Coming off the heels of the previous week’s most hyped episode of the UWFi Contenders Series we have yet another tremendous card of action. This one boasts a clash of black belts, a Featherweight showcase bout and a Heavy Hitters Championship main event. With this being the penultimate episode before the Season Finale, its time to see how this episode measures up to the rest.
Match #1: Yoya (0-1) vs Don’t Die Miles (0-1)
We start this episode off with two Featherweights; both looking for their first win under UWFi rules. Learning from last week, Yoya took a handshake from Miles before the battle began. Showing his grit, Don’t Die Miles rushed Yoya with a German Suplex and a knee. Yoya answered back by popping Miles into an Armbar before getting top position and raining blows. Ever the wrestler, Yoya takes Miles’ back and resumes his onslaught of strikes.
Getting a hold of Yoya, Miles lifted him into a Fireman’s Carry before finding his leg clutched into a Kneebar. The fight would return to standing and Miles would put Yoya on his neck with a Saito Suplex; forcing the ref to step in and count. I thought this was over when Yoya dodged a Kick and absolutely rocked Miles with a Head Kick but alas Miles fought on. Things would come to an end when Yoya slammed Miles with a Saito Suplex and tapped him out with an Armbar. Post match, Yoya would help Miles up in a showing of respect before J-Rose officially welcomed Yoya onto the Paradigm roster. Yoya claimed he wants a rematch with AKIRA; claiming AKIRA’s win was “lucky.”
This match was certainly a hot way to start this big episode. Yoya rebounded gracefully from being humbled at the hands of AKIRA last week. He continued to show his wrestling prowess with some interesting takedowns and holds. On the other side of the ring, Miles certainly held his own better than he did against Bobby Beverly. Miles only further proved he can withstand a beating; even if he doesn’t quite deal it out as much as he takes it. I still believe he’ll eventually grind out his game-plan and achieve his first win under UWFi rules.
Match #2: Tommy Kyle Dean (0-1) vs Janai Kai (0-1)
This next bout is another special showcase, dubbed the “Battle of the Black Belts” as both are Black Belts in Tai Kwon Do. Another thing both competitors have in common is that they are both winless, so this one is a must win. Both competitors start off trying for kicks from a distance until Janai found herself stumbled throwing a kick. Tommy seized the opportunity and rushed in for elbows to the downed Kai. Janai got up and scored a takedown on Tommy but he would get back onto his feet immediately. A kick by Tommy would just catch Janai on the jaw but she would answer back by dumping him into the ropes on a Takedown.
A strong Palm Strike would put Tommy on his back momentarily but he would get back up; faking a Head Kick before planting a foot into her sternum. He would back Janai down before going low for a Leg Scissors Takedown; locking in a Leg Lock before Janai Axe Kicked free. This would end standing up as Tommy dodged a Round House Kick and delivered one of his own for the Knockout victory. Post match, both competitors bowed to each other before Tommy met J-Rose at the entrance. J-Rose let slip that Tommy has a fight on the horizon against his trainer, Dominic Garrini. Tommy acknowledges its a big battle, but he’s willing to take it to prove he deserves to be in Paradigm.
These two made this feel like a serious fight with neither taking any chances on the other. I’m glad to see more out of both of these competitors and I will say that I’m most impressed with Tommy Kyle Dean. He managed to capitalize on each time Janai slipped up and I believe he can carry this momentum into his bout with Garrini and possibly win. Kai on the other hand has some serious ground to make up with two losses to her name. I definitely think she can make up the numbers but she really has to make sure she has her feet underneath her.
Match #3: Robert Martyr (0-1) vs Jeffrey John (0-1)
Once again, we see two opponents who are both winless and need that win for momentum’s sake. Martyr starts off with some grapple heavy offense; clinching John and taking him to the ground. In side control, Martyr attempts to lock up John’s arm before a rope break stops the attempt. Jeffrey would thwart a takedown attempt with a Pump Kick but Robert would still get a hold of him. Robert would transition to Jeffrey’s back and land a Tiger Suplex; following up with a knee to the grounded Jeffrey for the ref’s count.
Standing again, Jeffrey answers Robert with his own clinch, adding knees and a Suplex for the ref’s count. After getting up and successfully striking it out with Jeffrey, Martyr slams him before Jeffrey can successfully reach for the rope break. Jeffrey would answer the count and use a sickening Headbutt to put Martyr on the ground for a ref’s count. In the end, Martyr would bring Jeffrey to the ground with a choke before stomping and soccer kicking Jeffrey’s head for the Knockout win. Post match, Martyr went off on how he’s earned his spot in Paradigm before being formally welcomed to Paradigm.
Out of all the competitors who have their spot in Paradigm, I believe Martyr’s spot is definitely the one that was fought for the hardest. He took an ass kicking from Matthew Justice the previous week and now he came in looking to make a statement, and that he did. To his opponent’s credit, Jeffrey didn’t just lay down and take it all. Jeffrey used his power advantage over Martyr well but in the end it just wasn’t enough.
Main Event: Heavy Hitters Championship: Mo Atlas (8-0) vs Isaiah Broner (1-0)
Pre match we got a promo package; detailing both men’s accomplishments along side the incident that brought us to this match. Before the bell even rang, both men couldn’t keep away from each other as they got in each other’s faces and Broner once again snatched Mo’s title. They slugged it out in the center of the ring before Broner slammed Mo onto his back for the ref’s count. Mo would respond with some heavy hands before once again getting put on his back by Broner. This fight would end when Mo dodged a haymaker and landed a Saito Suplex for a ref’s count. Mo then decided to hit some heavy Vader forearms to the grounded Broner; as if to say “I’m not giving you the chance to get up.” and won the fight via Knockout.
Post match, The Forgotten Fight Team hit the ring and blindsided Mo. However, in a turn of events, Isaiah Broner would come in for the save. Bobby Beverly would then snatch Mo’s Heavy Hitters title belt, challenging him to Terminal Combat. Atlas would take to the mic after getting his belt back and he would both accept Bobby Beverly’s challenge for his title and offer Isaiah Broner a rematch any time he wants.
This bout, while very short, had so much heat behind it. This goes without mentioning what went down after the bell with our first confirmed Terminal Combat encounter. Isaiah Broner, ever the young and cocky challenger more than held his own against the Heavy Hitters champion. There were even a couple points I thought he had Mo Atlas’ number but as it turns out, he does not run Paradigm. And what else can be said about Mo? His absolute powerhouse style makes me bounce back and forth between comparisons of Super Vader and Gary Albright. I have no doubts about how he can perform in Terminal Combat and do think he’ll retain.
Final Thoughts & Superlatives
Overall I enjoyed this episode having built up to multiple unique battles. As much as I enjoy watching different styles clash, I do enjoy seeing similar styles (i.e. the Featherweights and Black Belts) take each other on to see who the better practitioner is. Paradigm has done a great job finding diverse challengers to bring up to this stage and I hope they continue to do this going into Season Two. And with next week being the season finale, one has to wonder who will be making their return for Season 2. Though what I can confirm is two more fights joining the highly anticipated Dominic Garrini vs Matthew Justice. Joining these two are Jordan Blade taking on Max The Impaler and Derek Neal fighting Gary Jay. Finally, as always, here are my Superlatives of the Week:
Fight of the Night: Robert Martyr vs Jeffrey John
Performance of the Night: Robert Martyr
Knockout of the Night: Robert Martyr
Submission of the Night: Yoya