PFL Europe: Harrow MMA fighter Simeon Powell wins light-heavyweight tournament opener in Newcastle

London MMA fighter Simeon Powell remained unbeaten and advanced to the next stage of a major tournament in his latest bout in Newcastle.

Powell, from Harrow, was in the main event at a sold-out Vertu Motors Arena as he fought Dutch kickboxing specialist Mohamed Amine at the PFL Europe 1 show.

And he did not disappoint the fans who loudly cheered his name as he won with a submission at the end of the second round.

The 24-year-old, who is nicknamed 'Smooth', is competing in the European light-heavyweight tournament organised by the Professional Fighters League (PFL)

What is the PFL and why was Simeon Powell competing?

Unlike other mixed martial arts (MMA) organisations, which are structured similarly to boxing with a champion who defends his or her belt against challengers arranged in rankings, the PFL operates a league season with a regular season from which the best fighters in each weight category advance to playoffs and then a grand final.

This year the organisation has launched PFL Europe, and the Newcastle show on Saturday night (25 March) was the first of four events taking place this year.

Powell is one of eight men taking part in the light-heavyweight division and was drawn against Dutchman Amine, who carried the Moroccan flag to the cage during his walk-out and was given a hostile reception compared to the rapturous welcome for Powell.

Powell, who now has a perfect record of eight wins and no losses, drew huge cheers from the crowd with ground and pound in round one and in the final seconds of the second five-minute stanza searched for a submission. The bell rang but Amine remained flat on the canvas and the referee stepped in to end the contest and declare Powell the winner.

Powell now advances to the playoffs stage of the PFL Europe tournament at light-heavyweight, which will take place later this year. The final is in Dublin in December with each weight category champion winning $100,000.

What did Simeon Powell say after his victory?

Interviewed in the cage after his win, Powell said: "I've been working since you last saw me, all I've done is work on my game and you are seeing all the work I've put in.

"This division is exciting but you're looking at the king, I'm the king."

Powell then delighted his supporters further by showing off a few dance moves in the cage with his mum.

Afterwards Powell told the assembled media he had wanted to show he was not just a striker, saying his game plan was to get Amine on the canvas and dominate him before working for a submission to finish the fight.

Powell also reflected on his rapid rise through MMA to the stage where his fight was the star attraction at the top of the bill.

He said: "It has been a mad journey. I've come from leisure centres to this, it's crazy. I'm only a year and a half into my pro career and now I am all into MMA."

Asked about his dance in the cage at the end, he replied: "That's just normal to me. That's the energy my mum and I have every day at home."

The other light-heavyweight fighters to make it through to the next stage alongside Powell were Slovenian fighter Jakob Nedoh, France's Anthony Salamone and Spaniard Abdelah Er-Ramy.

Did any other London fighters compete?

There was also a Londoner in a bantamweight showcase bout in which Salih Kulucan faced Manchester's Lewis McGrillen. The fight was moved up the card to third-last due to the amount of interest it generated and the tension between the two opponents during the build-up.

Kulucan was roundly booed by the Newcastle crowd during his cage walk and the introductions and he lost to the unbeaten young Mancunian by knockout in the middle of round one.

The 30-year-old now has a record of six wins, eight losses and one no contest.