Mikael - The Documentary (Part 2)

Fighter profile of Mikael Brophy by Grant Brophy

“Mikael”

Part 2 of a 5 part special

We resume the documentary where Mikael has just come back from a training trip in Thailand, and we are waiting to greet him at the airport.

This is the first time you see our documentarist, world-renowned Eugene Jarecki, on the camera as he goes has a sit down with Mikael for the first time. All following entries will be written from his first person perspective.

EJ: So Mikael, last time I saw you was at the end of the TUF tournament, which didn’t end how you had hoped, but you were upbeat about the future. Can you tell us what you have done since that night?

MB: It was a tough loss, especially considering many people were hoping on me to win the bout, but you can’t allow losses to hold you back in your career. If I had spent the time being mad and annoyed about it, I would simply be letting time pass me by that I could use on something productive. The next morning after the fight, I immediately flew out to Thailand. I could have gone to my gym and worked on my regular routine, but I wanted to really add to my skillset so I went and trained with some of the best Thai fighters in the world, and I will freely admit I got my ass kicked out there. But I can say now that I am already a lot better than I was on the night of the TUF finale. It was literally a routine of eating, training and sleeping over there and that’s the mentality I needed to get myself back into the winning mentality.

EJ: You mentioned on the phone before coming back that you were initially planning on an extended break out there but had to come back due to contract offers from various organisations that wished to sign you. What do you know about that right now?

MB: I don’t know the specifics. I actually wanted my manager to look through the contracts and sign whichever one he thought was best for me but he insisted I have an input into it. There were a few orgs that seemed interesting and he was gonna let me stay out there but apparently there is an offer that I need to be there to discuss.

EJ: I think we can safely assume whichever org you sign with, the title is the immediate focus?

MB: You can be damn sure of that hah. Anyway, the boss man will be expecting us back soon so we better head.

A Welcome Return

We arrive at a gym known as Scorpion MMA located in London. During the journey to the gym I discussed many things with him, including details about his childhood and upbringing. He asked all the info I learn be kept confidential, but I can say there is a lot more to the man than meets the eye.

We arrive in the facility to see numerous fighters at work in the gym, a mixture of fighters from Grant Brophy’s and Caleb Smith’s management. I am asked to remain outside while they discuss their business, but I take in the detail of the gym which appears to be a very high standard. A short time later, I notice both Grant and Mikael smiling broadly in the office as Grant gets off the phone. They exit the office and inform me that we will be moving again.

Another trip to the airport, and they inform me that they have mine, as well as the rest of the documentary team’s, tickets for the flight….To New York.

Due to the fact we were informed we would not be maintaining much sleep during our adventures, I tactically took the time on the flight to sleep as much as I could.

When I woke up, it was 5:30pm New York time, and we are 10 minutes away from landing. We are rushed through security as it seems they were informed of our impending arrival. Straight into a limo and off we go again. We pull up to the Hard Knocks arena and then it dawned on me why we are here.

Primal 43 is taking place in the arena, and in fact is due to finish any minute now. We enter the arena, the main event just finishing up which saw Pierre St. Georges defeat Rocket Bob Frankels. St. Georges had just finished up his post-fight interview….yet nobody was moving from the arena. Primal CEO Peel Steel (Now known as Marcus Crassus) stood in the centre of the cage, and took to the microphone to address his audience.

PS: Good evening ladies and gentlemen, wherever you may be in the audience. After a great night of action, I am delighted to make one final announcement to end the night.

At this point, Mikael, wearing a hooded top and mask that covered his face, started walking towards the cage, and we followed instantly.

PS: Following some speculation on whether Primal could sign any new names to the organisation, I am officially delighted to be able to welcome to you all, the newest addition to the Primal roster, and the return of a face you will all be familiar with.

Mikael enters the cage, takes off the mask and removes his hooded top to greet the audience. An eruption of excitement breaks through the crowd as Mikael shakes hands with Peel. The contract of employment is brought forward, and Mikael promptly signs it. For another night, Mikael is the star of the show.

A Dominant Return

Fast forward now, and we are cageside at the Credit Card Centre in New York City, waiting Mikael’s return to the Primal cage. Due to his preparation for the fight, Mikael said he did not wish to be distracted, and asked that we not maintain the intense focus of his day to day routine. We were allowed brief glimpses and discussions with him and his team, but we respect his privacy and dedication to training.

Across from him was his opponent, Ryosuke Sato, a former Primal champion who was undergoing his first fight under new management. While he would have been hoping for more success under new management, it was not to be. Mikael battered him with strikes, before knocking him down and rocking him with a thunderous head kick. He got up, and in his dazed state attempted to move directly towards Mikael, who promptly ended the fight with a perfectly timed right hook. Mikael was back, and looking more dangerous than ever.

An important note for later is that 3 other Light Heavyweight bouts were on the same card, with victories for Sumbu Kalambayo, a man Mikael previously defeated, Malcolm Merlin, and Bua Khao (Now known as Rauta Kansleri) who defeated Silva Zoldyck (an alliance mate of Mikael’s) to become the new champion.

The Rematch

Mikael was booked for another fight a short time later, this one being a rematch against Sumbu Kalambayo, with Malcolm Merlin taking on Bua Khao for the title on the same card. Their first fight ended with Mikael scoring a KO 44 seconds into the 2nd round, a win that extended the brief rivalry between Grant Brophy’s roster and Rocco Mediate which had been brewing over a few fights.

We are cageside again once more for the bout, and despite getting Cut open in the first round, Mikael dominated the fight once more, scoring with his strikes to score easily for the first round. He came out noting that Sumbu was tiring, and went to work on getting the finish. A jab finds its way through and you can see Sumbu on wobbly legs now. He throws a right hand out of desperation, but Mikael avoids it and he returns himself with a hook that drops Sumbu, and he dives into side control to continue throwing strikes before the referee pulls him away, scoring him another (T)KO in his career. He called for the title after the bout while mentioning his thanks to his fans, and the crowd responded accordingly considering the entertainment he was giving them with each fight. He had a seat reserved next to us for the sole purpose of watching the title bout between Khao and Merlin. Following the bout, which saw Merlin become the new champion following a hard fought battle, Mikael mentioned to me how Merlin looked really tough out there and that he was looking forward to testing his chin himself.

The Championship Challenge

Following the event, it was made official by Primal Management. On the 25th January 2017, Merlin vs Brophy was for the championship.

Due to the overwhelming scheduling of training and media appearances, we didn’t talk to Mikael until the night of the fight, but we did record a public meeting he had with legendary band Metallica, who granted him their blessing to use their music for his walkout song. Mikael mentioned how similar lead James Hetfield from the band had to his manager’s good friend John Hetfield, along with their similar last names.

We were in our usual spot cage side, this time in the Liberty Dome. The lights went out, and Metallica’s I Disappear came on the sound system and the arena went crazy. Mikael walked down to the cage, and as he stepped in with all of the lights on him, he looked like a genuine star. As his opponent Merlin made his entrance, there was wild cheers for him also. An unusual experience, with Mikael usually being the fan favourite but Merlin negating that edge himself.

That wouldn’t matter however, with Mikael dominating Merlin in the opening round. In what seems to be a must have experience for a Mikael fight, he was cut open in the opening round, but managed to open up a cut on Merlin himself. He clearly won the opening round, but Merlin didn’t look tired anymore than Mikael did himself. The second round began, and Merlin landed a punch, but failed with a body kick which saw Mikael counter with a right hand to the head. He followed up with another punch which rocked Merlin. He landed another right hand which saw Merlin stumble to the ground. Mikael followed up with more punishment which again forced the referee to stop the bout, as Mikael become the new Primal Light Heavyweight champion.

It was a long time coming for Mikael, and arguably could have happened already had he not entered TUF, but the wait made the occasion all the more sweeter. When asked post fight who he wished to defend the title against next, Mikael called out Bua Khao, the only man who won on the night he redebuted that he had yet to defeat. It was set for the 3rd March, and Mikael returned to training.

A Farewell Performance

There was controversy in the build up to the bout, with Khao parting ways with his manager Agent Dee, and signed with the then #1 ranked manager David Brent. Concerns over their strategy for the bout arose from the Brophy camp, with them not knowing what to expect from new management. The day of the fight arose however, and those concerns were erased. A close couple of rounds opened the bout, with both fighters feeling each other out. Near the end of the 3rd round however, and Mikael rocked Khao, now known as Rauta Kansleri, with a right hand which also knocked him down. Another overhand right, and Khao was out. The referee stopped the fight, and Mikael had defended his title once more.

Following the bout, Primal announced it was closing, and Mikael told us he would be considering his options before committing elsewhere.

To Be Continued….

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