Yesterday I got to hang out with @colossus39 and take a small peak into his world of Martial Arts.

As many regular readers of my blog will know, I’ve been fortunate enough to convince @colossus39 to teach me some of the fundamentals of kickboxing. It’s been a great way to supplement the training I’ve been doing with @ivargereiko. Between the two of these steemians; I’ve been slowly whipped into shape!

Meeting the MVP

Towards the end of last year @colossus39 introduced me to @michaelvenompage.

He was keen to get a better understanding of cryptocurrency and being a well-known fighter who knows the importance of social media (in terms of building his brand), he was super keen on Steemit and the opportunities that Steem presents in this space. And I've had the pleasure of meeting and chopping it up with him a few times since.

While it was great to see @michaelvenompage enthusiastically posting on Steemit, I have to say it was even better to witness him in his 'real' element, fighting in a cage in his own enigmatic style!

Full on Contact

It was really a full day of martial arts for me. I had arranged a kickboxing session with @colossus39 at 9am in the morning. Commuting on London transport so early was almost like being back in a 9-to-5 again. Only this time it was to go to do something I really enjoyed.

It’s funny because as I was breezing through the warm-up on the stepper and then skipping, I recalled how warming up would completely take the wind out of me when I first started. Now I was pushing harder, moving faster yet less exhausted than before… my fitness levels have gone up significantly!

I’m never going to be a Pro-fighter however @colossus39 is re-programming me to think like one when I train with him. There are so many nuances you need to be aware beyond simply smashing someone with punches and kicks.

One of the techniques @colossus39 taught me in yesterday’s session was the switch-step.

He got me to throw a left jab from the orthodox stance. Then as I throw the left again, switch stances and throw a left cross. Then use some twerk to throw a lead right hook. The combination ends with a left back-kick to either the head or body.

While it was a cool combination, I was 100% sure how I was going to make it work in practice. Particularly as I looked more like Jimmy Fallon trying to do the Fresh Prince of Bel Air hitch-step than a fighter throwing a combination:

Besides, I’d never seen anyone pull of a switch-step in a high profile fight… however that was all to change by the time the night was over.

Fight food!

After the training session @colossus39 and I decided to meet up early at the venue and grab some food before watching the Prelims, @colossus39 also knew some of the guys competing early and was keen to show some support.

We met up with a couple more of his friends and went to Nandos. As our food was being delivered, @michaelvenompage turned up to say hello… in Nandos a couple of hours before his fight. It feels weird meeting up with a fighter just before they are going to do battle. I felt like he should have been in his room meditating or embroiled in some kind of pre-fight ritual, not chilling in Nandos trying decide if he was in the mood for some chicken or just grab a juice!

Eventually we parted ways with @michaelvenompage and made our way to start watching the fights

Fight reviews

'Bad break'

(Mike Ekundayovs Tom Mearns)

We got into the venue in time for the first Prelim fight as Tom Mearns, a friend of @colossus39 was fighting.

To was doing well in the fight, I had him winning the firat round convincingly. Then half way through the second round a freak accident ended the fight for Tom. He fell awkwardly onto his left arm and it was pointing in the wrong direction as he hit the floor. Thw fight was immediately called off. It will go down as a loss on his record.

It was a cold reminder of the harsh reality if the fight game in the very first matchup. Speaking to Tom after the event he was understandably heartbroken. The road to recovery will be a long one. He is only young and will undoubtedly bounce back however it is a bitter pill to swallow.

Sho in the house!

(Amir Albazi vs Luri Bejenari)

London Shootfighters were definitely in the building. And this was no more evident then when Amir Albazi entered the cage. Eventhough it was a prelim fight, the atmosphere was electric.

Amir won his fight in the first round to remain undefeated. However it was definitely a competitive fight until the end.

The night was definitely warming up nicely!

_{Albazi's post fight interview}

'Wonderful' Headkick

(Phil Davis vs Linton Vassell)

The knockout of the night was definitely Phil 'Mr Wonderful' Davis spectacular headkick KO of Linton Vassell. It was definitely an 'Oh shit' moment delivered by a fighter renowned for his wresting and not his stand-up.

Don’t believe the hype

(Kate Jackson vs Anastasia Yankova

Anastasia came in the fight with a lot of hype around her however Kate Jackson completely dominated her Russian opponent. I scored the first round a 10-8 to Jackson, probably the only 10-8 on the card and Kate had Anastasia mounted several times. Jackson has easily had the tougher opponents. She lost to Tatiana Suarez on The Ultimate Fighter Season 23. Suarez is proving herself to be a standout fighter in the UFC. Jackson’s fight prior to this was a loss against Valérie Létourneau where she went the distance. Letourneau is as tough as they get. A great way for Kate to get back on the winning track.

Swift switch step-man

(Mike Shipman vs Carl Noon)

A personal highlight was watching Mike Shipman, pull off a switch-step right hook to knock down then ultimately finish his opponent in 11 seconds.

Having learned a switch-step technique only that morning, it was great to see it utilised so effectively in a fight setting. It is not something that I've seen used so devastatingly before so it was great to see it live and on the every day I learned the technique.

Geordie so sure

(Aaron Chalmers vs Ashley Griffiths)

Much of TV escapes me nowadays however I'm reliably told that "Geordie Shore" (as oppose to Jersey Shore) is a thing and Aaron Chambers appears in it. I wasn't aware of it before the fight.

The best compliment I can pay to Chalmers is his celebrity didn’t show during the fight. He looked like another fighter involved in an exciting scrap and able to pull off a really good finish. It was against a guy with a losing record however kudos to him, he got the job done.

The Greatest Showman

(Michael Venom Page vs David Rickels)

Undoubtedly Michael Venom Page stole the show. Page turns a fight into an exhibition. From the ring walk to the post fight interview he is pure entertainment and had the crowd eating out of his hand.

Usually when I'm watching MVP fight, I can sit back with the popcorn and enjoy the spectacle. However this time I felt more personally invested. Sitting next to @colossus39 and just a couple of seats away from MVPs mother I could feel the tension.

_{@colossus39 feeling the tension as MVP dances in the ring!}

I just wanted him to win and come out unscathed. However the why Mike fights it's like watching an action movie comedy. You're enjoying the show however in the back of your mind you're thinking; that's enough now just finish him!

There was a point in the first round where MVP knocks down Rickels. 99 times out of 100 fighters would have pounced on their opponent and attempted the finish. MVP just stood, hands on his knees staring at 'The Caveman', waiting for him to get out. Then he proceeded to toy with his prey more; peppering Rickels with hard concussive punches and only pausing to do some breakdancing or skipping on the spot.

Mike knew he had the fight in the bag however his supporters in the stand were torn between wanting the show to go on and fast forwarding to the ending.

As it was the end was that far. It bizarre when it happened. Page caught Rickels with a wicked overhand right that exploded a cut on Rickels left eye. You could see Mike, obviously riled about some of Rickels pre-fight antics mouth to the American "You're fucked!" He motioned to Rickels eye and repeated, "You're fucked!" Surprisinglg Rickels agreed and waved his hands and quit there and then in the cage.

It is so taboo for fighters to quit in the cage, ring or octagon and to make a fighter as tough as Rickels quit is testament to the skill and mastery of Page. In a sport where the aim is to hit and not get hit, Page has got the art down to a science. Rickels eye, as with Cyborg's fractured skull are testament to how hard Page hits. However he is so elusive it must feel, for his opponent that they're less in a fight than getting their head spun through a washing machine!

I was able to catch Mike at the end of the fight before going home. He gave me a big hug and we chopped it up a little.. It's always difficult to relate the affable guy outside the cage with the absolute killer in it!

Middleweight King

(Gregard Mousasi vs Rafael Carvalho)

The main event for Bellator 200 was for the Middleweight title. Gregard Mousasi took on champion Rafael Carvalho. For me Mousasi is the best middleweight in the world (including UFC fighters). I think the UFC made a mistake letting him go in his prime.

That was evidenced last night as Mousasi was able to take the fight to the ground and pound out Carvalho in four minutes. I think a Bellator super fight against Rory MacDonald (arguably the best welterweight in the world) beckons.

What next?

MMA, like combat sport generally, is really blooming in the UK and there is an opportunity for Bellator to really get a foothold here. While there is great young talent like Amir Albazi and crowd pullers like Aaron Chalmers, the face of Bellator in the UK at least is MVP, Michael Venom Page.

The challenge for the organisation is to make MVP the face of MMA in the UK. He has all the tools to cross over. Flamboyant and exciting in the cage. Likeable and down-to-earth out of it. Bellator should do everything in their power to keep Page beyond his current contract. If they do Page's trajectory into the Welterweight elite could be mapped by Bellator rise as an elite MMA promotion.