1 00:00:01,760 --> 00:00:06,040 Speaker 1: Causer Media. 2 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:11,200 Speaker 2: You're listening to the Away Days podcast on the ground outside, 3 00:00:11,560 --> 00:00:17,560 Speaker 2: reporting from the underbelly with me Jake Hanrahan. To watch 4 00:00:17,560 --> 00:00:22,560 Speaker 2: Awaydays documentaries, go to YouTube dot com slash at away 5 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:30,200 Speaker 2: Days TV. This is Part one, No Rules Is No Rules, 6 00:00:30,240 --> 00:00:35,440 Speaker 2: Episode one. This podcast is a production of H eleven 7 00:00:35,520 --> 00:00:45,320 Speaker 2: Studio and Call Zone Media, England. It's a cold day 8 00:00:45,400 --> 00:00:49,400 Speaker 2: for violence. The grounds frosty and the air hurts. Gloves 9 00:00:49,440 --> 00:00:54,279 Speaker 2: and scarves weather either way, violence is happening. Two men 10 00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:56,600 Speaker 2: have agreed to attack each other at a pre arranged 11 00:00:56,640 --> 00:01:01,840 Speaker 2: location in Hastings, UK. I'm driving through southern back roads 12 00:01:01,880 --> 00:01:04,640 Speaker 2: headed to the desolate seaside town where the fight is 13 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:08,399 Speaker 2: due to take place. I'm an outsider to all involved, 14 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:12,200 Speaker 2: and true they all hate journalists, but still have been 15 00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:17,880 Speaker 2: trusted to attend this planned combat isn't about solving a dispute, 16 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:21,440 Speaker 2: though the two men have no hatred or real animosity 17 00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:25,840 Speaker 2: toward one another. They just want to fight, not in 18 00:01:25,840 --> 00:01:28,360 Speaker 2: a ring, or with gloves or with rounds, though this 19 00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:32,560 Speaker 2: is something else. There will be no judges or sporting organizations, 20 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:36,119 Speaker 2: no health checks or even a waiting, no safety gear, 21 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:40,000 Speaker 2: and no precautions. The fight won't be televised, and there 22 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:44,680 Speaker 2: will be no official sponsors. It's important to understand that 23 00:01:44,760 --> 00:01:49,600 Speaker 2: this is not unlicensed MMA, street beef or bare knuckle boxing. 24 00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:54,960 Speaker 2: This is a new form of organized violence. People involved 25 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:59,400 Speaker 2: have coined it no rules, and yes, no rules means 26 00:01:59,640 --> 00:02:06,240 Speaker 2: no rules. Anything goes kicking, punching, head butting, elbows, knees, 27 00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:13,000 Speaker 2: eye gouging, head stamping, choking, and even biting. What's more authentic, 28 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:16,919 Speaker 2: no rules has to take place on concrete or something equivalent. 29 00:02:17,480 --> 00:02:21,760 Speaker 2: Hard floors and no rules. It's as extreme as it gets. 30 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 2: Google Maps pings. I've got to reach a location the 31 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:34,440 Speaker 2: fighters texted to me yesterday, and then I've got to wait. 32 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:38,040 Speaker 2: I'm close. I pull onto a side road through a 33 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:42,040 Speaker 2: small wooded area and follow the route ahead. It's mid 34 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:45,360 Speaker 2: January and the sun's going down fast. The sky is 35 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:49,320 Speaker 2: red and orange. You can feel the outside cold inside 36 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:54,720 Speaker 2: the car. It's hardly ideal fighting weather. My phone rings 37 00:02:55,320 --> 00:02:58,919 Speaker 2: caller ID Joey hapgood. How you doing, mate? 38 00:02:58,919 --> 00:02:59,320 Speaker 3: You're right? 39 00:03:01,639 --> 00:03:04,240 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, you're at You're at the camp part? Yeah? 40 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:07,000 Speaker 2: All right, we were just driving about. I'll head up 41 00:03:07,040 --> 00:03:18,840 Speaker 2: there now like a minute. All right, cool, right, Joey 42 00:03:18,919 --> 00:03:21,799 Speaker 2: is a street fighter from South Wales. He's twenty seven 43 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:24,760 Speaker 2: years old and by far one of the most energetic 44 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:28,680 Speaker 2: people in the UK. If Methan Fhetimin was a person, 45 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:32,520 Speaker 2: it would be Joey. Most times I speak with him, 46 00:03:32,520 --> 00:03:36,200 Speaker 2: he's absolutely bouncing off the walls. He's extremely friendly and 47 00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:41,240 Speaker 2: very genuine. He can only be himself. It's a contagious energy. Honestly, 48 00:03:42,760 --> 00:03:45,920 Speaker 2: perhaps the odds with his happy demeanor. Joey is desperate 49 00:03:45,920 --> 00:03:49,280 Speaker 2: to make a name for himself in the underground fight scene. 50 00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:52,920 Speaker 2: He's tough as bricks and scared of nobody, and as 51 00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:56,360 Speaker 2: an up and comer, he's hungry to prove himself. Generally, 52 00:03:56,400 --> 00:03:59,920 Speaker 2: no rules is organized through illegal fight clubs, but joe 53 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:08,360 Speaker 2: he's ready anywhere. I reached the location, a large but 54 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:12,200 Speaker 2: otherwise nondescript car park, surrounded by trees and street lights. 55 00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:15,480 Speaker 2: When I get out of the car, I hear Joey 56 00:04:15,480 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 2: before I see him. He's with a few friends and 57 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:23,480 Speaker 2: he's already shadow boxing on the spot, cast in rapid 58 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:28,039 Speaker 2: phosphor coated shadows. He laughs loudly every few seconds. He 59 00:04:28,120 --> 00:04:31,359 Speaker 2: can't wait. We shake hands and he hugs me like 60 00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:33,960 Speaker 2: an old friend. But this is the first time we've met. 61 00:04:34,279 --> 00:04:38,279 Speaker 1: No Where we go, No Yeah, get picked up in 62 00:04:38,279 --> 00:04:38,919 Speaker 1: a g wagon. 63 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:49,840 Speaker 2: Apparently, Joey looks like a character from the video game 64 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:54,960 Speaker 2: Mortal Kombat. He's about five ten, stocky, all muscle, blue 65 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:57,880 Speaker 2: eyes as bright as his white teeth. He's got three 66 00:04:57,880 --> 00:05:01,680 Speaker 2: different haircuts in one bleach blonde down the middle, shaved 67 00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:04,440 Speaker 2: to zero at the sides, long mullet style tail down 68 00:05:04,480 --> 00:05:08,520 Speaker 2: the back with black highlights. His neck is pepper with tattoos, 69 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:12,040 Speaker 2: including a six to sixty six next to Jesus crucifix. 70 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:15,119 Speaker 2: He wears a George Michael earing and keeps his beard 71 00:05:15,200 --> 00:05:18,960 Speaker 2: short but dyed black. The dye leaves perfect lines across 72 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:21,040 Speaker 2: his face, so it looks as if he's sprayed the 73 00:05:21,080 --> 00:05:24,880 Speaker 2: whole bed on with his stencil. I've never seen anyone 74 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:30,159 Speaker 2: like it. He's a sight to behold. Joey has traveled 75 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:33,760 Speaker 2: two hundred miles from Port Talbot to be here at 76 00:05:33,760 --> 00:05:37,960 Speaker 2: this random car park in Hastings. It took him five hours. 77 00:05:38,480 --> 00:05:41,359 Speaker 2: He's come to fight an old school No Rules fighter 78 00:05:41,760 --> 00:05:46,520 Speaker 2: nicknamed Bash. The pair organized the fire over Instagram direct messages. 79 00:05:47,240 --> 00:05:50,320 Speaker 2: Joey's dream is to be respected in the clandestine No 80 00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:51,320 Speaker 2: Rules scene. 81 00:05:51,560 --> 00:05:53,000 Speaker 1: There's going to be a no rules fight with a 82 00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:55,799 Speaker 1: guy who's very experienced with It could be any situation, 83 00:05:56,000 --> 00:05:58,320 Speaker 1: anything going to happen at any time, at any second. 84 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:01,400 Speaker 1: But you could lose fingers used those balls. You can 85 00:06:01,480 --> 00:06:04,320 Speaker 1: lose any sense you know, no rules, You don't know 86 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:06,719 Speaker 1: what the fuck's coming away and when it's happening. But 87 00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:08,760 Speaker 1: it can you know, in his la or that situation, 88 00:06:08,880 --> 00:06:10,920 Speaker 1: it can be, but it can be easily. 89 00:06:11,440 --> 00:06:14,400 Speaker 2: He's not wrong. The man's about to fight is notorious 90 00:06:14,440 --> 00:06:16,760 Speaker 2: in the underground for biting off a piece of another 91 00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:18,920 Speaker 2: man's ear in a no rules fight a couple of 92 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:31,600 Speaker 2: years back. The brawl took place in a closed mechanic's garage, 93 00:06:31,680 --> 00:06:35,799 Speaker 2: and despite permanently disfiguring his opponent with his teeth, Bash 94 00:06:35,920 --> 00:06:38,480 Speaker 2: actually lost that fight. He was not to the ground 95 00:06:38,520 --> 00:06:41,520 Speaker 2: by his opponent, who then pushed both thumbs deep into 96 00:06:41,560 --> 00:06:46,680 Speaker 2: Bash's eye sockets. Bash screaming, was then saved by the 97 00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:51,479 Speaker 2: makeshift referee. You stopped the fight. There are only two 98 00:06:51,520 --> 00:06:54,440 Speaker 2: ways for no rules to end. Either you get knocked 99 00:06:54,440 --> 00:06:57,520 Speaker 2: out or you get beaten so badly the appointed referee 100 00:06:57,560 --> 00:07:01,120 Speaker 2: steps in. Referee in this case is a loose term 101 00:07:01,240 --> 00:07:04,640 Speaker 2: it's basically anyone involved who's allocated as the guy who 102 00:07:04,640 --> 00:07:07,200 Speaker 2: has to stop the fight when a one sided beating 103 00:07:07,240 --> 00:07:10,920 Speaker 2: continues for an extended period. Some stop the fight when 104 00:07:10,960 --> 00:07:15,960 Speaker 2: head stamping or egalgin starts, Others don't. There's no rule book. 105 00:07:16,480 --> 00:07:18,880 Speaker 2: The only use for a towel in No Rules is 106 00:07:18,920 --> 00:07:23,400 Speaker 2: to mop up the blood. Yes, it is brutal now, 107 00:07:23,520 --> 00:07:25,600 Speaker 2: to put it lightly. Bash has been on a bit 108 00:07:25,640 --> 00:07:28,680 Speaker 2: of a losing streak as of late. People in the 109 00:07:28,720 --> 00:07:31,240 Speaker 2: scene have accused him of being washed up, saying that 110 00:07:31,280 --> 00:07:35,120 Speaker 2: he can't stay sober for a fight anymore. Bash argues 111 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:39,240 Speaker 2: that he doesn't care win or lose. He'll fight anyone anywhere, 112 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:42,240 Speaker 2: sober or not. He claims to see No Rules as 113 00:07:42,280 --> 00:07:45,520 Speaker 2: a game. A bit of a laugh. Problem is Bash 114 00:07:45,600 --> 00:07:49,640 Speaker 2: is forty five now, that's eighteen years Joey senr. The 115 00:07:49,640 --> 00:07:53,720 Speaker 2: potential risk of irreversible damage is considerably higher for a 116 00:07:53,760 --> 00:08:11,680 Speaker 2: man of his age, but still Bash doesn't care. A 117 00:08:11,760 --> 00:08:15,120 Speaker 2: black Audi hatchback with two younger lads in bubble north 118 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:18,200 Speaker 2: faced coats pulls up to the car park. We're all 119 00:08:18,280 --> 00:08:22,280 Speaker 2: huddled waiting for instructions. It's fully dark now. The lads 120 00:08:22,360 --> 00:08:25,920 Speaker 2: jump out and introduce themselves. It's clear that they're not fighters, 121 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:30,040 Speaker 2: just messengers. In thick Northern accents. They explain that Joey 122 00:08:30,080 --> 00:08:32,280 Speaker 2: and his guys to go with them, and I'm to 123 00:08:32,360 --> 00:08:33,679 Speaker 2: follow behind in my car. 124 00:08:35,720 --> 00:08:40,440 Speaker 1: Two with them, We're going to follow you. Let's get. 125 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:44,480 Speaker 2: Joey flings on his jacket and jumps into the back 126 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:47,080 Speaker 2: of the audi with one of his friends. I following 127 00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:51,520 Speaker 2: my car. Joey's entourage follows in theirs. We drive through 128 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:55,360 Speaker 2: the middle of Hastings in a small convoy. Our headlights 129 00:08:55,360 --> 00:08:58,640 Speaker 2: flood past neon petrol stations and blocks of flats for 130 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:05,400 Speaker 2: what feels like forever. We finally arrive at a built 131 00:09:05,480 --> 00:09:09,640 Speaker 2: up residential street close to the fight destination. A dozen 132 00:09:09,679 --> 00:09:12,920 Speaker 2: of Bash's people are waiting. A blur of North Face 133 00:09:13,000 --> 00:09:17,080 Speaker 2: and Stone Island. Bash emerges from the middle of his crowd. 134 00:09:17,840 --> 00:09:21,679 Speaker 2: He's about six foot tall, broad covered in tattoos. He's 135 00:09:21,720 --> 00:09:24,679 Speaker 2: half Arab, half white, and has a face worn from 136 00:09:24,760 --> 00:09:28,520 Speaker 2: years of brawling. Coincidentally, he too has a six to 137 00:09:28,600 --> 00:09:36,920 Speaker 2: sixty six and a crucifix tattooed on his neck. Joey 138 00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:40,400 Speaker 2: hops out the car. He's aggressive, all action, ready to go. 139 00:09:41,840 --> 00:09:44,120 Speaker 2: He's pushing past people who are trying to keep him back. 140 00:09:44,600 --> 00:09:48,240 Speaker 2: Joey is transformed the mad as a hat a smiley demeanor. 141 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:50,960 Speaker 2: He's gone now looks like an angry dog let out 142 00:09:50,960 --> 00:09:56,839 Speaker 2: a cage. This lad shouting is a big lump from 143 00:09:56,920 --> 00:09:59,920 Speaker 2: up north who previously fought Bash and won. He'll be 144 00:09:59,920 --> 00:10:03,679 Speaker 2: the makeshift referee for this fight. Joey and Bash are 145 00:10:03,679 --> 00:10:06,320 Speaker 2: having words AND's call for calm from the gathering crowd. 146 00:10:07,280 --> 00:10:09,280 Speaker 2: Bash turns back with his guys and they move off 147 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:12,240 Speaker 2: the pavement down a side road. Bright headlights spill out 148 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:19,160 Speaker 2: from the shadows. That's where the fight's happening. 149 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:24,560 Speaker 1: To boys, here the fact is going on, and where. 150 00:10:24,440 --> 00:10:29,800 Speaker 2: The fact is he happening. The makeshift ref emerges a 151 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:32,280 Speaker 2: couple of minutes later and waves for us to come. 152 00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:36,720 Speaker 2: Joey pulls off his coat, tenses his shoulders, and strides 153 00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:39,520 Speaker 2: up the path. He's wearing a T shirt by the 154 00:10:39,600 --> 00:10:43,160 Speaker 2: Underground Fight where Brand Militant an emerging force in the 155 00:10:43,160 --> 00:10:46,480 Speaker 2: British hooligan and No Rules scene. The logo is a 156 00:10:46,559 --> 00:10:54,720 Speaker 2: knuckle duster wired across the chest. Fitting we turn a corner. 157 00:10:55,040 --> 00:10:58,920 Speaker 2: It's here about fifty square feet of fuck all. The 158 00:10:58,960 --> 00:11:01,400 Speaker 2: scene is lit with headlights from a box. He landrove 159 00:11:01,520 --> 00:11:05,040 Speaker 2: defender packed at the back. The floor is rough, concrete, 160 00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:08,320 Speaker 2: jaggled and specked with grit for wear and tear. If 161 00:11:08,360 --> 00:11:12,760 Speaker 2: your head hits this, it's bursting open. Bash stood at 162 00:11:12,760 --> 00:11:15,600 Speaker 2: one end of his space, moving on his feet, fluttering 163 00:11:15,600 --> 00:11:19,199 Speaker 2: the defender's headlights. Joey bowls in his back is up 164 00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:22,839 Speaker 2: like a dog. When a firework goes off. At each side, 165 00:11:22,840 --> 00:11:28,240 Speaker 2: people stand watching their phones up ready to record. Lady 166 00:11:28,320 --> 00:11:31,120 Speaker 2: shouting as her phone torch on brighter she films. She 167 00:11:31,200 --> 00:11:34,719 Speaker 2: stood next to Bash. I recognize her. I've seen her online. 168 00:11:35,040 --> 00:11:38,120 Speaker 2: It's his wife. She's biggest fan and could be heard 169 00:11:38,200 --> 00:11:40,959 Speaker 2: cheering him on during most of his fight videos. It's 170 00:11:41,040 --> 00:11:46,080 Speaker 2: kind of romantic, honestly. Joey's boys cheer him on as 171 00:11:46,120 --> 00:11:51,040 Speaker 2: he approaches Bash. There's a brief pause. Both fighters stare 172 00:11:51,080 --> 00:11:54,000 Speaker 2: at each other for a second. The tension is in 173 00:11:54,040 --> 00:11:59,680 Speaker 2: the air, heavy like fog. Then Bang, Bash leaps towards Joey, 174 00:11:59,679 --> 00:12:02,840 Speaker 2: throwing it spinning back kick. He misses. Joey throws a 175 00:12:02,880 --> 00:12:06,760 Speaker 2: stiff right jab into Bash's face. He's knocked off balanced, dropped, 176 00:12:07,080 --> 00:12:10,520 Speaker 2: Bash hits the concrete. Joey moves over him, but stops 177 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:14,160 Speaker 2: for whatever reason. Both fires decided beforehand that they wanted 178 00:12:14,160 --> 00:12:17,280 Speaker 2: to do no rules, but with one rule they wanted 179 00:12:17,320 --> 00:12:19,640 Speaker 2: to do a stand up fight is in no groundwork 180 00:12:19,960 --> 00:12:22,560 Speaker 2: but with no gum shields. Makes no sense to me, 181 00:12:22,720 --> 00:12:32,160 Speaker 2: but that's the chaotic realness with no rules fighting. The 182 00:12:32,200 --> 00:12:35,000 Speaker 2: ref moves in sebashkan stand up Off they go again. 183 00:12:35,440 --> 00:12:38,520 Speaker 2: Joey kicks Bash and throws two huge harks. Bash kicks 184 00:12:38,600 --> 00:12:40,840 Speaker 2: Joey and throws back. They both end up in the 185 00:12:40,840 --> 00:12:44,800 Speaker 2: tangle of sweeping punches, some miss, some land. Joey is 186 00:12:44,880 --> 00:12:49,400 Speaker 2: all power, pushing forward, grabbing, punching. Bash looks tired, but 187 00:12:49,440 --> 00:12:52,800 Speaker 2: he's fighting, and he's definitely sober for this one. The 188 00:12:52,840 --> 00:12:55,280 Speaker 2: crowd is on fire at this point. The two men 189 00:12:55,360 --> 00:12:57,800 Speaker 2: swing it out in the shadow of the headlights. After 190 00:12:57,880 --> 00:13:00,280 Speaker 2: a round a minute or so, Joey grabs back and 191 00:13:00,360 --> 00:13:03,559 Speaker 2: lands three solid jabs in his jaw. Bah goes down 192 00:13:03,600 --> 00:13:05,640 Speaker 2: again and scrapes his head off a brick walk is 193 00:13:05,679 --> 00:13:10,560 Speaker 2: he living on? 194 00:13:11,360 --> 00:13:11,680 Speaker 3: He done? 195 00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:15,360 Speaker 2: Reflects him get up, but he shakes his head as 196 00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:25,199 Speaker 2: he does. It's over. Joey is human. Joey's eyes are 197 00:13:25,240 --> 00:13:29,120 Speaker 2: wired with adrenaline. His fist still clenched. Joey wants more. 198 00:13:29,480 --> 00:13:31,080 Speaker 2: I can tell he's not happy that. 199 00:13:31,679 --> 00:13:37,240 Speaker 1: Nothing else, nothing else, drinks. 200 00:13:37,320 --> 00:13:43,200 Speaker 2: He disappointed times what happened? Then you just give up? 201 00:13:43,280 --> 00:13:43,439 Speaker 3: Man. 202 00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:50,679 Speaker 2: Bash has had enough though. The fight is over. So 203 00:13:50,760 --> 00:13:54,040 Speaker 2: what's happened is basically just said, you know, he's done. 204 00:13:54,440 --> 00:13:56,920 Speaker 2: He didn't want to fight anymore. Joe he's coming for 205 00:13:57,080 --> 00:14:01,079 Speaker 2: expecting like a much bigger terror. Disappointed. I think you 206 00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:03,760 Speaker 2: wanted to continue fighting. But now they're gonna have a 207 00:14:03,840 --> 00:14:06,599 Speaker 2: drink party and everything's good, So I'm good stuff. So 208 00:14:07,200 --> 00:14:12,000 Speaker 2: that's how it works. If you've seen all this from 209 00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:15,120 Speaker 2: the sidelines without knowing anyone involved, you'd be forgiven for 210 00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:18,000 Speaker 2: thinking it was some kind of blood feud. But Bash 211 00:14:18,080 --> 00:14:20,640 Speaker 2: and Joey and now shaking hands and getting on like 212 00:14:20,720 --> 00:14:24,640 Speaker 2: old friends. There's a perception, of course, of street fighting 213 00:14:24,760 --> 00:14:26,680 Speaker 2: men that Joey doesn't agree with. 214 00:14:26,960 --> 00:14:28,680 Speaker 1: I'm not a bad person, like I won't do it. 215 00:14:28,800 --> 00:14:31,560 Speaker 1: There ain't no bully. I fucking hate bullies. I don't know. 216 00:14:31,560 --> 00:14:33,160 Speaker 1: It's kind of hard to tell you unless you know us. 217 00:14:33,200 --> 00:14:34,760 Speaker 1: But they're the ones missing out, you know. They don't 218 00:14:34,760 --> 00:14:35,400 Speaker 1: know how much kind of. 219 00:14:35,360 --> 00:14:35,880 Speaker 2: Guarded we are. 220 00:14:36,080 --> 00:14:38,680 Speaker 1: Yes, we are mad crazy people because we fight bit 221 00:14:38,840 --> 00:14:40,520 Speaker 1: fish in the street. No Rules, all this and aff 222 00:14:40,520 --> 00:14:42,440 Speaker 1: but you know, it's just a man. It is what 223 00:14:42,560 --> 00:14:44,040 Speaker 1: there's that people can think, Well the fuck they won't, 224 00:14:44,040 --> 00:14:44,640 Speaker 1: don't give a shit. 225 00:14:47,600 --> 00:14:50,280 Speaker 2: I first heard about No Rules in twenty twenty two 226 00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:54,120 Speaker 2: through a friend of mine who's a long time football ooligan. 227 00:14:54,240 --> 00:14:57,480 Speaker 2: They're gonna be so standing here, you shy chugg on. 228 00:14:58,240 --> 00:15:01,120 Speaker 2: Not the original British kind where pub men suited in 229 00:15:01,240 --> 00:15:05,600 Speaker 2: Stone Island and Aquascutum would fight throughout the streets and stadiums, 230 00:15:06,200 --> 00:15:10,560 Speaker 2: but the European version, where well trained, combat ready firms 231 00:15:10,640 --> 00:15:15,000 Speaker 2: meet secretly to fight in secluded forests around match days 232 00:15:15,200 --> 00:15:20,480 Speaker 2: and derbies. Naturally, this hooligan friend of mine has his 233 00:15:20,640 --> 00:15:23,560 Speaker 2: ear to the ground when it comes to organized violence. 234 00:15:24,200 --> 00:15:26,880 Speaker 2: He showed me videos from some early No Rules events. 235 00:15:29,120 --> 00:15:31,200 Speaker 2: The fight where the guy got part of his ear 236 00:15:31,240 --> 00:15:34,080 Speaker 2: bit and off, a fight where someone is headbottied unconscious, 237 00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:37,680 Speaker 2: a fight where is screaming, starred up neo Nazi has 238 00:15:37,760 --> 00:15:40,640 Speaker 2: his eyes pushed in with an eye goug. It goes 239 00:15:40,800 --> 00:15:47,200 Speaker 2: on and on, serious ruthless but consensual violence. All of 240 00:15:47,240 --> 00:15:50,080 Speaker 2: the fights in the videos were arranged by King of 241 00:15:50,160 --> 00:15:55,720 Speaker 2: the streets or COOTS, essentially the Tyler Durdan of contemporary 242 00:15:55,880 --> 00:15:59,600 Speaker 2: underground no rules fighting. KOTTS is run by a group 243 00:15:59,760 --> 00:16:02,360 Speaker 2: non is Hype Crew. Hype Crew is made up of 244 00:16:02,440 --> 00:16:08,320 Speaker 2: Hooligan's organized criminals and seasoned street fighters. They pretty much 245 00:16:08,440 --> 00:16:13,240 Speaker 2: burnt No Rules as far back as twenty eighteen. At first, 246 00:16:13,640 --> 00:16:16,480 Speaker 2: Hype Crew filmed these organized fights on the streets in 247 00:16:16,560 --> 00:16:22,040 Speaker 2: Sweden on concrete, no rules, no federation, no protection, all raw. 248 00:16:23,200 --> 00:16:26,200 Speaker 2: They uploaded the videos to YouTube under the COTS banner. 249 00:16:26,880 --> 00:16:31,080 Speaker 2: The channel eventually blew up, gaining over one million subscribers 250 00:16:31,360 --> 00:16:35,520 Speaker 2: in the space of six years, and so Hype Crew 251 00:16:35,600 --> 00:16:38,760 Speaker 2: created what has now become one of the most hardcore 252 00:16:38,880 --> 00:16:44,240 Speaker 2: countercultures to emerge in Europe. For decades now, there are 253 00:16:44,360 --> 00:16:49,400 Speaker 2: several no rules fight clubs completely unaffiliated with COTS. I 254 00:16:49,520 --> 00:16:55,520 Speaker 2: found them in Germany, England, Sweden, Spain, France, Denmark and beyond. 255 00:16:57,120 --> 00:17:00,680 Speaker 2: Don't get it confused. Though everyone involved with their is 256 00:17:00,720 --> 00:17:04,560 Speaker 2: aware that no rules fighting is not a sport, no 257 00:17:04,720 --> 00:17:08,640 Speaker 2: one cares about the money. Hype Crew themselves started cut 258 00:17:08,880 --> 00:17:12,600 Speaker 2: for free. After their success, they now pay fighters anywhere 259 00:17:12,680 --> 00:17:15,600 Speaker 2: from six hundred to over one thousand euros if they win, 260 00:17:16,160 --> 00:17:21,240 Speaker 2: also paying for all travel and accommodation for the fight losers. 261 00:17:21,320 --> 00:17:23,240 Speaker 2: It's said, get around half that if they put on 262 00:17:23,320 --> 00:17:27,119 Speaker 2: a good show, nothing if they don't. The money is 263 00:17:27,200 --> 00:17:30,600 Speaker 2: hardly the point mode. Nobody involved in no rules fighting 264 00:17:31,000 --> 00:17:34,080 Speaker 2: is doing it for a paycheck. This isn't about profit, 265 00:17:34,520 --> 00:17:38,680 Speaker 2: It's about adrenaline and exclusivity. As Hype Crew associate and 266 00:17:38,760 --> 00:17:43,080 Speaker 2: undefeated COTS fighter Brian always says, your favorite fighter's favorite 267 00:17:43,160 --> 00:17:46,200 Speaker 2: fighter is scared to do this shit. What Hype Crew 268 00:17:46,280 --> 00:17:49,760 Speaker 2: has created is not a combat sport, it's a counterculture. 269 00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:56,560 Speaker 2: Whilst the violent counterculture of no rules is new, organized 270 00:17:56,800 --> 00:18:02,159 Speaker 2: no holds barred fighting is actually as old time. It 271 00:18:02,280 --> 00:18:04,920 Speaker 2: dates back to at least the eighth century, where men 272 00:18:05,040 --> 00:18:08,520 Speaker 2: in ancient Greece would brawl for fun, entertainment, and glory. 273 00:18:09,080 --> 00:18:12,720 Speaker 2: They had a specific style known as Pancreteon, which it 274 00:18:12,800 --> 00:18:17,560 Speaker 2: can be argued, was an ancient progenitor to Hypecruz no rules. 275 00:18:18,440 --> 00:18:23,399 Speaker 2: Pankreteon was a combination of boxing and wrestling with almost 276 00:18:23,760 --> 00:18:27,840 Speaker 2: zero physical restrictions. The only real rules were no bioting 277 00:18:28,040 --> 00:18:32,080 Speaker 2: and no eyeglgin. The Greeks believed that the mythic hero 278 00:18:32,359 --> 00:18:36,800 Speaker 2: Theseus created. The fighting style was defeating the mine at all, 279 00:18:37,080 --> 00:18:41,760 Speaker 2: a half bull, half man monster. The historical channel Up 280 00:18:41,800 --> 00:18:45,560 Speaker 2: for Education, run by a former martial arts teacher, has 281 00:18:45,640 --> 00:18:46,879 Speaker 2: this to say about the sport. 282 00:18:47,320 --> 00:18:52,000 Speaker 3: Despite its seemingly ruthless nature, pancreation was not just about 283 00:18:52,080 --> 00:18:56,520 Speaker 3: brood strength. It required a tactical mindset, a deep understanding 284 00:18:56,560 --> 00:19:01,200 Speaker 3: of leverage, timing, and the ability to anticipate and opponent's moves. 285 00:19:01,960 --> 00:19:05,160 Speaker 3: It was a true testament to an athlete's physical prowess 286 00:19:05,359 --> 00:19:07,159 Speaker 3: and mental agility, and. 287 00:19:07,280 --> 00:19:11,360 Speaker 2: So the aim of pancretion was to incapacitate your opponent 288 00:19:11,640 --> 00:19:15,840 Speaker 2: as brutally as is allowed. It was hugely popular in 289 00:19:15,960 --> 00:19:18,320 Speaker 2: ancient Greece and was one of the main events of 290 00:19:18,359 --> 00:19:22,320 Speaker 2: the Olympic Games after being introduced in six forty eight BC. 291 00:19:23,880 --> 00:19:27,720 Speaker 2: There's pottery, mosaics, and even bronze sculptures from that era 292 00:19:28,160 --> 00:19:32,240 Speaker 2: that celebrates fighting. One of the best preserved examples is 293 00:19:32,320 --> 00:19:36,040 Speaker 2: the termae Boxer, a sculpture that was made somewhere between 294 00:19:36,160 --> 00:19:40,480 Speaker 2: three point thirty BC and fifty BC. The relic was 295 00:19:40,520 --> 00:19:43,200 Speaker 2: dug up out the ground in eighteen eighty five on 296 00:19:43,320 --> 00:19:47,679 Speaker 2: the side of Crinal Hill in Rome. The sculpture depicts 297 00:19:47,760 --> 00:19:51,439 Speaker 2: a lean beard fighter sat on a rock, hands wrapped, 298 00:19:51,560 --> 00:19:55,000 Speaker 2: an expression tired after what was clearly a brutal fight. 299 00:19:55,680 --> 00:19:58,200 Speaker 2: Half a dozen cuts etched into the bronze of his face. 300 00:19:58,960 --> 00:20:02,360 Speaker 2: His shoulders are slow, lightly hunched. The muscles he's built 301 00:20:02,400 --> 00:20:06,639 Speaker 2: are for violence, not for vanity. Now, all that is 302 00:20:06,760 --> 00:20:11,200 Speaker 2: to say, ultra aggressive organized fighting is not just a 303 00:20:11,320 --> 00:20:17,119 Speaker 2: symptom of our nightmarish, sickened lying modern society, but actually 304 00:20:17,280 --> 00:20:21,320 Speaker 2: a natural practice as old as ancient Greece. So perhaps 305 00:20:21,400 --> 00:20:23,840 Speaker 2: those involved in No Rules have the same fire in 306 00:20:23,920 --> 00:20:27,840 Speaker 2: their belly as the pancration fighters of old. I want 307 00:20:27,880 --> 00:20:31,280 Speaker 2: to find out by attending as many of these clandestine 308 00:20:31,359 --> 00:20:46,680 Speaker 2: events as possible. Whilst researching the No Rules scene, I 309 00:20:46,760 --> 00:20:49,800 Speaker 2: came across a small but new underground fight club looking 310 00:20:49,880 --> 00:20:53,280 Speaker 2: to recruit. They're extremely low key. By asking around on 311 00:20:53,359 --> 00:20:56,240 Speaker 2: the telegram app for fighters, no one will be paid, 312 00:20:56,359 --> 00:20:59,280 Speaker 2: but they get to fight. A message the anonymous user 313 00:20:59,359 --> 00:21:02,280 Speaker 2: looking to learn more about this fight club. At first, 314 00:21:02,359 --> 00:21:05,200 Speaker 2: he was naturally suspicious, but after we spoke a while, 315 00:21:05,240 --> 00:21:08,200 Speaker 2: he seemed to accept that I wasn't undercover law enforcement 316 00:21:08,560 --> 00:21:10,719 Speaker 2: or some rap type purporter looking to do a hit 317 00:21:10,800 --> 00:21:14,000 Speaker 2: piece on underground fight clubs. I showed him that I 318 00:21:14,080 --> 00:21:17,359 Speaker 2: am genuinely fascinated with the counterculture and I'm looking to 319 00:21:17,440 --> 00:21:20,800 Speaker 2: make a documentary about No Rules. I showed him my 320 00:21:20,880 --> 00:21:24,280 Speaker 2: previous work with my platform, Popular Front, and he liked it. 321 00:21:24,800 --> 00:21:27,359 Speaker 2: I also explained that I myself had been involved in 322 00:21:27,440 --> 00:21:30,800 Speaker 2: combat sports since I was fourteen years old, having joined 323 00:21:30,880 --> 00:21:33,440 Speaker 2: up at a tie boxing gym as a teenager. I 324 00:21:33,560 --> 00:21:36,439 Speaker 2: still trained there to this day regularly, and I consider 325 00:21:36,520 --> 00:21:39,159 Speaker 2: the people there part of my family. I understand the 326 00:21:39,240 --> 00:21:44,480 Speaker 2: combat sports camaraderie to some degree. The anonymous user accepted it, 327 00:21:44,880 --> 00:21:48,040 Speaker 2: and he told me his name is Leon. Leon and 328 00:21:48,119 --> 00:21:50,680 Speaker 2: his friends were inspired by King of the Streets years 329 00:21:50,760 --> 00:21:53,560 Speaker 2: back when it first got popular on YouTube. There were 330 00:21:53,600 --> 00:21:56,680 Speaker 2: teenagers at the time, jed up on adolescent angst and 331 00:21:56,760 --> 00:21:59,840 Speaker 2: the general mischief of board young men that decided to 332 00:22:00,040 --> 00:22:03,280 Speaker 2: fight each other in the vein of cots. First, they 333 00:22:03,320 --> 00:22:06,520 Speaker 2: did it only amongst themselves, holding their first low key 334 00:22:06,600 --> 00:22:10,040 Speaker 2: gathering in the parking lot. They liked it a lot. 335 00:22:11,440 --> 00:22:14,040 Speaker 2: When they realized, though, that a police station was close 336 00:22:14,119 --> 00:22:16,479 Speaker 2: by to the parking lot where they were fighting, they 337 00:22:16,520 --> 00:22:18,960 Speaker 2: decided to find a better location and put on a 338 00:22:19,040 --> 00:22:21,920 Speaker 2: proper event. This is why they were on telegram looking 339 00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:25,359 Speaker 2: for fighters. The first proper fight club would be open 340 00:22:25,440 --> 00:22:30,320 Speaker 2: to anyone, even a persistent and probably annoying journalist from England. 341 00:22:30,840 --> 00:22:33,760 Speaker 2: They decided I'd be allowed to attend on the condition 342 00:22:33,960 --> 00:22:37,840 Speaker 2: I protect their identities. Of course I agreed. It took 343 00:22:37,920 --> 00:22:40,520 Speaker 2: three weeks of this back and forth, but we sorted it. 344 00:22:41,119 --> 00:22:48,080 Speaker 2: Next stop France. Now I'm stepping off a plane in 345 00:22:48,160 --> 00:22:52,360 Speaker 2: the south of France. We don't actually have the address 346 00:22:52,480 --> 00:22:54,440 Speaker 2: for where this fight club is. All we know is 347 00:22:54,520 --> 00:22:57,480 Speaker 2: they're going to be contacting us at some point and 348 00:22:57,760 --> 00:23:00,480 Speaker 2: telling me when and where, and we got a quick 349 00:23:00,560 --> 00:23:06,520 Speaker 2: whenever it is that they say. Now, when I say 350 00:23:06,680 --> 00:23:09,960 Speaker 2: south of France, you might be surprised to know that 351 00:23:10,080 --> 00:23:14,600 Speaker 2: we're literally in Can. The fancy film festival city where 352 00:23:14,640 --> 00:23:18,480 Speaker 2: Hollywood movie stars come to act, important, a place where 353 00:23:18,480 --> 00:23:22,040 Speaker 2: the rich and famous fawn over each other and croff champagne, 354 00:23:22,600 --> 00:23:26,680 Speaker 2: a place where film's directed for other directors are screened 355 00:23:26,760 --> 00:23:30,480 Speaker 2: and applauded. Can is hardly the place for an underground, 356 00:23:30,720 --> 00:23:34,240 Speaker 2: no rules fight club. But here I am. As I 357 00:23:34,320 --> 00:23:36,159 Speaker 2: walk with my bag on my back en route to 358 00:23:36,240 --> 00:23:39,679 Speaker 2: a cheap three day hotel, I passed by Rolex shops 359 00:23:39,760 --> 00:23:43,520 Speaker 2: and Gucci stores. The streets are clean, palm trees lined 360 00:23:43,560 --> 00:23:46,119 Speaker 2: the roads, and I can see literal yachts in the 361 00:23:46,240 --> 00:23:49,719 Speaker 2: harbor where the hell is Leon and his mates planning 362 00:23:49,760 --> 00:23:53,679 Speaker 2: to fight. I'm starting to think something is not right here. 363 00:23:55,080 --> 00:23:58,280 Speaker 2: That's just occurred to me that this might all be 364 00:23:58,359 --> 00:24:00,879 Speaker 2: a bit of a stitch up. So why would there 365 00:24:00,960 --> 00:24:04,520 Speaker 2: be brutal, no rules fight club in one of the 366 00:24:04,640 --> 00:24:09,320 Speaker 2: flashiest cities in Europe, Can of all places where film 367 00:24:09,400 --> 00:24:12,359 Speaker 2: akers that I think they're too important go to stay 368 00:24:12,440 --> 00:24:17,479 Speaker 2: in the mirror whiles playing their films. Maybe Leone has 369 00:24:17,480 --> 00:24:19,960 Speaker 2: wound me up here. Maybe he's thought, you know what, 370 00:24:20,560 --> 00:24:23,199 Speaker 2: I don't like reporters. I'm going to send this idiot 371 00:24:23,240 --> 00:24:25,800 Speaker 2: on a wild goose chase and waste his money and 372 00:24:25,960 --> 00:24:27,639 Speaker 2: just tell him that the fight club is in can 373 00:24:27,720 --> 00:24:30,280 Speaker 2: and see if he goes there. And well, we around 374 00:24:30,600 --> 00:24:33,760 Speaker 2: so part of it doesn't add up to be honest, 375 00:24:33,800 --> 00:24:36,200 Speaker 2: it's so flash around here I can't see it being 376 00:24:36,800 --> 00:24:39,359 Speaker 2: Where would they even have it anyway? I don't know. 377 00:24:39,520 --> 00:24:42,119 Speaker 2: We'll see to me fair if he has done that, 378 00:24:43,600 --> 00:24:48,359 Speaker 2: it's annoying as it would be kind of fair play, 379 00:24:48,480 --> 00:24:50,159 Speaker 2: like it's a pretty good wind up if that's what 380 00:24:50,280 --> 00:24:55,600 Speaker 2: he's done, but I hope not. After checking in at 381 00:24:55,640 --> 00:24:58,400 Speaker 2: the hotel, I get a message on Telegram from another 382 00:24:58,520 --> 00:25:01,840 Speaker 2: anonymous user. He tells me his name is Victor and 383 00:25:01,960 --> 00:25:04,920 Speaker 2: he's running the can Fight Club with Lyon. I'll try 384 00:25:04,960 --> 00:25:07,080 Speaker 2: to chat to him for a bit, but he's not interested. 385 00:25:07,560 --> 00:25:09,919 Speaker 2: He sends me coordinates and tells me to meet him 386 00:25:09,960 --> 00:25:14,280 Speaker 2: there at midnight. No cameras, no equipment. It's a solid 387 00:25:14,359 --> 00:25:17,000 Speaker 2: thirty minute drive away from my hotel in what looks 388 00:25:17,040 --> 00:25:20,680 Speaker 2: to be a gated community, a place where rich people live, 389 00:25:21,000 --> 00:25:23,840 Speaker 2: especially rich if it's in can At least that's what 390 00:25:23,960 --> 00:25:27,320 Speaker 2: it looks like on Google Maps. This has got to 391 00:25:27,400 --> 00:25:30,560 Speaker 2: be a trick. I'm sure now that I've traveled all 392 00:25:30,640 --> 00:25:33,159 Speaker 2: the way to Can just to be mugged off by 393 00:25:33,240 --> 00:25:35,840 Speaker 2: some rowdy young fighters who have no regard for what 394 00:25:35,920 --> 00:25:38,720 Speaker 2: I'm trying to document. Whatever it is, what it is. 395 00:25:39,280 --> 00:25:41,520 Speaker 2: Either way, I tell this Victor Feller that I'll be 396 00:25:41,680 --> 00:26:01,080 Speaker 2: there at midnight. See that. Let's see what happens. You've 397 00:26:01,119 --> 00:26:05,280 Speaker 2: been listening to the Await Days podcast Next week episode two. 398 00:26:06,240 --> 00:26:10,200 Speaker 2: To watch independent Await Days documentaries, subscribe to our channel 399 00:26:10,320 --> 00:26:16,560 Speaker 2: at YouTube dot com. Slash at Awaitaze TV. Your Wait 400 00:26:16,640 --> 00:26:20,040 Speaker 2: Days Podcast is a production of H eleven Studio for 401 00:26:20,200 --> 00:26:26,520 Speaker 2: Cool Zone Media. Reporting, producing, writing, editing and research by 402 00:26:26,680 --> 00:26:32,680 Speaker 2: me Jake Hanrahan, co producing by Sophie Lichtman. Music by 403 00:26:32,760 --> 00:26:37,439 Speaker 2: Sam Black, sound mixed by Splicing Block. Photography by Johnny 404 00:26:37,480 --> 00:26:41,680 Speaker 2: Pickup and Louis Hollis. Graphic design by Laura Adamson and 405 00:26:41,840 --> 00:26:42,840 Speaker 2: Casey Highfield. 406 00:27:00,680 --> 00:27:00,880 Speaker 1: Six