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  BANDAI 1: Origins is finally upon us. With ten fights across four divisions and six fights in the illustrious Heavyweight division, BANDAI™is sure to kick off with a bang. Excitement levels in the world of MMA are at an all-time high and it’s easy to see why. But just in case you need reminding, let’s take a closer look at some of the highlights. I’m Brian Fujitsu. And this is BANDAI™:
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Jake “Franek” Frankowski (0-4-0) vs. Quen “40" Whookey (0-0-0)Â
Welterweight @ 170 lbs
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I know what you’re thinking. Why is a fight between two fighters with no wins a highlight? Well I’ll tell you why.
Jake Frankowski is a modern day superstar. Just ask the paparazzi that follow him around the streets of Gdynia, Poland. If you know anything about MMA, you know that he has the ability to win. You know that he has the skill, the talent. But you also know that he has struggled with personal issues in the past. Sex, drugs and alcohol have been the order of the day. A long chequered past has left Frankowski without a professional win. He’s lost some fans along the way. Some friends too. But his incredible amateur career and the viral videos have allowed him to have second chances and third chances. Some of his critics are suggesting this will just be another loss followed by another scandalous headline. But something feels very different. Maybe this time is really not like those other times. Maybe this time we’re finally going to see how remarkable Frankowski’s boxing can be. Quen Whookey should be hoping that’s not the case. Whookey makes his debut at BANDAI’s opening show. A boxer himself, the man they call “40” has already announced his intention to destroy his opponent. He has the better manager. He has the better trainers. Some say he even has the better boxing. But what Whookey doesn’t have, is the experience. And that could make all the difference. The venue for BANDAI™1 only sits 750 people. But anyone that has been there will tell you that it feels like 750,000. It’s going to be absolute chaos. Hardcore fans have been waiting for this event and will make their voices heard. And when the last fan leaves and the lights are turned off, only one of these Welterweight fighters will know what it’s like to leave as a winner.
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“The Butcher” Perry Roscrow Jr (9-7-0) vs. Ramses “Jumpin' " Fiddlesticks (7-12-0)Â
Heavyweight @ 265 lbs
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The Roscrow family is synonymous with Mixed Martial Arts and every time Perry Roscrow Jr steps into the cage, he has the expectation of the Roscrow name with him. Son of former MMA Heavyweight Perry Roscrow, Roscrow Jr isn’t really looking to follow in his father’s footsteps. He’s looking to reach a whole new level. He’s looking to make a name for himself. He kind of already has. Fans call him “The Butcher” and for good reason. Just look at his first four fights. Four fights. Four wins. Four submissions. Four finishes. Four finishes in the very first round. It was an incredible start to an incredible career. But perhaps his greatest achievement came in recent years with a Submission of the Night award followed by a Fight of the Night award followed by yet another Submission of the Night award. The art of submission is becoming increasingly rare inside the cage where both managers and impatient fans cry out for the violence of knockouts. But there is another fighter that likes to submit his opponents. There is another brown belt that has won awards for choking out his victims. And he will be in the cage with “The Butcher” on July 27th. Ramses Fiddlesticks has won seven fights and all came via submission. He has even won on the ground in the Tycoon World Grappling Championships. Don’t be fooled by the ground game, Ramses can stand up with the best of them. He can go toe-to-toe if that’s where the fight takes him. The London native has a wide array of weapons. Catch one of those sharp elbows, and it could be an early night. Ultimately however, it’s “The Butcher” who has won via a decision. It’s “The Butcher” that has won via knockout. Will it be “The Butcher” who wins at BANDAI 1: Origins? The fans in attendance win this one.
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Brak “Souleater” Maugøn (9-2-0) vs. Justin “Big Time" Biggs (15-14-0)Â
Heavyweight @ 265 lbs
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Liechtenstein is the fourth smallest country in Europe. It is the smallest country in the world to border two countries. It has a population of just 37,000 people. And one of those people, is a souleater. Fear is a strange thing in MMA. But there are two things that most fighters can agree on. The walk to the cage is a frightening one. The walk to the cage when Brak “Souleater” Maugon is inside is the most frightening one of all. This is a scary man. Brak has spent most of his career at Las Vegas’ KnockOut FC going on a 7-fight win streak there. It all started with an 18 second destruction of Boon Wrecking Ball. Ball was no scrub either. He was 3-1-0 going into that fight and just like many of souleater's opponents, he hasn’t been the same since. People still ask to this day, why didn’t Brak Maugon fight for the KnockOut FC heavyweight title? Why was that fight not made? Still only 25 years old, Brak has plenty more to give. It’s possible that titles aren’t this fighter’s number one priority. After all, the Liechi Butcher is here to eat souls. It doesn’t get any bigger than the main event of the first show. These two fighters instantly become the face of the organisation. It’s a lot of pressure. Something Justin “Big Time” Biggs knows all about. Biggs loves this. Biggs lives for this, for the big time. So far it’s been one step forward two steps back for the Bronx boxer. But a win here will be the catalyst he’s always needed. It will be ten steps forward. He may be smaller than his opponent but he matches him in every other department. Elite boxing. Sensational muay thai. Exceptional wrestling. And a brown belt to boot. Justin Biggs has it all, except that famous marquee win. That could all change in one night. That could all change at BANDAI 1: Origins.Â
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That’s just a small selection of what’s on offer at BANDAI’s first show this Saturday. It’s sure to be a remarkable event, elite even. Knockouts, submissions, souleaters, it has it all. We’ll be there to see history in the making. It’s BANDAI 1: Origins and the origins of something special.
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I’m Brian Fujitsu.Â
The BANDAI violence awaits you.
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