Written by Chris Postupalski

The tension was evident when Ben Mortimer and Ben Alloway had made their way into the cage at Nitro MMA 3 on Saturday night with extra security inside the cage separating the two fighters. Alloway strutted from side to side, keeping his head down concentrating on what he had to do. Mortimer was staring at his opponent like a pit-bull ready to attack.

A Just under 15 minutes later, a couple months of trash-talking were put to an end with Mortimer walking away with the certain defeat by submitted Alloway with an armbar at 1:49 of round three.

Mortimer did come out like a pit-bull attempting a jumping high-kick immediately off the block, however Alloway quickly found his groove secured a takedown and worked from there. Mortimer stayed busy off his back however as soon as he got up, Alloway managed to get him back to the canvas where he bloodied up Mortimer with a couple of punches and elbows. Alloway secured the mount position which forced Mortimer to give his back but the buzzer to end the first round saved Mortimer.

Alloway started with an early takedown in the second but Mortimer locked up a tight armbar from the bottom which Alloway wriggled out and coming back with some punches from the top position. Alloway again secured mount where the punishment continued before Mortimer powered his way out. On their feet, Mortimer landed a few but Alloway was returning just as good before again getting the fight down to the ground. Alloway landed punches and elbows as the round ended.

Mortimer’s fans were noticeably a lot quieter coming into the third but two minutes later blew the roof off when Mortimer secured an armbar that caused Alloway to submit. The armbar was set-up after an Alloway takedown. The end came at 1:49 into the third round. Adrenalin was high as Mortimer celebrated by spitting his mouth-guard out and yelling at Alloway however the two embraced shortly after and gave credit to each other in their post-fight speeches.

In the semi-main event Dylan Andrews proved why he is one of the leading middleweights in the Australia defeating Rob Giuffrida 4:24 into round two.

The two started cautious with Giuffrida landing early leg kicks before forcing a takedown. Andrews reversed before the two ended up back on their feet. Andrews landed a solid right hand which stuns Giuffrida. Andrews began to attack the body as Giuffrida was fighting on instinct. Giuffrida showed good heart though and finished the round off with a takedown into side control as the round ended.

Giuffrida looked fresh coming out for the second but Andrews quickly took control getting a takedown of his own. Giuffrida got back to his feet and attempted a takedown which was countered by Andrews who ended up on top. Giuffrida attempted an armbar, but after Andrews picked him up Giuffrida chose to release. Late in the round Andrews got mount and unloaded with punches which forced referee Peter Hickmont to stop the contest.

Gokhan Turkyilmaz and Damien Brown put on one of the fights of the night in an action packed fight which had both fighters countering each-other. In the end though Brown’s constant pressure payed off as Turkyilmaz’s corner threw in the towel late in the third round.

Brown started the fight by catching Turkyilmaz’s kick and tripping him to the ground where both guys taking turns reversing the other. Brown did attempt a guillotine and when that did not work he remained very active off his back constantly looking for submissions and sweeps.

Brown got early takedown in the second where inside half guard he landed punches and elbows that caused a couple of cuts to open up. Each time Turkyilmaz found a way to escape, Brown countered and at on top in north-south position. Brown pounded away with punches and elbows which nearly forced a stoppage but Turkyilmaz survived as the round ended.

It was much of the same in the third with both fighters exchanging positions and takedowns. Turkyilmaz got the top position early in the third round; however Brown climbed the fence with his legs to escape into side control. From there Brown was able to unload with more punches and elbows. Turkyilmaz’s corner had seen enough and commendably chose to throw in the towel saving Turkyilmaz from further punishment.

In a bout of two outstanding youngsters, Shindo New Breed MMA fighter Jack Gooderham took on Underground MMA title holder Sebastian Taylor. Gooderham though landed a big right head kick early that dropped Taylor before following it up with punches on the ground as Taylor attempted to recover. The referee though had seen enough and called a halt to the contest at 0:15 of the opening period.

In a heavyweight contest Integrated Martial Arts fighter Kris Tassotti scored a unanimous decision over Ryan Carr-Ketu. Tassotti was able to control the fight on the ground where he attempted submissions. Tassotti got the mount however Carr-Ketu stayed strong and managed to reverse as the round ended. Tassoti got back mount in the second half, but referee deemed a strike to hit the back of the head and forced the fighters to stand up, but Tassotti scored with a takedown as the round ended. Carr-Ketu came back early in the third round, tripping Tassotti and landing in guard before standing up and jumping to side control. Tassotti though countered nearly straight away and got side control as the round ended.

In the end the judges awarded Tassoti the unanimous decision but expressed disappointment at his performance in his post-fight speech saying that he felt that he should have finished the fight in some of the positions he was in but giving credit to his opponent for being strong.

In undercard action Tye Brown proved too much for Matt George winning the fight and securing the head-arm choke at 4:22 of round one. George did not stop trying to get off his back, but this was cancelled out by Brown who took him straight back down. Brown got the choke after getting into side control before securing submission of the night honours.

Grant Marshall and Ricardo Zamora let it all go as the two gave it their all but in the end the judges could not separate them. Zamora looked in control early with takedowns however Marshall was able to work his way back to his feet where he was able to unload his heavy hands. As the fight went on both began to tire but found that extra bit to continue. In the end the judges score –cards were announced as 30-29, 29-29 and 29-29 for the majority draw. The fight was also awarded the fight of the night.

Earlier on the card, Nikolai Stewart defeated Bruce Irvine by causing a cut with a spinning back-fist. The end came at 0:25 of round two while Tyler Manawaroa submitted his opponent Dale Simpson with a far side extended armbar at 1:27 of round two. In the first fight of the night, Lance Cuppit caused a TKO stoppage over Damien Fraser with punches at 1:40 of round two.

Nitro MMA returns to the Logan Entertainment centre with an event scheduled in October. Check http://www.nitromma.com.au for more details closer to the event.

Results:Ben Mortimer def. Ben Alloway via Submission (Armbar), Rd 3, 1:49

Dylan Andrews def. Rob Giuffrida via TKO (Punches), Rd 2, 4:24

Damien Brown def. Gokhan Turkyilmaz via TKO (Towel Thrown In), Rd 3, 3:54

]Jack Gooderham def. Sebastian Taylor via TKO (Head-Kick & Punches), Rd 1, 0:15

Kris Tassotti def. Ryan Carr-Ketu via Decision (Unanimous)

Tye Brown def. Matt George via Submission (Armbar), Rd 1, 4:22

Grant Marshall DRAW Ricardo Zamora

Nikolai Stewart def. Bruce Irvine TKO (Doctor’s Stoppage – Cut), Rd 2, 0:25

Tyler Manawaroa def. Dale Simpson via Submission (Armbar), Rd 2, 1:27

Lance Cupitt def. Damien Fraser via TKO (Punches), Rd 2, 1:40