Cage fighting primed for dramatic York debut (From York Press)

Cage fighting primed for dramatic York debut

12:00pm Wednesday 25th August 2010 in Martial arts Exclusive By Tony Kelly, Deputy sports editor

Promoting the cage fighting event at Energise, in York, are, from left, Gaz Watkinson, Stuart Haigh and Tony Dias

THE age of the cage is to dawn in York as a new full-on fighting discipline bids to take a hold.

Cage fighting will make its dramatic debut in York at the Energise sports complex in Cornlands Road on Sunday, September 12.

Prime movers behind the establishment of a cage-fighting bill – dubbed “Cage Confrontation 1” – are Gaz Watkinson, who founded the Multi Masters Academy in York just five months ago, and Tony Dias, current WAKO world kick-boxing champion, who runs the United Martial Arts College in Malton.

The two have combined forces into United Masters Promotions to introduce cage fighting to the city, where they have forged many links with the martial arts fraternity.

Said Watkinson: “There’s such a following for mixed martial arts.

“It is the fastest developing sport in the world, and Tony and myself feel it is now time to bring something to York that has never happened in the city. The octagon (the cage in which fighters compete) has never come to York before, but it will be here next month.”

The cage fighting debut, in which an octagon of 18 feet in diameter will be used, could be the prelude to yet more of the all-action tournaments.

Explained Dias, a six-time British champion who is to fight in the European championships in Azerbaijan later this year before defending his world crown in Portugal soon after: “If this first event proves to be successful then we would look at three or four shows a year here in York.

“The Energise centre is a fine venue and we are ready to get things going. We want to establish York as a venue.”

Watkinson, who, like his business partner still competes on the circuit, said there were so many followers of all types of martial arts disciplines in York that the September bill at Energise would showcase talent, as well as providing an arena to which competitors could aspire.

“People take up the sport for fitness and there are those who want to compete at a higher level. This will give those people that chance,” said Watkinson.

Both men envisage a bill of between 12 and 15 contests across all skill levels starting at the former Oaklands Sports Centre from 2pm.

It was at the same venue that professional boxing returned to York after an absence of more than a decade when it hosted a bill organised by Pocklington-based middle-weight Harry “The Pocklington Rocket” Matthews last October. Now it is preparing to stage another form of combat.

Said Energise duty manager Stuart Haigh: “The centre is growing bigger and bigger in terms of opportunities it offers people to get involved.

“The boxing tournament showed what can be done and this is an opportunity to stage another type of sporting event here.”

Tickets for the September 12 bill cost £30 for VIP cage side, £20 standard and £10 for under-14s.

They are available from Energise, Sharp hairdressing in Bridge Street, Kennedy’s bar, the Black Horse in Wigginton, and the Maltings pub, or by phoning Watkinson on 07798 765259 or Dias on 07956 612667.