Sometimes in martial arts, things have a funny way of coming back around.
This past weekend, one of our fighters, Jake Payne, stepped into the ring for a rematch that’s been years in the making, and what a story it turned out to be.
Around six or seven years ago, Jake and Matt Gere first met. Back then, Jake was still a junior and took the fight on short notice after a last-minute opponent change. It was a huge step up at the time, and Matt secured a first-round stoppage. A tough night, but also a valuable learning experience.
Fast forward to today, and it’s a completely different picture.
Jake has grown, not just physically, but as a fighter. More experience, more composure, and a much deeper understanding of the game. So when the opportunity came up for Matt to return to the ring and for us to run the rematch, it felt like the right time.
We kept the game plan simple: stay sharp, stay busy, and break the opponent down.
From the opening bell, Jake executed it perfectly. He kept the pressure on, worked behind his straight shots, and invested heavily in leg kicks. Matt showed his quality throughout, landing some clean strikes of his own, but Jake’s consistency and output never dropped.
As the rounds went on, you could see the tide turning. The leg kicks began to add up, the pressure kept building, and Jake stayed disciplined to the plan.
Then in round three, it all paid off.
At 1 minute 24 seconds of the third, the referee stepped in, Jake had secured the stoppage.
It’s now 1–1 between the two, which naturally leaves the door open for a potential trilogy somewhere down the line.
Massive respect to Matt Gere, an experienced, tough opponent and a credit to his team. Nothing but respect between both sides.
A big shoutout as well to Franky, Tommy Smith and Stu for putting on their first show down in Herne Bay at the Kings Hall. Anyone who’s been involved in running events knows how much goes on behind the scenes, so huge credit to them for delivering a great night of fights.
For us, it’s a proud moment. Not just because of the win, but because of the journey behind it.
