Belfast, Ireland – With 48 million people of Irish descent in America, it‘s no wonder that St. Paddy’s Day is celebrated from coast to coast with parades, parties, and perhaps even a slight touch of libation. But while the Irish are known for their easy-going nature, quick wit, and easy laughter that just might have to change. After seeing the enthusiastic sold-out crowd at Max Extreme Fighting in King’s Hall in the center of Belfast, the Irish are well on the way to being known for their mixed martial arts skills. Although a relatively new show that formerly operated under the Cage Wars Productions motif, Max Xtreme Fighting looked anything but amateur,as they fielded an international card that include the appearance of UFC Hall of Fame fighter Dan Severn, the only three-time UFC tournament champion in the history of the sport. With Paddy Mooney and Chris Kelly promoting the show and spokesman Johnny Burrows lending a touch of the blarney with expert fight commentary and wry cage interviews, the show not only ran like clockwork but was entertaining to boot!

Dan Severn vs. Colin Robinson

If Dan Severn was looking for an easy night of it he definitely picked the wrong opponent. UFC fighter Colin Robinson, a former boxer with extremely dangerous hands, was allowed to fight "The Beast" and he made everything he could of the opportunity. Coming out in the first round with his hands open and in an upright stance, Severn stalked forward and tried to pick off Robinson’s punches to get into grappling range. After a brief clinch against thecage Robinson came in again and rocked Severn with a left that crumpled him to the canvas. Severn immediately covered up as Robinson closed in for the kill, winging lefts and rights at his stunned opponent. Severn, however, somehow managed to avoid getting KO’d by moving on the ground and making himself difficult to hit. Severn eventually grabbed a leg and put Robinson against the cage as the round ended. Shaken in the corner between rounds, no one would have blamed Severn for not answering the second round bell. But this was Dan "The Beast" Severn and nothing is more dangerous than a wounded "Beast." At the bell it was obvious Severn had changed his strategy. Coming forward in a low crouch, he crowdedthe boxer to prevent him from putting weight on his front foot to generate punching power. Then Severn shot a double-leg takedown at the first opportunity, not giving Robinson a chance to unleash his lethal hands. Once on the ground Severn absolutely did not let Robinson rise again. Settling into cross-side position Severn stayed very active on the ground, throwing hammer fists to the head, elbows to the far ribs, and knees to his near side. When the round ended, Severn was back in control. The last round was basically a replay of the first with Robinson unable to prevent Severn’s takedowns and then having no way to get him off his strong cross-side ground striking position. When the round ended and the final scores were tallied it was correctly judged 29-28 for Severn on all three cards. The legend of "The Beast" lives on.

Main Events

Jimmy Mills landed hard on Michael Nichols early in their match, clinched him against the cage, took him down, and worked into position before locking in a top blade choke for the round one, 4:41 win.

Stars-and-Stripes wearing James Head got top control early on Lee McKibben, only to lose position and be forced back to the feet, where McKibben landed some hard blows and gave Head a huge mouse under his left eye. Head kept his head, however, when he found himself on his back at the start of round two, and calmly locked in a triangle choke for the round two, 0:39 submission win.

Dominic McConnell was in trouble early as Patrick Montgomery got to his back with both hooks in and was digging for a choke. McConnell fortunately escaped, however, reversed position, got to Montgomery’s back, and then locked in a winning naked rear choke of his own for the round one, 1:12 victory. Ah, the luck o’ the Irish.

In one of the night’s most gruelling matches, Chris Stringer and Tim Estes battled on the ground and the feet for three full rounds, with Stringer getting the judges’ nod after a fierce contest.

Another tough battle occurred between Thomas Ahern and Pete Duncan, with the two scrapping all over the cage in a manner reminiscent of an Irish pub brawl. Duncan came within a four-leaf clover of locking in a rear choke in the first round; but when the dust had settled after the full three-round distance, He walked away with the win and the bragging rights. Pints are on Duncan tonight!

Feature Fights Brazil’s Ricardo de Oliveria, fighting out of Switzerland with the European Top Team, looked very impressive in getting a first round, 1:02 win over Gareth Loye via triangle choke.

Danny Ver Bergen scored at round one, 1:02 win over Daniel Abrol via anaconda choke.

Adam Salowoski beat Ciaran Kelly with a rear naked choke at 1:19 of round one.

In preliminary action Ali MacClean, Chris Galagher, and Chris McCaffery beat Gareth Lyons, Noel Dugan, and Jamie Graham respectively via armbar, guillotine choke, and armbar.

Conclusion

After putting the fighters in a first-class hotel and making sure that everyone was well taken care of, including a trip to a colorful local made such an impression on the international combatants from Europe, UK, Ireland, and Brazil, that virtually all of them were asking to be included on the next Max card – wherever it might be.

BY TODD HESTER GLADIATOR MAGAZINE