Photo credit: @myskewedview
We enter this week with a paradigm shift (pun fully intended) as we have a new Heavy Hitters Champion in Matt Makowski. Thats not the only news for Team Filthy as Dominic Garrini answers the call of “Shooter Ronnie” Ron Mathis. And in a colossal Main Event, Max The Impaler emerges from The Wasteland to take on one-half of The Kings of The District, Jordan Blade. With this stacked card on hand, lets dive straight into the action!
Austin Connelly (0-3) vs Hardway Heeter (0-2)
Only one of these guys can leave the victor and they both know that they need to win this one. Hardway Heeter brings a certain calculated stiff style to this series as he delivers hard strikes with such precision. On the other end, Austin Connelly continues to prove himself to be a feral Timothy Thatcher with his berserker style paired with mat technique. In the end it would take a Gut Wrench Slam to knockout Heeter via ref’s count. Post-fight, Kerry Awful broke up a continued assault by Connelly and slapped the taste out of Heeter’s mouth; almost trying to psych him up to do better.
Flash Thompson (4-4) vs Yoya (1-2)
Some might say Yoya is fighting well above his weight class in this one as he takes on Forgotten Fight Team’s Flash Thompson. Flash took full advantage of the size differential; using his mass to overpower and lay on Yoya on the ground. There was a small spark of life for Yoya late in the fight as he dodged a swing and landed a chance Knee to the jaw of Flash. Ultimately, the fight would end in controversy as Yoya piggybacked Flash and worked him to the ground for a Rear Naked Choke where Flash seemingly tapped though he later claimed he didn’t. Post-fight, Yoya claimed that size doesn’t matter in UWFi and that he’d beat anyone in front of him. From the finish, I can smell a rematch coming down the line. And where both men are entrants in the Super Middleweight Grand Prix in June it may happen with some bigger stakes on the line.
Isaiah Broner (2-1) vs Damyan Tangra (0-0)
Isaiah Broner is coming into this fight after Alex Kane called him out last week so he’s looking to assert himself against the new comer in Damyan Tangra. Broner used his size to keep this fight standing up; acting as an anchor on his feet at every attempt to bring this fight to the ground. Tangra was very active in this fight to his credit; using Broner’s own body to throw him off balance with some well placed agility. After successive Push Kicks Tangra found himself a victim of a sick Back Elbow for the Knockout. Post-fight, Isaiah declared he doesn’t need a title to prove he runs Paradigm’s UWFi division.
Ron Mathis (1-2) vs Dominic Garrini (10-2)
Shooter Ronnie’s greatest test is here and its in the form of UWFi-con and Team Filthy member Dominic Garrini. Dom used what I can only assume was a fraction of his martial-arts expertise to deal with Mathis as he was able to jockey and maneuver him to the ground with the greatest of ease. Mathis came off looking more like a scrapper than a shooter as he was bested in the grappling game but was still able to get his daggers in with some stiff strikes. Garrini’s Fight IQ came at the end of the fight as he locked on a Choke with his legs, shifting the standing Mathis to the ground and putting him to sleep.
Post-fight, Tom Lawlor took over the mic and put over how dominant his team has been before laying down the challenge to Matthew Justice. Then came Justice coming to the ring to take on all three members of Team Filthy before they got the jump on him. Just when Matt was down, Bobby Beverly surprisingly came to make the save and run off Team Filthy.
Ron Bass Jr. (0-0) vs Derek Neal (2-2)
On paper you could just tell that there was gonna be nothing scientific about this. This was set to be a fight plain and simple! Ron Bass Jr. These two absolutely battered each other with their weight with Ron Bass Jr. knocking Neal silly at points. Derek Neal continued to fight on like an absolute bulldog; putting Bass on the ground with a Lariat and pounding away at him until the referee stopped the fight. Post-fight, Bass and Neal shared a sign of respect before J-Rose came to the ring for a word. Derek Neal once again decided to shove off J-Rose and leave the ring with the New South Humungold in hand.
Jordan Blade (2-1) vs Max The Impaler (0-1)
Max may be making their series debut but they’re no stranger to the UWFi style as they fought current IWTV Champion Lee Moriarty in last year’s Fighting Spirit Grand Prix. Max used their size and unpredictable nature to make Jordan’s technical stylings tough to apply. Though Max showed some signs of recklessness that Jordan was able to fully capitalize on and maneuver into holds and position. Late into the fight, Max looked worn down as Jordan was able to gain position at will; almost fully locking in an Omoplata though Max got the rope break. In the end, it took one brutal Knee to the face by Max and some ground and pound to secure victory. Post-fight, a timid J-Rose attempted to interview Max The Impaler before dipping from the ring. Out from the back came Alex Kane to declare he’d be taking them from The Wasteland to Suplex Island.
Final Thoughts & Superlatives
Its episodes like this that have drawn me to become a weekly viewer. The diversity of different fighters and styles made each matchup feel unpredictable. Pair that with the “anything can happen” feeling that comes after each fight and you have a show with a legitimate fight feel crossed with the elements of pro wrestling that we love. And we close out this review as always with the episode’s Superlatives:
Fight of the Night: Jordan Blade vs Max The Impaler
Performance of the Night: Dominic Garrini
Knockout of the Night: Max The Impaler
Submission of the Night: Dominic Garrini