Recently announced on the Cagewarriors Forum was the return of David ‘B-52′ Butlin to the Cage at Kudegras first Heavyweight Tournament show in Hull. Having not fought since 2003 due to injuries, this new has created quite a stir in the UKMMA community and will be a much anticipated return to action. The Butlin twins gained a fair bit of notoriety in the early days of UKMMA: They were a key part of the “Northern Cartel”, coaches of the Quannum gym, vocal members of the internet community and above all, they backed it up in the Cage. Whilst Ian was by far the more vocal of the two, David was (is!) the scary one and is more quiet and brooding than his brother. Anyone who saw the Butlin twins appearance in Danny Dyers “Britain’s Hardest” program will have realised that David is a pretty intense dude.
Although he only had a couple of professional MMA fights before injury put a halt to the run he was putting together, he made a big impression. A 30 second obliteration of Brian Blewitt and a submission victory over Greg Loughran were enough for him to be touted for big things. There was another fight as well which he won via armbar taking his actual professional record to 3-0 but this is not recorded on MMAUniverse or Sherdog.
We managed to get hold of David for an interview and were really impressed with how relaxed, open and honest he came across.
Hi Dave cheers for taking some time out to talk to us today.
No worries.
Hardcore UKMMA fans will be very familiar with you and your early career and certainly with your family name. Other more recently converted MMA fans may have only seen you on TV in Britain’s Hardest with Danny Dyer. For those readers that aren’t familiar with you, can you give them a little background on yourself please?
I started fighting at an early age. The first thing I competed in when I was about 6 or 7 was Judo which I did for about 4 years. After that I did thai boxing, boxing and started MMA in 2002. I taught kick boxing for a few years with my bro in Salford. I own Quannum Gym in Oldham and train the Quannum fight team. I am coached by some of the best guys around in my opinion: I wrestle with Billy Cooper, box with ex pros Ian Midwood and Andy Butlin, Thai box with Kru Aaron Chatfield and Markus Grosse, grapple with Les Allen and am coached BJJ by Roberto Atalla who is now based in Poland but a great friend who I still see and train with when I can. I thank him for a lot of my ground game as well as Les and Leigh Remedios who used to live at my house and has an excellent style for mma as he’s proved. I also have black belts in kick boxing and combat arts and some other shit. I train with my team and also have been helped through the years by close friends Aaron Chatfield and Matt 12 gauge Thorpe from the Colloseum.
So the obvious question is: How does it feel to be getting back in the cage after 7 years out?
It feels a long time coming. I love to fight and have been dreaming of getting back in.
Obviously in your time out from fighting, you haven’t been away from MMA as you run Quannum and you were the head coach for the UK M1 challenge team. As a man with a fighter’s heart, is it hard being around fights and fighters and not being able to get in there yourself?
Words can’t describe it. I teach 4-5 days a week at least and have had to watch people do something I love and not take part. I’ve always loved to spar hard and I’ve been unable to do anything but drill and light movement. How would you feel?
The M1 team made it right through to the semi-finals in their first time at the event. How was the M1 experience and will we see another UK team entering again in the future?
I don’t know about another UK team. If there is I won’t be taking part. I am going to be selfish for a while with my own training and that of my own team. As for the experience it was amazing. All the fighters were quality. Good guys and unbelievable fighters. We had a real laugh and many experiences I will never forget. It’s great to see Rob Broughton and Tom Blackledge going on to the UFC. No one more deserving than those two, it was an honour to work with them. It was actually more nerve racking cornering the 5 guys than if I was fighting!! Wrecked me but what a thrill!!
Can you tell us about the nature of the injury that has kept you away from fighting for so long?
It isn’t just one injury. After I fought Greg Loughran at UC I had time off over Christmas when I came back my knee was fucked, I had an MRI and avoided surgery but was out of serious training for a while. It was then one thing after another (usually smashing my hands). I could train but not have the ability to put a 6week run together for a fight and I won’t do things half hearted.
Just over 4 years ago I had a mishap in a car. I hit the same wall four times in a spin. I partially tore the cartilage where the rib joins the sternum. When I moved my arm back my rib looked like it was giving the finger. The specialists concern was if it tore completely I would end up with a compound fracture. They couldn’t fuse it like they do at the back because the front ribs need to move as they expand and contract so I was left with few options: Do fuck all or risk serious injury. I had to go for regular checks and it was improving. I was on 240mg a day of codeine for the pain which made me like a zombie most of the time but I got checked and the all clear last November and have been steadily getting back in shape since. I now feel fit and strong again and am improving steadily.
Will we see a “new” B-52 stepping into the cage at Kudegra?
Haha I wish!! No you will be seeing an old B-52!!
But would you say you are different as a fighter to the 2003 version of yourself?
Very different! I was scrappy with limited wrestling back then. I had also only done 12-18 months of submissions. I’ve now done 8 years and incorporated wrestling and with the advances in the game and the great guys I’ve had the pleasure to train with I believe I’m a more complete fighter.
You were known for your explosive power punching. (Your 30 second destruction of Brian Blewitt is proof for any readers that care to go look it up). Is your striking ability still the main part of your game and is the KO always the finish you look for?
I don’t feel my striking was the main part of my game, I was just blessed with heavy hands. I have always preferred submissions to be honest. I don’t look for any particular finish, I just see what comes. I got lucky against Brian.
Your opponent for this fight is Kent Kauppinen, who is just coming off a decision loss to Ali Arish and prior to that was unbeaten….what are your thoughts on the challenge your opponent poses to you?
He’s a pro mma fighter with finishes by sub and tko from what I’ve heard so I would imagine a big challenge. I haven’t ever seen him so can’t really comment but I have massive respect for any fighter and will prepare accordingly.
You have fought at both 77 and 70 kilos, is welterweight a better weight class for you do you think, or will you consider cutting to lightweight again when you have had a few more fights?
I am happy fighting at either. At the moment I’m still quite heavy and it’s been 7 years since I saw 70kgs. I’m boxing at 80kgs so 77 makes sense for this.
Have you set yourself goals for your comeback?
To win one fight at a time and avoid injury. I might take an advanced driving course! [laughs]
Are you back fighting again simply because you enjoy it or is this a statement of intent for you to make a run at the top level welterweights in the UK?
I just want to punch and kick people again and see if I can carry my skills from the gym into the cage. I don’t want to be teaching things that I’ve not tried and tested.
As we mentioned earlier, you will be fighting at Kudegra on the 1st round of the Heavyweight tournament card in October. Kudegra will be running a lightweight tournament in December (with their Lightweight bracket actually being u77k). Will we be seeing you in the tournament?
I’m not looking past this fight. It’s all I’m bothered about right now.
Are there any fighters currently active domestically who you think you match up well with and would want to fight?
I would hope my style is exciting for people to watch so any fight would potentially be a good fight. I feel comfortable in all ranges and look to finish. I’m not headhunting anyone if that’s what you mean. I don’t like calling people out. This is a sport and I don’t like it to get personal. If it does its no longer sport and no longer for a cage and ref. I am fighting because I enjoy it.
With the exception of the British contingent already active in the UFC, which fighters in the UK right now impress you the most?
Both Sinclairs, Paul McVeigh, James Doolan, Danny Mitchell, Remedios – for an old bloke [laughs]. There are loads of good guys and my memory’s shit! Too many punches!
Anyone out there that you are tipping for big things?
All the above! Also watch out for Team Quannum fighters Andy Butlins return, Jordan McClusky, Danny Giblin, Ollie Barnes and Danny Cullen and Team Colloseum fighter Saul Rogers is going places too.
We are seeing loads of new promotions with big ideas and intentions, Kudegra being one of them. As someone who’s been around since MMA was at a grass roots stage in the UK, what are your thoughts on the domestic scene right now?
I think it is exciting, Kudegra especially looks promising which is why I’m fighting on it! I’ve enjoyed a lot of the shows I’ve been to recently big or small and as long as the safety aspect is catered for and the matchmaking is good then I’m all for them.
Finally Dave, before we let you get back to training, is there anything else you’d like to say or shout outs you want to give?
Yeah, I would like to give a big shout out to my friend and student Markus Grosse who is in the Kudegra HW tournament. He’s an awesome prospect and I am happy to have the pleasure of coaching him. He’s also helping me out with sharpening up my kicks! And cheers to Ian Freeman and the guys at Kudegra for giving me this opportunity.
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The first round of the Kudegra Tournament will be the heavyweights on October 9th at Hull Ice Arena. For full details and fight cards go to the Kudegra Championship Fighting website
If you want to train with the Butlin brothers at the Quannum gym then you can check out their website for training times and contact information.
Kayo MMA hold their third show this weekend (Saturday 11th September) ‘True Spirit’ . The event will be held at the The Centre in Farnham Road, Slough and will also be filmed and televised by the Active Channel on SKY.
