Champion Kevin targets Sky TV Cage Rage fight

By Helen Thompson

TITLE winning ultimate fighter Kevin Thompson is setting his sights on a TV appearance to boost his profile.

The Whitehaven-based mixed martial arts star lifted his first major championship at the weekend - becoming the Total Combat British Light Heavyweight champion, after a four man challenge at Houghton-Le-Spring, Tyne and Wear.

And now he is looking to earn a fight on Cage Rage, which is televised on Sky Sports.

“I want to up my standard and try and get on television, hopefully at Cage Rage,” said Thompson.

“That is where I want to aim for and I will carry on fighting until I get there and hopefully go on from that. I just enjoy doing what I like.”

Thompson, who fights out of the No Holds Barred Club in Whitehaven, faced a tough challenge on Saturday night in the north east to win the title belt.

First up he faced Les Ojugbana of Sunderland, who was unbeaten from 11 outings. But that did not deter Thompson as he caught Ojugbana with an elbow. The match-up was stopped in the first round, Thompson winning with a ground and pound.

He then went on to take on Batley’s Ian Rush in the final and won again with a ground and pound to lift the title and a £1,000 cheque.

Thompson added: “It was awesome, I was chuffed to bits to win the title. The first match was a hard fight and I was pretty tired afterwards but when I got into the second I was raring to go again.

“Both were tough fights on their won but in the end I managed to finish off and win.”

He will have to go back and defend his title at another event but he is waiting to confirm a date.

Thompson, who is also a Great Britain amateur rugby league international, is not the only member of his family to be doing well, as brother Martin was also in action recently at Pegswood.

He claimed a knockout first round victory in his heavyweight clash with a ground and pound and he is now looking forward to a title shot himself.

Kevin also fought at Pegswood, winning with a submission in the first round and Russell Burns, of the same Whitehaven club had his first match-up. Burns won his semi-professional middleweight bout with a knockout in the first round.

Martin added: “We want to thank all the lads who helped up train before our fights and in the build-up to them. Also to the supporters who came along to watch.

“And our sponsors, Powerhouse Gym, Ainfield Cycles, PCL and SEL, as well as Paul Wilson who has trained us on our stand-up work.”

(Source)