BANZAI COMBAT just keeps getting bigger and better! In a week were the org passed 200 fighters on its roster, BANZAI COMBAT is going to take Hard Knocks in Tokyo by storm on 09.03.24!
MAIN CARD
Main Event – Middleweight - Kurt Sloane vs Enoc Solves Torres
All-rounder, Kurt Sloane, made short work of his opponent in his professional MMA debut back in February. The New York native will be making his first appearance in BANZAI COMBAT.
Torres is right back into action after his big 31 second win at BANZAI COMBAT 10. He wants to keep the momentum going and is getting right back into the cage!
Torres has reportedly said he could beat Kurt Sloane with one hand tied behind his back! We will find out on Saturday in our main event!
Co-Main Event – Welterweight - Sinan Vrases vs Haya Mi
Sinan "Sula" Vrases hailing from Albania by way of Montreal recently had a little punt at a QFC tournament just coming up short in the Quarter Finals.
Tokyo native Haya Mi will definitely be the fan favourite and he may look to take the fight to the ground but will have a difficult job against Vrases’ remarkable wrestling skills.
Whatever happens, it’s a pity there will be no award for Afro of the night!
Heavyweight - James Hopkins vs Brandy Vera
London bad boy James Hopkins aka “Hammerhead” is making his first appearance in BANZAI COMBAT. His story is a remarkable one having had a serious motorcycle accident when he was 21. His skull was rebuilt with reinforced metal plates.
Brandan Vera is shorter and lighter than his opponent but will be hoping his superb wrestling skills give him the advantage in this fight. Let’s just hope Brandan doesn’t try to punch Hopkins’s head!
Heavyweight - Halo Halo vs Reid Raider
Halo Halo comes into this bout with a solid wrestling base. His opponent, Reid Raider may have a slight advantage on the ground with his BBJ purple belt. The stand-up battle could go either way. This will be an interesting encounter for sure. Raider, who is a little short for a heavyweight is giving away a massive height and reach advantage to his opponent.
Light-Heavyweight - God Sven vs Mike Byson
God Sven grew up on the streets of Tokyo. He learned how to box to stop thieves from steeling his lunch money when he was a kid! A solid fighter, the crowd will go absolutely wild for him on Saturday!
Mike Bryson will definitely have his work cut out for him as Sven just seems to look better than him most areas. Bryson’s best hope will be to get the fight in the ground, but he will face a partisan crowd come Saturday.
UNDERCARD
Featherweight- Jaquan Johnson vs Bashira Aya
24-year-old Orlando native Jaquan Johnson will enjoy a massive height and reach advantage in this fight and he will also have the advantage in the stand up as he clearly possesses better boxing and muay thai skills than his opponent.
Bashira Aya on the other hand will want to take this one to the ground and grab onto those long limbs of Jaquan Johnson and make him scream for his mamma!
Bantamweight- Mr Necro vs Chain Gables
I was going to say a couple of midgets made up our next bout but how wrong would I be!
Mr Necro will tower over his opponent by a whopping 50cm!! But Chain Gables will be looking to cut him down like a giant tree and submit him and he might just have the skills to do this.
Heavyweight - Ivan Drago vs Jerome Archer
“Risin' up, back on the street, ........Did my time, took my chances” ……. “Went the distance, now I'm back on my feet, Just a man and his will to survive”..... Oooooppps sorry folks got distracted there!
Ivan Drago and that’s not THE Ivan Drago comes into this one with a big point to prove after loosing last time out by a devastating KO.
Jerome "Black Grenade" Archer is a few years younger than Drago and may find this one difficult but don’t count him out as he will be looking to use his remarkable boxing skills.
Featherweight - Daichi Tanaka vs Ilia Topuria
Daichi Topuria may have the advantage in this fight as he might prove hard for Tanaka to take down and he has decent ground skills if he needs them but he will definitely possess the better stand up in this one.
Middleweight - Scabs McGee vs Logan McIntyre
At least one of these guys will win a fight! Unless we have a draw! Both these fighters will be hoping to come back from respective losing streaks.
Should be an interesting one this as McGee will have the stand-up advantage as Logan McIntyre may look to take the bout to the ground.
OVERVIEW
There you have it folks! The time for talking is over. See you on Saturday for another great night of action from BANZAI COMBAT!
