Jack Hermansson proved why he is one of the best in Europe by submitting Karlos Vemola in round one to take the middleweight title at Saturday’s Warrior Fight Series 4 event, held at York Hall, Bethnal Green.
With a Cage Warriors belt already to his name, Norway’s Hermansson clamped on an armbar from the bottom to take out the former UFC man.
Still, Vemola came out with intent. The Czech stalked low and found his mark with jabs and uppercuts but once he drove the action to the mat, Hermansson, now with five submission victories on his 10-2 record, was in his element.
“The Joker” threw up his legs at the earliest opportunity, showing a cerebral streak to secure wrist control and bend Vemola’s elbow in all kinds of positions to earn the tap. With a boxing base many middleweights would struggle to cope with and an arsenal of tricks on the ground, you can expect Hermansson to be getting a call from the UFC by early 2016.
The co-main event, a thriller for the lightweight title, featured Brad Wheeler of Romford unseating Jefferson George, taking a decision (30-29, 30-29, 30-29) as both men emerged with credit.
While Wheeler dominated the first round with Muay Thai raids against the fence, George, fighting out of Morefire Icon, Luton, bit down on his gumshield to score punches in the exchanges.
As the action reached a crescendo both men were hurt on the feet, with George in particular using lovely variety, but Wheeler’s late takedown and activity on top perhaps forced the judges’ nod.
The east London star’s fans created a bear-pit atmosphere although, it has to be said, they sullied an excellent fight by starting a mass brawl during the middle round. Credit to event staff who calmed matters down once the championship fight was halted.
Wheeler’s previous victim, welterweight Kes Mamba, got back to winning ways by decking Arvydas Juska with a right hook thrown from the depths of hell. Dropping his hands, Lithuania’s Juska, who trains at The MMA Clinic, took the shot bang on the chin and was stopped at 2:11 of the second.
CJ Meeks was similarly explosive as the welterweight, fighting at a 176.3 catchweight, submitted Mehrdad Janzemini in one round straight after hitting the canvas from a shovel-hook. The Londoner’s rear naked choke triumph was as opportunistic as you’ll ever see.
Meanwhile, flyweight debutant Dominic Wooding was in a hurry too as he halted Darren Castleton in 32 seconds with a knee up the middle. Watford welterweight Sunny Sandhu scored another first round stoppage, clamping Josh Mitchell into a standing guillotine choke.
Elsewhere a majority draw in a K1 strawweight bout between Scotland’s Yasmin Nazary and London’s Mina Lamoure caused plenty of controversy. Now fighting out of Leighton Buzzard, Nazary backed her rival up showing the better footwork, and while Lamoure turned it into a brawl late on it looked like Nazary would have been good value for the judges’ verdict.
Two amateur title dust-ups also took place at this weekend’s event, with home favourite PK Zadeh claiming the featherweight crown, and Elliot Hoye taking honours at flyweight.
Zadeh, winning a decision over Norwich’s Dominic Dillon, had the better of the stand-up but couldn’t pass the guard or shift his hips up when in top control. Conversely, Brighton’s Hoye, who outpointed Gareth Ingham, showed a plethora of scrambles as the rivals traded submission attacks.
In other amateur action, 205lbs prospect Sam Spokes drove a series of knees through Stanley Wilson to stop it at 1.47 of round one, plus middleweights Danny Sherlock, from Windsor, and Steve Steward, fighting out of Peterborough, produced a first round no contest after Steward tapped to an illegal leg lock.
