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2012-10-11 Price: Free Edition: # Previous Issues Submit Article |
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NFC 87 - The Curtain ClosesEvent Preview: NFC 87 - The Curtain ClosesBitches, bastards and little shits welcome to the magnificent 5000 seat Shinjuku Indoor Arena. Tonight we are bringing you.... NFC 87 – The Curtain Closes.
If you did have a few brain cells you would have realised that this will be the final Nemesis fight card. Proud owner Stu Pidasol has decided to close up shop, the org had its very first event on the 12 of Feb 2011, since those very humble beginnings Nemesis and built a solid reputation as one of the best ID restricted orgs in the game – It has always been a fighters org with fighters enjoying fair fights and some of the best pay rates in Tokyo.
During it’s time Nemesis has witnessed 847 fights – 353 ended in KO, 204 via sub and 282 went to the judges there were 9 draws. 11 time heavyweight and 1 time middleweight champion Antonio Hong was the org most successful fighter with 14 wins 13 of those via KO. Yoshiro Gomi will have fought 22 times for the org after his fight on the final card he is also the org submission specialist with 12 of his wins coming that way. There have been plenty of great fighters that have been extremely loyal to the org and for that owner Stu Pidasol thanks you.
Now let’s get into right into the good shit. NFC 87 sees the 145, 170, 185, 205 and 265lb belts on the line with the winners being remembered as the orgs final champs.
The Main Event – 170lb title – Craig Hanks (13-2) (8-2 NFC) Vs Jyrska Velmu (23-8-1) (0-0 NFC)
Current 170lb champion Hanks was recently inducted into the Nemesis HoF, he started with a bang at Nemesis beating another HoFer in Oiky for the 170lb title in his very first fight for the org and from there he has amassed 8-2 record with 5 title wins. His running battle with Jay Hunter has been a highlight of the org fittingly they ended up at 2 wins apiece. Hank’s is a stand and bang guy with some lethal fists 10 of his 13 wins have been via KO. His opponent for this fight Velmu, is making his NFC debut, however his credentials can’t be questioned, formerly ranked No. 1 in his weight division and also ranked 9th p4p fighter in the world. The interesting point to note is he is under the same management as Jay Hunter. Velmu is a do it anywhere kind of fighter with 23 wins, 8 via KO, 8 via submission. Hank’s does have the advantage while standing but his ground game is purely defensive, Velmu will need to hold his own in the stand up and somehow try to drag Hank’s to the ground if he is going to be a any chance of knocking off the champ in this fight. I see this fight being a 5 round war with both fighters at stages showing their dominance, a great fight to end it all for Nemesis.
Prediction: Hanks via KO in the 5th.
Co-Main Event – 205lb title – Gabe Christianson (10-1) (6-0 NFC) Vs Makao Matsumoto (15-8) (3-4 NFC)
This bout sees the much anticipated rematch between the highly rated current 205lb champion Christianson and former champ Matsumoto. Christianson has taken all before him at Nemesis with 5 of his 6 wins coming via the way of KO. Christianson took the 205lb title from Matsumoto on NFC 70 in a brilliant come from behind victory that saw him dominated for the first 2 rounds of the fight before clawing his way back to get a KO in the fourth. Matsumoto has taken on some of the biggest household names in the 205lb division Taj al Din, Dick Offenhard and Gentleman Ghost to name a few, his record may not look the best but when you continually fight top line fighters it’s always going to be tough to win them all. This is going to be an absolutely fascinating match up, Christianson has a slight advantage in the stand up and Matsumoto has a slight edge on the ground. There are no keys to victory in this one with both fighters being so equally matched. It’s all going to come down to which fighter makes the first mistake as neither of these guys needs a second invitation to make an opponent pay.
Prediction: Have to go with the form fighter in Christianson via KO in the 3rd.
265lb title – Mark Kyle (8-2)(4-1 NFC) Vs Shane Luger (12-3) (2-2 NFC)
The next bout is a rematch between exciting prospect and the 265lb champion Mark Kyle and Shane Luger. Kyle has torn the 265lb division a new one on his way to the title his only loss in the org was in a Superfight against undefeated top heavyweight prospect in Okamoto. One thing fight fans can be sure of is there is no way in hell that this fight will go to decision both guys have massive power in their hands with 20 of their 21 victories coming via KO. Both fighters are very evenly matched on their feet however Kyle does hold an added attacking advantage with some decent ground skills. Luger has lost 2 title fights in the org 1 against Hong and obviously 1 against Kyle maybe the 3rd time will be a charm. It’s going to be no easy task though as only 1 of Kyle’s opponents has made it past the 1st round. Can Luger deliver the devastating blow first or will Kyle repeat the treatment he dished out last time they fought.
Prediction: As much as I would love to see Luger win – Kyle KO in the 1st.
145lb title – Mega Funkyama (8-0) (5-0) Vs Officer Franklin (17-6) (7-4 NFC)
Some people would question why this bout is going ahead with Funkyama having already defeated Franklin in his last 2 fights. The first fight Franklin got sloppy and was caught in a submission early, the last bout was a 5 round war with Funkyama getting the nod from the judges in an extremely close decision. Funkyama is an exceptional fighter with a big future ahead of him and another win against Franklin will springboard him up the 145lb division standings. Franklin has seen it all before he has faced all of the best fighters Nemesis has thrown up against him, he is a 4 time champion of Nemesis 145lb division and it would be poetic if he managed to capture the title one last time. However we all know that sometimes in sport the fairytales just don’t turn out how they are meant too. It’s very obvious how this fight will be decided, Franklin keeps it standing and Funkyama is a goner, however if it goes to ground Franklin just can’t match it.
Prediction: In a bit of an upset Franklin to win via decision
185lb title – Artie Lange (12-4-1) (4-2 NFC) Vs Mikey Kim (9-2) (2-0 NFC)
In his short time with the org Lange has been the everywhere man, fighting at 265lb, 205lb and now at 185lb with mixed results. His last bout is the one that has made the mark on the org with a massive upset win against HoFer Hong, in one of the greatest comebacks in the org a rocked Lange managed to land a massive blow that dropped Hong and won him the 185lb title. Kim came to the org with a 3 fight win streak before dispatching another 2 Nemesis fighters to grab himself a shot at new crowned champ Lange. For Kim to win he has to make sure Lange doesn’t catch him in and out with kicks and punches hopefully doing enough damage to take a toll on Lange’s gas tank . Kim doesn’t have the power of Lange who has finished 11 opponents in his 12 fights. For Lange it will be a matter of doing what he does best and that’s shattering his opponents chin.
Prediction: Lange via KO in the 2nd
The undercard
205lb rubber match between Yoshiro Gomi (13-9) (13-8 NFC) Vs Captain Beefheart (11-5) (5-5 NFC)
Gomi has been a NFC stalwart fighting on the very first card, this week for great service to the org and also through being the fighter with the most submission in the org Gomi was inducted into the HoF. Beefheart is another Nemesis fighter who has just missed out on the ultimate glory losing both his attempts for a title. The first fight between these 2 guys saw Beefheart take an easy decision win, the 2nd fight saw Gomi dominate Beefheart on his way to another submission victory. The 3rd well we will find out soon enough.
Prediction: In another seesawing affair Beefheart to grab a decision victory.
145lb – Thaksin Yodsuwan Vs Gay Bomb
Two NFC warriors on really have just fallen short of being truly dominant fighters in the division. It’s the first time they have met in the ring so it should be interesting to see who can set themselves up for a career after Nemesis
Prediction: Yodsuwan via decision
145lb – Alexio Silva Vs Toru Ohta
Silva has amassed a excellent record but just hasn’t been skilled enough to have a crack at the title, Ohta featured on the first NFC card and was also the first 145lb champion. He took Silva to a draw last fight can he go one better?
Prediction: Silva via sub 2nd
185lb – Leo Barros Vs Dai Hard
Barros has been an excellent gatekeeper at Nemesis throughout his career, beating some big names along the way. Dai Hard is an inconsistent fighter who tries his hardest, but just can’t seem to string the wins together
Prediction: Barros via UD
265lb – Max Grace Vs Quinton Marshall
Marshall has been with Nemesis since it’s 3rd event, a fighter org owners love. He takes on all comers regardless of skill, can he get an upset against the more skilled Grace on the final card? Probably not but he won’t due wondering.
Prediction: Grace via KO 1
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