Photo credit: @myskewedview
On the previous episode of UWFi Contenders, more fighters made their presence known and Team Filthy continued their newfound reign over the show. In this episode we have two title fights, a much anticipated rematch, and a handful of debuting combatants. Will Team Filthy cement their reign by regaining the Heavy Hitters Championship? Does The Bev have a newfound edge under 44.OH to avenge a Season One loss? Lets dive in and find out!
Hardway Heeter (0-1) vs AKIRA (2-1)
Both guys in this one are representing Kill Or Be Killed but Heeter is in greater need of the win in this one. AKIRA continues to prove that he’s miles more than a “deathmatch guy” as he used some great positioning and bodily manipulation to try and submit Heeter. Heeter, despite the worse record between the two never took a back-step and kept the fight at AKIRA’s front door. Ultimately, AKIRA’s Volk Han-style Double Wrist Lock Slam would be enough for Max Recon to call for the bell. Post-fight, AKIRA laid his intentions to build himself back up to the Heavy Hitters Championship. Great fight between the two but Hardway Heeter will have to continue fighting for that first series win.
Dustin Leonard (0-1) vs Sidney Von England (0-0)
Both competitors in this fight are making their series debuts; though Leonard is no stranger to UWFi Rules. Here we have a contest based strongly in grappling and mat technique. Sidney spent much of the match shooting low for Dustin’s legs but found himself mostly thwarted by the black belt. Dustin was able to control most of this match in clinches and on the ground, but nearly found himself downed by two successive Exploder Suplexes by Von England. In the end Dustin thwarted a Double-Leg Takedown attempt and transitioned a Gotch Piledriver into an Ankle Lock for the tap out win. Post-fight, Leonard took to the mic to declare that he’s here to show Ju Jitsu is still king and that he’s here to stay. A great showing for the newcomer England and a tremendous win for Leonard!
Alex Kane (1-0) vs Phoenix Kidd (0-0)
We have a match of the established vs the fresh faced as Phoenix Kidd makes his debut against Alex Kane. Phoenix Kidd utilized some beautiful transitions and holds while on the defensive to stop Kane’s powerhouse offense; even forcing Kane to take hold of the ropes. Kidd’s loud mouth would be his downfall as Kane took Kidd on a one-way trip to Suplex Island and finished him with a Mark of Kane for the knockout. Post-fight, Kane grabbed the mic from J-Rose and demanded the biggest and best of Paradigm; calling out Isaiah Broner for a fight.
Midwest Territory Championship: Chase Holliday (c) (3-0) vs Appollo Q Starr (0-0)
Chase Holliday enters his third fight in this series once again defending his Midwest Championship Chain against the debuting Appollo Q Starr. While he’s new to this series, the twenty-year vet Appollo used a few tricks to rope the champ into giving up position. Holliday, ever the fighting champion absolutely clubbed through Appollo; ending things with two sickening Back Elbows for the knockout and dropping another contender. Post-fight, Chase declares himself the true champion and that anyone who says different will have to step up to him.
Lexus Montez (2-1) Bobby Beverly (3-2)
This is a rematch of a Season One fight that ended in major controversy as The Bev was declared knocked out while still on his feet and in the ropes. Now the former Heavy Hitters Champion is looking to prove that the first encounter was indeed a fluke. Bobby found himself in a familiar situation with his back against the ropes before landing successive Saito Suplexes; not even giving Lexus a chance to respond as he won with the knockout. Post-fight, the now Number One Contender took to the mic to vent his frustrations with Paradigm and declared that if he loses for the Heavy Hitters Championship, he’s gone from Paradigm forever!
Heavy Hitters Championship: Hoodfoot (c) (10-0) vs Matt Makowski (0-0)
The newest member of Team Filthy, Matt Makowski makes his series debut in huge fashion as he’s in a title match for Hoodfoot’s Heavy Hitters Championship. Early on, Hoodfoot exerted his mass over Makowski, but Matt zeroed in on Hoodfoot’s ribs to get an early knock down. Makowski continued to drill Hoodfoot with kicks despite being German Suplexed for a knockdown. The two would trade Saito Suplexes between standing up as both were nearly put to an end. In the end, Makowski would tag Hoodfoot just right to set up the Chaos Theory-style Armbar for the tap out victory and the championship!
Post-fight, the two combatants would exhange a handshake before Tom Lawlor and Dom Garrini leveled both Hoodfoot and Chase Holliday. Wow this main event! This fight absolutely ranks up with some of the best in the series thus far. There was an evident underground fight feel with the high stakes and competition. Hoodfoot more than held his own against Makowski; using his mass to throw Makowski around the ring. It was ultimately the MMA prowess of Weapon X that ended things as he zeroed in on the ribs and arm of the now former champ to play the long-game in this fight. Hats off to Hoodfoot for such a successful run as champ and kudos to our new champion Matt Makowski!
Final Thoughts & Superlatives
I feel like a broken record at this point saying that these episodes continue to improve but here I am again. This episode in particular feels like the best of the series so far as we have so many intertwining narratives coming together. Having highlights such as Alex Kane’s continued hunt for challengers, fighters calling each other out to fight, and Team Filthy standing atop the mountain makes each week feel fresh. And with Season Three being confirmed and billed for a tournament over the newly branded Middleweight Championship, the competition is only going to get more intense from here. And as we always do, here are my Superlatives for this edition:
Fight of the Night: Hoodfoot/Matt Makowski
Performance of the Night: Bobby Beverly (2)
Knockout of the Night: Alex Kane (2)
Submission of the Night: AKIRA (2)