Two Brits left Fight Island with huge stoppage wins and made big steps towards contender status in the process. Jack Shore and Lerone Murphy impressed with two clinical performances in earning a second round submission and first round TKO respectively.
Shore (13-0) kicked the preliminary card off with a dominant performance, controlling Aaron Phillips in the first before securing the rear naked choke half way through the second. The win was Shore’s 25th straight win amateur and pro, and the former IMMAF and Cage Warriors champion improved to 2-0 in the UFC, both wins coming by way of submission. Being described as ‘the hottest prospect out of the UK’ by none other than Dana White himself, Shore is a red hot prospect with a well rounded skill set and exciting style, expect big things from the Welshman in the future.
Murphy (9-0-1) scored a huge TKO with some vicious ground and pound after four minutes of the first round, in what was expected to be a stern test against fellow prospect Ricardo Ramos. Murphy traded blows with the flashy Brazilian, before making what seemed like a bold move to shoot for a takedown against the BJJ black belt. However, after an array of thunderous punches and elbows it became apparent Ramos was in trouble and the ref had no choice but to jump in and save him after more unanswered blows rained down on him. It was the Manchester born featherweights first win inside the UFC octagon, after a close and controversial split draw with Zubaira Tukhugov last September.
Elsewhere on the card British based Modestas Bukauskas (11-2) made a successful start to his UFC tenure, with a first round TKO over Andreas Michailidis. It had been a close first round, a round that Michailidis may have even edged, but after shooting in on a takedown with little time left, Bukauskas unleashed a number of devilish elbows to the head of Michailidis. In between rounds the ‘Spartan’ looked dazed and struggled to get to his feet, the final straw in the coffin came as he fell through the open cage door and the fight was waved off.
It wasn’t all good news for the Brits though, as Chris Fishgold, John Phillips and ‘Meatball’ Molly McCann lost to Jared Gordon, Khamzat Chimaev and Taila Santos respectively, but all showed great heart and will be back stronger next time out.
