pass, the medical team finishes their work and files out of the cage so both fighters can meet back in 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. All three judges have scored it 30-25, declaring your winner by unanimous decision, “Ram-Paige” Holloway!”
[The crowd cheers once again as Holloway 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.]
JUDGE ANTHONY HARRIS
Paige Holloway 10 10 10: 30
Erick Costa 9 8 8: 25
JUDGE ERIN THOMPSON
Paige Holloway 10 10 10: 30
Erick Costa 9 8 8: 25
JUDGE RILEY EVANS
Paige Holloway 10 10 10: 30
Erick Costa 9 8 8: 25
Winner: Paige Holloway by Unanimous Decision
Statistics: Paige Holloway
Punches 37/87 (43%)
Kicks 12/25 (48%)
Clinch strikes 9/12 (75%)
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: Erick Costa
Punches 24/41 (59%)
Kicks 0/3 (0%)
Clinch strikes 0/8 (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’re back from the break folks and we are getting set to head into the Championship block of the night. Be sure to catch Ryūjin FC coming this summer exclusively on the Battleground Network. Before we switch gears for the Heavyweight Championship Co-Main Event, we have to acknowledge a very special guest in the arena tonight. This Brooklyn native was the inaugural Union GP Middleweight Champion and just recently inducted into the class of 2022 Hall of Fame, we all know him as Cristian “Uccisore” Bonanno! It’s great to see some MMA royalty in attendance tonight.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “It’s the Mecca…royalty knows where it’s at on fight night. Cristian looks like he’s still got it. I’m sure he could step into the cage and give a lot of cats a run for their money. ”
♫
I DON’T TALK I LEAD BY EXAMPLE
PUNCH HIM DOWN WHEN HE FALL GET TRAMPLED
I’M A BANDO COMMANDO SLASH RAMBO SLASH
WILL GET ON YOUR ASS FOR A BAG THOUGH
♫
[“Bando Commando” by Yavid plays throughout the arena and the crowd is on their feet. After a moment, Chicago’s own “Dog Face” Donnie Calabrese enters the building and the fans are going wild! Calabrese calmly walks down the ramp with a swagger that’s infectious.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Ladies and gentlemen, we have officially entered the championship block of the card. First up, the people’s champ, Donnie Calabrese. This is a day one guy, in fact he was in the main event of UGP 1. We all know the trials and tribulations Dog Face Donnie has endured throughout his career, and that’s what makes him so special. Most fighters would probably have hung it up during his darkest days, but Calabrese powered through it and reached the ultimate pinnacle as Heavyweight Champion of the World. Tonight, riding a four-fight win streak, Donnie Calabrese has the chance to become a two-time champion, something that only a very select few have been able to accomplish.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “This man has been the champ and has finally climbed his way back at the chance of being that once again. Bodie, Donnie has all the tools to do just that. It’s going to be interesting to see what approach he takes tonight in trying to stop Barnes and become the new two time Heavyweight champion.”
[Dog Face appears stoic with concentration, just bobbing his head to the beat of his music as he makes it to cageside and gets checked by the bout official. Once cleared, he climbs up the steps and heads straight to his corner, flexing for the cameras along the way.]
♫
THEY’RE GONNA TAKE THIS
STRUMMING ALONG HAMMER IT IN SO I CAN SING MY SONG
THE DEVIL’S DONE THIS TO ME
I TORE THIS PLACE DOWN, CALL OUT
BUILDING THE CAGES THAT BROKE US DOWN
BOY GET BACK DOWN ON YOUR KNEES
♫
[The heavy riffs of “No Masters” by Bad Wolves hits the PA system at the same time as the lights in the arena dim down. Owen Barnes makes his presence known as he walks to the main stage, flanked by his Head Coach Colby Anderson and notable cornermen Abbie Peterson and Rachel Parsons. His eyes fixated on the cage, Barnes never breaks his stride and continues his stoic walk down to the octagon.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Here he is, the reigning Heavyweight King, Owen Barnes. There’s no mistaking this man when he graces his presence. Barnes has been unbeaten throughout his Union tenure, and by the looks of it, he looks to continue that trend. The combination of size, strength, and speed this man possesses will cause problems with anyone standing across from him inside the cage.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “A monster in his own right, this guy is very destructive and this division is all about destruction. Knowing that he has to deal with the fact that Donnie can actually wrestle. I’m gonna be looking to see if he’s still very aggressive or does he hold back on some of that aggression so as not to get caught looking up at the ceiling from his back.”
[Owen Barnes makes it to cageside and rips his warmups off. He zones in to his head coach Colby Anderson giving him a final pep talk, then gives a fist bump to each of his cornermen. Owen turns to the official to get inspected, and once he’s been cleared, he stomps his way up the steps and meanders his way to his corner.]
MIKE DEMPSEY: “Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time for the Co-Main Event of the evening! Sanctioned by the New York State Athletic Commission, our three judges scoring this contest at cageside are Anthony Harris, Erin Thompson, and Riley Evans, and when the action begins, our referee in charge in the octagon is Lars Levy. AND NOW, the following contest is scheduled for five rounds and it is for the Union Grand Prix Heavyweight Championship! Introducing first, fighting out of the blue corner, a Boxer holding a professional mixed martial arts record of 15-9. He stands 6’1”, and weighing in at 265 pounds. He is from Chicago, Illinois, fighting out of The Hit Squad, presenting the former Union Grand Prix Heavyweight Champion and the number one ranked Heavyweight Contender in the World, “Dog Face” Donnie Calabrese!”
[Donnie Calabrese is calm in his corner. He looks convinced of his abilities.]
MIKE DEMPSEY: “And his opponent, fighting out of the red corner, a Kickboxer holding a professional mixed martial arts record of 7-1. He stands 6’8”, and weighing in at 265 pounds. He is from St. Paul, Minnesota, fighting out of Twin Cities MMA, presenting the reigning, defending, undisputed Union Grand Prix Heavyweight Champion of the World, “The Viper” Owen Barnes!”
[Owen Barnes raises his fists in his corner. He seems confident.]
KENNARD ROZIER: “Both of these guys just looked so locked in.”
BODIE SULLIVAN: “We are just moments away from a massive collision for the Heavyweight crown! The third man in the octagon, Lars Levy, will give the final instructions.”
[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 Levygives one final pep talk.]
LARS LEVY: “Alright fighters, we’ve gone through the rules in the back. Protect yourself at all times, follow my commands, touch gloves if you wish to and let’s do it.”
[Without much hesitation, both fighters touch gloves and backpedal to their corners. Levy checks off with each fighter one last time and signals for the bell!]
[Both fighters touch gloves in the middle of the cage as the fight begins. They start a feeling-out process, throwing without much intent, especially Donnie Calabrese who is trying to measure distance. Barnes throws a stiff jab that Donnie manages to dodge and duck under to grab Owen Barnes’ right leg trying to get him down. Barnes’ takedown defense is on point at this stage of the fight and he manages to push Donnie away from him and tag him with a brilliant combination; that Donnie counters with a combination of his own.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Early takedown attempt for Donnie goes nowhere.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “Owen was ready for it and showed some good defense there.”
BODIE SULLIVAN: “You have to believe that’s a big key for Donnie’s success. If he can drag the fight to the mat, that puts Barnes in a vulnerable spot while neutralizing his long reach advantage.”
[Dog Face starts stalking down the champion, looking for a hole in his defense. Calabrese unleashes an overhand right as Owen weaves and barely manages to dodge the massive bomb heading his way. Donnie swings wildly to which Owen answers with a hook that glances off Calabrese’s arms. Donnie throws a straight jab at Owen, but the big man barely flinches and counters with a couple of jabs of his own.]
KENNARD ROZIER: “Donnie is bringing the action right now while Owen is looking to counter.”
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Donnie has to be smart out and not get too careless, especially early in the fight when Barnes still harnesses all of his strength.”
[The Viper manages to create some separation and this allows Donnie some time to recover his breath. Yet, not wanting to give an inch to the champion, Donnie shoots for a double leg takedown. Barnes sprawls and manages to stay on his feet. Off of the sprawl, Donnie launches an uppercut, and Barnes blocks with both of his arms countering with a stiff hook to Donnie’s ribs. The champion moves laterally and continues raining punches on Calabrese whose mouth is now starting to show the effects of Barnes punches as there’s a small laceration.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Big punches in bunches from the champ.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “I’m telling you…that man has a lot of power. A lot, Bodie.”
[Out of desperation, Donnie launches an overhand right that Owen dodges, but he cannot dodge the jab that came his way forcing him to take a step back. Barnes takes a second to recover and gets back into the fold with a one-two combo that Donnie blocks and counters with a hook to the body that glances Barnes’ arms. Both fighters are showing a lot of respect for the other’s power.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “These guys are staying vigilant in their approach. Stick and move. Find your range before dumping the tank.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “The round is almost over. Don’t risk it by trying to do too much. Live to fight another round.”
[In the closing moments of the round, Calabrese shoots a looping right hand that staggers the champion, and Dog Face looks to capitalize with a bunch of body shots that makes the champion flinch. Yet the height difference proves important as Barnes manages to throw a jab that Donnie blocked, but it was enough to create separation as Lars Levy jumped in between the fighters to end the round.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “A meticulous chess match caps off the first round. It appears that Barnes is allowing the fight to come to him and let Calabrese dictate the tempo.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “Good round from both fighters. Too close to call. I felt like Donnie controlled the round and Owen just looked to counter off his shots with mixed results. They both landed so it was a solid round from both fighters.”
[After tasting Owen Barnes’ strength in the first round, Donnie is taking no chances and using his footwork and defense to evade most of Barnes’ initial offense; something that gets a smile from the champion. A quick hook by Donnie Calabrese breezes past Owen’s arm; but then a left hook lands as a leg kick from Owen lands. Both Donnie and Barnes exchange strikes, neither connecting significantly; especially with Dog Face showing a lot of good defense, rolling some of Barnes’ punches and avoiding big strikes.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “For a man that’s the size of Donnie, he moves around extremely well.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “Donnie has really worked on his stand up defense. You can see it in this fight.”
[Calabrese launches a kick that gets checked and in turn allows Barnes to keep his distance. Donnie is showing some desperation throwing wild combinations that get easily dodged by Barnes’ lateral movement; countering with a hook that misses by a matter of inches and could’ve put an exclamation point to the fight so far.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Woo! The wind off that hook blew my hair back!”
KENNARD ROZIER: “So close man!”
[An inside kick by Barnes that misses, served as the perfect veil for a straight jab that landed cleanly in Donnie’s face! This is the moment Owen was waiting for, he then throws a right hand that makes Calabrese stumble back as his right eye is starting to show signs of swelling and a small cut over the eyebrow.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Big right hand rocks Calabrese. He needs to settle down a bit and stick to his gameplan. He can’t leave himself wide open or The Viper is gonna make him pay for it.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “That was a very accurate punch from the champion.”
[Dog Face looks for angles to throw jabs, but gets countered by Owen’s combos time and again opening the laceration over Donnie’s right eye. Blood pours down Donnie’s face and this might prove problematic as the fight goes on. Donnie throws some jabs, but Barnes defends them well. Dog Face tries to pressure his opponent but falls right into his trap, as soon as Donnie misses a step he eats a hook from Barnes that hits the mark.]
KENNARD ROZIER: “Just pinpoint with his approach right now. Donnie is getting confronted out there.”
BODIE SULLIVAN: “The momentum is steadily shifting in the champ’s favor now. He’s finding a good rhythm and just teeing off on Calabrese.”
[Donnie tries recovering and swings wildly, it’s pretty obvious the blood pouring down his face is now reaching a point where it might be impeding his sight. Owen is now throwing punches at Calabrese and gets into a wild exchange with him. Barnes moves in and out; Donnie takes a step back and tries to recoup.]
KENNARD ROZIER: “Donnie needs to wrestle. Put Owen on his back. On his feet is where he is at his best. Try and take him down.”
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Donnie has solid ground and pound. If he can set up the takedown, he can start calling the shots.”
[The blood is now covering the mat as Barnes blocks an uppercut from Calabrese and counters with a kick to the thigh, followed by a thunderous uppercut that opens a cut on Donnie’s mouth. A right hand from the champion staggers the challenger and makes the left side of Calabrese’s face turn bright red. Barnes pushes, looking for a finish; but Calabrese is not looking to go down without a fight and grabs Barnes by the legs looking for a takedown. This forces Barnes to step away, yet his length proves to be an advantage as he then lands a big punch that staggers Calabrese; who doesn’t give up and throws some jabs as Lars Levy jumps in to end the round. The bloodied Calabrese seems to be enjoying this as he puts his hands out to high-five Owen, and the champ obliges, as both fighters return to their corners.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “That was clearly a much better round for Owen Barnes. He kept Donnie Calabrese on the perimeter and used that crazy reach advantage flawlessly. Donnie is busted up pretty good, but he’s loving it right now.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “Owen found his groove in this round. That has to be scary for Donnie and his corner.”
[The cutman tried to work a miracle with the bloody mess that was Donnie Calabrese’s face in between rounds, but the damage was too much. It only takes a couple of well-placed jabs from Owen to re-open the cuts on Donnie’s face. An uppercut from Owen and the fight seems to be close to ending; a flurry of punches makes Dog Face crumble to the mat and just as Owen jumped in for the finish; Lars Levy jumped in to finish the fight!]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “It is all over! Owen Barnes retains his championship with a commanding performance!”
KENNARD ROZIER: “Just like that. Just like that man. I’m telling you. This man is a force on the feet and once again shows why he’s at the top of the Heavyweights. Donnie fought a good fight but at the end of the day he just didn’t capitalize. It’s not back to the drawing boards but just when will he get back here again.”
[The crowd explodes into cheers while Barnes celebrates with his cornermen. The Ringside Physicians rush into the octagon and immediately tend to Donnie. After a few moments pass, Donnie is able to stand on his own, so the medical team files out of the cage so both fighters can meet back in the center of the octagon for the official call.]
MIKE DEMPSEY: “Ladies and gentlemen, referee Lars Levy has called for a stop in this fight at thirty-four seconds in the third round, declaring your winner by knockout, AND STILL the Union Grand Prix Heavyweight Champion of the World, “The Viper” Owen Barnes!”
[The crowd cheers once again as Barnes has his hand raised in victory and the title wrapped around his waist by Dante Reed. Both fighters shake hands as a gesture of mutual respect before splitting off to their respective crews. A graphic pops up on screen, breaking down the statistics of the fight while the commentators recap.]
Winner: Owen Barnes by KO (Punches) at 0:34 Round 3
Statistics: Owen Barnes
Punches 38/67 (57%)
Kicks 1/5 (20%)
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: Donnie Calabrese
Punches 19/64 (30%)
Kicks 0/0 (0%)
Clinch strikes 0/0 (0%)
Takedowns 0/3 (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. As we wrap up the final commercial break, we are just minutes away from the Lightweight Championship Main Event. It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for, but before we do, we gotta give a shout out to Brooklyn bred Lena “Thugga” Lyons who’s here watching the fights. In just two weeks she’ll be facing Syn Saetang at Boss Fight XXXVI in Atlanta, Georgia. Lena was riding a solid three-fight win streak before a controversial stoppage to Isabel Azevedo derailed that momentum. However, we all know Lena is an absolute savage and will bring the heavy artillery.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “There is never any quit in Lena. She’s only focused on one thing and that’s becoming the Bantamweight champion. Through the wins and losses Lena continues to keep her head up and strive for what she wants. As long as she keeps continuing to do what she does she’ll eventually become a UGP champion.”
[The arena lights suddenly cut out and the entire building is pitch black. The crowd is initially quiet, but the anticipation grows with each passing second, and roars of cheers grow louder with splatters of cell phone lights flickering all around. Then without warning, a heavy guitar riff rips through the PA System with a brilliant white light bursting to the tempo of the kick drum.]
♫
TARGET ON MY BACK LONE SURVIVOR LASTS
THEY GOT ME IN THEIR SIGHTS
NO SURRENDER NO
TRIGGER FINGERS GO
LIVING THE DANGEROUS LIFE
♫
[As the first verse to “Feel Invincible” by Skillet floods the airwaves, a singular spotlight shines down onto the main stage, and out comes Abbie Peterson from the back. With a stoic expression, Abbie is flanked by her cornermen on either side of her, with a similar attitude conveyed. Never breaking stride, Abbie sets her sights on the octagon and nothing more.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Making her way to the octagon now is the Twin Cities darling, Abbie Peterson. We’ve seen her blossom from her debut in the very first Everest Main Event to here in the Main Event at Madison Square Garden for the Union GP Lightweight Championship. Abbie possesses an incredible striking arsenal. She favors the clinch game, where she can suffocate her opponents, stifle their offense, and use her reach to generate terrifying power shots in close range. She’s gonna need to unleash everything she has in her wheelhouse to come out victorious tonight.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “Abbie has to be more focused tonight than any fight she’s ever had. She has a chance to do what many haven’t done and that’s best Delaney Donovan. She has the skills to do so, and I’m looking forward to seeing what she brings tonight’.”
[Once she reached the cageside area, Abbie unzips her warmups and hands them off to one coach while she listens to the final pep talk from her head coach Colby Anderson. After embracing each cornerman, Abbie turns to the official to get inspected. Once she’s been cleared, she points to the heavens and races up the steps and jogs straight to her corner where she begins shadow boxing against one of the posts.]
♫
HER BREATH BEGAN TO SPEAK
AS SHE STOOD RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME
THE COLOUR OF HER EYES
WERE THE COLOUR OF INSANITY
CRUSHED BENEATH HER WAVE
LIKE A SHIP, I COULD NOT REACH THE SHORE
WE’RE ALL JUST DANCERS ON THE DEVIL’S DANCE FLOOR
♫
[“Devil’s Dance Floor” by Flogging Molly blasts over the loudspeaker and Delaney Donovan emerges to the stage wearing his Irish flag inspired walkout fight kit with crew members from his camp following behind. Donovan burrows his head down while slowly walking down the aisle.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “And with the final walkout of the night, here he is, Lord of the Lightweight Division, Delaney Donovan! Each and every time this man makes the walk, history is about to be made. The accolades he has accumulated over the years have unquestionably cemented a legacy among the all-time greats in this sport, which is a blessing and a curse. With the notoriety, comes the ever growing target. Donovan has routinely fought the best of the best, at their very best, on the biggest stages.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “This can be history tonight for Delaney. A win tonight for sure solidifies him as the best champion Union has ever seen and arguably the greatest fighter of all-time. That’s probably not even on his mind right now. He just comes to fight and continues to dominate the division. Abbie will be tough but Delaney is the champ for a reason.”
[Donovan makes it to cageside where he is checked up on by the fight official. Once cleared, he climbs up the steps and calmly takes his place in his corner while shadow boxing along the way.]
MIKE DEMPSEY: “Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time for the Main Event of the evening! Sanctioned by the New York State Athletic Commission, our three judges scoring this contest at cageside are Anthony Harris, Erin Thompson, and Riley Evans, and when the action begins, our referee in charge in the octagon is Jack Gibbs. 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 Lightweight Championship! Introducing first, fighting out of the blue corner, a Muay Thai Kickboxer holding a professional mixed martial arts record of 9-2. She stands 6’ even, and weighing in at 155 pounds. She is from Minneapolis,Minnesota, fighting out of Twin Cities MMA, presenting the number one ranked Lightweight Contender in the World, “Blackjack” Abbie Peterson!”
[Abbie Peterson glares at her opponent from the opposite corner.]
MIKE DEMPSEY: “And her opponent, fighting out of the red corner, a Muay Thai Kickboxer holding a professional mixed martial arts record of 16-2. He stands 5’9”, and weighing in at 155 pounds. He is from Belfast, Northern Ireland, fighting out of Kratos Combat Sports, presenting the former Union Grand Prix Middleweight Champion and the reigning, defending, undisputed Union Grand Prix Lightweight Champion of the World, “Double D” Delaney Donovan!”
[Delaney Donovan raises his fists in his corner. He seems confident.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “History is up for grabs! Can Delaney Donovan continue to rewrite the record book, or will Abbie Peterson pull off the upset of the century?!”
KENNARD ROZIER: “The Mecca is ready for this one.”
[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 Jack Gibbs gives one final pep talk.]
JACK GIBBS: “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. Gibbs checks off with each fighter one last time and signals for the bell!]
[The champion and challenger move forward as the bell kicks off this Lightweight Championship bout. Measuring each other up, they circle, until finally Donovan looks to strike first with a couple of jabs and a big hook, all of which Blackjack blocks with ease. She circles out and around, searching for her own angles as Donovan’s eyes follow her closely, looking for holes in Peterson’s defense. A moment later he finds it with the sort of precision timing the Mixed Martial Arts world has come to expect out of him, landing a beautiful straight right followed up by a stiff hook that wobbles and drops the challenger to the canvas.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Double D scores the early knockdown!”
KENNARD ROZIER: “Already, Abbie’s feeling the timing and power of Delaney already.”
BODIE SULLIVAN: “That’s world class striking.”
[Instead of pouncing, Double D takes a step back and gestures toward Abbie, allowing her to get back up being aware that the knockdown was more about Blackjack losing her balance than it was her almost being knocked out. A moment later Peterson climbs back to her feet and after a quick check in by the referee, the fight resumes. Once more Peterson tries to circle, but Delaney is quick to cut her off with punches, looking to corner her against the cage. She shows off some quickness and manages to avoid letting this happen but as she’s avoiding the trap, Donovan tags her up with a couple more stiff shots that forces Abbie to retreat quicker.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Delaney is already figuring out his timing and dialing in on his range.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “The champ looks like he’s come ready for everything just bringing the pressure to Abbie.”
[Continuing to press the challenger, Donovan walks her down and lands a stiff uppercut to Peterson’s chin. The crowd erupts, sensing that Donovan might be putting this one to bed soon but instead Abbie answers with a nasty low kick to Donovan’s right leg. For the moment, this halts the aggression from the champion as he steps back and studies her while testing his right leg out, leaning on it a little to make sure he’s still good to go. It seems that Peterson senses this and tries to capitalize with another kick, but it’s lazily thrown and Donovan quickly avoids it and counters with another nasty uppercut, this one nearly sending the challenger to the moon.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Abbie Peterson just got rocked! Delaney is setting the traps and pouncing on Abbie’s willingness to be aggressive.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “That punch would’ve ended a lot of folk.”
BODIE SULLIVAN: “That just goes to show how resilient Abbie Peterson is.”
[Double D continues to show an immense ability to pick and choose his spots with precision. After the uppercut, he stepped away still feeling the effects of the kick to his leg some, and not wanting to put himself at risk needlessly. Moments pass as the two fighters circle, each studying the other. Taking their time. Being methodical. Here and there Peterson throws a kick to test Delaney’s defenses but he is game. After the fourth attempt, Donovan springs into action with a big hook to Peterson’s ribs that lands flush. She absorbs the punishment and pushes through, finally attempting to take the fight where most believe she has an advantage, the clinch.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Now things are about to get interesting.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “This is what she needs to do. Get Delaney in the clinch. It’s been her bread and butter.”
[She only manages to control the champion for a moment, though, as Delaney muscles his way out, pushing Peterson away to keep the fight in striking distance. Once free of her grasp, Double D circles back to the center of the cage. Blackjack follows and isn’t fazed as Donovan measures her with a jab. Instead she slips in close and ties Donovan back up in the clinch and the two jostle for position. A master class on grappling in the clinch is put on between the two fighters, with Peterson trying to find a way through Donovan’s defenses and Delaney managing to keep her neutralized. Eventually he is able to once more break free of her grasp, shoving her away and circling out again.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Donovan did just enough to keep Peterson off balance and not allow her to set up her strikes in the clinch.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “Not much from that, and that shows Delaney skills in the clinch. Something a lot of fighters have problems with against Abbie.”
[With a minute left in the round, the champion delivers another brutal hook to Abbie Peterson’s ribs but again she seems to shake it off, using Donovan’s aggression to tie him up in the clinch once more. This time, however, Donovan manages to gain an advantageous position in the clinch and slams a series of punches into her ribs. Eventually she’s forced to defend her side and at that point, it’s the champion who postures up and uncorks a flurry of strikes that connect solidly. The two fighters take the rest of the round fighting for control but without much else significant happening and eventually the bell sounds, bringing a close to round one. Both fighters head back to their respective corners.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Round one is in the books and it was a pretty steady outing for the champ. He showed his veteran experience dictating the tempo. He stayed patient when needed and throttled down when he saw the opportunity.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “Solid round from the champ. Abbie’s team might wanna look for a different approach other than the clinch. The champ is ready for it tonight.”
[The bell sounds again signaling the start of the second of five possible rounds. After Donovan controlled the pace of the fight in the first, it seems Blackjack’s corner has encouraged her to be more aggressive as she starts things off by snapping off another low kick aimed at Double D’s right leg, but he checks it. Peterson responds by firing off another, and this one is checked as well. But she keeps the pressure on. Throwing kicks in what seems to be bunches and they definitely seem to, at the very least, be irritating the Lightweight Champion.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Even though Delaney is checking those kicks, they’re still doing some damage. Look at the welt that’s starting to form on his calf.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “This is smart from Abbie. Keep Delaney at a distance and don’t let him pick his shots with ease.”
[Delaney continues to search for an opening, dodging, deflecting and checking the kicks as they come. And then the opening presents itself and he unloads on Peterson’s ribs once more. It’s a nasty hook that hits hard, with Peterson’s side showing evidence of the work that Double D has done up to this point. Continuing to take his time, Delaney circles and then finds another opening, landing another hook to the body which he chains into a series of solid jabs. Defensively, Abbie responds with another kick, this one snapping off Donovan’s thigh loudly and it causes the champion to circle out and around.]
KENNARD ROZIER: “Another solid kick.”
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Donovan definitely ate that one. I like where his head’s at right now, though. He’s targeting the body, which is the catalyst used to generate a lot of torque for those big kicks. As he continues to soften up the body, it’s gonna get harder and more painful for Abbie to control her breathing and really unload with those kicks.”
[Blackjack keeps pressing, though and she might regret getting as close as she does and Donovan fakes, shimmies, and moves laterally before landing two solid haymakers back to back. They don’t go unanswered, however, as Abbie Peterson shows just how dangerous she can be, trying to take Donovan’s head off with a high kick that he just manages to block. It’s enough to draw a reaction from the crowd who seems to be certain, if that had landed, it would have been a highlight reel knockout.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Quick thinking from the champ to shield his face and get his hands back up. Peterson nearly caught Donovan off guard there and that could have been the turning point Peterson is needing.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “That would’ve been a knockout, no question.”
[The building bristles with energy and it seems to fuel the fighters on and to forget their gameplans and just swing for the fences. Peterson connects on a series of jabs but gets countered by Delaney before she tests his chin with an uppercut. For her efforts, Donovan lands two great crosses back to back. The crowd pops to their feet as the champion presses the challenger, a couple of jabs are deflected by Peterson but she eats a big hook, stumbling and falling to the canvas for a second time in the fight.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Boom! Abbie Peterson goes down! She gets rocked with a big right hook and she could be in some trouble here.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “These punches from Delaney have been so on point. Just right on time. Everytime. ”
[Unlike in the first, Donovan keeps the pressure on some, not letting Abbie get back up to her feet. Instead he throws a kick to her thigh that she manages to deflect. The champion forces Blackjack to scramble back to her feet, but as she does he circles away with a smile on his face, taking a moment to catch his breath.]
KENNARD ROZIER: “I would like to see Abbie get aggressive here. It’s a championship fight. You have to continue to bring the fight to the champion.”
BODIE SULLIVAN: “She definitely needs to get something going, and soon. Outside of a few strikes here and there, this has been a pretty convincing fight for Delaney Donovan.”
[Whether this actually manages to get under Blackjack’s skin is a question she’ll have to be asked at another time. But it doesn’t take long for her to hunt Donovan down and look to take his head off with another one of those nasty high kicks she throws. Unfortunately for her, Delaney has been in the cage with fighters of similar ilk and he knows to always be wary of such things, and because of this dodges it and is able to continue to recover his breath some. The remainder of the round goes rather uneventfully, with Peterson wary of getting caught by another hook, and Delaney willing to let the clock run out and conserve his energy.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “And we wrap up round two of this 155 pound championship bout.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “Abbie did the smart thing by letting the round play out. She’s been on her back in two rounds. Delaney is just being Delaney, sticking to the plan and doing what he does.”
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Perhaps it’s taken Peterson a couple of rounds to try and figure out Donovan’s scheme and pacing, but in my eyes she’s down two rounds at this point. As we approach round three, she needs to start generating her offensive tactics and put Donovan on the spot where he has to make the hasty decisions.”
[Peterson comes out the aggressor in the third round, with a middle kick that gets blocked by Delaney’s arm. The crack from the impact echoes around the arena. Donovan smartly circles away, shaking his arm to try and get some of the feeling back in it after absorbing the punishment. As the two engage again, Abbie spins and slams a spinning back kick straight to Delaney’s ribs, causing him to visibly wince. Looking to take advantage of this, Peterson tries to tie the champion up but he scouts it and is able to duck under, move aside, and escape just narrowly.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Solid middle kick for Peterson, but unfortunately she isn’t able to secure the clinch.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “All night Delaney has kept Abbie from doing what she does. She has to start throwing the hands and keep working those kicks to find that shot.”
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Hang on, she isn’t giving up on it just yet.”
[She doesn’t let him get away, however, and soon enough the two are tied up. Nothing much happens as the two jockey for position. Donovan is able to break free from Peterson’s grasp and circle back to the center of the cage. Her corner screams at her to take advantage of those opportunities, having yet to throw a single strike from the clinch. Double D reminds the challenger and the rest of the world why it’s a terrible idea to let him free, as he uncorks a crisp superman punch that lands like a wrecking ball, snapping Abbie’s head back viciously. But she doesn’t go down. She instead gathers herself and grins right back at the champion just before answering with two straight leg kicks. The champion doesn’t like that at all, but he doesn’t have much time to think about it as he’s forced to dodge a middle kick and just barely get out of its way.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Looks like Abbie woke up a bit after that Superman Punch, and it looks like there’s some swelling forming already.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “Time to let the hands go.”
[Circling away, Donovan spends the next few seconds avoiding engaging in any way. When Peterson pressures, he dips and moves and circles away. Peterson continues to chase him down, but her aggression costs her as Donovan suddenly decides to engage once more, unloading a crisp uppercut that snaps Peterson’s head back again. The camera gets a good close up of the bruising that’s starting to show. Smartly, Peterson tries to tie him up but Donovan avoids and tags her up with a shovel hook.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Blackjack falls right into Delaney’s trap and lays with a brutal uppercut. She can’t be playing his games or she’s gonna get knocked out.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “The counter game of the champ has been stellar thus far.”
[A bit of desperation starts to show in the challenger. There’s still time, but she knows she can’t keep taking the kind of punishment that she has been. She tries to take the fight to the clinch, but Double D is aware and avoids that. And so she’s left to rely upon her kicks, which Donovan checks and then connects on a series of shots to the body. It’s a testament to Abbie Peterson’s heart and toughness that she has been able to absorb the kind of punishment to her body that she has, and still keep going.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Abbie Peterson has a warrior’s spirit, but she’s taking a beating. She needs to set up those kicks and not force them. Delaney is reading them like an open book and countering back in big waves.”
KENNARD ROZIER: “Just a tough fighter. Showing all the heart tonight.”
[And not only keep going, but continue being dangerous. A high kick forces Delaney to duck under but he can’t avoid the kick to the body and it forces Double D to retreat. Blackjack, finally, avoids a shot to the body and uses a low kick to maintain her distance. But she doesn’t keep the pressure off enough as Delaney swings and connects with a big haymaker to the left eye. A nasty gash under her eye has opened up, and that left eye has become pretty swollen to the point that one has to wonder if she can see out of it.]
KENNARD ROZIER: “Delaney has found shots that a lot of guys wouldn’t be able to withstand.The pride ofAbbie just continues to show.”
BODIE SULLIVAN: “That eye is looking pretty gnarly, though. That’s going to seriously jeopardize her throughout the rest of the fight, no doubt.”
[Double D smells blood in the water, as he hears the clackers indicating the end of the round is rapidly approaching. He launches a couple of jabs and then a big hook. Blackjack is able to block the jabs but the hook connects flush, right where the cut had been opened up and it nearly flattens the challenger. She hits the mat and a moment later the horn sounds to signal the end of the round.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Double D scores another knockdown right at the end of round three. He’s gotta be feeling confident right now, everything has been going his way.”
[Donovan returns to his corner with his arms raised high in the air while Abbie Peterson slowly pushes herself back up to her feet. The camera, once more, gets a good shot of her for the world to see. Blood streams from a wicked cut under a left eye that is now completely swollen shut.]
KENNARD ROZIER: “Another solid round from the champ. Everything has gone his way.”
BODIE SULLIVAN: “The cutman has his work cut out for him. Let’s see what kind of magic he can work up.”
[The champion sits on his stool, listening to the advice his corner gives him. On the opposite side of the cage, the cutman works hard to close the gash on Peterson. Blackjack reassures everyone that she’s still good to go, in spite of the appearance…]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “And now ladies and gentlemen, we head into championship rounds — Hang on, wait a minute. It appears that the Ringside Physician wants to take a look at Peterson.”
[… But the ringside physician, just before the intermission between rounds was about to end, examines the cut and then speaks with the referee. A moment later the referee indicates that the ringside doctor has determined Abbie Peterson cannot continue.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “They’re calling off the fight…”
KENNARD ROZIER: “Smart decision. No way she was gonna be able to continue and give Delaney a fight. Another successful defense from the champ and a solid showing from Abbie. This was a good main event and both fighters deserve to be praised tonight.”
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Man, I don’t know Pluggz. I understand putting those protocols into place to essentially protect the fighters from themselves, but at the same time, these fighters know what they’re signing up for when they step through those cage doors. This is the biggest moment in Abbie’s career, I’m confident in saying that she’s willing to ‘die on her shield’ and suffer irreversible damage in order to capture the win in this moment.”
[The crowd gasps with shock and a wave of boo birds flood the airwaves. An obviously disgruntled Peterson disputes the stoppage, but the decision has already been made. After a few moments of chaos and confusion, things eventually settle back down, and both fighters meet back in the center of the octagon for the official call.]
MIKE DEMPSEY: “Ladies and gentlemen, at the end of round three, due to a doctor stoppage, referee Jack Gibbs has called for a stop in this fight, declaring your winner by technical knockout, AND STILL the undisputed Union Grand Prix Lightweight Champion of the World, “Double D” Delaney Donovan!”
[The crowd ultimately cheers as Delaney Donovan has his hand raised in victory and the championship wrapped around his waist by Dante Reed. Both fighters shake hands as a gesture of mutual respect and say a few words of encouragement to one another before splitting off to their respective crews. A graphic pops up on screen, breaking down the statistics of the fight while the commentators recap.]
Winner: Delaney Donovan by TKO (Doctor Stoppage) at 5:00 Round 3
Statistics: Delaney Donovan
Punches 33/43 (77%)
Kicks 0/1 (0%)
Clinch strikes 5/9 (56%)
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: Abbie Peterson
Punches 1/4 (25%)
Kicks 11/27 (41%)
Clinch strikes 0/0 (0%)
Takedowns 0/0 (0%)
GnP strikes 0/0 (0%)
Submissions 0/0 (0%)
Clinch Attempts 2/2 (100%)
Time on the ground 48 s
[After a few moments of celebration, giving Bodie Sullivan enough time to leave his spot at commentary and get into the cage, Delaney circles back to meet him for a post fight interview.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Delaney, another impressive performance in a record setting 7th championship defense. A lot of people are asking what’s next, and we will get there, but how do you feel in this moment right now?”
DELANEY DONOVAN: “Well. My leg hurts a bit. Abbie tagged me with a couple of wicked kicks that I’m sure I’m going to feel in the morning. Other than that, I just feel.. Blessed. I mean this is the place that everyone dreams about having these kinds of moments in. It’s the Garden. It’s the main event. And I’ve set the bar for championship defenses. The fans were amazing. The guys in my corner were fantastic. I mean, I get the glory but this is a total team effort. Hopefully it inspires some of the men and women under my tutelage that they can follow in my footsteps and learn from me. Shite, I’m rambling. Sorry, lad. Hard to put into words what I’m feeling, though, really.”
[The crowd cheers and applauds, to which Delaney responds by clasping his hands together and mouthing thank you to them.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “You said you felt you had a good camp and it certainly seemed you were prepared for what Blackjack was bringing tonight. Was there anything that surprised you?”
DELANEY DONOVAN: “Yeah, I think I expected her to be a little more aggressive when we were tied up in the clinch. I thought maybe she’d push me a bit more there. But, I’m not too bad in the clinch myself. I’ve won a lot of fights that way, you know? So maybe that made her a bit hesitant. I felt like other than that I was able to fight my fight, dictate the pace, and pick my shots when I wanted them. Never want to see the doctor be the one to step in and halt the fight, so hopefully she’s okay and heals up quickly. The Lightweight Division benefits from her being a part of it and I’d hate to think she might miss any significant time.”
[As Bodie prepares for the big question that Delaney knows is coming, the champion leans in a bit more closely, his hands on his hips as a member of his crew comes and hooks a Kratos Combat Sports t-shirt over his head.]
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Of course what everyone wants to know is what comes next and I don’t think we can put that question off any longer, champ. Have you decided on what you’re going to do.”
DELANEY DONOVAN: “Listen, when I first signed with Union Grand Prix I never could have imagined that this would be my life or my career. I had aspirations and belief in myself and those aspirations and that belief in myself have been cultivated and developed into something I can be proud of. Almost three years ago now Lexi Sheckler claimed that she was going to carry this division. I told her back then there was no one fighter that carried the division and I meant it. I mean it now too. No one fighter has carried this division. I’ve been blessed with good camps, good game plans, and to be able to carry the championship with pride. But I think it’s probably time for me to step aside and let someone else carry that torch because it hasn’t been, and isn’t, all about me. It’s about the Abbie Petersons, Alistair McKay’s, Paige Holloways, Natalie Kings, August Popes, Bellamy DeSilva’s and Erick Costa’s of the world too. Without the absolute cream of the crop to push the division forward, I’m not considered the best pound for pound fighter on the planet. It’s because of them, as much as my own accomplishments, that that is the case. So.. yeah. I think this is likely my last fight as the Union Grand Prix Lightweight Champion…”
[Delaney pauses, contemplates for a second, and then continues.]
DELANEY DONOVAN: “But that’s not official yet. I may wake up in the morning and decide I’m not ready to hand the title over just yet. I’m going to take some time with my girls and enjoy this moment with them. And then I’ll sit down with Dante and we’ll discuss what the best path forward for the division is, and I’ll make my decision once that conversation is had.”
BODIE SULLIVAN: “Well whatever’s next, we’ll all be excited to watch. As always, it’s an honor to call your fights, enjoy the win and we can’t wait to see you back in the octagon. Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for the Lightweight Champion, Delaney Donovan!”
[With that, Delaney steps away and raises his arms to a massive cheer, while Bodie casually exits the octagon. With the final frames focusing on Double D and his cornermen celebrating together, the telecast fades to black, leaving just a flickering Battleground Network logo.]
