Cage Contender XIV: Quite simply everyone delivered. The fighters delivered. The crowd delivered. The promotion delivered. There were back from the brink victories, quality submissions, and one of MMA’s quickest knockouts. Cage Contender XIV had it all.
A great night of fights at the National Basketball Arena in Dublin, Ireland was capped off by the Houdini-like escape, and awe inspiring fight back of Owen Roddy to edge the Cage Contender Featherweight Title main event against UFC veteran Shannon Gugerty.
In one of the most dramatic of comebacks in living memory, in fact it was a comeback that Elvis himself would have been proud of. Gugerty came into the fight with the reputation as a tough fighter with well-rounded skills and experience against top names in the sport. Roddy, one of Ireland’s and Europe’s pound for pound best, was looking to retain the featherweight title and get a high profile scalp on his record.
The main event didn’t start well for Roddy though; it was Gugerty who looked the probable winner in the first round, landing some evil kicks, and bullying Roddy to the ground effortlessly. When Gugerty sank in the rear naked choke after the takedown, it looked all but over. The crowd waited, 30 seconds… a minute…and then still more for the inevitable tap, all the while shouting “Roddy, Roddy” to the rafters hoping for that miracle Houdini escape. They got it. Somehow Roddy didn’t pass out or tap, but instead gradually worked his way out of what seemed a nailed on choke. A serious knee from Gugerty drew Owen’s blood, but he shook it off, even coming back late in the round. The American had won the round clearly, and looked impressive in doing so; but Roddy was still there.
Round two saw Roddy start to come into the fight, letting his hands go and stuffing Gugerty’s takedown attempts. Gugerty seemed to have less zip, perhaps using up too much energy in the first trying to get that submission. However, another vicious knee reminded everyone he was still very much in the fight. The round was still close, but Roddy’s cleaner striking edged it. By the last round the crowd were on their feet. After seemingly being on the way out in Round 1, we’d somehow made it to this deciding third round. Both fighters were obviously exhausted after all the work they’d put in, but it was Roddy who took charge in the last round. His striking, again edging him ahead of Gugerty. Takedowns by Roddy stamped his authority on the final round, and both ended the fight giving every last ounce of energy in what had been a fight of the night battle. A phenomenal comeback and Roddy was announced a close but deserved winner by split decision to delighted Dublin crowd.
The other title fight of the night was Ivan Salaverry vs Fraser Opie for the vacant Cage Contender Light Heavyweight Title. After Opie’s masked entrance the fight opened up with some even exchanges, and it looked like both fighters were closely matched. Salaverry caught his opponent with a possible kimura, but Opie managed to escape. Salaverry was rewarded for his efforts with a sharp elbow from Opie, which caused a cut. The round continued with Opie just edging it on his striking, and his successful stuffing of Salaverry’s efforts to take him to the ground.
Round two opened with spinning back fists from both fighters. However, once taken down it looked like Salaverry wanted to keep the fight on the ground. Opie obliged, but it didn’t work out as expected for Salaverry. Both fighters were on the ground, and both had heel hooks trying to submit the other. However, in trying to release himself from the heel hook, Salaverry illegally kicked Opie in the face while on the ground. Referee Peter Lavery decided he had no option but to disqualify Salaverry, and declare Fraser the victor and Cage Contender Light Heavyweight champion via DQ.
In the final of the Cage Contender Bantamweight Grand Prix, Paddy Holohan of the Straight Blast Gym matched up against Sambo master Artemij Sitenkov. Known for his submissions skills (which account for all of his wins), the consensus was that Artemij was a serious challenge for the unbeaten Holohan. However, under John Kavanagh’s tutelage, Paddy had his own box of tricks (and ridiculously flexible limbs) of which Artemij would soon find out. The bout started and Artemij quickly secured one the leg locks for which he is famed. The end was surely in sight for Paddy, now that Sitenkov had locked on one of his signature moves. However, showing incredible flexibility, with his leg twisting to the point where many would tap, Paddy managed to work his way out and secure the triangle. Sitenkov tapped at two minutes fifty seconds of the first round, to give Holohan a memorable victory in front of many of his ecstatic supporters.
In other fights on the card, big punching Karl Moore of Fight Academy Ireland worked through a competitive first round where much of his striking was neutralised by Brazilian opponent Washington Ferreira’s strong wrestling. By round two however, Ferreira seemed to be weakening, and Moore finished the fight strongly securing a rear naked choke to end it.
In the quickest fight of the night, Johnny Dargan made short work of Keith Elliot. With a background in Tae Kwon Do, Dargan has a strong striking base, however, it was his fists not feet that would do the damage. A jab at the very start of the first round seemed to incense Dargan, who responded with a huge right hand and a couple of follow up punches which had his opponent reeling, before the ref stepped in to save Elliot at sixteen seconds of the first round.
Other results of the night:
Johnny Origin -v- Glenn Moore
Result: Origin, Majority decision
Gerard “RPG” McKee -v- Josh Mahoney
Result: McKee, Rnd 1, Submission (Arm Bar)
Joe McColgan -v- James Heelan
Result: McColgan, Majority decision
Modestas Ukaitis -v- Colin Tyndale
Result: Ukaitis, Rnd 2, Submission (Triangle)
Thanks to Melv Griffiths for the lowdown from an amazing night of MMA action. – Photo by InCage Photography
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