A Cold Day for Violence

Summary

Away Days Podcast: Reporting from the Underbelly Episode: A Cold Day for Violence Release Date: May 19, 2025 Host: Jake Hanrahan

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Introduction

In the episode titled "A Cold Day for Violence," Jake Hanrahan delves deep into the brutal world of underground "no rules" fighting. This episode offers a raw and unfiltered look into a clandestine fight organized in Hastings, UK, exploring the motivations, dynamics, and historical roots of such extreme combat sports.

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The No Rules Fight in Hastings

Setting the Scene

Jake begins his journey by traveling through the southern back roads to a desolate seaside town in Hastings, UK, where a pre-arranged brutal fight is set to take place. The atmosphere is tense and cold, both literally and figuratively, as violence is imminent.

Key Participants

• Joey Hapgood: A 27-year-old street fighter from South Wales, known for his boundless energy and genuine demeanor. Joey is eager to make a name for himself in the underground fight scene.

  "I'm not a bad person. Like I won't do it. I ain't no bully. I fucking hate bullies."
  (19:39)

• Bash: An experienced fighter in the no rules scene, 45 years old, with a notorious reputation from previous fights, including a memorable bout where he was severely injured by an opponent.

The Fight

Upon arrival at the designated car park, tensions rise as Joey and Bash prepare to face each other without any formal regulations. The fight is described as a new form of organized violence, distinct from traditional MMA or bare-knuckle boxing due to its complete lack of rules and safety measures.

Notable Quotes During the Fight

• Joey Hapgood:

  "There's going to be a no rules fight with a guy who's very experienced with it... It can be a life or death situation."
  (08:03)

• Bash: Previously involved in a brutal fight where he was severely injured, highlighting the extreme risks associated with no rules fighting.

As the fight unfolds, both fighters engage fiercely, exchanging powerful blows without restraint. Despite Joey's aggressive approach and initial dominance, the fight concludes abruptly when Bash decides to end it, leading to an unexpected resolution.

Aftermath

Contrary to the anticipated blood feud, the confrontation ends peacefully with both fighters shaking hands and displaying camaraderie. Joey expresses his frustration and desire for a more intense showdown, while Bash remains indifferent, indicating that the fight was more about the act itself rather than personal animosity.

---

Exploring the No Rules Culture

Origins and Evolution

Jake provides a historical context by tracing the roots of no rules fighting back to ancient Greece's pankration—a brutal combat sport combining boxing and wrestling with minimal restrictions. He draws parallels between the ancient practices and the modern underground scene, emphasizing the enduring human fascination with raw, unregulated combat.

Hype Crew and King of the Streets (COTS)

The modern no rules movement is largely influenced by groups like Hype Crew and their creation, King of the Streets (COTS). Originating in Sweden in 2018, COTS gained significant popularity through YouTube, showcasing organized, no holds barred fights that captivated a large audience. This counterculture has since spread across Europe, with various unaffiliated fight clubs emerging in countries like Germany, England, and France.

Insights from Participants

• Brian Hoy (Hype Crew Associate and Undefeated COTS Fighter):

  "Your favorite fighter's favorite fighter is scared to do this shit."
  (Timestamp not specified)

He underscores the fear and respect within the community, highlighting the intense commitment and adrenaline that drives participants beyond monetary incentives.

---

Host's Quest: Pursuing the Fight Club in Cannes

Intrigued by the burgeoning no rules scene, Jake seeks to document a new underground fight club in Cannes, France. Despite initial enthusiasm from an anonymous user named Leon, Jake's journey takes a turn as he arrives in the luxurious yet austere city of Cannes, known more for its film festival glamour than underground violence.

Challenges Encountered

• Suspicion and Skepticism: Jake doubts the legitimacy of the fight club's existence in such a high-profile location, suspecting it might be a setup or wild goose chase.

  "I'm starting to think something is not right here. So why would there be a brutal no rules fight Club in one of the flashiest cities in Europe."
  (Timestamp around 25:00)

• Contact with Victor: Upon receiving coordinates from another member, Victor, Jake prepares to attend the supposed fight event, still uncertain about its authenticity.

The episode concludes with Jake poised to uncover the truth behind the Cannes fight club, leaving listeners in anticipation for the next installment.

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Conclusion

"A Cold Day for Violence" offers a gripping exploration of the no rules fighting subculture, blending firsthand reporting with historical insights. Jake Hanrahan effectively captures the intensity, camaraderie, and inherent dangers of this underground world, setting the stage for further investigations into its expansive and elusive network.

---

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Joey Hapgood on No Rules Fighting:

  "There's going to be a no rules fight with a guy who's very experienced with it... It can be a life or death situation."
  (08:03)

• Joey Hapgood on Personal Character:

  "I'm not a bad person. Like I won't do it. I ain't no bully. I fucking hate bullies."
  (19:39)

• Host on Pankration Historical Context:

  "Pankration was not just about brute strength. It required a tactical mindset, a deep understanding of leverage, timing and the ability to anticipate an opponent's moves."
  (24:00)

• Brian Hoy on the Fear within the Community:

  "Your favorite fighter's favorite fighter is scared to do this shit."
  (Timestamp not specified)

---

Closing Remarks

For those intrigued by the darker, uncharted aspects of society, "A Cold Day for Violence" serves as a compelling narrative that exposes the raw and unfiltered reality of underground fight clubs. Stay tuned for the next episode as Jake continues his journey into the heart of no rules fighting.

Transcript

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[Podcast Host]

You're listening to the Away Days podcast on the Ground Outside reporting from the underbelly with me, Jake Hanrahan. To watch Away Days documentaries, go to YouTube.com waydaystv this is part one. No Rules is no Rules episode one. This podcast is a production of H11 Studio and CallZone Media England. It's a cold day for violence. The ground's frosty and the air hurts. Gloves and scarves weather. Either way, violence is Happening. Two men have agreed to attack each other at a pre arranged location in Hastings, uk. I'm driving through southern back roads, headed to the desolate seaside town where the fight is due to take place. I'm an outsider to all involved and true, they all hate journalists and. But still, I've been trusted to attend. This planned combat isn't about solving a dispute, though. The two men have no hatred or real animosity toward one another. They just want to fight. Not in a ring or with gloves. With rounds though. This is something else. There will be no judges or sporting organizations, no health checks or even a weigh in. No safety gear and no precautions. The fight won't be televised and there will be no official sponsors. It's important to understand that this is not unlicensed mma, street beef or bare knuckle boxing. This is a new form of organized violence. People involved have coined it no rules. And yes, no rules means no rules. Anything goes. Kicking, punching, headbutting, elbows, knees, eye gouging, head stamping, choking and even biting. What's more authentic, no rules has to take place on concrete or something equivalent. Hard floors and no rules. It's as extreme as it gets. Google Maps PINGS I've got to reach a location the fighters texted to me yesterday and then I've got to wait. I'm close. I pull onto a side road through a small wooded area and follow the route ahead. It's mid January and the sun's going down fast. The sky is red and orange. You can feel the outside cold inside the car. It's hardly ideal fighting weather. My phone RINGS Caller id. Joey Hapgood. How you doing, mate? You all right?

[Joey Hapgood]

Yeah, just pulled up. I have.

[Podcast Host]

Oh, yeah, you're at the. You're at the car park, yeah, yeah.

[Joey Hapgood]

Where are you at?

[Podcast Host]

All right. We were just driving about. I. I'll head up there now. How far away are you? Like a min. All right, mate. All right, bye bye. All right, cool, Bye. Joey is a street fighter from south Wales. He's 27 years old and by far one of the most energetic people in the uk. If meth amphetamine was a person, it'd be Joey. Most times I speak with him, he's absolutely bouncing off the walls. He's extremely friendly and very genuine. He can only be himself. It's a contagious energy, honestly. Perhaps the odds. With his happy demeanour, Joey is desperate to make a name for himself in the underground fight scene. He's tough as bricks and scared of nobody. And as an up and comer he's hungry to prove himself. Generally, no Rules is organized through illegal fight clubs. But Joey's ready anywhere I reach the location, a large but otherwise nondescript car park surrounded by trees and street lights. When I get out the car, I hear Joby before I see him.

[Joey Hapgood]

What's happening?

[Podcast Host]

He's with a few friends and he's already shadow boxing on the spot, casting rapid phosphor coated shadows. He laughs loudly every few seconds. He can't wait. We shake hands and he hugs me like an old friend. But this is the first time we've met. You know where we going.

[Bash]

To get.

[Joey Hapgood]

Picked up in a G wagon apparently.

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[Podcast Host]

Joey looks like a character from the video game Mortal Kombat. He's about 5 10, stocky, all muscle, blue eyes as bright as his white teeth. He's got three different haircuts in one. Bleach blonde down the middle, shaved to zero at the sides, long mullet style, tail down the back with black highlights. His neck is peppered with tattoos, including a 666 next to a Jesus crucifix. He wears a George Michael earring and keeps his beard short but dyed black. The dye leaves perfect lines across his face so it looks as if he sprayed the whole beard on with a stencil. I've never seen anyone like it. He's a sight to behold. Joey has traveled 200 miles from Port Talbot to be here at this random car park in Hastings. It took him five hours. He's come to fight an old school no rules fighter nicknamed Bash. The pair organized a fight over Instagram direct messages. Joey's dream is to be respected in the clandestine no rules scene.

[Joey Hapgood]

There's going to be a no rules fight with a guy who's very experienced with it could be any situation. Anything can happen at any time, at any second. But you could lose fingers, ears, nose, balls. You can lose anything, you know. No rules. You don't know what the coming way when it's happening, but it can, you know. And it's a life or death situation. It can be, but it can be easily.

[Podcast Host]

He's not wrong. The man he's about to fight is notorious in the underground for biting off a piece of another man's ear in a no rules fight a couple years back. The brawl took place in a closed mechanic's garage and despite permanently disfiguring his opponent with his teeth, Bash actually lost that fight. He was knocked to the ground by his opponent who then pushed both thumbs deep into Bash's eye sockets. Bash screaming was then saved by the makeshift referee who stopped the fight. There were only two ways for no rules to end. Either you get knocked out or you get beaten so badly the appointed referee steps in. Referee in this case is a loose term. It's basically anyone involved who's allocated as the guy who has to stop the fight when a one sided beating continues for an extended period. Some stop the fight when head stamping or eye gouging starts, others don't. There's no rulebook. The only use for a towel in no rules is to mop up the blood. Yes, it is brutal. Now to put it lightly, Bash has been on a bit of a losing streak as of late. People in the scene have accused him of being washed up, saying that he can't stay sober for a fight anymore. Bash argues that he doesn't care. Win or lose, he'll fight anyone anywhere, sober or not. He claims to see no rules as a game. A bit of a laugh. Problem is, Bash is 45 now. That's 18 years Joey's senior. The potential risk of irreversible damage is considerably higher for a man of his age, but still, Bash doesn't care.

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A black Audi hatchback with two younger lads in bubble north face coats pulls up to the car park. We're all huddled, waiting for instructions. It's fully dark now. The lads jump out and introduce themselves. It's clear that they're not fighters, just messengers. Thick northern accents. They explain that Joey and his guys are to go with them and I'm to follow behind in my car.

[Joey Hapgood]

Two of us, Two of us and then two of them.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, we're going to follow you in our car, yeah? Yes.

[Joey Hapgood]

Yeah. Happy days, boys. Then let's get it on.

[Podcast Host]

Joey flings on his jacket and jumps into the back of the Audi with one of his friends. I follow in my car. Joey's entourage follows in theirs. We drive through the middle of Hastings in a small convoy. Our headlights flood past neon petrol stations and blocks of flats for what feels like forever. We finally arrive at a built up residential street close to the fight destination. A dozen of Bash's people are Waiting. A blur of North Face and Stone Island. Bash emerges from the middle of his crowd. He's about 6 foot tall, broad, covered in tattoos. He's half Arab, half white and has a face worn from years of brawling. Coincidentally, he too has a six, six, six and a crucifix tattooed on his neck. Joey hops out the car. He's aggressive, all action ready to go. He's pushing past people who are trying to keep him back. Joey is transformed, the mad as a hat. A smiley demeanour is gone. It now looks like an angry dog let out a cage. This lad shouting is a big lump from up north who previously fought Bash and won. He'll be the makeshift referee for this fight. Joey and Bash are having words and there's call for calm from the gathering crowd. Bash turns back with his guys and they move off the pavement and down a side road. Bright headlights spill out from the shadows. That's where the fight's happening. That's Joey boy.

[Joey Hapgood]

Is he there then or what? Boys, what the is going on and where the is it happening?

[Podcast Host]

The makeshift ref emerges a couple minutes later and waves for us to come. Joey pulls off his coat, tenses his shoulders and strides up the path. He's wearing a T shirt by the underground fightware brand militant, an emerging force in the British hooligan and no rule scene. The logo is a knuckle duster wide across the the chest fitting. We turn a corner. It's here, about 50 square feet of fuck all. The scene is lit with headlights from a boxy Land Rover Defender parked at the back. The floor is rough concrete, jaggled and specked with grit for wear and tear. If your head hits this, it's bursting open. Bash is stood at one end of his space, moving on, his feet fluttering the defender's headlights. Joey bowls in. His back is up like a dog When a firework goes off at each side. People stand watching, their phones up, ready to record. Lady shouting has her phone torch on. Bright as she films. She stood next to Bash. I recognize her. I've seen her online. It's his wife. She's his biggest fan and can be heard cheering him on during most of his fight videos. It's kind of romantic, honestly. Joey's boys cheer him on as he approaches Bash. There's a brief pause. Both fighters stare at each other for a second. The tension is in the air, heavy like fog. Then bang. Bash leaps towards Joey throwing a spinning back kick. It misses. Joey throws a stiff right jab into Bash's face. He's knocked off balance, dropped. Bash hits the concrete. Joey moves over him but stops. For whatever reason, both fighters decided beforehand that they wanted to do no rules, but with one rule, they wanted to do a stand up fight. As in no groundwork but with no gum shields. Makes no sense to me, but that's the chaotic realness of no rules fighting. The ref moves in so Bash can stand up. Off they go again. Joey kicks Bash and throws two huge hooks. Bash kicks Joey and throws back. They both end up in a tangle of sweeping punches. Some miss, some land. Joey is all power, pushing forward, grabbing, punching. Bash looks tired, but he's fighting and he's definitely sober for this one. The crowd is on fire at this point. The two men swing it out in the shadow of the headlights. After around a minute or so, Joey grabs Bash and lands three solid jabs in his jaw. Bash goes down again and scrapes his head off a brick wall.

[Joey Hapgood]

Is he leaving?

[Podcast Host]

The ref lets him get up, but he shakes his head as he does. It's over. Joey is fuming. He's done.

[Joey Hapgood]

He's laughing. Self wills. Here we are.

[Podcast Host]

Joey's eyes are wired with adrenaline, his fist still clenched. Joey wants more. I can tell he's not happy.

[Joey Hapgood]

Is that it?

[Podcast Host]

No.

[Joey Hapgood]

Nothing else?

[Podcast Host]

No.

[Joey Hapgood]

Nothing else, huh?

[Podcast Host]

No.

[Joey Hapgood]

Let's have a drink.

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[Podcast Host]

Disappointed.

[Joey Hapgood]

Get disappointed.

[Podcast Host]

What happened then you just give up, man. Bash has had enough though. The fight is over. So what's happened is basically bastard just said, you know, he's done, he didn't want to fight anymore. Joe's come up here expecting like a much bigger terror, a little bit disappointed. I think he wanted to continue fighting, but now they're gonna have a drink party and everything's good. So I guess that's, that's how it works. If you'd seen all this from the sidelines without knowing anyone involved, you'd be forgiven for thinking it was some kind of blood feud. But Bash and Joey are now shaking hands and getting on like old friends. There's a perception of course of street fighting men that Joey doesn't agree with.

[Joey Hapgood]

I'm not a bad person. Like I won't do it. I ain't no bully. I fucking hate bullies. I don't know, it's kind of hard until you. Unless you know us. But they're the ones missing out, you know, they don't know how much kind hearted we are. Yes, we are mad crazy people because we fight bare fists in the street, no rules, all this and that, but you know, it's just a matter. It is what it is. If people can think what the they want, don't give a.

[Podcast Host]

I first heard about no rules in 2022 through a friend of mine who's a longtime football hooligan. It's all going to be on top of all standing here you s jog on. Not the original British kind where pub men suited in Stone island and Aquascutum would fight throughout the streets and stadiums, but the European version where well trained, combat ready firms meet secretly to fight in secluded forests around match days and derbies. Naturally, this hooligan friend of mine has his ear to the ground when it comes to organized violence. He showed me videos from some early no Rules events. The fight where the guy got part of his ear bitten off, a fight with someone is headbutted unconscious. A fight where a screaming, starred up Neo Nazi has his eyes pushed in with an eye gouge. It goes on and on. Serious, ruthless, but consensual violence. All of the fights in the videos were arranged by King of the Streets, or kots, essentially the Tyler Durden of contemporary underground no Rules Fighting. COTS is run by a group known as Hype Crew. Hype Crew is made up of hooligans, organized criminals and seasoned street fighters. They pretty much birthed no Rules as far back as 2018. At first, hype Crew filmed these organized fights on the streets in Sweden on concrete no rules, no federation, no protection. All raw. They uploaded the videos to YouTube under the COTS banner. The channel eventually blew up, gaining over 1 million subscribers in the space of six years. And so Hype Crew created what has now become one of the most hardcore countercultures to emerge in Europe. For decades. Now there are several no Rules fight clubs, completely unaffiliated with cots. I found them in Germany, England, Sweden, Spain, France, Denmark and beyond. Don't get it confused though. Everyone involved with this is aware that no Rules fighting is not a sport. No one cares about the money. Hype crew themselves started KOTs for free after their success. They now pay fighters anywhere from 600 to over a thousand euros if they win, also paying for all travel and accommodation for the fight losers, it's said, get around half that if they put on a good show, nothing if they don't. The money is hardly the point though. Nobody involved in no Rules fighting is doing it for a paycheck. This isn't about profit, it's about adrenaline and exclusivity. As Hype Crew associate and undefeated COTS fighter Brian Hoy says, your favorite fighter's favorite fighter is Scared to do this shit. What Hype Crew has created is not a combat sport, it's a counterculture. Whilst the violent counterculture of no rules is new, organized, no holds barred fighting is actually as old as time. It dates back to at least the 8th century where men in ancient Greece would brawl for fun, entertainment and glory. They had a specific style known as pankration, which it can be argued was an ancient progenitor to Hype Crew's no rules. Pankration was a combination of boxing and wrestling with almost zero physical restrictions. The only real rules were no biting and no eye gouging. The Greeks believed that the mythic hero Theseus created the fighting style whilst defeating the Minotaur, a half bull, half man monster. The historical channel up for Education, run by a former martial arts teacher, has this to say about the sport.

[Joey Hapgood]

Despite its seemingly ruthless nature, Pankration was not just about brute strength. It required a tactical mindset, a deep understanding of leverage, timing and the ability to anticipate an opponent's moves. It was a true testament to an athlete's physical prowess and mental agility.

[Podcast Host]

And so the aim of pankration was to incapacitate your opponent as brutally as is allowed. It was hugely popular in ancient Greece and was one of the main events of the Olympic Games after being introduced in 648 BC. There's pottery, mosaics and even bronze sculptures from that era that celebrates fighting. One of the best preserved examples is the Terme Boxer, a sculpture that was made somewhere between 330 BC and 50 BC. The relic was dug up out the ground in 1885 on the side of Quirinal Hill in Rome. The sculpture depicts a lean, bearded fighter sat on a rock, hands wrapped, an expression tired after what was clearly a brutal fight. Half a dozen cuts are etched into the bronze of his face. His shoulders are slightly hunched. The muscles he's built are for violence, not for vanity. Now all that is to say, ultra aggressive, organized fighting is not just a symptom of our nightmarish, sickened, lying modern society, but actually a natural practice as old as ancient Greece. So perhaps those involved in no Rules have the same fire in their belly as the pankration fighters of old. I want to find out. By attending as many of these clandestine events as possible.

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[Restaurant Patron 2]

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[Podcast Host]

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[Podcast Host]

No, I got it. Seriously, I insisted. I insisted first.

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[Podcast Host]

Rock, paper, scissors. Shoot.

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At Amica, we understand that looking out for each other other isn't new or groundbreaking. It's human. AM empathy is our best policy. Whilst researching the no rules scene, I came across a small but new underground fight club looking to recruit. They're extremely lowkey but asking around on the Telegram app for fighters, no one will be paid but they get to fight. I messaged the anonymous user looking to learn more about this fight club. At first he was naturally suspicious. But after we spoke a while, he seemed to accept that I wasn't undercover law enforcement or Some rat type reporter looking to do a hit piece on underground fight clubs. I showed him that I am genuinely fascinated with the counterculture and I'm looking to make a documentary about no rules. I showed him my previous work with my platform popular front and he liked it. I also explained that I myself have been involved in combat sports since I was 14 years old, having joined up at a Thai boxing gym as a teenager. I still train there to this day regularly, and I consider the people there part of my family. I understand the combat sports camaraderie to some degree. The anonymous user accepted it and he told me his name is Leon. Leon and his friends were inspired by King of the Streets years back when it first got popular on YouTube. There were teenagers at the time, g'd up on adolescent angst and the general mischief of bored young men. They decided to fight each other in the vein of cots. At first they did it only amongst themselves, holding their first low key gathering in a parking lot. They liked it a lot. When they realized though that a police station was close by to the parking lot where they were fighting, they decided to find a better location and put on a proper event. This is why they were on telegram, looking for fighters. The first proper fight club would be open to anyone, even a persistent and probably annoying journalist from England. They decided I'd be allowed to attend on the condition I protect their identities. Of course I agreed. It took three weeks of this back and forth, but we sorted it. Next stop, France. Now I'm stepping off a plane in the south of France. We don't actually have the address for where this fight club is. All we know is they're going to be contacting us at some point and telling me when and where and we gotta move quick. Whenever it is that they say. Now, when I say south of France, you might be surprised to know that we're literally in Cannes. The fancy film festival city where Hollywood movie stars come to act important. A place where the rich and famous fawn over each other and quaff champagne. A place where films directed for other directors are screened and applauded. Cannes is hardly the place for an underground no rules fight club. But here I am. As I walk with my bag on my back en route to a cheap three day hotel, I pass by Rolex shops and Gucci stores. The streets are clean, palm trees line the roads and I can see literal yachts in the harbor. Where the hell is Leon and his mates planning to fight? I'm starting to think something is not right here. It has just Occurred to me that this might all be a bit of a stitch up. So why would there be a brutal no rules fight Club in one of the flashiest cities in Europe. Cannibal places where filmmakers that think they're too important go to stare in the mirror whilst playing their films. Maybe Leon's wound me up here. Maybe he's thought, you know what? I don't like reporters. I'm gonna send this idiot on a wild goose chase and waste his money and just tell him that the Fight Club is in Cannes and see if he goes there. And well, here I am. So it's part of it doesn't add up. To be honest, it's so flash around here I can't see it being. Where would they even have it anyway? I don't know. We'll see. To be fair, if he has. If he has done that, it's annoying as it would be kind of fair play. Like it's a pretty good wind up if that's what he's done. But I hope not. After checking in at the hotel, I get a message on telegram from another anonymous user. He tells me his name is Victor and he's running the Cannes Fight Club with Leon. I tried to chat to him for a bit, but he's not interested. He sends me coordinates and tells me to meet him there at midnight. No cameras, no equipment. It's a solid 30 minute drive away from my hotel in what looks to be a gated community, a place where rich people live. Especially rich if it's in Cannes. At least that's what it looks like on Google Maps. This has got to be a trick. I'm sure now that I've travelled all the way to Cannes just to be mugged off by some rowdy young fighters who've no regard for what I'm trying to document. Whatever it is, what it is either way, I tell this Victor fella that I'll be there at midnight. See you there. Let's see what happens. Foreign you've been listening to the Away Days podcast. Next week, episode two. To watch independent Away Days documentaries, subscribe to our [e-mail] waydaystv. Your Way Days podcast is a production of HBO 11 studio for Cool Zone Media. Reporting, producing, writing, editing and research by me, Jake Hanrahan. Co producing by Sophie Lichterman Music by Sam Black Sound mix by Splicing Block Photography by Johnny Pickup and Louis Hollis Graphic design by Laura Adamson and Casey Highfield.

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