Written by Alistair Hendrie
Jack Hermansson defended his Cage Warriors middleweight title for the first time on Saturday as he picked apart Deyan Topalski (11-3) inside a round during the Cage Warriors 71 main event in Amman, Jordan.
After winning the title against Norman Paraisy in June, Norway’s Hermansson (9-2), still only 26, showed his killer instinct as he took the back of his opponent early and finished his man with strikes.
His fellow Scandinavian, Martin Svensson (14-5) of Sweden, was also impressive at featherweight as he downed Dave Hill (12-4) by decision in the co-main event.
Indeed, given the success of the locals, it was a shame the card was moved from Sweden to Jordan, when the Swedish Mixed Martial Arts Federation refused to sanction four proposed bouts citing “unequal matchmaking.”
Hermansson made a statement nevertheless. While his previous performance against Paraisy was based upon four rounds of gruelling pressure, the champion was in no mood to hang around this time.
Catching a kick, he shot for the takedown and took Topalski’s back expertly. Showing resourcefulness to sink in the body triangle, Hermansson sat up, secured wrist control and swarmed in with hammer fists and crosses. Topalski was stopped at four minutes and nine seconds of round one. He barely got started.
Sure, for a man nicknamed “The Joker”, perhaps due to his perma-grinning presence outside of the cage, Hermansson has a destructive streak that belies his baby-faced features. Now moving to nine wins and two losses, this marks his eighth finish.
His team-mate at Frontier MMA, Svensson had it his own way in the wrestling exchanges against Coventry’s Dave Hill, all three judges scoring it 30-27.
Although Svensson is known for submitting his rivals – over half of his fourteen wins have come by tapout – the Swede was content to stay heavy on top and frustrate his opponent with sweeps and passes.
Using every inch of his 6 foot 1 frame, unusually tall for a featherweight, Svensson opened with nasty Muay Thai knees before scoring with a trip in the second round. Come round three, he kept strong posture on top before going close with a rear naked choke. Make no mistake, there are few 145lb’ers who can hang on the ground with Svensson.
Meanwhile, on their ninth trip to Jordan, Cage Warriors showcased plenty of female talent, with stoppages for Malmo bantamweight Lina Akhtar Lansberg (3-1) and Copenhagen-based featherweight Pannie Kianzad (6-0).
Lansberg took a notable first round scalp in Laura Howarth (2-1), who upset Amanda Kelly in February. An effective striker – not forgetting her judging of distance either – Lansberg won the Muay Thai exchanges causing a bloody Howarth to retire at the end of round one.
Kianzad, training with Cage Warriors welterweight kingpin Nicolas Dalby, was less explosive but deserves just as much credit for halting Netherlands judo expert, Megan van Houtum (1-2) , in round three of their 140lbs catchweight bout.
Despite succumbing to a handful of Uchi Matas and throws in round one, Kianzad displayed her athletic abilities to roll in the grappling exchanges before finally, in round three, she postured up to land a volley of strikes, ending it at two minutes and seventeen seconds.
Arnold Allen, another prospect hungry for the finish, switched to restraint and patience as he dominated featherweight Gaetano Pirrello (8-3) for scores of 30-25 (x2) and 30-26.
Known for his granite chin and ability to come out on top in shoot-outs – he boasts four knockout triumphs in his 8-1 ledger – Allen displayed strong hips and heavy pressure on top this time.
The 20-year-old, who probed with trips early, maintained posture on the ground throughout the fight to land long punches as well as short, slicing elbows upon Pirrello.
However, his BKK Fighters team-mate Jack Mason (28-14) had no such joy when facing Jonatan Westin (7-2) from Allstars Training Center. The Essex man injured his leg when trying to clamber up from the mat, forcing him out at one minute and 33 seconds of round one.
Photo: Jack Hermansson and Deyan Topalski – Dolly Clew for CWFC
