York Multi Masters Academy land cage-fighting double whammy (From York Press)

York Multi Masters Academy land cage-fighting double whammy

10:46am Thursday 29th July 2010 in Sport By Tony Kelly, Deputy sports editor

FIGHTING-fit expectations have been mightily exceeded at York’s Multi Masters Academy.

Barely four months after first opening, the Layerthorpe-based martial arts Academy has notched a brace of cage-fighting conquests.

Middleweight Dean Croft and light-heavyweight Mark Jones were the daring duo, who brought a double-winning whammy to the MMA much to the delight of Academy founder and trainer Gaz Watkinson.

He revelled in how his two top fighters travelled to Leeds Cage Club, which has been established for several years, and carved out impressive victories in an extremely partisan atmosphere.

Croft, who had never put pads on until attending the opening of the MMA in Redeness Street, gained a points verdict after his bout comprising two five-minute rounds, while Jones, who has trained with Watkinson for a year, gained a first-round win with an arm bar.

Said Watkinson: “The crowd totalled around 200 of which we had about 25 loyal supporters from the Academy. Both lads fought with tremendous spirit and at the end I was so delighted they had won.

“Back when we opened I thought it would take until the end of this year to produce winners, but to do it in just over four months since we started is amazing.”

Watkinson also paid tribute to his fellow coach Mick Clarke and the input from the rest of the MMA fraternity.

“Mick has done a great job and both the lads have never given less than 100 per cent ever since they have been with us,” said Watkinson.

“But it’s also been an absolute team effort.

“If it wasn’t for the other guys and girls at the gym who spar and work out with them then they might not have had such a good start. That’s the way we have been able to take the project forward.”