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 Main Card:
Dmitry Borschev vs Stu Grimson:
Preview:
On a main card with four title fights on it; this fight almost feels like a bit of a disappointment; that is, until you realise that these two are huge heavyweights who knock out pretty much everybody who they fight. Grimson is a big power puncher who went undefeated in his first 19 fights. He has recently hit a speedbump which most undefeated fighters hit, where he is 3-3 in his last 6 fights, most recently being brutally knocked out by Diego Bustamante.
Borschev on the other hand is a veteran of the fight game, and has been fighting in Synchronicity since what feels like forever. He has never quite managed to get his hands on the coveted Synchronicity Heavyweight Championship, having fallen short a second time in his last fight, against the excellent Gymer Alexandersson. His back is against the wall here; at 35 years of age, Borschev must find a way to prove that he has one last title run in him before he calls it a career.
Stylistically this fight is a “Just bleed” Fan’s dream, both men like to fight in the middle of cage, throwing punches and kicks at their opponents. Both have the power to finish the fight early, as has been mentioned earlier on. Putting a first round knockout aside, I am leaning towards Borschev, as despite being slightly older, he should be the lighter, faster man in the cage. He is also significantly more experienced at this level of MMA. He will touch Grimson up in the first, before delivering the final blow at some point in the second, completing back to back losses for the first time in the 28 year old’s career.
Prediction: Borschev via TKO (Round 2)
Bantamweight Championship – Tuomari Hurmio © vs Geralt of Rivia
Preview:
The first of three rematches on the card; this Bantamweight title fight is a repeat of the pair’s first fight at SYN 459 only a short while ago. It has long been speculated that Hurmio’s optimal weight is 135, and that he was simply fighting up for the competition, and with him as the 135lb champion and the no.2 Bantamweight in the world, it is hard to argue otherwise. He is tremendous boxer, with world class wrestling and a suffocating top game, which does include some strong submissions as well.
Geralt of Rivia is a stud by all accounts, he hits hard and can finish, although most of the finishes on his record came at 145lb. He also has the best manager in the game which could give him a tactical edge in the fight. Geralt is a talented boxer, and has a very competent clinch game, it’ll be interesting to see how he uses those skills to force a different outcome to the rematch. He showed some excellent escapes off of his back in the last fight, he will be needing those again this time round.
The way these two match up remains largely the same as last time, as the last fight was not long ago. Geralt will look to use his anti-wrestling and striking to stifle Hurmio, whilst Hurmio will try to use his well-rounded offensive game to make it 2-0 against Geralt. A big problem for Geralt here, is that Hurmio out-struck him in the last fight in terms of volume; in addition to landing takedowns in every round to score points with the judges. In order to win this fight; Geralt must increase his pace to keep up with Hurmio, as a knockout appears extremely unlikely, whilst avoiding more takedowns than last time. An increased pace and aggression would leave Geralt open to more takedowns and this writer thinks a submission is a significant possibility. It will be even on the feet until Hurmio takes the fight to the ground. Hurmio will dominate Geralt on the ground, he will force a tap just around the half way mark in the fight.
Prediction: Hurmio via Submission (Round 3)
Lightweight Championship - Helix Cabrera © vs De Bruyne
Preview:
A title defence for the always excellent no.1 Lightweight in the world, Helix Cabrera. The champ comes into this fight on fire; he’s on a six fight win streak; against some world class competition, and his most recent fight was a first round finish of former Trinity Lightweight Champion Mike Hussle. He is one of a new generation of boxer-grapplers who seem to be steadily replacing the anti-wrestling sprawl and brawlers at the top of the food chain recently. With excellent cardio and a very versatile skillset, it is hard to see how he gets beaten at this moment in time.
De Bruyne is no push over either; in spite of the debate about him getting a title shot here. He has some of the best takedown defence in MMA, and will looking to thwart Cabrera’s takedowns to tire him out in this fight. De Bruyne should have the power advantage in the striking battle as well, he has knocked out some half decent opposition over the years. He has good defence off of his back, which he may need at some point in this fight, given how good of a wrestler Cabrera is.
The fight will be a bit of a clinic for the champion. De Bruyne is a solid contender; but I just can’t get past the fact that he lost three times, in three different ways to Liam Donnelly, a fighter who Cabrera outclassed not long ago. De Bruyne may have some success early, stuffing some early takedowns and landing a few shots, but Cabrera has never been knocked out, so finishing him doesn’t seem realistic. Even though De Bruyne is pretty explosive for a Lightweight; Cabrera is technically superior in pretty much every area. He will outbox De Bruyne, landing leg kicks which will wear him down. He will score takedowns later in the fight when both men are tired for good measure as well. Cabrera is not known for his power punching, and De Bruyne’s defensive grappling is probably good enough to stop a submission; so I predict this fight will be a five round shut down by the champ; 50-45.
Prediction: Helix Cabrera via Unanimous Decision
Light Heavyweight Championship – Joey Kocur © vs Vincent Vinetto
Preview:
Rematches of Split decisions are always difficult; especially when the majority of fans and pundits scored the fight the other way. In this case, Joey Kocur came out with the win, it’s hard to call it an undeserved win, but it was definitely controversial. Kocur doesn’t normally go to decisions, he prefers to flatten people with his fists; being a good boxer with knockout power who weighs 220lbs. He is currently ranked as the 6th best Light Heavyweight in the world, and deservedly so.
Vincent Vinetto is a former Synchronicity Light Heavyweight Champion. He lost his title to Kocur in the aforementioned Split Decision. He looked very pissed about that in his last fight; a methodical destruction of Michel Telo that was downright scary. Vinetto has savage power and a hell of a heart, he really rallied towards the end of the last fight with Kocur, despite (arguably) losing the first two rounds. He is a top fighter; and has beaten top competition throughout the last few years. He is a well-rounded striker with very dangerous punches, kicks, knees and elbows. These weapons make him devastating both at a distance and in the clinch.
Both guys will be very motivated for this fight; Joey Kocur will be looking to put a stamp on the previous fight, and win in a more convincing manner to silence the talk that he shouldn’t be the champion. Both men now know each other’s skillsets and what they bring to the table. I expect it to be more of the same as last time; with a close war from the first bell. I expect Vinetto’s experience to get the edge here though, as he will not want to leave it in the hands of the judges again, he will reclaim the belt with a late stoppage of Kocur.
Prediction: Vinetto via TKO (Round 4)
Main Event:
Super Heavyweight Championship – Sellus Gravius © vs Randolph Turpin
Preview:
A rematch of an unbelievable fight that deserves a comeback of the year award if ever there was one. Sellus Gravius landed a head kick that shook the sport, after being beaten the hell out of for five rounds by P4P great Randolph Turpin. Gravius is mostly used to having brawls with men his own size. They will stand and bang until one of them gets knocked out. More often than not; Gravius’ chin and power tend to come out on top in that particular battle. However this is a different fight; Turpin is known for a bit more stick and move, so it was hard for Gravius to adjust for this in the first fight, until he uncorked a head kick from hell, showing just what a terrifying individual he really is.
Randolph Turpin has been around the top of the sport for what seems like an eternity; and he is a veteran of Synchronicity. He has a knack for beating guys who are much bigger and stronger and him and seems to enjoy being the smaller; faster fighter. He was caught by a head kick from a 330lb man; but this does not change the fact that he was winning all 23 minutes of the fight before that. Turpin pops his own power too; having sent many foes to sleep with his fists in his time in Synchronicity.
This rematch is strange, normally the guy that lost gets to go back and make all the adjustments to try to win in the second fight. In this rematch; Turpin basically won the fight, he dominated for four and a half rounds, and did not lose a single minute of the fight, up until the fateful head kick of Gravius in the 5th round. The fight was going exactly how Turpin wanted it to, until the last round. So what can Turpin do differently? Try to knock Gravius out? He already threw everything but the kitchen sink at him in the last fight, and Gravius just stood there, flat footed and took it. He has to fight the exact same fight again, just not getting caught in the last round this time. Gravius however; has many adjustments to make, he can try to get hit less for a start, he could try to land a slightly higher volume. He will not want this fight to be as one-sided as last time.
With all of this in mind; I think the advantage lies with the champion, Gravius. It is very hard to lose a fight when everything went so well, to lose a fight when there is nothing to improve upon in particular. I think Gravius makes some adjustments, and perhaps fights a little more defensively minded. I think Turpin will clearly take the first round; however I think Gravius will find his timing early on in this fight; and will land a fight ending combination in the second frame, there will be no trilogy here unfortunately.
Prediction: Gravius Via TKO (Round 2)
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