Oli Winchester, Reece Nutter and Hayden Buckberry represent Rutland Kickboxing at the Maher Centre in Leicester

Three fighters from Rutland Kickboxing took part in a landmark event at Leicester.

Oli Winchester, Reece Nutter and Hayden Buckberry were representing the club which is based at Oakham Enterprise Park on Ashwell Road.

They all fought on the undercard as Leicester Kickboxing Club staged its first event for 16 years at the Maher Centre.

There were world, intercontinental and European titles at stake that were contested by some of the best fighters in the country.

Winchester was first in action for the Rutland club on the undercard as he took on the powerful Chris Sykes.

The first round started gingerly with both fighters circling and probing with long jabs and roundhouse kicks to the legs and mid-section, keeping a weary distance.

Both fighters seemed quite happy to chip away at a safe distance as the crowd roared its encouragement.

The round ended with both fighters retiring to their corners in good shape.

The bell sounded at the start of the second round and it was at a much higher pace with both fighters looking to end it with some big punches.

Both landed simultaneously and both wobbled with shouts from their respective corners to finish it.

They closed again with their biggest shots, home fighter Sykes firing a swathing right hook only to be beaten by the straightest left cross from the Rutlander, bang on his chin, and the Leicester man went tumbling to the canvas.

A count of eight was administered and the fight continued with Sykes now desperate and he manhandled Winchester against the ropes and delivered five illegal shots to the back of the head which the referee promptly stopped.

Winchester was not allowed to continue and the fight was prematurely ended where a mix-up at ring side incorrectly announced Sykes as the winner to the amazement of the crowd.

Winchester officially won the bout clearly and the official record will state this.

Nutter was next up against the much-fancied Ola Ogungbe from the Leicester club.

They started at a good pace and both exchanged kicks and punches, each having their turn going forward to attack, with the bout going back and forth.

Nothing seemed to land effectively until Nutter threw a tidy sidekick, landed it solidly, and with added confidence banged in multiple kicks without reply.

Ogungbe replied with a heavy hook that landed flush on the chin, only for it to be returned with interest by three rib kicks from Nutter to take the round.

Ogungbe came out with a new game plan for the second round and he closed inside the kicking range of Nutter and went to town on his body by swinging punch after punch.

Nutter's defence was solid and, much to the surprise of his trainer, returned with some boxing of his own, landing several effective shots which were followed by of course some heavy kicks.

The round continued with both fighters landing head moving shots which was testament to their conditioning but Nutter's kicks were the difference after being unanswered.

The third round was a stoic affair with both fighters refusing to go backwards and trading punches and kicks, the referee having an easy night with the cleanest of blows from both men.

They fought toe to toe for the entire round with neither man yielding which was testament to their wills.

Both fighters awaited the decision and, after the crowd had hushed, it was the Rutlander who was announced victorious.

Buckberry fought in the last bout before the titles commenced where he faced Arjan Singh who had brought a huge expectant crowd and lived up to his reputation of being fast and furious with a lightning first round of punches and kicks.

The Rutlanders fought bravely but was soon dropped by a flurry of punches and kicks.

He sprung back up like a coiled spring, went forth fearless but no matter how hard he tried he could land a telling blow.

Despite several trick shots and jumping kicks, Singh could not stop the Rutlander, nor make him yield, and the fight finished with Buckberry up on his feet.

Anyone interested in training or competing for the club should contact Danny on 07880 987638 or visit rutlandkickboxing.com