Rapid Fighting Championship Preview 50

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RAPID FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP 50 PREVIEW –
BONDI OUTDOOR ARENA

Carr: Hello ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Rapid Fighting Championship 50 Preview! I’m your host, Eric Carr, and joining me is the esteemed Chris Ball!

Ball: Thank you for the introduction as always, Carr! It’s always a pleasure to be here in Sydney for exciting mixed martial arts action that RFC brings each and every time!

Carr: That’s absolutely right! There are 5,750 wild and crazy fans here tonight who can’t wait to see what the RFC has in store for them! We have not one but two title fights here tonight as the Lightweight Championship is on the line and the Heavyweight Championship is also on the line! Both of those battles will be incredibly intense and brutal so you know the fans here will eat that up! There are two Lightweight fights, two Heavyweight fights, two Super Heavyweight fights, two Light Heavyweight fights, and one Middleweight fight!

Ball: That’s nine explosive and telling fights, ladies and gentlemen! I hope all of you are ready because I know we are! Kicking off the action is the Lightweight championship! Litill Bjornsson defends his title once again and the opponent tonight is managed by our associate, Esiah Xavier! Kieran Busk steps into the cage for the first time in some time and this is one hell of a test!

Carr: Kieran Busk started off his career very well but then after a disagreement with his previous management team, he took a hiatus for whatever reason but decided to return to MMA action as a free agent, and Esiah took a chance on him! Talk about an ultimate test for fighter and manager!

Ball: To step into the cage against a dominant force like Litill Bjornsson as a return to the cage is one hell of a proposition! “Mini Mountain” is an incredible 27-1 and a future Hall of Fame candidate! This devastating La Familia member has faced stiff competition and has overcome each and every one of them! He’s obviously proven to be a force in the submission aspect of fighting, but he also has solid fists that can turn the lights out on any opponent! I have no doubt that the champion will look to continue that dominance on the ground against Busk tonight! For Busk to have any chance here to pull off a major upset and become the champion, it’s imperative that he keep this fight in the standup at all costs!

Carr: Busk is 8-0 heading into this fight, and while that’s a respectable record, again, taking that time off from fighting or training has probably slowed the vast potential he showed earlier in his career! At 27-years-old, he faces the challenge of trying to get back to his younger form while battling against Father Time and outstanding young fighters, as well as fighters around his age who are dominant, just as his opponent tonight is! Against the champion he does have a slight height advantage but isn’t as heavy, so the only way I see this working in his favor is to try and stick-and-move the entire night and absolutely stay away from being clinched or taken down by Bjornsson! If Busk gets locked up in the clinch then it’ll just be a matter of time until he gets dragged down the mat and the beginning of the end happens!

Ball: Many men have attempted to stay out of the champs clinch and takedowns but only one has managed to succeed! Busk is a fighter, no doubt, but I just don’t think he’ll be able to recapture the form he had in his younger days! That’s a tall order for anyone and no disrespect to our friend, Esiah, but I don’t know if he and his management team have had enough time to train him to a championship level!

Carr: I hear you, Ball, but if anyone can get Busk ready for a championship opportunity, it’s our associate, Xavier! Busk absolutely faces incredible odds but he is a warrior and has a puncher’s chance in this fight, or at least, I think he does! I know this isn’t the popular vote per se, but I’m going to choose Busk to pull off the upset because it’s possible that time away from fighting reenergized him, refocused him, and though he may not have the form and fury he once had, he could very well still be dangerous if underestimated! I say Busk shocks the world with a knockout tonight!

Ball: That’s a ballsy prediction, no doubt! As much as I appreciate a hard-working veteran fighter, Bjornsson has just proven to be too much for far too many warriors! He’s simply devastating, bottom line, and unless Busk has an adamantium jaw and a very high tolerance for pain, I just don’t see him walking out of the cage with the title tonight! I think he’ll give Bjornsson a good fight but Bjornsson will counter Busk’s attacks with the takedown, and once this fight goes to the ground, it’s just a matter of time before the champion makes yet another opponent tap out! Bjornsson wins this fight by submission!

PREDICTIONS: Ball – Bjornsson by Submission; Carr – Busk by KO

Ball: Conor the Barbarian and Scott Barrera are up next and we all know this fight is going to be very hard-hitting and it’s very possible that someone will not only get knocked the hell out, but one or both of these warriors will bleed tonight! Conor brings a 10-1 record into this fight and is obviously very impressive in the cage and has probably won some bodybuilding competitions as well! His solid physique is backed by solid fists and he has used said fists very well! Numerous knockout victories are a testament to that and every opponent who steps into the cage knows what to expect, yet he’s able to execute his plan of making warriors nap, so that speaks volumes about his abilities!

Carr: On the other side of the cage, Barrera steps into this title fight with a 5-2 record, which is good, no doubt, but he obviously has an experience disadvantage right from the start! Add in the fact that he’s shorter and lighter and this fight shapes up to be a tough challenge! However, Barrera has also proven that he doesn’t shy away from tough fights and has earned respect in the RFC for that very fact! He does have some momentum with his 3-fight win streak so the time is right for him to face Conor! I expect both Conor and Barrera to be very aggressive in this fight because that’s their style and I don’t think either of them wants to change anything that has proven to work! The question is, will Barrera jump right into the fire and try to go toe-to-toe with Barbarian, or will he try to methodically stick-and-move with counterstrikes and even try to take Conor to the mat to see if he can control him there while landing opportune strikes in an effort to wear him down?

Ball: Barrera is really going to have to be light on his feet and create those desired striking angles so he can have his best shot at testing Conor’s chin with his very capable fists! I’m not sure how many fighters can stand toe-to-toe and try to test Conor’s chin while he tests theirs so whatever approach Barrera has to this fight, his defenses will have to be on point! Don’t underestimate Barrera’s punching power either folks! He’s also proven that he can end fights in the blink of an eye with a pinpoint knuckle blast, so the champion will also need to be sharp, fluid and be ready to duck and dodge numerous strikes! I think the champion will do exactly that, however, and I say he retains is title here tonight by knocking out the game Barrera! I just think the champion is a little sharper, more experienced, and motivated!

Carr: I’ll choose the underdog in this fight like I did in the first fight! I think Barrera has a prime chance here to shock many people who underestimate his punching power and capabilities in the cage! He may not be as flashy as the champion and looks unassuming, but that doesn’t mean he can’t find another gear in the cage, especially when there’s such a tremendous opportunity for him here tonight! Barrera sends shockwaves around Sydney by knocking out the champion!

PREDICTIONS: Carr – Barrera by KO; Ball – Barbarian by KO

Carr: The action continues as Luis Maestre and Yhorm Cinder square off in the cage of lamentation! The very large “Dexter Creole” Maestre has battled his way to an 8-2 overall record, and this LEGION OF DOOM member has proven that his fists are filled with dynamite and he’s not afraid to aggressively try to detonate his opponents! He’s only had one fight go past the first round so his modus operandi is definitely get in, unleash hell, and go home! He either cracks the opponent’s jaw or he gets his cracked, and that style has endeared him to many MMA fans here in Sydney! It’s not often that Maestre doesn’t have the height and weight advantage, but it’s fascinating that both he and Cinder are exactly the same height and weight!

Ball: I swear both of these dudes have been grown in a lab! To be the same size and weight is one thing, but to be the same height and weight and both be massive!? That’s definitely not common at all and will prove to add a layer of interest to this fight! Maestre is six years youngers and to me, that is an advantage in this fight because it takes a lot to be tall and heavy and just carry all of that, let alone be energetic! That height and weight definitely wears them down faster than the average solid athlete, and that youth adds more energy to the tank as I see it! That will come in handy because both of these behemoths punch extremely hard and any punches they land, especially to the body, sucks the wind right out of the opponent’s lungs!

Carr: You raise an excellent point, Ball! The gas tank for men of this size is an absolutely very impactful factor to consider! “The Giant” basically has the same fight experience as Maestre because his overall record is 7-2, which is very respectable! Cinder has a similar aggression to Maestre’s as well because most of his fights have ended in the first round, so I fully expect these two mammoths to stand toe-to-toe at some point! The question is, will Cinder try and counterattack immediately and look for chances to take this fight to the mat in an effort to not only control the action, but to also test Maestre’s ground skills and see if he can work to position himself to lock in a submission and make Maestre tap? If I were Cinder, I would definitely avoid toe-to-toe as much as possible and instead focus my efforts on getting this fight to the ground as fast as possible to avoid unnecessary damage plus make Maestre uncomfortable while pressing my weight on him and wearing him down while improving my positioning to lock in a submission! I think that’s what Cinder will do tonight so I choose him to win this fight by submission!

Ball: That’s definitely a smart approach but for Cinder to get Maestre to the mat, he’s going to have to avoid the bombs that Maestre throws with his fists! I don’t think Cinder can move fast enough to avoid the speed of Maestre’s strikes and as a result, he’s going to eat some hard shots and doing that is going to open up opportunities for Maestre to unload a power shot that turns the lights out on Cinder! Maestre wins this fight by knockout!

PREDICTIONS: Ball – Maestre by KO; Carr – Cinder by Submission

Ball: Up next we have Mwenye Kwadwo and Spanky Loco!

Carr: It’s too bad Styles isn’t here because he’d have a field day with the name Spanky Loco!

Ball: Ha! Yeah he would and I could just imagine it now! Kwadwo, a member of the LEGION OF DOOM, brings a respectable 9-5 overall record into tonight’s contest! Recently, Kwadwo has been struggling and that has been evident in the last two fights he’s been in! He lost both of those fights in the first round, and the most recent loss occurred in the first thirty-six seconds of the fight! He found himself in a very precarious position against Carter Donovan very quickly and before he could get himself together, Donovan locked in an Arm Triangle that forced the tap! Obviously, Kwadwo is looking to get off the snide and get a win so he can change the current course of events! When he’d locked in and his fists are finding their mark, he’s a dangerous fighter who can make an opponent go night-night in a hurry!

Carr: “OG” Loco, the young warrior hailing from Inglewood, Cali, and member of The GBU is seven years younger than Kwadwo, so the experience of Kwadwo could be a factor in this fight! In addition, Kwadwo has had more fights so Loco will have a solid challenge on his hands! However, the young warrior is no doubt ready for this fight and what we have here it the classis standup versus ground fighter! Loco has trained very diligently to sharpen his BJJ skills and has earned a black belt, a very impressive accomplishment in and of itself! I have no doubt Kwadwo is very well aware of that accomplishment and will do everything in his power to avoid feeling what a black belt in BJJ means! Loco is going to have to have his head on a swivel and his feet agile because I don’t think he wants to test his chin against the punching power and striking prowess that Kwadwo possesses! I assure you that this fight will be fast and furious because these are two more aggressive fighters in that cage, and it obviously benefits both of them to establish themselves as quickly as possible!

Ball: I think Kwadwo and his age and experience will be the deciding factor in this fight, Carr! He’s dealt with young, fast and capable fighters before who are well-versed in the submission game and he has overcome them! He knows what it takes to survive any onslaught and though Loco will be energetic and fierce from the start, Kwadwo will figure out away to avoid punishment and especially avoid being dragged to the mat! He’ll counter and frustrate Loco then land that one solid shot he needs to turn the tide and end this fight abruptly! Kwadwo wins by knockout!

Carr: I think the young tattooed lion wins this fight with aggression, determination and surprising speed and strength! I think he’ll cause Kwadwo to put himself into an inauspicious position and he’ll jump on that change right then and there, drag Kwadwo to the mat and will aggressively land ground-and-pound until Kwadwo leaves his hands up too long while defending and Loco locks in a submission to end the fight right then and there!

PREDICTIONS: Carr – Loco by Submission; Ball – Kwadwo by KO

Carr: Royce Gracie and Brady Jackson step into the cage next to prove themselves! At 15-3 overall, Gracie has proven himself as a former champion and quite the submission artist! Earlier in his career he had an incredible string of victories, all by submission, but his last outing wasn’t the success he hoped to continue! Jambe De Bois bested him in the second round at RFC 46 by TKO so Gracie will obviously fight to overcome that recent loss and put himself into the championship conversation as quickly as possible! There’s no doubt that he and his fellow Hybrid Fighting Alliance members are very confident in his abilities, and that confidence is obviously very important! He’ll need that because he’s the shorter and lighter fighter tonight!

Ball: Jackson is an unblemished 5-0, an excellent start to his career, and he’s accomplished that record with high energy, great aggression, and impactful punches! The Philly product and LEGION OF DOOM member has never been past the first round, so Gracie may look to try and slow down the pace in hopes of frustrating Jackson! I’m sure Jackson and his training team have prepared for that potential situation as best as possible and I don’t think Jackson will be caught off guard by that approach if Gracie does in fact take that angle! Jackson knows his height and weight advantage can be used effectively tonight, especially if he can establish great movement, speed and counterstrikes when openings present themselves! If he can press Gracie against the cage and keep him there while landing punishing strikes of various kinds then he could very well make this a one-sided fight while keeping the more experienced fighter off balance and prevent him from taking the fight to the ground where he’s most comfortable!

Carr: I’m going to take the undefeated young stallion tonight because he not only has granite in his knuckles but he also has championship experience! Gracie obviously has that as well but Jackson having it at this stage of his career undoubtedly adds motivation to his will and determination! Those are key factors to have against an opponent with much more fighting experience! I think Jackson overwhelms Gracie from the start and lands pain-inducing strikes that prevent Gracie from taking this fight to the mat! Jackson pummels Gracie into a knockout!

Ball: I’ll take the veteran to win this fight because he’s proven his championship mettle, ability to handle various adverse situations, plus come out on top! He can lock in a submission from the standup, also, and I think people forget that key element! He has slippery movement and defense, and all he has to do is make Jackson miss one of those power punches then counter that opening by shooting in and immediately establishing side control or full mount! From there, Gracie will land damaging strikes while creating that opportunity to lock in the submission that Jackson can’t escape from!

PREDICTIONS: Ball – Gracie by Submission; Carr – Jackson by KO

Ball: Axel Aethelwulf and Grant Alyoshin square off in the next battle, and this battle has been anticipated! Aethelwulf brings a 10-4 overall record and that odd aura that I can’t explain when I see this dude! Anyway, This Stepdads member from Kiribati is sharp with his fists and can deliver various types of punches from various angles! In his last outing, he had a tough battle against Scott Barrera and lost in the third round by knockout! I have no doubt that Aethelwulf will be greatly motivated to not only overcome that loss but to also prove he belongs on the title conversation! He does have championship experience from earlier in his career so that’s something he can rely upon at any point in time! He’s shorter than Alyoshin so he’ll need to ensure he keeps his head moving to take away the reach advantage Alyoshin has!

Carr: “Sweet Ass Knees” Alyoshin steps into the cage with a 3-2 overall record, which, quite frankly, is surprising because he’s shown excellent skills in both the standup and ground fighting aspects! Since he does have the height advantage in this fight, I fully expect him to stay on the outside and use laser accuracy to slow down Aethelwulf while keeping him at a distance! Alyoshin will also likely use quick jabs to test Aethelwulf’s punching defense, and if Alyoshin feels he has an advantage then he’ll step up the level of aggression and will be willing to throw more power shots! Alyoshin had a 3-fight win streak snapped at the hands of Conor The Barbarian, but that’s not anything to hang his head about! When locked in, Alyoshin has proven he can win with his punches and yes, even his sweet ass knees, so locking Aethelwulf into a clinch against the cage and keeping him there while looking to land elbows, knees and punches may very well be the approach he takes!

Ball: I’ll roll with the veteran in this fight! I think Aethelwulf’s fighting experience advantage will allow him to avoid being locked into a clinch as well as keep himself from eating power punches and knees from Alyoshin! Aethelwulf may even be willing to test Alyoshin’s punching power by taking the chance of rushing in quickly and trading strikes with him! If Alyoshin can’t land those coveted power shots or accurately hit Aethelwulf, I expect Axel to increase his movement and look to change the angles of his punches to keep Alyoshin off balance long enough to land that one power shot he needs to end this fight!

Carr: I’ll choose Alyoshin to win this fight because he had very good momentum prior to his loss to the dominant Conor! Losing to the champion may have been of great benefit, actually, because he got a taste of what it takes to be a champion and he can use that first-hand experience to improve his focus and hone his training! I also think Alyoshin will be able to use his height advantage to keep Aethelwulf at a distance and if there is close combat, Alyoshin has the strength and ability to prevent himself from being dominated in the clinch! Alyoshin wins this fight by knockout!

PREDICTIONS: Carr – Alyoshin by KO; Ball – Aethelwulf by KO

Carr: Jimrex Jaca and Ari Baba are the next two combatants to step into the cage! “The Sleeping Pill” enters this fight with a 4-3 overall record so he’s definitely looking to avoid falling to an even record here tonight! He’s absolutely aggressive and can be absolutely devastating as well! That was proven in his last fight against James Fusi at RFC Showdown in Tokyo 26 where he only needed ten seconds to knock him out! Having a dominant win like that works wonders for anyone’s confidence so he no doubt feels great about himself and his chances! His 2-fight win streak has been achieved with first-round wins and I don’t think he knows any other gear other than full force! As we know, fans love that type of fighter so he brings a level of excitement to each of his fights, win or lose! He’s quite a bit shorter than Baba so I expect him to try and get in tight and work over the body and legs of Baba in an effort to slow the taller man and make him drop his hands!

Ball: “Dono” Baba is a solid 7-4 overall and the UnderGround Fights Enterprise member is on a 2-fight win streak, so his confidence is high as well! That fact alone will make this an interesting fight to watch because confidence and pride lead to more risks in the cage! Sometimes they pay off while other times they don’t! That’s just a matter of fact! Similar to Jaca, Baba brings aggression and punches with plenty of pop! Since he has quite the height advantage here tonight, I expect him to dance around on the outside and keep Jaca at a distance with combination punches, well-timed kicks, and overall body movement! If Jaca manages to get close to Baba, I don’t think Baba will have any problems locking Jaca into a clinch and keeping the fight there! His height will enable him to rain down elbows with sharp angles and momentum and that could easily turn the tide of this fight!

Carr: I’ll choose Jaca to win this fight because I think he’s fully capable of avoiding strong strikes to his chin as he bobs and weaves his way into close proximity to Baba and locks him in the clinch! Once he manages to do that, he’ll work over Baba’s ribs and stomach with nasty punches and unexpected knees which will sap Baba’s energy and open him up for the knockout punch that Jaca’s capable of delivering!

Ball: I’ll take Baba to win this fight by using his height advantage and aggressive tactics to test Jaca’s chin early and often! I don’t think Jaca can sustain absorbing punishing punches from Baba and that will allow Baba to move into better position and deliver devastating hooks and uppercuts that turn the lights out on Jaca!

PREDICTIONS: Ball – Baba by KO; Carr – Jaca by KO

Ball: Malachi Bolton and Jake Bird square off in the second-to-last fight! “The Lightning” Bolton is 3-2 overall and is on a 2-fight win streak, so the timing of this fight is very good for him because his confidence will be high! Against Orla Wanker at RFC Showdown in Tokyo 26, he looked very sharp while earning a Guillotine submission victory late in the second round! Bolton has won and lost in every way possible, with the exception of losing by cuts, so he’s a bit hard to prepare for at times! In this fight, he’s a good bit taller than Bird and that will help him quite a bit because my assumption is Bird will look to take this fight to the ground and try to win by tapout! Keeping this fight in the standup will be priority number one for Bolton and look for him to try and lock Bird into the clinch where he can use that height to land brutal, slicing elbows and punishing knees! Various HERITAGE members have said they feel Bolton can also land some nasty kicks to not only slow down Bird but also potentially drop him with one well-placed head kick!

Carr: “The Tacoma Ax-Killer” Bird is 3-1 overall in his young career and the FinnFighters member has shown a propensity to be a submission artist! In all of his victories, he has made the opponent tapout in the first round, so look for that pattern of aggression to be incorporated in this fight as well! The only loss on his record is at the hands of Athos Knox, and that was by unanimous decision, so Bolton may opt to try and drag this fight out and go for a decision win! I know Bolton doesn’t favor that approach from what I’ve seen but Bird should be prepared for that as well! It’s also possible that Bird will attempt to counter-attack the kicks that Bolton is sure to unleash. If he can keep Bolton off balance, Bird will be able to shoot in for the takedown when Bolton misses one of those kicks, especially if it’s a high kick, and he can then go to work right away on establishing dominant position, wearing Bolton down, and maneuvering for the submission!

Ball: Since they both have similar fighting experience and are basically the same age, I’ll take Bolton to win this fight because he’s looked on top of his game the last two fights he’s been in plus I think he has the diversity to be aggressive or be patient! He can adapt to the action and weather the rush that Bird may try to catch him off guard with, and a well-timed head kick or uppercut when Bird shoots in for the takedown will stop the fight right then and there!

Carr: I think Bird will be able to position himself to keep the taller fighter from using that reach advantage to its full extent, and he’ll also have the speed advantage against the taller man! Making Bolton miss that one vital kick is all Bird will need to take this fight to the ground where he can quickly get into dominant position and rain down strikes from full mount until Bolton is knocked out or gives up his back for the submission!

PREDICTIONS: Carr – Bird by Submission; Ball – Bolton by KO

Carr: And that brings us to the final fight of the night! Charlie Astro and Test Two are the last two rams to lock horns in the cage! Astro is a perfect 4-0 thus far in his career and the LEGION OF DOOM feels his potential is very great! Over his four fights, his fists have spoken volumes as he’s never gone past the first round yet! In addition, he’s already been a champion and that’s vital experience to have at any point in time, but it’s especially beneficial for a young fighter! Astro has both the height and weight advantage against Two! With those factors in his favor, I expect Astro to keep this fight in the standup to the best of his abilities and may even try to clinch Two so he can press his weight against him and wear him down while landing opportune punches! He may also opt to implore the stick-and-move approach because that may very well be the best bet he has to avoid being taken down a clinch situation and give himself enough distance to see the takedown attempts made from beyond his kicking range!

Ball: Two is 2-1 overall and this young warrior from Sonora, Cali, is a proud member of Convicted Inc.! Like Astro, Two has looked very sharp and during his 2-fight win streak, he’s shown that he can go the distance if need be or end a fight with a flurry of punches! A few members of Convicted Inc. spoke about Two’s ability to handle any situation, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Two begins this fight by going toe-to-toe with Astro to test his strength and punching power then, in the blink of an eye, shoot in, take this fight to the mat and wear the taller, heavier man down with patient strikes and timely transitions to put himself at angles where he can control the pace while doing damage to Astro!

Carr: I’ll choose Two to win this fight because I think his adaptability will enable him to avoid the power punches that Astro will unfurl while using good footwork to get himself close so he can chop away at the taller man before going for the takedown! Once the takedown has occurred, I think Two has the ability and strength to control Astro’s movements and will be able to purposefully position himself so he can land strikes while looking for the submission win!

Ball: I think Astro has the punching power to put a halt to any momentum Two may establish in this fight! I don’t think Two has the punching power to make Astro overly cautious and since that’s the case, Astro can be a little less defensive-minded and look more aggressively to assert himself as the more energetic, aggressive fighter who’s willing to launch rockets for punches and if one of those land, this fight is a wrap!

PREDICTIONS: Ball – Astro by KO; Carr – Two by Submission

Ball: That concludes another Rapid Fighting Championship preview! Carr and I thank you very much for taking the time to join us as we look deeper at each matchup and do our best to provide insight about each competitor!

Carr: It’s a privilege for us to bring you the information that we do and we do our best to entertain you while doing so! It means a lot to us that you take time to join us and for those of you who are placing bets on these fights, maybe we’ve provided that one precious nugget of information you need to make a final decision! On behalf of Ball, we wish all of you well and we look forward to seeing you at the fights!

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