2016-12-31
Price: Free
Edition: #
Previous Issues
Submit Article
Tycoon Times - MMA Magazine
Tycoon Times - The World's Premier Weekly Mixed Martial Arts Newspaper
Corner

SP ICON 2.0 Rumble On the Rocks Light HWT Rd 1 Revie

Event Review: SP ICON 2.0: ROTR - 205 rd 1
Steel Penn Fighting Temple
2016-12-18, Hilo, Hayashi's Lounge - Hilo
Attendance:766, Event Rating:61
Author:Sliced Bread

 What a great first round of fights we had in the marquee division of SP ICON HILO.  The crowd was fired up and so were the fighters! The card did not disappoint; only one decision and whole bunch of first round knockouts; Chael Mir was licking his lips like Tiger Woods in a strip club because the fights were just that DAMN GOOD (Thank you HHH).  Anyway let’s get down to the results and what will be next for the fighters. 

 

Diesel Owens vs Bo Zheng:

Initially an intriguing matchup between a boxer who has some excellent submissions, and a grappler who has some decent Muay Thai skills.  Zheng the grappler wanted no part in the stand up and was trying to clinch up and wrestle hump his opponent from the very first bell. Zheng got an early take down and tried to control from the full guard.  The fight stayed in this position for nearly the whole round; with Zheng landing some decent ground and pound and winning the round on the scorecards, but then with less than a minute to go BAM! Owens throws up his legs and catches Zheng in a beautiful armbar.  Zheng threw a bit of a temper tantrum after the fight, understandable considering the result.  He was probably further aggravated by the fact that Owens immediately jumped over the cage and into the boisterous HILO crowd like he’d won the whole tournament already. 

What’s Next?  Bo Zheng – He will feel hard done by with the result; nevertheless he is 0-2 in his MMA career now; he should fight somebody in the lower levels of the division, perhaps a fight with Topper Harley would be a good match to make.

What’s Next? Diesel Owens – A good win for him and a good start to his SP ICON career.  His next fight will be in the next round of the tournament, and it will not be easy. 

 

Quintus Octavian vs I am Terrible:

The second first round matchup featured former Champion I am Terrible and highly touted prospect Quintus Octavian.  I am Terrible came out like a man possessed; trying to grab Octavian and shove him against the fence immediately.  Quintus Octavian resisted at first; showing his boxing skills by landing some big strikes early on in the fight.  I am Terrible persisted and eventually got his clinch; which was surprisingly even; Octavian was aggressive on the inside, landing uppercuts; with Terrible landing some of his trademark elbows as well.  Octavian made the surprising move of pulling guard; Terrible, looking shocked, stood back up.  Octavian later pulled guard again and managed to pull off a shock submission! He was possibly trying to prove a point about his ground game with this, you have to feel for I am Terrible, he got up and looked like he didn’t know what happened.  Octavian took the opportunity to talk copious amounts of shit after the fight, saying that Anthony Johnson was “a lucky prick” and that dominant champion Jonas Lofmark was a “bum”.  Clearly he is confident in his ability. 

What’s Next? I am Terrible – He was unlucky here; he was enforcing his game plan pretty well, landing elbows in the clinch just like he would have wanted, but his opponent caught him out with a surprising strategy.  The former champ should face off with a fellow loser from this card. 

What’s Next? Quintus Octavian – A win on the books for Octavian; something of a coming out party, although he still has much work to do to compete with the upper echelon of the stacked division.  However he still has time to improve before the Pinnacle and will be fighting a semi-final next. 

 

 

Patrick Loggins vs Anthony Johnson:

Johnson had been doing well; an amazing come-from behind submission against Octavian after being dominated for the whole fight had him on some serious momentum coming into the tournament.  However this momentum would be stifled by the most boring fight of the night.  To say Johnson’s approach was takedown heavy would be the understatement of the year; he didn’t try to do anything else!  However; Loggins being the superior wrestler stuffed Johnson’s takedowns with ease and kept him at bay with some safe but accurate striking.  He then decided to take Johnson down at will, and Johnson would find out that being underneath Loggins was deeply unpleasant, regardless of how good his ground game was.  Loggins would take Johnson down at will throughout the fight; landing strikes and occasionally passing guard.  Johnson would attempt submissions but his attempts were loose and futile.  It was not entertaining; but it was nevertheless a skilful and dominant performance from Loggins, who has established himself as a force in the division with this win. 

What’s Next? Anthony Johnson – He has been completely shut down by controlling wrestlers twice now, he needs to drastically improve either his wrestling or striking to avoid being less one-dimensional.  He matches up well with fellow loser I am Terrible; a match that would allow one of them to get back on track.

What’s Next? Patrick Loggins – He advances through to the semi-finals; and we can all see his top game is brutally effective.  Established himself as a dark horse in the division. 

 

Joey Karate vs Jurek Olaf:

 This was the most intriguing fight coming into the event; could Olaf shut Karate down; as Zoplias and Lofmark have done?  Could Karate show improvements to his grappling game?  Joey Karate came out swinging; obviously having a point to prove after his last loss to Zoplias.  However it was not long before Olaf established the clinch and tried to embrace the grind vs Karate.  Karate showed an improved awareness from this position though; he was even throwing his own strikes back at times.  Olaf got his licks in; landing a few knees here and there, however Karate managed to break the clinch 2 or 3 times, causing Olaf to tire of chasing Karate around trying to clinch.  Eventually Joey Karate would establish his distance and land one of his notorious head kicks (God, when are his opponents gonna start seeing these coming?) and pounced on his prone opponent to finish him in the first round.  Karate was cheered like a hero all the way through; and the eruption around the arena when he won was something truly special.  He explained how he would like to use the tournament as a means to avenge his losses, and the whole crowd really seemed to dig it.  He may not be the best fighter in the division; but he has the most fanfare by some distance due to his charisma and flashy kicking style in the cage. 

What’s Next? Jurek Olaf – Many thought he would be able to impose his awkward, effective clinch game on Karate.  It wasn’t to be and Olaf needs to go back to the drawing board so expect him to face a lower level of competition next time out.

What’s Next? Joey Karate – showed some real improvements in both his perseverance and his clinch defence in this fight.  Makes it through to the semi-final to the delight of his fans; is likely to face even tougher challenges very soon. 

 

The Main Event: Jonas Lofmark © vs Evan Zoplias for the Light Heavyweight Championship

There was a lot of anticipation around the arena; with Joey Karate winning in spectacular fashion and new Light Heavyweight signing Jimmy Ryan joining the commentators at ringside WWE style before the main event.  Ryan is a gentle giant in every sense of the word; apart from in the cage, where he has destroyed all but one of his opponents in the first round, making up his 6-0 record.  There was a rumoured trash talk battle between Ryan and Pollo Tropical to decide the next contender; but it has now been confirmed that Jimmy Ryan will fight the winner of this fight in January, and he has spoken of respect for Jonas Lofmark and believes it would be a difficult matchup for him if Lofmark were to be victorious.

So the main event unfolds; Zoplias comes out to ABC by the Jackson Five, almost looking a little bit too happy.  He was dancing and mouthing the words, causing an awkward silence amongst some of the crowd.  Then Lofmark enters and a cold chill seems to enter the arena.  The commentators were expecting to get a glance as Lofmark’s possible future opponent was sat right next to him, but Lofmark’s focus was locked squarely on his challenger.  Lofmark was the favourite going in, but it was believed Zoplias’ clinch game may give him some trouble.  Lofmark proceeded to give his opponent the death stare as their names were announced and the bout got underway.  Zoplias got straight into his favourite position as the bout began; but Lofmark was quick to throw him off, STRIKE ONE! Both men were patient in the stand up to begin with; not throwing an awful lot, but when Lofmark saw the opportunity he glided inside and dumped Zoplias on his back with unnerving ease, STRIKE TWO! Lofmark then proceeded to pass the guard like butter and pound on Zoplias from side control with brutal punches and elbows.  STRIKE THREE! And the referee had seen enough.  Zoplias was simply no match for Lofmark in any area of the fight. 

The always respectable Jimmy Ryan entered the cage after the fight and offered Jonas Lofmark his hand, however the Swedish Champion just glared back at him with a look of unrivalled intensity, very Fedor indeed.  Jimmy Ryan in turn took his hand slowly away and looked Lofmark straight in the eye; with the crowd going crazy with anticipation! WHAT A FIGHT!

What’s Next? Evan Zoplias – Jonas Lofmark is beating everyone, no shame in losing to him at the moment, so no need for a massive drop in competition, how about a fight with Pollo Tropical?  The recently signed contender who won his SP ICON debut on the prelims?  Sounds good. 

What’s Next? Jonas Lofmark – The champ will now face the powerful Jimmy Ryan in what will undoubtedly be his stiffest challenge yet, no-one can wait for this one. 

 

 

 

 

 

Article views: 138
» Donate to this author

Editorial Staff
Tycoon Times Discussion
Tycoon Times - MMA Magazine MMA Tycoon
MMA Chat Room
MMA Forum