After a long day at the Goldstar competition in Birmingham it was back on the road this time to Featherstone for USKA faithful's Mark 'The Killer Kicker' Sedgwick and Jake 'The Rattle Snake' Richards to take part in light continuous prestige match ups against recognised experienced opposition.
Both Mark and Jake had accepted the fights at only a few days notice but were there to prove the theory that if you stay fit in the gym you are ALWAYS ready to fight should the call come up.
Even at only a few days notice we managed to drum up support of 25 or so loyal supporters so that our lads would not have that lonely feeling on the way to the ring.
Scheduled first to fight was Mark against a fighter from Bloxwich called Daniel Breeze.
For one reason or another Daniel failed to show at the weigh in and a replacement was found in the very experienced Levi Lawrence from Cardiff Kickboxing club under the instruction of coach and dad Denzel Lawrence the former World Champion.
How ironic that they had to find a replacement fighter for the replacement fighter.
The bout was to be contested over three one and a half minute rounds of light continuous kickboxing and first up to the ring and to the sounds of Bruce Lee's enter the dragon was

Mark 'The Killer Kicker' Sedgwick.
Next to the ring and into the blue corner the Welsh Warrior Levi Lawrence to the old school sound of Adamski's Killer.
After instructions from referee Mike Belgrave both lads were fired up and ready to go as they returned to their corners for the sound of the first bell.

ROUND 1
Mark comes out to start the round in a southpaw stance trying to keep the Welsh lad on the end of his right leg and press home his reach advantage.
Mark recognises instantly that Mark is a good kicker (Could have been the nick name hey!) and moves around the outskirts of the ring effectively.
Levi realising that he will have to get close to score some points presses the attack and both fighters get off in a mini trade off which was quite even up to the point that Mark finished it with a nice right leg round kick to the head.
Levi attempts a high round kick only to be intercepted and taken of his feet and to the canvas by a kick of Mark's.
Mark is mixing his hands with his legs well now and although Levi is working hard for openings it is Mark who is having the successes of the round.
the bell sounds and both fighters return to their corners.
ROUND 2
Mark again starts the round as a southpaw but in this round is mixing his hands and legs together a bit more and keeping Levi busy under the barrage of all four weapons.
Keeping the Welsh fighter on the end of a good double jab Mark attempts a spin kick which narrowly misses and goes over the head of his shorter opponent.
Mark is using his height and reach advantage beautifully to his advantage now and although the game Lawrence is trying hard he is struggling to close down the range of the USKA man.
Mark now growing in confidence is getting more adventurous throwing a cobra right hand.
Levi not wanting to be totally outshone responds with a good kicking combination to let Mark know he was still there and very much in the fight.
The bell rings to end the round just as things were really heating up.
ROUND 3
Both fighters start very quickly in the third and final round with fast and furious technique.
Not that much is landing cleanly but that is a testament to both fighters good defensive skills.
They are both looking to land the eye catching shots now in an attempt to secure the round and as a result are throwing spin kicks and flashy kick combinations.
The pace starts to drop and now Levi reverts to boxing in an attempt to clock up his points.
Mark stays with his legs and although Levi is scoring with his hands Mark is cancelling out his points by landing the body and head kicks on the end of his combinations.
The call of last ten seconds is heard and Levi throws a fast spin kick towards Mark only to be answered by a jump spin back in return.
The fight ends and both excellent young sportsmen congratulate each other and their opposite corners on what was an excellent match up and a great show opener.
The winner by unanimous decision and still undefeated Mark 'The Killer Kicker' Sedgwick.

Exit the Dragon and Enter the Rattle Snake!

Next up it was time for recently crowned W.K.A English national champion Jake 'The Rattle Snake' Richards to once again climb through the ropes this time to take on Welsh Wonder kid Haroon Gezlad again over three one and a half minute rounds light continuous kickboxing.
Haroon Gezlad first up to the ring and to the red corner this time to the hyped up Prodigy's fire starter track.
And the man we'd all been waiting for, to the blue corner to the sound of Nelly's Grillz
Jake 'Rattle Snake' Richards.
Again after the formalities from the ring announcer and instruction talk from referee Mike Belgrave it was time to get down to business and on with the action.

ROUND 1
both lads quick out the blocks with Jake and his trade mark multiple kick combinations and Haroon mixing his punch and kick combinations together well.
Both fighters look very evenly matched in ability and it looks like it has the makings of a very good fight in prospect.
Jake pushes forward and on the retreat Haroon lets go with a big left hook which sees the referee step in to issue a quite warning for excessive power.
The pace is fast with both fighters firing off quick punches and kicks in the exchanges.
Again the referee interjects to issue another warning to Haroon for what he saw as another hard landing punch.
Jake is mixing his hands with his legs better now and as the round draws to a close the feeling is that Jake has taken it but not by much.
ROUND 2
The second round begins with both fighters feeling they have to do more to break away from the other on the scorecards.
Another exchange now and again the referee steps in to warn the Welsh fighter for the power of his left hook. Would all these warning go against him in the scoring of the bout?
Gezlad is boxing well now and this round has turned into a battle of Boxer vs Kicker. Haroon scoring the hands and Jake scoring the legs.
The round ends and it is a question of what the judges had preference of to decide who would take it on the cards. No matter what way you scored it this was a close fight and it was all to fight for in the last round.
ROUND 3
Again Jake opens up with a high volume of kicking technique that keeps Haroon from getting of any shots of his own.
Haroon moves around the outskirts of the ring and is not really attempting to mount an offence of his own. Does this suggest that he is waiting for his time to strike or that the pace of the previous two rounds have taken their toll and he is now starting to tire?
It is now Jake exclusively on the offence and Haroon is content to just cover up and do his best not to get hit.
Jake happy that his man is tired continues to apply the pressure and continues to clock up the points having a superb last ten seconds to the round landing a beautiful clean right leg round kick to the head.
No doubt about the scoring of this one and the first round of the bout that conclusively would have been scored to Jake.
A strong finish with the score cards at the end reading two rounds to Jake with one round shared between them the winner by unanimous decision Jake 'Rattle Snake' Richards.
This was an excellent contest between two top draw fighters and it would be a shame if it was a fight we never saw in a rematch before to long.

All in all another successful night on the road for the USKA team in what is becoming a bit of a winning habit away from home.
Everyone's fingers and toes will now be well and truly crossed for Qasim 'The Dream' Nisar to continue the winning run next saturday at the Liverpool Olympia where he will attempt to win the Golden Belt Championship in the 60kg division.
Watch this space for results or even better get yourselves down there to cheer him to victory!

The Story continues.........................................