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 Fighting never solved anything....yeah right! Saturday night, fight night!
Lightweight: Kendall Thomas (5-3) vs "The Cole Miner" Michael Cole (3-5)
TTFC regular Kendall Thomas returns to the cage this weekend to face Michael Cole in a battle of skilled fighters with mediocre records. Thomas comes to finish fights and does so more often than not with all 5 of his victories coming by way of TKO and he would like nothing more than to make that 6 our of 6 versus Michael Cole. In Cole he faces a slick submission artist who is very much still trying to add to his arsenal. His hand skills are well developed but he is yet to really demonstrate a confidence in them. This fight will come down to wrestling and whether Cole can get Thomas on the mat where he can show off his Black Belt.
Prediction: Thomas is the better fighter but Cole is certainly capable of locking in a fight ending submission in a heartbeat. That said, Thomas has the takedown defense and the striking to put away Cole before the end of round 2.
Lightweight: "Sexy" Steve Starkweather (8-3) vs "Sophisticated" Boxing Comte (18-10)
"Sophisticated" Boxing Comte finds himself on the undercard largely as punishment for his no show for a title showdown with Blaise Lamont. To earn a second crack at the champion Comte will have to put together a serious run of wins against some top lightweights and Steve Starkweather is aiming to avoid being the first victim. Former champion Starkweather would like nothing more than to nip Comte's title aspirations in the bud and end his own two fight losing streak in the process. Whilst Comte relies on counter-wrestling and top level boxing. Starkweather brings a game as well rounded as anyone at lightweight and can meet almost any challenge in the cage.
Prediction: Boxing Comte needs to win big over and over to win back the favour of TTFC but "Sexy" Steve will not let that happen. Starkweather by close decision.
Middlweight: Sonny "Flash" Giovanni (19-10) vs Gustavo "The Leach" Ribeiro (12-8-1)
As brash as he is flash Sonny Giovanni loves to talk the talk and last time out walked the walk. His come from behind victory over Jack Hanson was nothing short of spectacular. The uppercut he unleashed on Hanson after a round and half of being bullied will take pride of place on his highlight reel. His opponent on Saturday night will be recently deposed Champion Gustavo Ribeiro. "The Leach" possesses one of the best ground games in TTFC but struggled to impose it in his defeat to clinch favouring and hard hitting Hank Patterson. Patterson is a more skillful and composed fighter than Giovanni who will almost certainly ignore the Patterson blueprint for beating Ribeiro in favour of his own aggressive boxing style.
Prediction: Flash is a capable fighter with fantastic takedown defense but Ribeiro will be fired ip and focuses, taking the submission win.
Bantamweight: Akeno Delroy (9-3) vs "O Louco" Nando Rafael (8-0-1)
Every week I say how stacked the bantamweight division is and every week there is another fight or three to prove me right. The first on this card is this mouth watering clash between Delroy and Rafael that will rocket one of them into the big leagues. For his TTFC debut Delroy served up a memorable clash with fan favourite Pain Peters and that will have boosted his confidence no end. In Rafael he faces a man with a burgeoning reputation of his own, boasting an impressive 9 fight undefeated start to his career. The Brazilian is an old school dirty boxer, using the clinch to punish the body and the head with short punches. He relies heavily on his superior cardio and relentless style to break opponents, and so far it seems to be working.
Prediction: When a fighter turns up unbeaten it's usually easy to back him for the win but not in this case. Delroy is a tough test and one that should tell us a lot more about Nando Rafael. That said Rafael should get it done here with another grinding decision victory.
Bantamweight: Victor "The Viking" Olsen (15-8) vs "Alpha" Bret Hill (18-11)
The second in Saturdays triumvirate of bantamweight match ups is an intriguing scrap between perennial contender Victor Olsen and experienced veteran "Alpha" Bret Hill. Both have stepped in there with Richard Teixeira and come up short, all be it in markedly different fashion. In Hill you have a heavy handed submission fighter which often proves to be a dangerous combination. The 11 losses on his CV are however testament to the fact is defensive skills do not match his offensive. After being fed to the lions in Lil Terror and Magatsu Taito it doesn't get much easier facing The Viking. Olsen boasts a win over current champion and consensus number 5 bantamweight in the world, King Leonidas. He also put in one hell of a showing versus Texeira. Versatile and on a two fight win streak Olsen doesn't look far off title contention yet again.
Prediction: Bret Hill is a dangerous fighter but not as skillful as Olsen. Olsen takes this one in the first round anyway he wants.
Middleweight: Charles "Lightning" Smith (4-1) vs Vitali "The Russian Assassin" Jurcina (10-4)
There is no secret to Lightning Smiths success in TTFC this far. The guys swarms with fast, powerful and most importantly technical boxing that has overwhelmed four men with an average fight length of 51 seconds. He is untested on the ground and his wrestling game needs serious work but if you let this guy throw his hands with any kind of rhythm you will get knocked out. Representing the border between divisional 'also ran' and top tier fighter is the Russian Assassin. Jurcina is not famed for his wrestling but may well have the takedowns and ground game to work over Smith if not put him away. That would be the smart thing to do but Jurcina is famous for his granite chin and lethal array of kicks. Which if he chooses to implement could mean a FOTN bonus for these men.
Prediction: Lightning is a phenomenal boxer, it remains to be seen if he is a phenomenal mixed martial artist. With that in mind this is Jurcina's fight, taking the decision with his grappling if he is smart.
Welterweight: "The Ace of Trumps" Giorgio Jacques (14-5) vs Swag In A Bag (13-5)
In a classic striker versus grappler contest in the welterweight division we have two fighters with a wealth of experience who think that it is there time to shine. "The Ace of Trumps" Giorgio Jacques was given a stern test in his TTFC debut but passed with flying colours when he submitted former welterweight champion Braylon Beswicke with a clinical grappling display. His wrestling is excellent and he has the chin to close the distance in search of the takedown, something he will have to demonstrate against power puncher Swag. Swag has put together a 2-2 resume inside the TTFC cage and has looked spectacular in both his victories, both devastating knockouts. With a decent ground game of his own Bag will not be a lamb to the slaughter on the mat but will certainly want this fight standing for as long as possible.
Prediction: Jacques has relentless takedowns and a strong chin, with that in mind I think he has the tools needed to win this fight, applying constant pressure and working over his man on the mat.
Lightweight: Blaise Lamont (10-5) vs Stan "The Shark" Richard (11-7)
The unprofessionalism of Boxing Comte cost Lamont a title defense in December and as such will not have fought for over 2 months going into this one. The explosive New Yorker can end a fight from any position at any time and when he is on is near unstoppable. Inconsistency has blighted his career to date and he will be hoping that the title around his waist will focus him on the tasks ahead. "The Shark" may have been next in line behind Comte but he has certainly earned his shot by TKO'ing the on fire Bobby Porterfield and taking a FOTN win over former champion Steve Starkweather. Stan Richard is an elite striker with serious fire power in his hands and impressive cardio. His confidence is in his hands but he often throws in the low kick and even a takedown to keep his opponents guessing. Whilst Stark is more dangerous standing Lamont has the speed to counter nearly any threat. He can throw the punch second and still land it first.
Prediction: Lamont is dynamic and exciting to watch and with fellow gamer Stan Richard opposite him this should be a fantastic match up. It's a close run thing but I think with equal exchanges on the feet Lamont will win this by decision thanks to the time they spend on the ground.
Heavyweight:"The Lost Seraphim" Xiomar Halo (8-1) vs Bob McGrady (13-2)
Chico Escuela made Xiomar Halo mad and now the rest of the heavyweight division has to suffer for it. With the winner of this fight seemingly poised to challenge newly minted champion Richtor Schkayle in the not too distant future. Halo is destructive to say the least, blasting through opposition with punches that land like mace blows and the defensive wrestling that gives him a base like a brick wall. His jiujitsu game is virtually non existent and that is the way to defeat him as Chico Escuela demonstrated but getting Halo down and isolating a limb is about as tougher a task as there is in MMA. Bob McGrady arrives in TTFC with a hard earnt reputation as a master of ground and pound. His chin is cast iron and his wrestling is based on perfect timing and setting up the takedown with heavy hands of his own. The likelihood of a TKO is through the roof when these two clash and this fight could go 15 seconds or 15 minutes but it is bound to be a crowd pleaser.
Prediction: Xiomar Halo is terrifying fighter who crushes people but McGrady is a tough son of a gun with the tools to pick up the win here by decision or late TKO.
Bantamweight: King Leonidas (12-3) vs "The Gunslinger" Trinity Hill (25-4-1)
King Leonidas did what the last 19 men couldn't do and defeated Richard Teixeira to take the bantamweight title for his own. The manner in which he did it made it even more impressive as he finished the then undisputed number one 135lber in the world before 2 minutes were on the clock. The pride of Sparta supplements his brutal boxing with effective wrestling and a never ending gas tank that means he is always in the fight. In Trinity Hill he faces a man with a gaudy but deserved record and style to mirror his own. He faces a significant size disadvantage against Leonidas who can stay long and keep Hill at bay. Letting Hill close the distance increases his danger no end as Magatsu Taito will testify. The talented Japanese fighter being separated from his senses by a combination and follow up ground and pound from nowhere in a fight he was winning.
Prediction: This is a tough fight to call but Leonidas beat Teixeira comfortably to win the title and Hill is no Lil Terror. Both love to TKO their foe but this one has decision all over it. Leonidas by decision.
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