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 Highland Island 19
12th March
Hard Knocks (3,000)
Highland Island returns to Hard Knocks to give the Island fans a cracker of a show. Headlining is 205 champion Skip Gordon looking to defend his title for the 2nd time against all rounder Alonzo Harris. The card is dominated by fights happening in the 205 division, so I can guess that the next challenger to the LHW title is fighting on the card.
Skip Gordon vs. Alonzo Harris – 205lbs TITLE FIGHT
Gordon is looking to cement his claim as one of the best Island fighters. Standing in his way is Alonzo Harris who has shown a well versed MMA game.
Gordon’s tactic is simple yet effective, he doesn’t waste time in rushing for the clinch where he controls with his strength and batters people with elbows and punches. Undefeated so far but he has shown if he can’t get the clinch he doesn’t do much standing in front of his opponents and being largely ineffective.
Harris is deadly, simple as that. He has shown to have big time power, stopping two of his opponents with some powerful boxing and he has a deadly array of submissions at his disposal. His only loss was to a very polished grappler, something which shouldn’t worry him against Gordon.
I feel Harris will be able to wrap Gordon up on the floor and get a submission at some point. As long as he doesn’t eat too many elbows.
Prediction: Harris via submission
Judo "Submission Machine" Brazil vs. Polite "And" Efficient – 250lbs
Brazil is a grappler, he likes to enter a clinch and rough them up a bit before slamming them to the ground. Once on the ground he has a full arsenal of weapons, his ground and pound is powerful but it is his submissions that should be watched out for as 4 of his 5 wins come from submissions, his favourite being the kimura.
Efficient is much like the other fighters from Ivan Drago’s camp. Clinch rapists. He has learnt how to clinch from one of the best Island managers and in his 4 wins all of them come from him cutting up opponents in the clinch with razor sharp elbows.
Both will want this in the clinch, whether or not Brazil will be able to get it to the ground remains another question. My money is on Efficient.
Prediction: Efficient via TKO
Kaleva Vettenranta vs. Filipe Boaz – 205lbs
The classic boxer vs wrestler matchup. Kaleva makes is money by charging for takedowns with no setups and being heavy on top with ground and pound to open his opponents up for submissions. Fairly effective but when his takedowns are stuffed he has no clue how to to anything else and ends up eating punches.
Boaz will be confident, having KOed Kaleva before and stuffing 12 desperate takedowns. His boxing is crisp and his sprawl game is on point. His only losses have been to other superior strikers, something his opponent on Saturday is not.
I’m taking Boaz getting another KO.
Prediction: Boaz via KO
Sudo "Magodo" Godo vs. Ding "Mr Donger" Dong – 205lbs
More LHW action. Both powerful boxers with a good clinch game, Godo has shown off nasty power in his punches, especially his dirty boxing.
Dong is a similar fighter, but with only 1 fight it is hard to gauge his what type of fighter he is. What he did show was a good chin accompanying some solid dirty boxing.
I feel that Dong will be able to take Godo’s punches, and eventually wear Godo out enough for him to pounce for victory.
Prediction: Dong via TKO
Tyson "Mike Mike" Wonde vs. Kaleva Mansikkamaa – 155lbs
A fight that isn’t a LHW one here. Wonde is a grappler, the extent and prowess of his grappling remains a mystery as his only fight lasted 55 seconds in which he was thoroughly beaten by strikes.
Mini Kaleva is an excellent striker, mainly using his muay thai to land his punches and kicks. He does most of his damage in close quarters however, as he lands a staggering amount of strikes to hurt opponents.
I think Kaleva will be too powerful for Wonde and score another TKO.
Prediction: Kaleva via TKO
UNDERCARD
Royal Pain vs. Pat Ocon – 155lbs
Jakub "Skala" Zlamany vs. Justen "T.E.N." Dawlerz – 205lbs
Abdul Khaliq Khalid vs. Tom "The Raskin" Bobbins – 205lbs
Rick Vacon vs. Linius Lindeberg – 135lbs
Troy Resic vs. Killer "Killer" Kintal – 205lbs
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