By Helen Thompson

Last updated at 15:56, Friday, 31 October 2008

MIXED martial artist Martin Thompson has been crowned Strike and Submit heavyweight world champion – after beating a former UFC star to clinch the belt.

TOP OF THE WORLD: Martin Thompson with his Strike & Submit Heavyweight World Championship belt

Thompson, 23, of Whitehaven, took just 16 seconds to defeat Colin Robinson in the clash in Newcastle and claim his fifth title.

The Wath Brow Hornets player is now rated as number one in the UK and was third in Europe ahead of the bout.

“He threw the first punch and I padded that and came in with a counter and caught him well,” said Thompson.

“He dropped then we went to the ground and I finished him off with a couple and the referee stopped the bout.”

Thompson, along with brother Kevin, have been involved in MMA for five years and they have racked up the wins between them.

Martin currently holds European titles at both heavyweight and light heavyweight in the Strike and Submit competition and also British heavyweight belts in Cage Gladiators and Ultimate Force.

Kevin, 27, who is also training with the Great Britain Community Lions rugby league side, has two titles, both British light heavyweight, for Strike and Submit and also Total Combat.

And he is set to try and clinch a third as he takes on Denniston Sutherland for the Ultimate Force British light heavyweight title at Doncaster Dome.

This is a tough sport and the brothers train up to six times a week in order to get fit to fight.

They train under the guidance of Ian Chambers, of the Powerhouse Gym, at Hensingham, twice a week and he works on their strength and conditioning, plus nutrition.

Then it is on to their jujitsu workouts with Trevor Cunningham at the Grapple & Strike club, on Bransty, which they fight out of. And finally they also work on their boxing technique, with a third coach, Paul Wilson.

“We are really grateful to all of our coaches and sponsors and also to our training partners who come to the club and help us out,” said Kevin.

The next big step for Martin would be to get a call from the UFC, offering him a contract but he is patient about securing his dream.

“I am just waiting to see if it will happen,” said Martin. “There are not many others in the UK for me to beat.

“I got a call to say the UFC were watching me to see how things go so all I can do is wait and see.”

The next fight for Martin will be when he takes on Rob Broughton at the end of November to defend his Cage Gladiators title at Liverpool.

First published at 16:20, Wednesday, 29 October 2008
Published by http://www.whitehaven-news.co.uk