Message #1689

[Hammy]

Well I didn't manage to cut down the weight but I did move down categories.

I've quickly found on the circuit, because these comps are only having 2 categories, under 12 months and over, everyone with a few years experience are doing under 12 mths, the divide is essentially pro fighters and amateurs, and I'm no pro fighter.  The guy who beat me in my third fight is a semi-pro.

Also that blonde guy who beat me at my last comp when I entered advanced.... http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Ian-Jones-9881

My coaches basically said, build up my confidence, win the lower category then move up, even though losing to pro fighters is no bad thing, it is demoralising to get beaten a fair bit so they made a good point, I really enjoyed this competition.

The fighters were 6 minutes.  First 3 minutes no points are scored, last 3 they start scoring points, this is to try and get people to go for submission finishes early rather than just scoring points.  If it was a draw after 6 minutes then there would be 2 minutes overtime and if it was still a draw sudden death overtime where the first person to score or submit would win.  The finals of each category where an initial 8 minute round.

In my category there were 11 of us, 5 won, one guy got a bye.  6 of us then became the final 3.  So to balance numbers they picked a lucky loser from the 1st round.  Out of the 5 losers, 3 of them were injured and didn't want to fight and the other 2 had fought each other (because you are guaranteed 2 fights when you pay on the day), so they picked the winner of that to go through to the semi-finals.  I lost my fight 2-0 on points after 6 minutes, I didn't see the other fight but the lucky loser won it and advanced to the final where he lost on points to the guy who beat me.

I'll have the vids up later...