York's Cage Confrontation V to unveil new combat zone (From York Press)

York's Cage Confrontation V to unveil new combat zone

9:14am Saturday 28th January 2012 in Martial arts By Tony Kelly, Deputy sports editor

STAND by for a Hexagon wave as York’s cage-fighting fraternity celebrates a high five.

Cage Confrontation V will have a new arena for fighters in which to display their all-out armoury at York’s Energise Centre on Saturday, March 10.

Up to now the previous four Cage Confrontation shows run under the United Masters promotions banner of Gaz Watkinson and Tony Dias have used an octagon for the myriad of mixed martial arts missions.

But for the fifth incarnation of their promotional package the duo have spurned the eight-sided octagon for a six-sided hexagon hot-spot of combat.

The new cage is not only bigger – it comes in on hire on the day from a London-based firm at 23 feet from point to point, instead of 18 feet in the octagon cage – but at two less panels, it affords better viewing for the spectators.

All the previous four shows at the Cornlands Road venue have been near sell-outs. So the expected 500-plus crowd will now get an even better sight of the all-clout action.

Said Watkinson, who runs the Multi Masters Academy in Layerthorpe: “We wanted a bigger cage, so this is the way forward.

“We were the first to bring the octagon to York, so it’s right that we are the first to bring the hexagon to the city.”

Watkinson’s promotional partner Dias – he runs the United Martial Arts College in Norton, near Malton, added: “With each show we have tried to improve and this is another way of keeping up with that intention.

“The standard of fights have always got better with each Cage Confrontation and we aim to keep that going with CC five.”

There will be no fewer than four title fights on the March 10 show and all will be under the Nevada State Athletic Commission rules of “ground and pound” where anything goes between the combatants.

Multi Masters Academy favourite Nick Sanderson will be going for a British NSAC title as one of the highlights of the 15-bout bill.

He goes into the clash against an opponent still to be determined buoyed by a superb performance in the recent “All Or Nothing” show at Leeds.

Faced by three fights, starting out with two qualifiers, in the one night, he won all three and all well within the required distance to collect a prize of £1,000.

Another MMA man, Wes Nunns, will reprise his Cage Confrontation III clash with Bolton’s Lee Tuff, their rematch upped from area to British title status.

Adam Wright, also York MMA, will again tackle Blackburn’s Malcolm “Big Mal” Gibson, who he beat within a minute for an area crown at Cage Confrontation IV at the Energise Centre last October, while Wright’s club-mate Dean Croft is up against Mark Dianiese for a lightweight belt.

The bill’s lone professional fight pits visiting warrior Chris “The Animal” Whitehouse against York MMA’s Simon “Punk” Neale in a 66-kilogramme showdown.

Tickets are available by phoning co-promoters Watkinson on 07798 765259 or Tony Dias on 07956 612667.