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 BBP Fight Night (13 July 16 – Bob’s Bar, Las Vegas) Preview and Predictions – Written By Gabe T.S. Gardner (112290)
From Bob’s Bar in Las Vegas comes the first edition of Fight Night presented by Bad Boy Promotions. Featuring 10 bouts of the cream of the crop of MMA in the state of Nevada including two title fights for the 135lbs BBP title and the 145lbs title.
Fight 1
Jimmy “Jimmy the Reach” Johnson 4-0-0 v Lucas Pereira 3-0-0: 3 Rounds of 5 Minutes 135lbs
Both fighters are coming into this fight with a wave of momentum, undefeated with four and three victories respectively. Both fighters have gone the distance on two separate occasions and have shown considerably good stand-up ability. The fight here I believe isn’t going to be won with one punch or a submission, but by fighting tactically. Both Johnson and Pereira will be prepping for this fight cautiously, well aware of their opponent’s solid record if they have done their homework.
Pereira especially will want to take note that his opponent finished an opponent within a minute, demonstrating fierce kicking power and will likely be watching out for the longer legs of Johnson. In terms of natural ability, I believe Pereira has demonstrated greater tactical intelligence in his fights, slowing the pace and taking the fights round by round instead of gassing himself trying to get the highlight reel finish. Both fighters have the skills to win this one, but my vote goes to Pereira.
Gabe T.S. Gardner’s Prediction: (W) Lucas Pereira, Round 3 (UD)
Fight 2
Iain “Menzies” The Man 1-1-0 vs Dexter “Mclovin” Wilson 0-1-0: 3 Rounds of 5 Minutes 170lbs
It’s the battle for Chester here as two men from the same turf fight for bragging rights to take back to their hometown. Wilson has demonstrated a fantastic boxing game and a solid chin but is prone to errors on his back, finding himself most of the time throughout his first fight trying to bat off submission moves, and eventually tapping to an Armbar.
“The man” in contrast to his opponent has shown to have a decent ground game overall and superior wrestling skills, but a very poor grasp of standup ability, and is likely to struggle on his feet against a boxer the calibre of Wilson. This fight is about exploiting weaknesses and covering up you own, and due to “Menzies” victory over a superior standup fighter previously in his career, I think he has the ability to get this done and submit Wilson by the second round.
Gabe T.S. Gardner’s Prediction: (W) Iain “Menzies” The Man, Round 2 (SUB)
Fight 3
James Oddweek 1-0-0 v Junior Silva 2-1-0: 3 Rounds of 5 Minutes 145lbs
Junior Silva debuts in BBP against Oddweek who is coming off of his debut win back at BBP 2. Silva has gone the distance in all three of his fights so far, losing one and winning two by unanimous decision. While this does illustrate that Silva has good durability and a solid chin, this does bring into question his ability to finish, and if he finds himself losing the rounds to Oddweek (also winning his first fight via decision) he might struggle to get a result if he doesn’t have that killer instinct to deliver a knockout blow.
Oddweek won slimly by split decision in his first fight in a bout that could have gone either way and this is all we have seen so far. Judging from what he displayed in that fight however, I don’t think he has a chance in a standup fight and may lack the ability to dominate him on the ground, so I have to give the edge in this one to Silva, in what I predict will be the first stoppage in either of their careers so far.
Gabe T.S. Gardner’s Prediction: (W) Junior Silva, Round 2 (TKO/KO)
Fight 4
Robb “The Wolf” Stark 1-0-0 v Hari “The Kraken” Kunwar 2-1-0: 3 Rounds of 5 Minutes 155lbs
It’s a battle of the beasts here at 155lbs as “The Wolf” Robb Stark looks to use his well-rounded striking game to beat “The Kraken” Hari Kunwar, coming off two wins inside the first round by submission.
This fight, as with most others on the card is about who will manage to exploit the weaknesses of the other earlier, and force them out of their comfort zone. While Kunwar has been able to deal with competent standup fighters and those more comfortable on the ground in his two wins, he hasn’t yet faced anyone with the strong and rounded striking ability of Stark.
Stark, similarly hasn’t faced someone with the BJJ ability of Kunwar yet and if caught in a submission could find out very quickly how much that experience factor may be needed.
While I think both fighters have the ability to win this, I think if Kunwar gets caught early, and might not have the wherewithal to recover.
Gabe T.S. Gardner’s Prediction: (W) Robb “The Wolf” Stark, Round 1 (TKO/KO)
Fight 5
Maurice Smith 3-1-0 v Liam Fitzpatrick 2-2-0: 3 Rounds of 5 Minutes for the BBP Featherweight title
The 135lbs title is up for grabs here for the first time in BBP history, as we wait to crown the first champion at this weight division. Maurice Smith is riding a three fight winning streak, including his debut at BBP 2 for which he was awarded fight of the night honours. His superb Muay Thai and solid wrestling ability makes his a threat to any opponent and is the favourite going into this fight because of this.
Fitzpatrick has the same number of fights under his belt but has found out the hard way what getting knocked out feels like, losing to another fighter proficient in Muay Thai and wrestling before. If he can lure Smith in however, he could force him to tap out as his two wins have both come from submission, a reflection of his wrestling and BJJ ability.
Given that Fitzpatrick has lost to a fighter cut from a cloth not too dissimilar to that of Smith before, I give the edge to smith to become the first ever BPP featherweight champion.
Gabe T.S. Gardner’s Prediction: (W) Maurice Smith, Round 2 (TKO/KO)
Fight 6
Sausage “Soy” McMuffin 1-0-0 v Lukasz "Gonzo" Nemec 0-0-0: 3 Rounds of 5 Minutes 185lbs
This fight, either way is almost certainly going to end in somebody tapping out. While McMuffin’s all-round skillset has appeared limited, he is highly skilled at BJJ and is likely to bet it all on luring “Gonzo” into a submission. Nemec however is also well skilled in BJJ and a superior wrestler.
While McMuffin has won his debut fight I don’t feel is will be skilled enough to overcome the more rounded ability of his opponent tonight. I predict Nemec will be able to submit him in the first or second round although he will have to be wary he doesn’t get overconfident and caught.
Gabe T.S. Gardner’s Prediction: (W) Lukasz “Gonzo” Nemec, Round 1 (SUB)
Fight 7
Madi “The Container” Sunda 2-0-0 v Hinrik “The Ice-Giant” Leifsson 1-0-0: 3 Rounds of 5 Minutes 265lbs
A colossal clash of the giants is set here as two huge heavyweights meet for a fight that is more a spectacle than anything else. 7’3ft tall Madi Sunda takes on 6”9ft tall Hinrik Leifsson.
Leifsson has good Muay Thai ability and will be looking to win this fight in the clinch, but found it hard to finish his opponent in his debut, winning by decision. Sunda however is not heavily trained in any particular discipline but is well rounded, boating a solid chin and serious oomph with his strikes. It is hard to determine a winner here due to the fact that Leifsson has not had his chin tested yet and Sunda hasn’t fought anyone with the standup ability of his opponent yet, despite the relative inexperience of his opponent. It’s a spectacle that could go either way, but simply due to what he has in his locker I believe Leifsson could take this one via stoppage, and if he can’t serious questions will be asked about his chin and knockout ability.
Gabe T.S. Gardner’s Prediction: (W) Hinrik “The Ice-Giant” Leifsson, Round 2 (TKO/KO)
Fight 8
Kyron “Gravemaker” Davis 1-1-0 v John Oddweek 0-1-0: 3 Rounds of 5 Minutes 145lbs
The second member of the Oddweek family to be fighting on this card, John Oddweek will be looking to avenge his loss at BBP 2, and claim his first victory against the “Gravemaker” who will also want to pick himself up after his most recent loss.
Davis has the ability and power to blitz Oddweek out of there early but he does not want to get caught unawares on the ground and get himself into a wrestling match with Oddweek, who terrific ability in that area.
In my opinion I think Davis maybe a bit too aggressive for Oddweek to adjust to so quickly, and therefore I think Davis will finish Oddweek early.
Gabe T.S. Gardner’s Prediction: (W) Kyron “Gravemaker” Davis, Round 1 (TKO/KO)
Fight 9
Andre “The Prodigy” Hendrix 3-1-0 v Shane Myres 1-0-0: 3 Rounds of 5 Minutes for the BBP Lightweight title
Both fighters coming into this title fight have won all their victories via submission, are both ranked as brown belts with Myres possessing a superior standup game than Hendrix’s but is less experienced as a wrestler and could be smothered in the cage if he isn’t very careful.
Myres however has a confidence boost of having the submission of the night honours in this BBP debut, and providing a very good showing, which will keep him positive and mentally in check.
This fight is very even on paper and both fighters have a lot to give in this championship bout, but I feel as though “The Prodigy” may just have more to give at this stage in their careers and will win by submission.
Gabe T.S. Gardner’s Prediction: (W) Andre “The Prodigy” Hendrix, Round 2 (SUB)
Fight 10
Gabriel “The Saint” De Angelico 1-1-0 v Georgie “Jack Knife” Porgie 3-2-0: 3 Rounds of 5 Minutes 170lbs
Both fighters here are all well rounded, having demonstrated solid foundations in both grappling on the floor and fighting upright, with the key difference between the two being that “Jack Knife” Georgie Porgie is strongly disciplined in boxing whereas De Angelico is decently well versed in both boxing and Muay Thai.
De Angelico does have a slight height advantage over his opponent and in a fight that could be all about slight advantages this could have a big part to play.
I feel as though “The Saint” maybe a little too well versed in striking for Porgie and will light him up at some time during the first or second round.
Gabe T.S. Gardner’s Prediction: (W) Gabriel “The Saint” De Angelico Round 1 (TKO/KO)
This terrific card has a lot of promise and two terrific title fights booked, so be sure to check it out LIVE on the 13th of July from Bob’s Bar in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Written by Gabe T.S. Gardner (112290)
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