Sunshine Coast kickboxers Noah O’Sullivan and Amir Tadayon from Hollett’s Kickboxing & MMA shared the ring on Feb. 21 for their first ringed kickboxing event on AMA 36 in Vancouver.
O’Sullivan, who had represented Team Canada at the 2019 WKU World Championships, was the first fight of the night, competing against a hometown athlete from Westside Kickboxing in Vancouver.
As the match got underway, both men quickly started to get busy early, exchanging punches, kicks and knees for the first round. It was a back and forth scoring battle with both men landing some very clean combinations. Both athletes showed that they had worked hard and put in a good solid training camp.
The second round started out much the same way, with both men throwing heavy barrages of punches and kicks that were finding their targets. About one minute into the second round, O’Sullivan found himself in a bit of trouble, and was dropped to the canvas by a heavy knee strike to his chest. As the ref was giving him his 10 count, head coach Dave Hollett said he could see that O’Sullivan was not impressed with what just happened to him, and knew there would be consequences.
The ref called the fight to continue and out of the corner comes O’Sullivan, guns blazing to avenge the knockdown. Within 15 seconds of the knockdown, he delivered a straight lead jab setting up a powerful right hand that sent his opponent to the canvas and unable to get up, scoring a second round knockout.
“The crowd was roaring, emotions were high, it was a great way to start the show for the blue corner and our team,” Hollett said.
The ninth contest of the night was Team HKMMA’s second athlete, Amir Tadayon, in a heavyweight contest against a much taller, muscular athlete from Kamloops.
From the opening bell, to the third and final bell, both men threw a lot of heavy strikes and kicks, giving the crowd an amazing show of power and technique that had them on their feet screaming and cheering the entire contest.
The judges scored the very close match a split decision seeing Tadayon with his hand raised in victory.
Hollett said he couldn’t be more proud of his guys for all the hard work and dedication they put in during a very intense training camp. “I’m very fortunate to have such amazing athletes in my gyms.”
Hollett said 2019 was a great year for Team HKMMA.
“We captured three national championships and had three Team Canada athletes, two of whom medalled at the 2019 WKU World Championships, winning a gold medal and two silver medals.
“Tonight was a great way to start off 2020 for our team.”
Hollett’s Kickboxing & MMA has two locations on the Sunshine Coast, in Sechelt and Gibsons. It offers beginner kickboxing classes, kids’ classes, women-only classes, and a unique kickboxing program for people suffering with Parkinson’s disease.
You can follow and contact the gym on Instagram @hollettskickboxing or Facebook.
For more information regarding class times and scheduling, call 604-989-6056.
– Submitted
