2016-12-30
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HFC Christmas

Event Preview: HFC Christmas
Honour Fighting Championships (300k+)
2016-12-25, London, The Underground - London
Author:Master Po

 HFC Christmas (875043)


December 25, 2016
The Underground - London
Author: Master Po
 
 
Under Card:
Daerion Leafshard vs Keyser Soze - 145 lbs
Kicking off the Christmas edition of HFC we have Daerion Leafshard from Belgium. Leafshard has strong boxing skills with less than desirable Muy Thai and Wrestling. He is 2-1 in quick fights with both his wins coming by way of KO (Punches), so it seems he is capable of dropping some heavy leather. He will be making his debut with Honour against Keyser Soze who won his debut at HFC 29 against Lodewijk Platje. Soze is an aggresive standup fighter with wonderful skill in Muy Thai, and competent boxing as well. This youngster comes into this fight at just 19 years of age with a MMA record of 2-0, with both wins coming as a result of decisions. These two should stand and bang to set the tone for this holiday edition special event from HFC. 
Prediction: Keyser Soze TKO (Strikes) round 2. 
 
 
 
Phil Ure vs Freddie Adam - 265 lbs
Phil Ure is a purple belt submission artist with a record of 3-1 with 3 submissions. He won his last appearance at HFC 30, and in doing so brought home the Submission of the Night Award. Granted this was against a fighter, Van Der Weegh, who isn't exactly a test for any mma fighter with a future. Ure seems fairly talented with nice takedowns and a granite chin. Ure is set to lock horns with Freddie Adam, who is struggling to find his identity, but seems to have potential, being an 18 year old with a brown belt in BJJ. Adams lost his last outing against a dominant fighter in Anthony Joshua who had some issues with management and has since lost his contract with the organization. When Adam gets to mount I don't know many fighters that can survive his absolutely brutal ground and pound style. This kid has some heavy hands strapped with razor blades. This will be a battle for positioning on the ground I would imagine. 
Prediction: Adam TKO (Cut) round 1. 
 
 
 
 
Main Card:
My Name vs Justin Duponte - 135 lbs
Two of the more experienced fighters in our young organization will be chopping it up in this match. My Name is a fighter with a more conventional style of mma fighting has remarkable wrestling and proficient boxing. This young man from Hong Kong has some dangerous elbows, and knows how to use them in the Thai clinch. His record is at 4-2 with 4 TKOs. An interesting fact to note would be that 5 of Name's 6 fights have ended by TKO (Cut). Three of those in his favor and two to his detriment. Facing Name will be Justin Duponte, a Canadian prize fighter who has studied up wrestling techniques since embarking on his MMA journey. This fellow has had some ups and downs, even having a chance at the title in the 135 lbs division, although he lost that via TKO. These two are not strangers having faced each other at HFC 24, which resulted in one of Name's TKO (Cut) victories. I think this will play out very similarly.
Prediction: Name TKO (Cut) round 1. 
 
 
 
Taylor Pickerage vs Marcus Morbius - 185 lbs
This would appear to be an interesting match up pitting a striker with a working knowledge of BJJ versus a pure grappling BJJ submission specialist. Taylor Pickerage is 5-1 with 4 KOs and his only loss is to current champion of the 185 lbs division, Luke Rockhold. Pickerage being from London will need his hometown crowd behind him to thwart any takedown attempts from Marcus Morbius. Morbius has a mixed martial arts record of 7-1 with all wins coming by submission. He has only just begun fighting in organizations, but managed to win his debut with Honour at HFC 29 against Lazovicz The BiG MaN. Morbius has shown a weak spot in his chin in the only loss of his career after being KO'ed on the ground by a fighter with enough ju-jitsu skill to maintain top control. I feel that Pickerage could win this with his striking abilities, but I am concerned with his takedown defense and what will happen on the ground.
Prediction: Morbius Submission (Armbar) round 2. 
 
 
 
Enzo Dimelo vs Renato Ibanez - 155 lbs
Enzo Dimelo heads into the event ready for his second fight with HFC. He won his debut at HFC 30 against Jason Findley. This young man from Canada seems to be a very intelligent fighter after seeing him come from behind in both of his career victories to secure KOs. Dimelo has been wrestling since childhood and has superb skill in that discipline. Training at Lucky Liam's MMA Academy he has been giving it all he has to learn Boxing and Muy Thai. Meeting Dimelo in the cage is Renato Ibanez, a Brazilian 19 year old with a similar background in wrestling. Ibanez has simplistic striking abilities but a purple belt in BJJ. He has a record of 3-2 with 2 Submissions. I'm thinking Dimelo has a higher ceiling and Ibanez is the perfect fighter to test the theory. 
Prediction: Dimelo TKO (Strikes) round 2. 
 
 
 
Twist Calypso vs Reed Money - 170 lbs
Ending off the earlier than usual main card of this event we have a bout in the 170 lbs division between two of the organization's most experienced and well liked fighters. We have Twist Calypso facing Reed Money. Both of these fighters have bounced back from losses with TKO victories of their own. Twist Calypso, the former champ, welcomed Marko Neuffer to HFC with a TKO early in the third round. Calypso is a standout boxer who thrives in the clinch. He will most likely bring that recipe for success with him into this fight against Money. Manlow, as his friends call him, came into HFC 29 under a new manager, and made short work of Greg Landlaw, another newcomer to the organization. Money seems to favor striking at range, but he can definitely do good work in the clinch. These two have fought before way back at HFC 13 in a title fight. Calypso won that meeting successfully defending his belt. 
Prediction: Calypso TKO (Strikes) round 2. 
 
 
 
Title Card:
Luke Rockhold vs Enok Jepsen - 185 lbs Title
We haven't seen Rockhold in over a month when he fought Libio Do Santos and successfully defended his title at HFC 24. Rockhold looked to be in complete control of the division winning 5 in a row since joining the organization. As of now it appears that Rockhold isn't actively training, and by talking with some people in his inner circle, it apears he has been battling some morale issues. This is, at least to me, disconcerting, considering he will be going against Enok "The Great Dane" Jepsen, an undefeated fighter with a right hand that is comparable to his own. Rockhold is 5-1 with 5 KOs, and heading into what will be the biggest challenge he's had to date. Enok Jepsen won a decision victory in his mma debut. Since then he has ended every fight by a KO victory of some form or fashion. This Danish fighter is undefeated with a MMA record of of 7-0 with 6 KOs. In the first of four title fights scheduled for the evening I expect to see a newly crowned champion in the 185 lbs division.
Prediction: Jepsen TKO (Strikes) round 2. 
 
 
 
Random Fighter Three vs Jack Smith - 265 lbs Title
The second of four title fights in this super event pits Random Fighter Three vs Jack Smith in the 265 lbs division. These are two fighters that definitely prefer to be on the mat. Random Fighter Three is an Algerian that has a record of 6-1 with 5 KOs and 1 Submission. He is a ground and pounder, and since losing his mma debut in a QFC, he joined HFC and has went undefeated. On the other side we have Jack Smith, more of a pure submission artist. He has an mma record of 5-2 with 5 Submissions. This is a tough one to call with just a few key points to analyze. One being a 30 cm reach advantage for Smith, another being the 7 year age difference with Three being 26 and Smith being 19, and lastly, the lack of morale that Three seems to be dealing with for an extended period of time now. I think this will be a tragic flaw. 
Prediction: Smith Submission (Armbar) round 2. 
 
 
 
 
Co-Main Event:
Josh McCarthy vs Farnad Behpour- 265+ lbs Title
The third title fight is in the big boy division. We all know McCarthy with a record of 7-2 with 7 KOs. He won the belt at HFC 12 and has sat down everyone that stepped up since. We haven't seen MCCarthy since HFC 24 over a month ago. He has been training steadily at FIERCE gym, and should be ready to throwdown with Farnad Behpour, a fighter he has defended his title against before at HFC 14, winning that with a sensational spinning backfist. Behpour is chomping at the bit for this chance at redemption which could be his last if unsuccessful. The Iranian Giant is 4-2 with 2 KOs. Judging by his skill levels and lack of specialization in any area coupled with looking at his previous fights, and noticing that 3 of his wins come against a suspect Kurt Angle, the sky doesn't exactly appear to be the limit. I'm even gonna go out on a limb and say a loss here will be the start of a downward spiral for the Iranian.
Prediction: McCarthy KO (Punches) early round 1.
 
 
 
Main Event:
Dwayne Johnson vs Takomi Saka - 170 lbs Title
The climax of the evening will take place in the 170 lbs division. Dwayne Johnson started his mma career with Honour and has went undefeated. He is 5-0 with 4 KOs, including taking the title from Calypso at HFC 20, and two successive title defenses at HFC 23 and 26. Johnson is strong in boxing and wrestling and likes to do most of his work inside the clinch. Japanese Muy Thai specialist, Takomi Saka, joined Honour Fighting Championships after winning his mma debut in a QFC with a KO victory that took all of 18 seconds. Saka has won his two fights since joining Honour managing to climb the ranks and find himself with a great opportunity to become a champion in just his fourth professional fight. Saka appears to prefer striking at a distance with pure punches which is odd, considering his talent level with Muy Thai. Saka is definitely stepping up in competition. Johnson will be the Grinch that Stole Christmas I'm afraid. 
Prediction: Johnson TKO (Cut) round 2.  
 

 

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