Open Finals

A good 30 strong crowd accompanied Aaron Baum, Neil Broadbent and Liam to lend their support in the National Finals in Hereford. The day consisted of 2 fights of 2 x 3 min rounds to get to the final and 2 x 4min rounds with 2 minutes overtime in the final itself. It was a great day with many great fights and the guys showed great tenacity and heart to last such a long and gruelling journey. It was a definite step up in skill and desire on the part of the guys there fighting for the belts and the atmosphere was banging.

Neil Broadbent: 2005 Lightweight Champion

Quarter Final (bye)

Semi Final
Round 1: Neil took centre ring and immediately opened up with a flurry of punches driving his opponent back and ended with a vicious leg kick to drive him out of the ring. From then on he slowly dismantled his opponent with great round kicks and punches every time he came in range. He made his opponent pay with every encounter. His opponent was hobbling on both legs by the end of the round and welcomed the bell when it rang.

Round 2: After the first round the crowd were surprised and impressed that his opponent came out for the second round. He was just 17 yrs old and showed great heart to reappear for the next encounter. After the pounding of the first round he switched tactics. He tried to close the distance to limit damage and tried to grapple more. 3 times they clinched, Neil tried to Guillotine him and was crutch thrown 3 times. But Neil was having none of it and immediately reversed him, stood up and continued the onslaught to the bell.

It was a great opening bout and Neil rightly emerged victorious on points after a terrific fight, fought with great respect and aggression.

Final
Round 1: Neil faced Spencer Dummer (European Jiu-Jitsu champion) and from the outset Spencer closed and tried to gain the clinch and take it to the floor. He had some success but Neil defended the clinch well with structure and using Lan Sau, and landed some great body shots when he drove Spencer back.

Round 2: This went in a similar vane to the first round and went to two minutes overtime. After two minutes the ref blew to end a great contest and Neil was named 2005 Champion to a well deserved applause. Well done mate.

It was a great bout between two good exponents of different martial codes. Jiu Jitsu against solid Wing Chun standup. Neil controlled his structure and thus the close clinch and played his game perfectly.

Full contact bouts are lined up in the coming months so we look forward to seeing Neil on the bigger arena soon.