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 Empire X has been billed as one of the biggest cards in the history of Empire. Unfortunately, that is a lie. Every fight on the card features the same level of mediocre matchups without much in the way of excitement.
The first fight is a 170 lbs bout between David Core and Riaan Pierce. Pierce is the stronger boxer, but he will have to keep Core’s Muay Thai and BJJ in Czech (pun intended). I like the Welshman by 1st round KO.
In another one between two bad fighters, Steve Barnes faces Ryan Sampson at 145. Barnes is the better fighter and reportedly in better spirits, so I think he will take this one by 1st round TKO.
At 265, we get a slightly better fight between Simon Slade and Deon Big Daddy. Slade is the better boxer, but Big Daddy is better at literally everything else. I see Slade losing his second in a row, this time by unanimous decision.
Now back to where we started at 170, we see Luck Chiddell against Enrique Machado. Chiddell is better on his feet, so if he can stay on his feet, he will win. This will not go the distance, and it likely will not take more than one round. I like Chiddell by 1st round KO.
Next up we have two fights from the losers bracket of the Grand Prix. Myke Bonner has “All Stuff” on his feet, but Jax Sigthorsson is a beast on the ground. This one also will not take long. I think the Icelander wins it by submission in the 1st round.
The other matchup in the tournament sees Jung Ho Park face Akihiro Imanari. The Tokyo native Imanari is great on the ground, but “The Korean Wonderkid” is phenomenal everywhere. I like Park to win by 2nd round submission.
After those two tourney fights, we go to 205 where Ravana Lanka fights Mauricio “Max” Payne. Payne is dangerous anywhere, but Lanka is lethal in the clinch. Lanka’s wrestling means he will control where the match will be fought, so I think he gets the TKO in the 2nd.
Still at 205, we get a mildly more interesting one between possible future title fighter Hunter Broderick and fellow undefeated fighter Chod Piiice. Piiice has fought once and won once, while Broderick is 4-0-0. Broderick is a dominant boxer, and I do not think Piiice has any advantages in this one. I think Broderick cruises to a 2nd round KO.
Now we go down to 170 for the last two fights of the night. Former champion Michael Howardson returns to the octagon to face Jubei Akechi. Howardson is seven years older, and he is an incredible fighter in the clinch, as he has shown numerous times on the Empire stage, but Akechi can fight anyone anywhere. I think Akechi gets the win in similar fashion to his victory over Luck Chiddell, by 2nd round submission.
The main event sees the champion of this division, Ricardo Miles, make his first title defense against Valentino Piskochini. Piskochini is the challenger, but he is four years the champion’s senior. He is extremely one-dimensional and will look to take this fight to the ground. That being said, his one skill is pretty dang strong. I think he scores an upset and takes the belt by 2nd round submission.
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