UFC 141

Overall, yet again, another super exciting card!
This is the very first full live event that I've watched in the comfort of my very own flat :) but that didn't take away how agitated I get when watching.
In terms of my picks, things didn't go so good, starting off with the Facebook prelims...
I picked Manny, purely I guess because I liked him from TUF 5 and the fights I've seen of his have been good to watch, and unfortunately he lost (what I believe to be) a pretty close decision.
Next up was Efrain Escudero and Jacob Volkmann when yet again my pick lost! Lay on his back for most the fight only showing any slight dominance when he managed to get Volkmann in a guillotine in the final minutes of the last round which was somehow superbly defended. 2-0 to Jake in our personal betting stakes haha!
Bringing it back for me in the third fight of the night was Dong Hyun Kim with his unanimous decision over Sean Pierson who he really should of finished after having him super rocked with a front kick late into the second round.
Here was our break in the nights fights as we didn't get to view either of the Spike prelims of Anthony Njokuani vs. Danny Castillo or Ross Pearson vs. Junior Assuncao, the latter of which I was really looking forward to with Ross being a fellow North Easterner (and the only Makam I'll ever support in anything! lol). After reading the Sherdog live play by plays I'm looking forward to getting to watch both fights in the near future.

Main event time! Full of surprises and somewhat disappointment.
Jim Hettes proved himself to be a one to watch in 2012 and had my eyes glued to the screen. Not only does he have awesome judo and ground skills but I think he proved his UFC.com pie chart rating of 1% Striking very wrong. With a domination of Nam Phan that I'm sure not many people expected, especially not me, I take my hat of to the young up and comer! I would very much like to follow his future after such an brilliant fight and  listening to his post fight interview with Ariel Helwani in which he seems like such a humble, down to earth guy.

Not much to say for the next fight. I thought Matyushenko stood an okay chance after his quick KO of Jason Brilz in his last fight, but it wasn't to be when the vet was ground and pounded until the ref stepped in at the end of the 1st.
Getting closer to the main event and another surprising yet exciting bout when Johnny Hendricks knocked out Jon Fitch with one punch 12 seconds in! Being a fan of both I didn't know what to do, so I cried haha. Gutted for Fitch, but chuffed for Hendricks...not sure if he quite deserves the title shot hes asked for just yet though.
Now, a fight everyone was hyped for. You know when the 'Diaz' name is involved its going to be a brawl and Nate didn't disappoint. 3 rounds of back and forth slugging with Cowboy Cerrone making good use of his leg kicks although he failed to take the top position after sweeping Nate's legs which could of secured him more points. The official fight of the night and another of my picked making me happy! War Diaz!


This is it. The painful part to type so I'll not write much. Overeem's debut fight in the UFC and he defeated Brock. I though Brock would of managed to take him down and ground and pound but nope :/ Anyways, before the post fight interview with Joe Rogan I called that he was gonna announce his retirement. Which he did. Fair enough he may not be the most amazing fighter ever, but I find that alot of the unnecessary hate against him is because of his WWE background and I cried again to see another guy I like leave the UFC roster this year. At least we got MIGUEL TORRES back eh?!


Happy New Year all, roll on UFC Rio in two weeks! Yey!

Better Late Than Never.

I keep putting this off and putting it off but I guess I'll just quickly post up a few photos and have it over and done with. The Holidays post!

Jake and I went to spend the holidays at my parents. It was gonna be my first Christmas in my own house but with feeling down lately and it being the first year without my Granda, I wanted to be at their house to help make things more normal for my Nana...and for the food I guess 'cause I'd of never managed to cook anything :/
Anyways, its practically tradition that we spend every Christmas Eve at our good friends, The Boyds, house to track 'Santa' with the bairns with the online tracker, Norad and sprinkle out the Reindeer food up the road :) I'd left it a surprise to them that I was still coming this year and wish I could of taken a photo of the expression on Hazels face when she answered the door! I was so happy that everyone was excited to see me.

Here are my three (not so) little 'siblings' Katie, Holly and Matt while we were out doing the Reindeer's food trail!
And the Christmassy cupcakes I baked everyone...

We spent thee day at my parents obviously, had a lie in as always haha and picked up my Nana and Molly the dog. It was very weird without my Granda. I cant imagine how hard it must of been for my Mam and my Nana but I think everyone did very well to keep it as normal as possible.

Of course the many animals are never left out and Molly, Bunny, Scamp, Dusty and Minnie all opened their presents too. Bunny seemed to take a shine to Jake even though hes not an animal fan, while she was in the house getting cuddles and carrots and even tried on his hat! :)

This year just didn't feel the same for some reason. It made me think why I actually celebrate the 'Birth of Christ' when I'm an Atheist, like a vast amount of others around the world, its rather hypocritical. 

Hoping to post some better, more interesting and less depressing blogs in the weeks to come - Super hyped for UFC 141 at the weekend! Expect a post around about then I guess...

Oh! And I best not forget. A huge congratulations to my clients, Kim and Scott, mentioned in the previous post who safely delivered a baby girl yesterday morning! Cannot wait to photograph, what will be, the smallest I've worked with yet! 

Hope everyone had a safe and happy winter break. Keep an eye out for my UFC 141 post. 

Baby Fever!

I know soo many people right now that I went to school with and stuff who are expecting or have just become new parents. 

Lucky for me I get to photograph the little cuties and hand them back after a few smiles, no poop or crying for me!! :P

Anyways, last week we took the hike up to Berwick (thankfully clear of snow) to attend two photo shoots and kill two birds with one stone by getting some visits in.

The first shoot of the trip was for a lad I used to work with and his partner doing portraits of their two month old little girl Laila. Here she is. Before and after!

The next day I had a pre-birth shoot for Kim and Scott who are expecting on Christmas Eve! Hopefully mini miss holds on over the festive season haha. They were both perfectly lovely and I really enjoyed this shoot. I can't wait to work with them again once baby arrives, so on for the little ones '1st Year' package and finally their wedding next October! 

They requested the photos stay private so here is just a small teaser of the Bump photo set.

Please feel free to check out my website for lots more examples of my work and price lists: The Photo Dojo!

I will defiantly update again over the holiday period with lots of photos!

Until then, take care and Merry Christmas to everyone :)