Bellator victory sets Duncan up for future
Tullibody martial artist Chris Duncan maintained his perfect professional record with a blistering performance in Dublin at the weekend.
The 26-year-old MMA fighter put in a spectacular performance against Polish fighter Mateusz Piskorz in front of a rowdy crowd at the 3Arena as part of the Bellator 240 event on Saturday.
Heavy-handed Duncan scored the victory midway through the second round. The lightweight had hurt his experienced opponent a number of times before finally the referee stepped in to wave off the contest, declaring him the winner by TKO and stretching his professional record to 6-0.
Speaking to the Stirling Observer following the win, a delighted Duncan said:“It went exactly as I expected. I put my heart and soul into my preparations for this fight. I don’t take any days off so I’m always ready.
“He was the best guy that I’ve fought yet. At first they offered me an opponent who was 3-0 but I turned it down because I wanted this fight against an experienced opponent.”
Following the explosive fight,
Duncan, who works as a personal trainer, struggled to control his emotions. He said:“I put so much in to this fight and this win has set me up.
“I had been struggling for money and this just makes all the difference. My girlfriend and I have been looking to buy a house and I put my heart and soul in to this so this will set us up a bit, that’s why I got so emotional.”
It was his second time fighting in the Irish capital in two fights for the Bellator promotion, exactly a year after the previous.
Chris, who trains at the MXP gym in Borrowmeadow Road, was one of three Scots on the fight card and he’s now hopeful that Bellator may stage it’s first ever show in Scotland at a later date but says he doesn’t have a name in mind for future opponents.
He added:“I’m not one of these guys who will call people out on social media. I just beat whatever boy they put in front of me.”
Bridge of Allan Sports Club men’s firsts will look to consolidate third place in East of Scotland Squash League Division 1 when they host ESC 1 tomorrow (Thursday).
An impressive 4-1 victory over Watsonians saw the Birds and The Beessponsored side leapfrog their capital city rivals into third, despite the absence of skipper Iain Logan and club champion Roddy Campbell.
Now Logan is determined to build on that fine victory against their fifth placed opponents.
“To beat Watsonians 4-1 at their place and take 16 points from them was arguably our best performance of the campaign so far and one that really emphasise the depth we have in our ranks.
“Fergus Richards was a comfortable 3-0 win at No.1 while young Kyle Penman came through a tight four-setter at No.2 with colours flying. Although Chris Turlik was unlucky to lose out in four games Andy Meldrum and Robin Bairner stepped up from the seconds and did us proud.
“But now we have done all the hard work to get third it’s vital we don’t slip up on our home boards. It should be a cracker against ESC1, and I hope we will get a few members along to support us.”
Meanwhile in Division 2, the seconds have moved 15 points clear in the third and final promotion placing after a 3-2 victory over Colinton Castle seconds that hinged on an epic 3-2 victory for James Dougan at No.1
Delighted skipper Robin Bairner was keen to salute the former Scotland under-17 international. “It was a massive victory and probably the hardest fought win of our season. There were three fivesetters and two four-setters and for it to go right to the wire tells you how tight it was.
“I’m just so delighted for young James to come through his five-setter at the top of the order and clinch the victory. After everything he has been through with back surgery and being out of competitive squash for 18 months this will have given him a huge boost.”
The thirds suffered a 4-1 defeat at
Waverley seconds which has seen them drop to third ahead of a must win against Kirkcaldy tonight (Wednesday).
Captain Bert Mitchell said: “Injuries and unavailability hit us hard, but we owe a huge thanks to Sabine Mackenzie, Karen Robertson and Rowan Niven for stepping in.
“We had a good win at Kirkcaldy in the first-half and the fact they are a first team underlines that. But they will come to Minewood thirsty for revenge and we are well warned.”
The ladies will continue their charge to the East Division 1 title with a visit from Grange firsts with skipper Sabine Mackenzie determined to keep her side’s unbeaten run going.
The captain said: “Consistency has been our watchword and that is what will get us to the title. There can be no drop off in quality and although I may rotate the squad, I expect it to have no negative impact.”
In the Crieff and District League the fourths travel to leaders Crieff 1 hoping to bounce back from a derby loss to Dunblane.