|
 Hello everyone I am “Sunshine” Weston Markson along with my partner Rudy “The Box” Knife, were here in the Heroic studio to discuss Heroic 117. Heroic 117 is the biggest event in Heroic history! For the first time Heroic will take it to the biggest stage of them all when they take over London’s Wombley Arena Friday. We expect in excess of 93,000 fans to attend the event and hundreds of thousands more to watch at home.
Rudy: OMG this is huge this event, this card, get excited because I think big things are coming, its been announced that 27 of Heroic’s next 30 events will be held in this arena, so were looking to be a mainstay in this scene, but back to this card its huge, every fighter except for one on this card is ranked in the top 10 of their division and that one fighter is the unofficial 11th ranked fighter. Not only that but the entire top 10 p4p list is fighting on this card Friday. If that wasn’t enough every Heroic title will be put up as the champions take to the cage to prove they are the Heroes of Heroic. I cant wait to see the way this thing turns out but lets get into the fights.
MAIN EVENT
#2 - p4p #6 "Boran" Muay Thai (26-11) v C/ 1 - p4p #4 Kirk Laputa (22-5) 265 lbs title
Weston: The main event of Heroic 117 is a heavyweight title fight between champion Kirk Laputa, and former champion and challenger Muay Thai. Thai comes into this fight as the p4p 6th ranked fighter in Heroic, he has lost only one time when he lost his title to the man the current champion took it from. Sitting at 6-1 he hopes Friday he can improve his record to 7-1, and once again become champion, his opponent the champion Kirk Laputa. Laputa comes into this fight fresh off his title victory, and eighth straight win. Sitting at 5-0 in Heroic Laputa has the chance to become one of the most successful champions ever, so far in Heroic Laputa has not lost a single round, finished every fight by (T)KO except for one, and the fight that went to decision he dominated even winning one round 10-8. Laputa has been the most dominant heavyweight fighter since joining Heroic now that the secerets out lets see if he can maintain his dominance, a win over Muay Thai will make everyone believers.
Rudy: This is going to be a great fight, and your right Laputa has been dominant, but so has Muay Thai this guy has made just one small mistake since his time being in Heroic and it cost him the title. When you look at this fight I think of two bigger then life fighters throwing down in a high stakes intense fight. Both of these fighters are ranked in the top 25 for heavyweights worldwide so a win will skyrocket their stock, for Muay Thai his keys to victory are to keep his distance from Laputa, Laputa may be the taller fighter but He likes closing the distance and working in the clinch, if Muay Thai wants to win he will need to use his leg kicks which he lands 62% of the time to wear Laputa down then use his boxing which he lands nearly 61% of his punches to put Laputa away. For Laputa if he wants to win he will need to stay away from the power of Muay Thai, close the distance and work his magic in the clinch. The biggest reason for Laputa’s dominance has been his clinch skills. Laputa’s biggest weapons in the clinch is knees to the body he lands a little over 50% but he uses them well to hurt his opponent and then finish them off with dirty boxing. I expect a standup fight here I don’t believe either man has ever attempted a takedown so get ready for a fight that could end at any moment with just one punch. These two have a combined 37 knockouts and win by (T)KO 77% of the time.
Prediction: If Laputa can get in the clinch and stay he wins if not it gets much more interesting.
CO-MAIN EVENT
#C/1 – p4p #1 Donny "The Bear Jew" Donowitz (29-4) v #2 - p4p #9 Kenny Floor Jan (27-9) 155 lbs title
Weston: The CO-MAIN EVENT of the night is a lightweight title fight between champion and p4p best fighter in Heroic Donny Donowitz and challenger Kenny Floor Jan. Donowitz is another fighter that has been dominant since joining Heroic. He is 6-0 in Heroic and won 8 straight title fights. Donowitz is the worlds 2nd ranked Lightweight, and in my opinion the best lightweight in the world right now. So far “The Bear Jew” has been unbeatable in Heroic but he has had a couple of close fights, on such fight was against Kenny Floor Jan the first time these two met. Kenny Floor Jan and Donowitz fought to a decision which Donowitz won by majority. Floor Jan is the 11 ranked lightweight in the world, and with that last fight fresh in his memory he feels this time around he will be able to rewrite history with a win.
Rudy: Wooh what a fight two great lightweights in a rematch from a fight that was very close the first time around, So close that one judge saw it as a draw. I think we can expect another back and forth fight, and my pick for FOTN. I would say I don’t know what to expect out of this fight but I think I know exactly what to expect. Donowitz will look to keep the fight standing, work his leg kicks, and head punches which are his two biggest weapons he lands both around 65% of the time so he is accurate with them as well. Donowitz stops 84% of takedowns which is what allows him to pick apart his opposition and search for the KO. For Floor Jan I think he will look to do what he did last time but do it better. He will come out looking to clinch with Donowitz and take him down. I expect Floor Jan to be a little more active this time around to avoid referee standups. I think this is his recipe for success and last time he nearly pulled it off. If he tires the champion out with his clinch and ground game he may be able to steal this one from the champ.
Prediction: Donowitz wins until he losses that’s my prediction.
MAIN CARD
#C/1 –p4p #5 Bowser Stormcrow (16-1) v #2 p4p #8 Jay Hunter (22-9) 170 lbs title
Weston: The last fight on the main card is a welterweight fight for Bowser Stormcrow’s title. Jay Hunter will attempt to take the title away from the young Stormcrow. These two welterweights are ranked in both Heroic’s top 10 p4p, and amongst the 20 best welterweights worldwide. Hunter is the 18th ranked WW in the world, and comes into this fight 5-1 in Heroic having won 5 straight fights after losing his first fight in Heroic. Hunter came into Heroic with everything thinking he could one day be the champion, but it was after that first fight a loss to a former champion that everyone wondered if he would reach his potential. Now after 5 straight wins its apparent Jay Hunter is who we thought he was. Stormcrow the young and impressive champion who is another of the undeated in Heroic’s champions. Actually its interesting to note that every champion in Heroic except for one has not been beaten in Heroic. Anyway at 16-1 overall the 25 year old Stormcrow could well be one his way to a legendary career, afterall how many fighters are ranked in the top 10 of their division worldwide before they even hit 25 years old. A win against Hunter will allow him to continue what could become one of the most legendary careers, can Hunter spoil his fun?
Rudy: Both of these fighters are absolutely awesome! Hunter is dangerous everywhere he can finish fights standing and on the ground. If he wants to take the title home his best chance is to use his ground game Hunter has not been very successful with takedowns landing only 19%, buts its his aggressiveness with the pursuit of takedowns that has allowed him to get the fight to the ground, he averages over 10 takedown attempts per fight. Landing right around two of those, its what he does once he has the takedown that makes him so dangerous, his GNP and submission skills have led him to the majority of his wins, getting Stormcrow to the ground will be Hunters’s biggest task with Hunter only landing a small percentage of takedowns, and Stormcrow defending 84% of takedowns it will be interesting to see if Hunter can get the champion down, or if the champion will be able to keep it standing and employ his strategy. Rest assured Stormcrow will be looking to keep the fight standing and strike away. Stormcrow is a versatile striker who mixes it up well to keep his opponents guessing. He also likes the clinch although he doesn’t land a high percentage of strikes there with under 50% of his strikes landing from the clinch. Stormcrow isn’t the most accurate striker in the world landing just over 50% in his two best strikes, but he lands enough to damage his opponents and get the wins.
Prediction: Stormcrow gets taken down early, but has Hunter tires he defends takedowns and earns a decision victory.
#4 Rusty Kuntz (33-10-1 ) v #3 – p4p #7 Fedor "Cannon" Vladimirov (17-6)
Weston: The next fight on the main card is a heavyweight clash between two top 10 ranked heavyweights Rusty Kuntz, and 3 time champion Fedor Vladimirov. The last time we saw Fedor he was once again losing the title in his first fight after winning it, the three time champion has been unbeaten in non title fights, and in title opportunities he has been unbeaten as well, but when defending the title Fedor is 0-3. Lucky for him (Maybe) he isn’t defending a title so history would suggest he wins this fight. His overall record in Heroic is 6-3 and despite never defending his title successfully Fedor remains the man who has held the heavyweight crown the most times, and one if not the most successful heavyweight of all time in Heroic. Fedor’s opponent is well on his way to having an equally impressive career if he can continue to win, right now Kuntz sits at 2-0 in Heroic he has been one of the most impressive fighters and recent signings Heroic has seen. He comes into this fight as a slight underdog but he has all the tools to pull of the upset.
Rudy: When you say he has the tools to pull off the upset let me tell you what tools those are, Kuntz has brutal one strike KO power, Kuntz has won 88% of his fights by TKO. When he came to Heroic people wondered if he had the ability to win decisions in this division, he has proven in his first two fights he can win decisions, and now the KO artist looks to do what he does best…put people to sleep. He throws everything into every strike hoping for the KO, landing just under 50% of most strikes Kuntz will hope he lands the power shot or more damaging shots early and continues until the fight is over. Fedor is the perfect opponent for Kuntz, and Kuntz for Fedor. Fedor is also a fighter who rarely sees the decision having won 15 of his 17 fights by (T)KO which is also 88%! Fedor is a little more accurate landing right around 65% of his strikes. I think this fight is going to be a seat sitting fight that ends as soon as one fighter connects cleanly with the other. I don’t think it will last past the first round let alone 15 minutes but who knows I have been wrong before!
Prediction: I think Fedor wins by TKO
# C/1 –p4p #2 "Go"Phukyorselvf Uzannavabizch (27-5-1) v #2 Mike Hunt (19-13) 205 lbs title
Weston: The next fight on the main card is another one of the undefeated champions (Inside of Heroic) defending their title. PU as we all call him puts his light-heavyweight title on the line against a fighter who last time they met was left contemplating his career. This time Mike Hunt will look to return the favor. Hunt has been one of the biggest surprises in Heroic. Hunt has been an underdog in the division, but what has propelled him is his heart and determination to become the champion. Hunt is 6-2 in Heroic, with one of those two losses being against the man he faces Friday, and the other to a former champion. Hunt has proven he is game and could be the darkhorse of the division with a knack for pulling out unexpected wins don’t be shocked if he does the same Friday against the champion and 2nd ranked p4p fighter in Heroic PU. PU is another one of those champions who has yet to lose in Heroic. Currently 5-0 and looking dominant, he has one everyway you can since being in Heroic which is something that doesn’t happen often. IT will be interesting to see if Hunt can once again do the unthinkable or if PU will continue his reign of dominance.
Rudy: I think the first time these two met Hunt was doubting himself, I think now he has confidence and is very dangerous. Hunt has the perfect style to beat PU, he will look to get this fight to the ground with his elite wrestling and 60% takedowns success, from there I expect Hunt will look to employ his GNP and look for the finish. If he gets some early takedowns and is able to tire PU out we could be looking at a new champion. For PU he will look to do what he did last time these two met, last time he dominated Hunt in what was PU’s first fight for Heroic. PU doesn’t do as well at defending takedowns as he could but still defends 78% of takedowns, what he did well in the first fight though was get back up quickly when taken down. If PU can do this again and work his boxing he should be the victor.
Prediction: Hunt really has the style to beat PU, my gut is telling me we will see an upset but I wont pick against a champ so I have PU by decision.
#3 Begbie Franco (19-8) v #C/1 - p4p#3 "The Sterilizer" Jean Pierre Babin (21-5) 185 lbs title
Weston: You know its going to be a great night when the first fight on the main card is a title fight and has the 3rd ranked p4p fighter in Heroic. Jean Pierre Babin will look to continue what is becoming a middleweight legacy against the challenger Begbie Franco. JPB is now the most successful middleweight of all time in Heroic at 8-1, he has competed in 8 straight title fights losing only one of those, and since that loss has rebounded to win 3 straight. Now Babin looks to move into the top 10 worldwide for middleweights. Begbie joined Heroic a long time ago and immediately said he would someday be the champion, he got a shot at that title nearly 8 months ago against the very man he fights Friday, that fight ended with Begbie earning his first loss in Heroic and having his dreams ruined. After that fight Begbie lost 2 more straight fights and looked like he could be fading as a contender, but since then he has won 5 straight fights including one against the only man to beat JPB, now 9-3 overall in Heroic Franco is attempting to do the only thing he has yet to do; win the title.
Rudy: Last time these two met we thought we would see a great striking fight. After all it was two of the divisions best strikers , but it was the champion who shocked us with a smart strategy coming out and immediately working for the takedown something he does less then one time per fight but lands nearly half of his attempts. When looking at this fight statistically Franco is the more accurate fighter with his strikes, but JPB is the more powerful. Combined these two have 29 (T)KO’s. I think we will see a great standup battle, but then again if last time is any indication maybe one of these guys will go for the takedown.
Prediction: I think JPB wins by (T)KO.
PRELIMS
Weston: You know Rudy these prelims are all big fights, we have two heavyweight bouts that will determine where these guys stand in the division. One such bout is between the 8th and 9th ranked fighters Leonardo Ferreira who makes his Heroic debut, and Dave Mastain who makes his second appearance in Heroic, both guys have a lot of expectations and one will come out closer to realizing them.
Another of the heavyweight prelim fights are former champion Shane Luger and rising star Sergei Kharitonov. Kharitonov has been in Heroic forever and has had some good moments, he was once in a #1 contenders bout, after winning 3 straight fights he looks like he could be experiencing the prime of his career. Luger on the other hand is the former champion who has lost 3 out of his last 4, he comes into this fight ranked 10th, with a loss he will drop from the rankings for the first time since joining Heroic, with a win he stays. For Kharitonov its been a while since he has been ranked, a win over Luger will mark his return to the divisions top 10.
Rudy: Those are going to be great fights, but I really like the middleweight fight on the prelims it’s a fight between the 2nd and 4th ranked MW’s in Heroic, and one of them is the 10th p4p best fighter in Heroic Melvin Manhoef who came so close to defeating the current champion JPB. Hilkuri is on a 3 fight win streak and looking like one of the divisions elite MW’s if he beats Manhoef that will be huge because a win here could give these two men a title shot or put them in really good position to earn one in the near future.
The other prelim im really looking forward to is the light-heavyweight fight between 3rd ranked Noel Smith and 4th ranked Kuma Nelson. This is another fight where the winner could potentially earn a title shot or come really close. Both of these fighters have had an opportunity at the champion and both want a second shot to prove they are the divisions best.
#10 Shane Luger (22-6) v Sergei Kharitonov (16-5)
#4 Pentti Hilkuri (21-10) v #2 –p4p #10 Melvin Manhoef (22-10)
#4 Kuma Nelson (16-2) v #3 Noel Smith (25-11)
#9 Leonardo Ferreira (13-4) v #8 Dave Mastain (25-10-1)
Article views:
167
» Donate to this author |
