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 NFC 172: Smith versus Stark
Bob Jones here from mmajunkie.com and free lance reporter, NFC just keeps getting better and better everyone. Their past two events have been their top in history and top 5 in the world’s history and now long time fighter Otso Jokinen is number 1 in the world! No reason why NFC can’t do it again though! Here we go!
Main Card Bout: Hug "E" Raction(16-7) versus Niklas Nort(13-3) in the Superheavyweight division 265+
Hug Raction
Versus
Niklas Nort
These two are considered “inexperienced” by NFC standards (even though they have 39 fights between them) but do possess loads of talent. Nort has proven himself at NFC over and over now beating Iro Tolonen twice now, the man that is a legend now in NFC and former number 2 ranked fighter. Nort won by KO in his last fight over Tolonen in the first round just a few weeks ago! And he did it months ago with a head kick in the first round! His chin has had its own troubles though and he has been TKO’d 3 times. Nort has won every single fight of his fights by TKO in the first round so he is a big time “boom or bust” guy but he makes it work effectively and is ranked very high in NFC. Raction comes over from IMMA where he is 3-2 there and coming off of 2 straight wins over tough fighters. He has 15 TKO’s in 16 victories and in 7 losses he has been TKO’d 7 times… Another boom or bust guy. This one is going to and I guarantee it, in a knockout! Who does it first is another question. Raction is a bit better of a boxer and Nort is a tad better in Muy thai and neither fighter intends for this fight to end up on the ground. Wow we have a tough one to predict here ladies and gentlemen. Raction’s recent victory over Tomi Koski by KO was superb and Nort has beaten the best NFC has to offer. Expect this to be kept standing, and at striking distance. Nort throws a bit more kicks but look for mostly hand strikes from two very powerful super heavyweights. Nort has a 30 pound weight advantage and a 15cm height advantage so he will have some reach but Raction will be a bit quicker. Other than that though these fighters look pretty even.
Prediction: Nort by TKO in the 1st round.. I can’t pick against Nort again!
Main Card Bout: Arni Ironz(12-4) versus Pertti Rauta(30-16) in the super heavyweight division
Arnie Ironz
Versus
Pertti Rauta
Ironz is another fighter coming over from IMMA in their heated rivalry in NFC. Ironz has much less experience then Rauta but has extreme power behind his strikes with 11 TKO victories! He likes to mix up his strikes going for the head and the body and throws a good amount of kicks too and has some dangerous high kicks! Ironz has been finished all four times he has lost, three by TKO and one by submission. Rauta is one of the most experienced fighters NFC has too offer and is 10 years older and probably a tad slower then Ironz with all 46 fights on his legs. Rauta has 22 TKO victories though and has fought the best NFC has too offer as well. He has recently beaten Tore Rebo and Niklas Nort and beat the latter by TKO. Rauta likes to stand and bang but would prefer too from the clinch where he throws nasty sharp edged elbows and knees. Rauta will give up 15 pounds to Ironz but has a 4cm height advantage and will be the taller skinnier fighter, an advantage for a muy thai fighter who likes to throw knee’s to the head! Ironz strategy will be to use some leg kicks to slow Rauta down and throw some big shots to try to KO Rauta who has a great gas tank. Don’t expect this fight to go to the ground either, tonight is a stand and bang party! Ironz manager is currently number 1 in the world right now though so that is good having a manager on a hot streak certainly! Never underestimate a finnfighter though in Rauta who will battle till the end. This one is very even and both men have their strength’s and flaws as well. Rauta has a clinch and muy thai advantage while Ironz has a bit more KO power and the hottest manager right now.
Prediction: I’m going with the edge in experience here… Rauta wins a grinding 29:28 decision victory
Main Card: Nino Blaze(24-7) versus Jack Tripper(22-10) in the Super Heavyweight division
Nino Blaze- The Champ
Versus
Jack Tripper
Newcomer Jack "The Ripper" Tripper comes over from IMMA with 3 consecutive victories, 13 TKO victories, and 9 submission victories. He is now 35 years old and a grizzled veteran. He holds 6 years of age experience over Blaze who is an NFC keep sake. Jack Tripper likes to get the fight on the ground often too but is not slouch in the stand up game. He throws a decent amount of leg kicks to slow his opponents down and likes to throw some big shots to his opponents head. Jack Tripper ended his career in Genesis as the champ in the Heavyweight and Super Heavyweight divisions winning 5 in a row there before the organization disbanded. He also showed off in his last two fights his ability to go to later rounds, but he is only 3-5 in decision decided fights in his career, but has used his KO power to his advantage. His strategy is looking like to rough up Blaze standing up and if that doesn’t work he can always go for takedowns as wrestling is another strength of his. Blaze comes in off of two victories in a row and he has 19 TKO victories and likes to stand and bang. His strategy is looking like took keep it standing and throw mean kicks and punches mostly. He has some good dirty boxing skills from the clinch too and has a decent gas tank and may have a slight advantage in each of those. Blaze is the champ in the Heavyweight division for a reason and wants to keep proving to the fans why. He had recent TKO victories over TJ Cummings and Tore Rebo.. His punches can open up opponents to cuts too leaving them blind and at risk to the doctor. Nino Blaze just turned 29 on the 29th of November so a win for him would be a nice present to himself. Ripper has a 70 pound weight advantage over the champ Blaze but Blaze will be quicker and dart in and out but Ripper will be blasting from downtown. Blaze has shown he can hang with the big boys though and I like him here.
Prediction: Blaze in a decision victory 29:28 and keeps hanging with the big boys
Co Main Event: Congo Ashantie(24-4) Naoto Sugawara (22-7)versus in the Super Heavyweight Division
Congo Ashantie
Versus
Naoto Sugawara
Beast. That is one word to describe Ashantie who is a top 50 fighter in the world who has won 7 fights in a row coming over from IMMA. He has beaten Ironz and Raction who are both also on this card and beat them back-to-back with KO punches in the first round! He once had a 6 fight streak of all TKO victories and recently had a 5 fight streak of all TKO victories as well. He is 7-2 in decision victories so he can take a fight the distance as well and has a great cardio stature. Naota Sugawara has some power though with 19 TKO’s in 22 victories, he will also have 65 pounds on Ashantie. Both fighters are the same age but Ashantie seems to be the better overall fighter in all aspects of the game slightly. Ashantie is from Jamaica and represents his country proudly. He loves to throw chopping leg kicks and knees and has a great Muy Thai background but don’t underestimate his hand strikes or boxing either. His manager Ital Scratch knows what he is doing as well and will have a great game plan for Ashantie. Sugawara represents Japan and is 2-2 in NFC and coming off a loss against Harry Stroker. These two have never faced off either so it’s something new for the fans as well. Sugarawa is more of a dirty boxer liking to lean and dig in the clinch. He can tear at the opponent until they open up and gets TKO’s. Sugarawa has never faced someone as good as Ashantie and has lost to the two best opponents he has face so let’s see if he can finally topple a big name fighter. I’m leaning towards Ashantie with this one due to his amazing striking and overall ability as an MMA fighter. Also- Sugaraw has been TKO’d all 7 times he has lost.
Ashantie get’s a 2nd round TKO against the weaker chinned less battle tested Sugarawa
YOUR MAIN EVENT: Peter Smith(31-13) versus Thomas Stark(32-10) Light Heavyweight Division 205
Peter Smith
Versus
Thomas Stark
This is another one for the ages. Smith comes over from IMMA where he has dominated and has won 6 fights in a row against the best fighters in the division and he has been closing in on top 50 pound for pound in the world. He faces Thomas Stark here who is another legend and a fighter from NFC. He has gotten all the way to 6th ranked pound for pound in the world and had 3 title defenses for the Light Heavyweight belt before losing it to Marko Torturo(who he had beaten twice before, once by TKO). He has beaten top fighters like Torturo, Phil Ivey, De Vos, and beat former number two pound for pound fighter and NFC legend Kalle Reinikainen. He is currently 6-2 in NFC and 6 of those fights have been title fight! He is 4-2 in title fights which is very impressive. Smith is not taking Stark lightly though and will have his own arsenal to try to win the fight. Smith is big on boxing and tries to throw much more strikes then his opponent but takes a lot in return. He has 21 TKO victories but often they are dragged out and he likes to wear down opponents rather than go for quick KO’s. He prefers at striking distance but is potent in the clinch too and will not take this fight to the ground. Stark is a bit taller and thinner then Smith and has less POW to his punches but is equally dangerous. Stark is 14-6 in decision victories and would like to bring this one all three rounds where he could have an advantage in the later rounds versus Peter Smith. Stark likes to fight from the clinch much more and likes to drag the fight out and control. He throws a lot of knees though if he gets a Muy Thai clinch and can get TKO’s that way with a knockout or by cut. He often gets hit more than he gives hits but he has a very tough chin and can be tough to put away. This matchup is a tough one and Smith would like to grab a knockout earlier and Stark wants to lean and clinch and throw a couple good dig strikes and wear out his opponent.
Prediction: Stark by decision. Drags this out in the clinch.
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