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 Striking Masters 2 KT Preview and Predictions (928592) - 28 Sept 19 - Sparta's Palace, Las Vegas
Written by Gabe T.S. Gardner (112290)
Hello folks! I’m returning (to MMA itself) writer Gabe, and you’re joining me for one hell of a fight card, hosted by rising KT organisation, Striking Masters out of good ol’ New York, New York.
Coming to you live from the mecca of fighting: Las Vegas, Nevada, we have a dynamite display of high level striking on show, from opening bell to closing, so without further ado, let's get to the fights!
MAIN EVENT
RENY VS OXFORD
Nick “Brawler” Reny 0-0-0 (3-2-0 MMA) VS Alex “Foxy” Oxford 0-0-0 (1-0-0 MMA)
5 3-minute rounds under KT rules at 205lbs
An interesting matchup at Light Heavyweight is our main event for the evening. Both our main eventers are existing Mixed Martial Artists, coming in with winning records in a combined 6 fights shared between them.
But put simply? I think the sheer striking pedigree that Oxford brings to KT is going to give him tremendous edge in this contest, having been trained extensively in boxing, Muay Thai, and having a vice like control over the clinch – the one area I would have given Reny a chance to compete in. Reny himself has a little Michael Bisping syndrome, a man that’s decent at everything, but not great at anything, his one chance for me is to land a flash knockout, or frustrate “Foxy” in the clinch.
Let's hope he tries to prove me wrong, so we have a competitive main event, but as things stand? I have Oxford winning by stoppage, in emphatic style in the first or second round.
Gabe’s Prediction: Alex “Foxy” Oxford (W) KO/TKO Round 2
CO-MAIN EVENT
VITI VS MAKINO
Danny “Damage” Viti 1-0-0 (2-0-0 MMA) VS Fumito Makino 0-0-0
3 3-minute rounds under KT rules at 155lbs
A tough introduction into the world of KT for the debuting teen from Tokyo Japan, as Fumito takes on the Italian prospect, Danny “Damage Viti at lightweight.
What information I do know comes from Makino’s camp, and what they say raises my expectations of the young fighter, who apparently brings a high-level technical boxing game to the ring, which will give him an edge if the contest stays at range, provided he finds a way to deal with the kicks Viti is known to throw, low or high.
“Damage” has the edge in experience, having had three pro fights across disciplines, winning 2 by knockout, and one by unanimous decision, and being the more likely of the two to be comfortable in that ring, under the bright lights, I certainly see him being composed early.
That said? I think I’ll take a gamble on this one, Makino’s camp talk a big game, and I think he might just be able to back it up, certainly possessing a higher striking skillset than any of Viti’s previous opponents.
Makino early is my prediction; I think he just about gets the jump on his opponent.
Gabe’s Prediction: Fumito Makino (W) KO/TKO Round 1 - 2
UDANDA VS STEVE
“Diamond” Jezegel Udanda 1-0-0 (3-0-0 MMA) VS Tessin “The Master” Steve 1-0-0
3 3-minute rounds under KT rules at 265lbs
Hooo Boy! This one is a dark horse for fight of the night, as we move down to some Heavyweight action. Udanda versus Steve. Honed Boxing versus Fluid Muay Thai.
The heavy-handed Udanda brings an excellent boxing game into the ring, as well as raw power, finishing half of his fights across MMA and KT in under one minute. I see his strategy being aggression from the start of the bell, maintaining pressure, peppering the young Steve’s head from range in the opening seconds, finding his range before leaping in with a haymaker from hell, aimed to end this early.
As well he should, because if Steve can drag his more experienced opponent into the clinch, he can do some grisly damage, destroying his last opponent with hard shots worked over the body, and head from inside the clinch. If he can close the distance on his taller opponent, I can see him chipping away at his resolve, and finishing him late.
It’s a tough, tough call, but I think Steve just has the superior gameplan, it’s a bad clash of styles for the Ethiopian, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he managed to get a flash knockout early, if Steve telegraphs as he moves in to clinch. As it goes? I think Steve grabs a hold of Udanda, and roughs him up before a late stoppage.
Gabe’s Prediction: Tessin “The Master” Steve (W) KO/TKO Round 2 – 3
TAI KUNG VS FREEMAN
Manolito Tai Kung 0-0-0 (2-0-0 MMA) VS Django “Pitbull” Freeman 0-0-0 (1-0-0 MMA)
3 3-minute rounds under KT rules at 170lbs
Debuting Welterweight action tonight, as we have two undefeated mixed martial artists jumping into the KT fray as Tai Kung takes on Django “Pitbull” Freeman.
I’m salivating at the thought of this one, as we have two dedicated students to the school of Muay Thai Kickboxing, with both fighters having been able to finish off opponents with high kicks, and both also heading into this fight with a 100% finishing rate.
Both fighters are relatively junior in the pro game, having only 3 pro fights between them, and each being under 23 years of age, with Tai Kung having a slight edge in experience, but ironically, with Freeman having spent more time in the cage in his sole MMA fight than Tai Kung across 2.
This could simply come down to who comes into this fight the most well prepared, as both fighters look pretty evenly matched on paper, but I’d have to give the edge in preparation to Tai Kung, he comes from stellar management, and his camp seem to have a more proven track record of producing great fighters.
Edge goes to Tai Kung, and I think after a wild, if not tactical opening, he takes it by KO in the very first round.
Gabe’s Prediction: Manolito Tai Kung (W) KO/TKO Round 1
BRANCH VS QUICK
Frank Branch 1-0-0 (1-0-0 MMA) VS Dru “D Money” Quick 1-0-0
3 3-minute rounds under KT rules at 265+lbs
An open weight fight promises to excite as we reach the midpoint of the card, with a large size differential separating our two fighters tonight. Its David versus Goliath. May the best man win, as Branch takes on Quick.
A tough one to call, I’d give the speed advantage to the smaller Branch, but the hits he’ll take from the much, MUCH larger “D Money” will be enough to put him out in a flash if he gets caught.
I think this fight will ultimately come down to killer instinct, who can get off their strikes, their combinations early, as I don’t see either fighter wanting to keep this in the clinch for too long. In that department, I think Branch is quicker out of the gates, with Quick being out maneuvered in the clinch in his debut fight, despite looking for it 10 times, in a fight he managed to keep out of the judge's hands by stopping his man in the third round.
It could go either way, but I think Branch is going to come out fast, and try to send the larger Quick out of their early, or he could be subjected to a beating from a man with 60 pounds on him, a though that ought to motivate him at least!
Gabe’s Prediction: Frank Branch (W) KO/TKO Round 1
(Gabe’s Notes: if it goes past round 1, odds shift massively to support Quick by a brutal stoppage)
WONHEIM VS KANE
Joshua “Akira” Wonheim 0-0-0 VS "Citizen Pain” Will Kane 0-0-0
3 3-minute rounds under KT rules at 155lbs
Short and sweet prediction here, as we have two debuting Lightweights looking to throwdown. It’s Wonheim versus Kane.
From the footage I've seen of padwork, training, technique, its clear that the more well rounded fighter is Mr. Kane, having decent fundamentals across the board, where his opponent is a more traditional Sprawl’N’Brawl type fighter, using minimal wrestling to keep the fight on the feet, and use his excellent Muay Thai to his advantage.
But the better striker? Wonheim, in about every respect. He has more snap in his strikes, is better at close quarters, and I think he’ll crash Kane out of there early, with a rude awakening to the world of KT.
“Akira” in round one.
Gabe’s Prediction: Joshua "Akira” Wonheim (W) KO/TKO Round 1
WHOK VS KING
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