Feb 25th PrimeTime Management is holding a fight competition titled “Last Fighter Standing”. The women’s division will be run by the director Belinda Dunne (me) and the men’s divisions (Grappling and Pankration) will be run by Darryl Grauman and Jerry Beale head trainers at “Integrated Fighting”.

The quality of the fighters who have come forward in this competition is very high; some of New Zealand’s best martial artists have been very supportive and quick to add their names to the list. This event marks a huge step in the development of martial arts as the media interest is high and it will be aired (delayed coverage) on both TV3 and Sky.

It is interesting to see that the women’s and the Pankration division are the most popular and are attracting great numbers. These divisions are the ones you would expect to have difficulty filling. The grappling event which was expected to exceed both of them has turned out to be the division where we would love to encourage more fighters to enter.

Having said that there are some really exciting matches with some top class athletes scheduled who are traveling from all over NZ to be there. As the organizer I am flattered and stoked that they are making the effort to attend in what is the first comp of this kind we have run.

I know there is a feeling at some clubs; if you are not the best and aren’t expected to win then you shouldn’t put your name forward. I don’t support this view and when dealing with the women competitors I say that if you don’t put your name forward you will never have a bench mark to reach for.

There are a lot of clubs who have been very supportive of me and to them I say thank-you. To the fighters out there reading this I say don’t be afraid to enter, you don’t have to stand in the winners circle every time and when you are a newer competitor it is an achievement just to put your best foot forward and join the starting line.

Last fighter standing will be at Tamaki Community Centre on Elstree St Glen Inns, this is a great new stadium and will be the home of five martial arts events over the next five months.

The elimination rounds for grappling and women’s fight divisions  will be run all day and the Pankration event and women’s finals will be at night form 7pm till approx 11pm.

With names like Neil Swailes and Eugene Hynson competing along with Simon Done and Junior Leite it is a given that the Pankration will contain bouts worth staying up late for.

The women’s division has some high class competitors like Emma Scott and Nelly Stallworthy with some exciting newcomers determined to make a name for themselves like Melodie McDonald and Tabitha Avery.

But if you have the staying power to be there for the day event as well  there are grapplers who will be great to watch and a fantastic example of how it should be done some of these fighters are Hamish Robertson and John Misuepa. This event starts at 11am and will run most of the day.

The event is building a lot of excitement and all the right things are in-line for martial arts to step into the main arena and grab itself some exciting sports coverage. If you have any queries don’t hesitate to e-mail me, but otherwise id like to finish by saying a huge THANK-YOU to all the companies who have stepped up as sponsors and all the fighters who are putting there names on the card……we as organizers couldn’t do it without you.

Belinda Dunne
Darryl Grauman
Jerry Beale