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 Ladies and Gentlemen, coming to you live on February 5th from Hayashi's Lounge - The Island, Highland Games presents: Highland Games 52! The stacked card is highlighted by the main event Light Heavyweight Championship rematch between LightHeavy "205" Weight and Jake "The Spartan" Theodorou! Shtaaf Reimish here to break down all the action for you so you can be fully prepared for the action down at 'The Lounge' this Thursday. Let's get 'em going!
Kunar "The Crank" Lckenor (3-0) vs Anthony "Showtime" Pettis (3-0) Lightweight
We kick off the evening in the lightweight division with a fight between two guys that ran off three straight QFC victories to open their pro careers, its Kunar "The Crank" Lckenor vs Anthony "Showtime" Pettis! Other than their records, these two guys could not be more different. Lckenor is a stand up specialist who is known for throwing his knuckles. He has won all three of his fights with his knuckles in the first round ( 1 KO, 2 TKO). Pettis, on the other hand, can tussle on the floor with the best in the world. The Wisconsin native has posted submission victories in all three of his QFC bouts and will look to bring this fight to the mat as early and often as possible. I've got Lckenor keeping the fight upright and winning via KO.
Rimiaro "The One" Gracie (2-0) vs Akau "The Beast" Umaga (2-3) Light Heavyweight
The second fight on the card features Rimiaro "The One" Gracie looking to continue his promising career and Akau "The Beast" Umaga looking to prove he can last in the grinding world of pro MMA. Gracie really lacks talent while standing up, but in his first two pro fights, he was able to bring his opponent down and dominate when it got there. The Brazilian was recently released by his manager and will look for a win here to attract the best manager possible to spring board his promising career. Umaga has had an up and down go at pro MMA thus far in his career. The huge Samoan has been with Highland Games from the beginning, going 2-2 in that time frame and will look to use his superb knuckles to end Gracie's evening early. I'll take Umaga by KO.
Dick "The Heat" Castle (6-4) vs Kurt Wisdom (5-4) Lightweight
Back to the lightweights we go as two veteran Island fighters entering the Highland Games octagon looking to separate their win column from their loss column a bit further, its Dick "The Heat" Castle vs Kurt Wisdom! Castle used his fists to jump out to a 4-0 start, but hit a rut losing four of his last six. A recent switch of employers has brought the New Yorker to Highland Games from AFL, and he will look to avenge his HG debut submission loss with a victory Thursday. Wisdom fought seven times in the QFC (4-3) before he was finally rewarded with a contract by Highland Games where he has split his two bouts. The 25-year-old Malaysian has a wrestling background and will look to control this fight as much as possible, probably willing to take it to a decision. I've got Castle by TKO.
#15 Arthur "King" Carvalho (6-4) vs #10 Piotr "Wyspa" Wyspianski (6-2) Middleweight
Two more veteran Island fighters enter the octagon, this time in the middleweight division, as Arthur "King" Carvalho and Piotr "Wyspa" Wyspianski look to continue the climb up the rankings after recent wins! After a brief QFC stint, Carvalho signed a welterweight contract with AFL before making his Highland Games debut at HG 41 back at his natural 185 weight class. The brown belt BJJ specialist lost his HG debut by KO but rebounded to submit Din Ooo in the second round of HG 48. Wyspianski is making a short six day turnaround after defeating Valentin Shovkovskyj in round one of HG 51 last Friday. The Poland native has an extensive Muay Thai background combined with an amazing wrestling skill set makes him a tough opponent for anyone. Carvalho via submission.
#8 Jomlong "Mighty Midget" Kiapoity (5-2) vs #6 "Black Bear" Dominance Zelditeez (7-2) Bantamweight
For the last fight of the prelims we enter the bantamweight division with two top-notch ranked fighters looking to rebound after their second losses of their careers', its Jomlong "Mighty Midget" Kiapoity vs "Black Bear" Dominance Zelditeez! Kiapoity is a BJJ specialist who came to Highland Games after a short stint with Ultimate XC. He climbed up the bantamweight rankings before falling to Zakari Moss at HG 49 via a first round armbar. Zelditeez made an extended run in the QFC going 6-1 before a change of managers brought him to Highland Games. After a convincing submission victory in his HG debut over Men Tor, he was rewarded with a title shot at HG 40 versus Serge Ibaka. The Brazilian hung in there for nearly two full rounds with the champ before bowing via TKO to a barrage of strikes. Both guys should be hungry to climb further up the ladder towards a future shot against Ibaka or whomever else may be the champ at that time! I'll take Zelditeez via TKO simply due to how close he came to Ibaka last time out, and how bad he wants the rematch.
#9 Scott McGinty (5-2) vs #13 Momo La Brute (7-5) Light Heavyweight
To begin Thursday's main card, Highland Games brings two solid boxers, Scott McGinty and Momo La Brute, together into the octagon! McGinty has slowly been climbing the HG light heavyweight rankings since his HG debut back at HG 7. The Rockport, USA native has used his boxing background to round one KOs in all five of his victories. He has a considerable reach advantage over his counterpart Thursday so we'll have to see if he can make the most of the opportunity! La Brute has had quite a streaky career to this point, winning his first five fights, then losing three, winning two before losing his last two. His last defeat against #1 challenger Jake Theodorou (TKO at HG 47) resulted in his former manager dropping him before being scooped up by struggling manager Dodge Ford. Both guys will look to take the next rung on the ever competitive light heavyweight ladder, so there's plenty to fight for in this one! McGinty by TKO.
#6 Amine Nesquik (7-4) vs #14 Mitchel Thompson (6-3) Heavyweight
Its time for the big boys of the heavyweight division to enter the octagon as Amine Nesquik and Mitchel Thompson look to find some consistency as they look up at the contenders of the HG heavyweight division! Nesquik opened up his pro MMA career with much promise, reeling off five consecutive TKO victories before hitting a bumpy stretch, going 2-4 in his last six. The time is running out for the popular fist swinging Kyrgyzstani to make an good impression if he wants to remain a contender in Highland Games. Thompson enters this fight looking to continue off of a impressive showing at HG 50 last week, ending Kellen Patrick's night 5 seconds into round two with a barrage of fisticuffs. The former pro boxer from New York is not that far off from being a legitimate threat in the heavyweight division. I'll take Thompson by KO.
#9 Pedro "Pirate" Lazaro (8-2) vs #5 Jason Barrett (6-2) Heavyweight
In the second of back-to-back heavyweight tilts, Pedro "Pirate" Lazaro and Jason Barrett look to make a favorable impression on HG owner Callum McGregor as they each desire a chance at the heavyweight belt! Lazaro has already had a chance, losing a tough late second round barrage at the hands of current title holder Barney Gumble at HG 45. The 26-year-old Panama native is making a short turnaround after fighting only 6 days ago, a first round TKO victory over Richard Reddick. Barrett enters this fight coming off the win that ended a two fight losing streak. Those two losses were the first two of Barrett's career. The boxing specialist is probably two wins away from earning a title shot against Barney Gumble or whoever has the belt at that time. Lots on the line here for these two big boys. I'll take Barrett by KO.
#2 Louis "Crow" Gordon (7-1) vs #4 Skunk Asap (7-2) Light Heavyweight
And now, for the co-main event of the evening, Highland Games brings us a huge title implicating match-up between two guys starving for a title shot, its #2 Louis "Crow" Gordon taking on #4 Skunk Asap! Gordon became extremely popular in Ultimate XC and the AFL, racking up 6 straight win which earned him an AFL title shot just over a month ago. The Canadian lost that bout due to a cut late in the third round to Michael Coleman but rebounded nicely last week to TKO Sergey Vasilyev in what was his last AFL fight. He comes to Highland Games looking to make an immediate impact with his extensive Muay Thai background and earn the right to fight for another belt with his new organization. Asap also had a brief stink in Ultimate XC before signing a deal with Highland Games. in his time here, he is 3-1, including his recent two-fight win streak. In his last bout, Asap KO'd Ludko Struja late in the first round of HG 47. The Djibouti native has natural KO power and has some devastating knees and elbow to mix in to make him a formidable opponent. With the winner of this fight likely getting a title shot at whoever wins tonight's championship main event, there's plenty to fight for! My pick in this one is Gordon by TKO.
Light Heavyweight Championship Title
© LightHeavy "205" Weight (10-1) vs #1 Jake "The Spartan" Theodorou (8-1)
Finally, the fight the world has been waiting for, the rematch for the Highland Games Light Heavyweight Championship between the champion LightHeavy "205" Weight and, the challenger looking for revenge, Jake "The Spartan" Theodorou! These two fought one month ago Friday in what was Weight's second successful title defense in what ended just 37 seconds into round one. Theodorou started aggressively with a failed takedown attempt, but when they stood up, Weight caught him with a glancing elbow that busted open his face and then Weight opened it up further until the doctors finally called an end to the fight. Theodorou has bounced back nicely in the last month posting back-to-back victories against Momo La Brute and James Helm last week at HG 50. The Canadian possesses his greatest skill set on the mat but has managed just fine standing as well, using his fists to seven on his eight victories. Weight has been a formidable champion since he first took the belt at HG 27 versus Rive Aroni. He has successfully defended his belt four times, including his most recent victory over Dieter Von Sprockets at HG 47 which earned the late first round TKO Fight of the Night. The Vegas native can box, wrestle and has a background in Muay Thai as well, which makes him hard to conquer, no matter what skill set his opponent possesses. This has the makings of an awesome rematch for the ages! I know it may be the obvious choice, but I'll take Weight defending his belt via a TKO.
I'll tell you one thing, MMA Tycoon fans: Thursday cannot come fast enough! With a full slated card pack with high octane matchups of some of The Island's best fighters, Highland Games 52 is an event you will not want to miss! See you Thursday!
Written by Shtaaf Reimish
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