User:Kwib/Chris Ballard (kickboxer)

Chris Ballard was an English mixed martial artist, fighting in the welterweight division predominantly as a kickboxer. He was a veteran of British MMA and was also a British, European and World kickboxing champion.

Mixed martial arts career
And now the new" WKN Super-Heavyweight sensation Chris "The Sledgehammer" Ballard scored his 27th knockout in under 30 seconds of the first round, opponent Roger Toone the hapless victim. A real crowd puller, Ballard is rapidly earning the tag "The White Tyson."

At Extreme Brawl 1 Ballard faced Craig Amer in the +96.6kg Super Heavy Kickboxing. Ballard was notably bigger and heavier than Amer and was also noted for his quickness and agility for such a big man. In this fight he demonstrated jumping spinning kicks and was too powerful for Amer who was floored on a number of occasions. In UK MMA events a TKO is awarded if there are three knockdowns of a fighter and Ballard won this encounter.

IKF Pro Full Contact Rules England Heavyweight Champion. Ballard won his title on November 18th, 2001, North Hampton England when he defeated Dave Sharp of England by unanimous decision, 47-41, 46-43 and 47-41. Ballard's title was retired when the IKF was informed he was too heavy to defend it on September 21st, 2003.

In Extreme Brawl 3, Ballard was in a cage kickboxing match with Simon Dore which was remembered for Ballard's continued attacking of his opponent after he had fallen to the ground. A savage beating that lasted only thirty seconds put Dore on his back, but a few kicks to the downed opponent saw Ballard DQ'd.

Otide of martial arts
Mr Ballard worked as a bouncer and was praised for saving lives during violence at The Matrix nightclub in London Street in April 2002 when two people were shot.

Personal life and death
On January 4th, 2004, Ballard was found with a gunshot wound to his head in his home in Maiden Court Lane, Lower Earley. Coroner Peter Bedford, who recorded a verdict of suicide, said Mr Ballard had taken his won life while suffering from depression. The inquest at Windsor Guildhall heard that Ballard had been buying Roaccutane over the internet to keep his skin in good condition and that the drug was so toxic that it could not be prescribed by a GP in the United Kingdom, with its known side effects including severe depression. The coroner said: "I cannot say Roaccutane played a part but I cannot rule it our either." Thecourt was told that other circumstances could also have contributed to his depression including the death of a friend and the break-up of a relationship. The coroner went on to say: "I cannot say he was taking steroids but it is possible. I cannot say for sure he was taking Roaccutane but there is a suggestion that he was. Given the upset he had suffered it seems to me they are part and parcel of developing a depressive illness."