BAMMA 12: Wallhead vs. Veach - Fight Card Updates

[Keithlewis]

BAMMA 12 Gets Wallhead versus Veach Welterweight Main Event


The UK's premier Mixed Martial Arts promotion, BAMMA, is proud to announce a Welterweight clash between 'Judo' Jimmy Wallhead and Matt Veach as the headlining bout for BAMMA 12, which takes place at Newcastle's Metro Radio Arena on Saturday 9th March 2013. Tickets go on sale at 9am, on Monday 4th February.

"Judo" Jimmy Wallhead (23-7-0) stands among the cream of UK fighters, often avoided due to his dangerous reputation and was long over-looked. After being turned down for The "Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom" in 2008 on the grounds of being 'too experienced'; another potential break for Wallhead in Bellator's 2010 Welterweight Contender Tournament was thwarted by the Eyjafjallajökull eruptions that rendered Wallhead unable to travel for the contest. With his short-notice defeat of MMA legend Frank Trigg at BAMMA 7, Wallhead's star finally began to rise in the UK; though with a hefty record that included a string of first round victories at both Welterweight and Middleweight, Judo Jimmy had been proving his worth for a long time on the domestic scene. BAMMA 8 saw Wallhead return to demolish Joey Villasenor with flying knees and a spectacular KO finish. Judo Jimmy fought just once in 2012 at Bellator, which unfolded in a unanimous decision loss to Lyman Good. Looking to be considerably more active in 2012 at BAMMA, Jimmy Wallhead has signed up to a multi-fight deal.

Renowned for his "Fight of the Night" performance against former UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar, UFC veteran Matt Veach walks into the BAMMA cage with a professional record of 16-4-0. Hailing from Illinois in the United States, Veech comes from a Wrestling background and competed for 12 years to become a high school state placer, JuCo All-American and a D-1 NCAA qualifier. Veach's last outing against a Brit was against Paul Kelly at UFC 112 to whom he lost to a Guillotine Choke, leading to his release from the promotion. He continues to train with Matt Hughes and Robbie Lawler at The HIT Squad, and went on to notch up a spate of wins before fighting with Canadian promotion, MFC. The majority of Veach's victories have come via Submission. Veach steps up from Lightweight to Welterweight for BAMMA 12.

Jimmy Wallhead said:

"I feel Matt Veach is a strong opponent with a strong game, especially his takedown game, so I'm looking forward to the fight. He also has good experience fighting in the UFC so the fight excites me. As for being back on BAMMA, I'm buzzing! It's where I belong and where I've wanted to fight again for a long time. I just can't wait to get back in there and put on another exciting fight for the fans and can't wait to hear the crowd get behind me fighting back on UK soil."

BAMMA's Managing Director, Ashley Bothwell, said:

"Arguably the UK's number 1 Welterweight, Jimmy Wallhead has been on the edge of greatness for the past few years, with recent career highlights on BAMMA shows. We're looking forward to see him continue on that roll of thrilling fights and are proud to welcome Judo Jimmy to our roster. We're also excited to have an experienced, international name such as Matt Veach coming to BAMMA and he will pose a serious threat to Jimmy. We like to showcase fighters who take tough challenges and bring the fight. This match-up is going to be a fierce clash between two very experienced and highly skilled athletes, in which both will be pushed to their absolute limits."

BAMMA 12 will feature on Channel 5 and 5* in the UK; and will be televised on AXS-TV in the US, Fight Network in Canada, Red Media in Russia, TV Esporte Interativo in Brazil and Setanta in Africa.

[Keithlewis]

[Keithlewis]

BAMMA 12 FIGHT CARD


WELTERWEIGHT BOUT
MATT VEACH VS. JIM WALLHEAD

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT BOUT
MAX NUNES VS. MARCIN LAZARZ

BAMMA LONSDALE BRITISH LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE BOUT
CURT WARBURTON VS. STEVIE RAY

BRITISH WELTERWEIGHT TITLE CONTENDERS FIGHT
BOLA OMOYELE VS. WAYNE MURRAY

LIGHTWEIGHT BOUT
LUKE NEWMAN VS. RYAN SCOPE

HEAVYWEIGHT BOUT
DARREN TOWLER VS. CALLUM COOK

MIDDLEWEIGHT BOUT
KEVIN THOMPSON VS. SCOTT ASKHAM

MIDDLEWEIGHT BOUT
LEEROY BARNES VS. STEVE WATSON

[Keithlewis]

Four Fights Added to BAMMA 12 Prelims on March 9


The UK's premier Mixed Martial Arts promotion, BAMMA, is proud to announce that 4 more fights have been added to the preliminaries for BAMMA 12, reflecting more of the upcoming talent that the North East has to offer. Regrettably, two injuries have forced further changes to the BAMMA 12 card as both Darren Towler and Wayne Murrie have withdrawn from competing. Darren Towler was lined up to fight Callum Cook, while Bola Omoyele was set to face Murrie in an elimination contest for the BAMMA Lonsdale British Welterweight title shot. BAMMA 12 takes place at Newcastle's Metro Radio Arena on Saturday 9th March 2013.


RICHIE KNOX VS. THOMAS DENHAM [LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT BOUT]

Newcastle's Richie "The Guv'nor" Knox holds a professional MMA record of 3-0-0 but has already claimed 10th Legion's Light Heavyweight title. Knox holds a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Pete Irving and Leo Negao, and is renowned also for his excellent stand up skills. He is sponsored by REVGEAR and Fightstoremma.com

Thomas Denham hails from Darlington in the North East and presents a professional record of 4-3-0. Denham joined the BAMMA card for BAMMA 11 when he went to the third round with Mike Neun to lose via TKO. Coming from a wrestling background, he was the highest ranked Freestyle wrestler in England for his age and division for 7 years running. Crossing over to MMA less than two years ago, he debuted professionally with a loss against Anthony Taylor followed by a second defeat at the hands of Rab Truesdale. Denham went on to score 4 consecutive wins and earn the Knuckleforce title.

Follow @KnoxRichie and @TomDen_MMA on Twitter

PAUL MCBRIDE VS. DARREN WARDLE [MIDDLEWEIGHT BOUT]

Liverpudlian Paul McBride fights out of Kaobon with a record of 2-1-0. The 37 year old's fighting style is Vale Tudo and he debuted professionally out of Wolfslair in 2007 to receive his one loss. His strongest asset is his striking.

Hailing from South Shields, Darren Wardle (3-2-0) is has earned a reputation as a dangerous grappler and a competent striker with an aggressive style. Made for the Cage has seen Wardle dish out two first round Submission finishes, both of which clocked in at around the 1 minute mark. His other victory brought a first round stoppage via TKO (punches). Wardle fights out of the Fight Pit in Sunderland.

Follow @Dazwardlemma on Twitter

MAHMOOD BESHARATE VS. STEVEN GARDENER [BANTAMWEIGHT BOUT]

Mahmood Besharate is undefeated with a record of 3-0-0 with victories via TKO, Submission (RNC) and Decision. Originally from Iran and now living and training in Nottingham and Leicester with Team Rough House and Leicester Shootfighters, Mahmood also stood undefeated at Semi-Pro with a record of 3-0-0. An experienced MuayThai fighter with a 15 year background in Taekwondo, Besharate can also boast strong wrestling skills.

Sunderland's Steven 'Bam Bam' Gardener is coming fresh off a 43 second TKO win at Made 4 the Cage, via punches. Climbing through the Amateur ranks with a record of 6-0-0 and with a Semi-Professional Lightweight title at 'Made for the Cage 2' in 2011, Gardener's professional record stands at 1-3-0 and includes a distance loss at the hands of the more experienced James Macalister of On Top.

Follow @stevenbambam and @persianpridemma on Twitter

ANAS SIRAJ MOUNIR VS. JOHN JACKSON [WELTERWEIGHT BOUT]

This Welterweight clash opens up the BAMMA 12 card as a debut match-up between two talented Newcastle fighters. Casablanca's Anas Siraj Mounir sustained an unbroken record at Amateur of 8-0-0, earning the Made 4 the Cage Semi-Professional belt. With victories via TKO, Submission and Decision, Mounir has demonstrated that he has the capacity to both finish fights in the first and to go the distance. The Moroccan fighter trains at Dungeon MMA in Sunderland, where he lives, and he is a practitioner of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. John Jackson comes from the North East with a background in boxing and is renowned for his lethal knock-out power.

Follow @Anassirajmounir on Twitter

Follow @BAMMAUK on Twitter.


BAMMA 12 FIGHT CARD


WELTERWEIGHT BOUT
MATT VEACH VS. JIM WALLHEAD

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT BOUT
MAX NUNES VS. MARCIN LAZARZ

BAMMA LONSDALE BRITISH LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE BOUT
CURT WARBURTON VS. STEVIE RAY

BRITISH WELTERWEIGHT TITLE CONTENDERS FIGHT
BOLA OMOYELE VS. TBA

LIGHTWEIGHT BOUT
LUKE NEWMAN VS. RYAN SCOPE

MIDDLEWEIGHT BOUT
KEVIN THOMPSON VS. SCOTT ASKHAM

MIDDLEWEIGHT BOUT
LEEROY BARNES VS. STEVE WATSON

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT BOUT
RICHI KNOX VS. THOMAS DENHAM

MIDDLEWEIGHT BOUT
PAUL MCBRIDE VS. DARREN WARDLE

BANTAMWEIGHT BOUT
MAHMOOD BESHARATE VS. STEVEN GARDENER

WELTERWEIGHT BOUT
JOHN JACKSON VS. AMAS SIRAJ MOUNIR