Inside the Cage: The Rise of Female Fighters – Review

Inside the Cage on BBC iPlayer

The BBC documentary, ‘Inside the Cage’ which follows the rise of female fighters within the sport, was a closely followed showing of the risks and hurdles that fighters face in one of the fastest growing sports in the world.

As a big fan of the sport, I loved the way each of the three female fighters were shown and how their different levels of experience were portrayed to the viewers. You have Molly McCann, the UFC star, there’s Cory McKenna who has recently made her UFC debut and then there is up and comer Shanelle Dyer. Three very different fighters with very similar goals.

The host of the documentary, Annie Price, does a terrific job at looking at these professional fighters in a way that, even those who are not quite as familiar of the sport, will still learn and enjoy what it is they are watching. The presentation of the show, sticks to your standard documentary layout, which I thought was good for a piece like this one. It’s a promotion piece, they are promoting the women of the sport.

In terms of the scripting, I would observe that the host, Price, seems to ask questions which show the commitment and the sacrifice needed to be the very best. Her questions look at what they are giving up to perform within the sport but also goes back to their passion and love of it.

All three fighters are shown as humble, at times humorous and just downright likeable. Having watched both McCann and McKenna fight before watching the documentary, I would say my personal admiration for them has only gone up and I will continue to watch them both fight in the UFC.

I was also impressed with the use of sound. This insight is ultimately into women beating other people up for a living and so including the live sounds from their fights and all the grunts and moans really helped show the effort and energy needed to get a win.

I wasn’t aware of Dyer before watching the documentary but I am sure that I, and everyone else who watched, will be following her career with a good deal of excitement. It truly did ‘hype up’ each of these fighters to those who were not already aware of their career prospects.

You can watch the documentary on BBC iPlayer.

Premier League Matchday 38 Results

Arsenal 3-2 Watford (ARS: Aubameyang x2, Tierney, WAT: Deeney, Welbeck)

Burnley 1-2 Brighton (BUR: Wood, BRI: Bissouma, Connolly)

Chelsea 2-0 Wolves (CHE: Mount, Giroud)

Crystal Palace 1-1 Tottenham (CRY: Schlupp, TOT: Kane)

Everton 1-3 Bournemouth (EVE: Kean, BOU: King, Solanke, Stanislas)

Leicester City 0-2 Manchester United (MUN: Bruno Fernandes, Lingard)

Manchester City 5-0 Norwich City (MCI: Gabriel Jesus, De Bruyne x2, Sterling, Mahrez)

Newcastle 1-3 Liverpool (NEW: Gayle, LIV: Van Dijk, Origi, Mane)

Southampton 3-1 Sheffield United (SOU: Adams x2, Ings, SHU: Lundstram)

West Ham 1-1 Aston Villa (WHU: Yarmolenko, ASV: Grealish)

Premier League Matchday 37 Results

Norwich City 0-2 Burnley (BUR: Wood, Godfrey og)

Bournemouth 0-2 Southampton (SOU: Ings, Adams)

Tottenham 3-0 Leicester City (TOT: Justin og, Kane x2)

Brighton 0-0 Newcastle

Sheffield United 0-1 Everton (EVE: Richarlison)

Wolves 2-0 Crystal Palace (WOL: Podence, Jonny)

Watford 0-4 Manchester City (MCI: Sterling x2, Foden, Laporte)

Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal (ASV: Trezeguet)

Manchester United 1-1 West Ham (MUN: Greenwood, WHU: Antonio)

Liverpool 5-3 Chelsea (LIV: Keita, Alexander-Arnold, Wijnaldum, Firmino, Oxlade-Chamberlain, CHE: Giroud, Abraham, Pulisic)

Premier League Matchday 36 Results

Chelsea 1-0 Norwich City (CHE: Giroud)

Burnley 1-1 Wolves (BUR: Wood, WOL: Jimenez)

Manchester City 2-1 Bournemouth (MCI: D.Silva, Gabriel Jesus, BOU: Brooks)

Newcastle 1-3 Tottenham (NEW: Ritchie, TOT: Son Heung-Min, Kane x2)

Arsenal 2-1 Liverpool (ARS: Lacazette, Nelson, LIV: Mane)

Everton 1-1 Aston Villa (EVE: Walcott, ASV: Konsa)

Leicester City 2-0 Sheffield United (LEI: Perez, Gray)

Crystal Palace 0-2 Manchester United (MUN: Rashford, Martial)

Southampton 1-1 Brighton (SOU: Ings, BRI: Maupay)

West Ham 3-1 Watford (WHU: Antonio, Soucek, Rice, WAT: Deeney)

Premier League Matchday 35 Results

Norwich City 0-4 West Ham (WHU: Antonio x4)

Watford 2-1 Newcastle (WAT: Deeney x2, NEW: Gayle)

Liverpool 1-1 Burnley (LIV: Robertson, BUR: Rodriguez)

Sheffield United 3-0 Chelsea (SHU: McGoldrick x2, McBurnie)

Brighton 0-5 Manchester City (MCI: Sterling x3, Gabriel Jesus, B.Silva)

Wolves 3-0 Everton (WOL: Jimenez, Dendoncker, Jota)

Aston Villa 2-0 Crystal Palace (ASV: Trezeguet x2)

Tottenham 2-1 Arsenal (TOT: Son Heung-Min, Alderweirald, ARS: Lacazette)

Bournemouth 4-1 Leicester City (BOU: Stanislas, Solanke x2, Evans og, LEI: Vardy)

Manchester United 2-2 Southampton (MUN: Rashford, Martial, SOU: Armstrong, Obafemi)

Premier League Matchday 34 Results

Crystal Palace 2-3 Chelsea (CRY: Zaha, Benteke, CHE: Giroud, Pulisic, Abraham)

Watford 2-1 Norwich City (WAT: Dawson, Welbeck, NOR: Buendia)

Arsenal 1-1 Leicester City (ARS: Aubameyang, LEI: Vardy)

Manchester City 5-0 Newcastle (MCI: Gabriel Jesus, Mahrez, Fernandez og, D.Silva, Sterling)

Sheffield United 1-0 Wolves (SHU: Egan)

West Ham 0-1 Burnley (BUR: Rodriguez)

Brighton 1-3 Liverpool (BRI: Trossard, LIV: Salah x2, Henderson)

Bournemouth 0-0 Tottenham

Everton 1-1 Southampton (EVE: Richarlison, SOU: Ings)

Aston Villa 0-3 Manchester United (MUN: Bruno Fernandes, Greenwood, Pogba)

Premier League Matchday 33 Results

Norwich City 0-1 Brighton (BRI: Trossard)

Leicester City 3-0 Crystal Palace (LEI: Iheanacho, Vardy x2)

Manchester United 5-2 Bournemouth (MUN: Greenwood x2, Rashford, Martial, Bruno Fernandes, BOU: Stanislas, King)

Wolves 0-2 Arsenal (ARS: Saka, Lacazette)

Chelsea 3-0 Watford (CHE: Giroud, Willian, Barkley)

Burnley 1-1 Sheffield United (BUR: Tarkowski, SHU: Egan)

Newcastle 2-2 West Ham (NEW: Almiron, Shelvey, WHU: Antonio, Soucek)

Liverpool 2-0 Aston Villa (LIV: Mane, C.Jones)

Southampton 1-0 Manchester City (SOU: Adams)

Tottenham 1-0 Everton (TOT: Keane og)

Newcastle Win 3-0 in Dominant Performance Against Sheffield United

Newcastle United beat Sheffield United 3-0 in an impressive performance at St. James’ Park. All three goals came in the second half through, Allan Saint-Maximin, Matt Ritchie and Joelinton.

It was the away side who controlled the opening 10 minutes of the game. Two free-kicks from wide areas were both cleared easily enough by the Newcastle defence.

Newcastle then began to find their feet in the game with a chance for Ritchie. The ball fell to the Scot on the edge of the box, who fired one towards goal but Dean Henderson was equal to it, punching it away on the dive.

The home-sides’ best chance of the half came after 17 minutes. Magpies forward, Joelinton was played through and running towards goal, found space to get a shot away but fluffed his lines and his shot was easily gathered by Henderson. A poor effort.

Another nice bit of passing by Sheffield United gave Oliver Norwood the opportunity to cross the ball into the box but it was poor. Nevertheless, Billy Sharp still managed to get an ambitious volley towards goal but it was over the bar.

The half-time whistle went with both sides starting to get into the game but the score was stuck at 0-0.

Sheffield United didn’t get the start to the second half that they would’ve wanted, as they went down to 10 men after John Egan’s second yellow card. Joelinton was played through on goal but Egan’s pulling of his shirt, and given he was the last man, was enough to earn him his red card.

Not long after the deadlock was broken. A tame ball into the box by Ritchie should’ve been cleared easily by Enda Stevens but instead he misses the ball and allows Saint-Maximin to latch on to it and finish simply past Henderson to put the home-side 1-0 up.

The Blades had the chance to get back into after Baldock’s deep cross found the head of Billy Sharp at the back post who put it wide.

Just after Miguel Almiron missed another easy chance, Newcastle got their second. Ritchie picked the ball up outside of the box and after dribbling through a couple of players fired the ball past Henderson in goal.

78 minutes on the clock and Newcastle managed to get a third goal. Joelinton plays in Almiron who returns the favour who played in the striker in front of goal who simply tapped in to get his first goal at St. James’ Park. The striker was then substituted immediately after but left the pitch with a great deal of relief.

The game finished with Steve Bruce’s side the happier of the two. Sheffield United will be disappointing to have conceded three goals but credit to Newcastle who, especially in the second half, controlled the game.

Sheffield United will travel to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United on Wednesday, whilst Newcastle welcome Aston Villa to St. James Park, off the back of am impressive performance today.

Fantasy Football Tips, who’s in and who’s out?

Getting ready for the return of the Premier League next week and wondering what changes need to be made to your fantasy teams? Here are 4 players you should look at offloading and 4 players you should look to bring in.

OUT

Danny Ings: The forward has had one of his best scoring campaigns for Southampton this year, netting 15 goals in 29 appearances. Although this is an impressive record, I wouldn’t bet on Ings picking up where he left off. Southampton still have a number of big games against Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United so will we see the Ings we saw before the Coronavirus pandemic halted the season? I don’t think so.

IN

Marcus Rashford: Injured before the season was stopped so perhaps a surprise to suggest the Englishman should be added to your teams, however, on 14 goals in the league this year and beginning to truly show that the hype that existed towards the beginning of his career, is real, I’d expect to see Rashford add to his goal tally in the remaining games he and Manchested United have to play. Especially considering United only have 1 of the ‘top 6’ left to play.

OUT

Tammy Abraham: Another forward. Abraham has been terrific under Frank Lampard this season, making up for his side not being able to recruit any big-money forwards at the start of the season. 13 goals in the league and has shown that you don’t always need money to do well in the Premier League. Despite this, Chelsea have some big fixtures left to play, with the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool still in their way. Chelsea will continue to push to stay in a Champions League spot come the end of the season, but I don’t see Abraham adding too many more to his tally.

IN

Rui Patricio: The Wolves goalkeeper has been impressive in between the posts this season, collecting 8 clean sheets in total. The Portuguese is an ideal replacement for any fantasy side. Wolves’ remaining fixtures aren’t as challenging as some of the other teams pushing for a place in Europe this season, so expect his clean sheets record to go up.

OUT

John Lundstram: One of the surprise players this season, with over 100 points on fantasy football this year, he’s been a great little edition to anyone looking for a cheap player who brings in points. Arguably his sides’ player of the season. However, I don’t see him bringing in the same number of points as he previously was, I’d like to be proven wrong with this one, given just how well he and his side have played this season but, right now, I don’t see it.

IN

Harry Kane: Perhaps not scored as many as he usually has by this time in the season, with just 11 in the league this year, but there’s still games to be played. Suffered some injury setbacks before the season was halted but he’ll be rearing to get back to his scoring ways. Spurs still have a North London Derby to look forward to and we all know Kane loves a goal against the Gunners. Bring him in.

OUT

Jordan Henderson: I wouldn’t have predicted the Liverpool skipper to be one, if not the, top performer in the league this year. He’s truly shown why he and his side deserve to lift the Premier League trophy for the first time this year. I don’t see Liverpool taking it easy against any side that they have left to play, even if they do clinch the title with games remaining, but, I think it’s unlikely Henderson is gonna be someone who gets you lots of points in the remaining games. Currently on 99 points and coming back from an injury, I think it’s time to swap him out.

IN

Todd Cantwell: Bit different for the last one. The young Englishman has been another, like Lundstram, who despite only being a cheap 4.7 on fantasy football, has been one the best performers. A solid 100 points for someone playing for, bottom of the table, Norwich City, is not too shabby. I’d be surprised if he isn’t picked up by another Premier League club if and when his side get relegated. Norwich still have some challenging games to play but that didn’t stop him before the season was stopped. Bring him in as one of the cheap players who will get a consistent number of points each game.

MY FANTASY FOOTBALL TEAM:

Design a site like this with WordPress.com
Get started