The Art of Combat 8 - Preview

Post date: 01-Apr-2014 13:24:50

This Saturday, one of Scotland’s top MMA shows, The Art of Combat, returns to the Alhambra Theatre in Dunfermline for it’s 8th instalment, and it looks set to be their most action packed show to date. As always, the show is filled with top Scottish amateur prospects (a certain article writer made his debut on this promotion!!!) as well as some of the top amateurs in Scotland. To boot, the show is set to make history by putting on the first female UAR fight in Scottish history. You already don’t want to miss it, but if somehow you’re still not convinced, here is a preview of the most exciting fights on the card, in the completely personal order of how interesting I find them!

Dean Elliot v Euan Ginge Macleod @62kg – everyone knows about Ginge. Coming off a first round submission victory at Caledonian Combat in march over Nathan Jessimer, the young boxer, although he has a ground game not to scoff at, will want to fight on the feet , he is quickly becoming one of the most exciting amateurs to watch. When I’ve sparred with him, I think I’ve left it about a second before I shoot! People might not know about Dean Elliott. The Team Viper prospect has been a force at local grappling comps for sometime, showcasing rather good wrestling for someone his age (for someone any age really) and a solid grappling game. This is the archetypal Striker v Grappler match up. If Ginge can stuff the double leg, we’ll likely see another highlight reel laden striking performance. But if Elliot can get the takedown, we have a fight on our hands.

Patrick McKinnon v Dawid Loukil 77kg – my interest in this one stems from that fact that just over a month ago I actually fought Dawid in Inverness. Having seen his fight of the night war with Fabian Szrama at a previous Caley Combat, I knew better than to stand with him. I don’t think anyone wants to stand with Dawid if they can avoid it, unless they want to get kneed in the face! Patrick comes from the Shooters, so we know his grappling and wrestling will be well honed. Another striker v grappler match up which are my favourite type of fights.

Helen Copus v Tracy McFarlane @ 63kg – history in the making folks! Scotland’s first female UAR fight. Where were you when it happened? They will ask. Helen is a team mate of mine, so I’m not going into any details, but I know how hard she has trained and how well she’s been doing in sparring. If Tracy is as prepared and as skilled, this is going to be a fantastic fight.

Aidan Stephen v Simon Kelly @70kg – undoubtedly the most exciting, and arguably the most skilled, amateur fighter in Scotland, Aidan is always fun to watch. Not so much fun to spar with. I don’t know anything about Simon, but Aidan could probably put on an exciting fight with a paper bag.

Deano Begg v Jasim Beg @ 62kg – Deano is always fun to watch, the crowd in Dunfermline always go wild for him and he has a long list of submission victories on his resume. Look for another submission here as his ground game is probably far too much for his opponent. Don’t blink!

Those are the 5 fights on the top of the card and there’s no doubt they are the 5 most intriguing, however, there is more not to be missed down the card.

Mateusz Grabiec is an absolute monster (like seemingly everyone in Oban!?) and is never in a boring fight, his bout at 73kg with Steven Kelly is probably the pick of the undercard.

Khaled Jasser is fighting someone not called Tony Chan, so that’s gotta be good right!? His opponent Murray Hughes on this occasion.

This is one of two 93kg bouts on the card, the other pitting Martin Watkins v Ross Cooper, and if there is one thing I know about 93kg amateur fights in Scotland it’s that for the first minute, they are going to be sensational.

The Art of Combat 8, April 5th

Full Card

Bantamweight Title Jasim Begg vs Dean Begg

Aidan Stephen vs Simon Kelly 70kg

Female UAR Bout Helen Copus vs Tracey McFarlane 63kg

Dean Eillot vs Euan ‘Ginge’ McLoud 62kg

Patrick McKinnon vs Dawid Loukil 77kg

Valentine Duke vs Andrew Wilkie 66kg

Denis Ducky vs Thomas Hepburn 66kg

Mateusz Grabiec vs Steven Kelly 73kg

Khaled Jasser vs Murray Hughes 93kg

Dawid Kostecki vs Allan Barlow 70kg