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 Welcome to the Empire Indoor Arena here in New York for SPNY 108, the eagerly anticipated third Heavyweight Title match up between Shane Waitzel and Earnest Abe. The record is split 1-1 in their prior meetings, and tonight’s result will not just decide the Heavyweight title, but also who is deserving of SPNY’s p4p ranking. Of the 9 fights on the undercard tonight my pick is No. 1 Lightweight contender Mac Hansen up against Teddy Westside.
Main Event: Heavyweight Title
Shane Waitzel 23-5 (2-1 SPNY) vs Earnest Abe 16-3 (6-1 SPNY)
Waitzel will defend the Heavyweight Title he won against Abe for the first time tonight. In the first two match ups between these two fighters Waitzel was the more aggressive on both occasions, but Abe landed his shots more accurately. I expect this trend to continue, but to see Abe use his reach advantage and low kicks to keep the distance and score early, as Waitzel dominated in close in the last encounter.
Waitzel has an amazing 22 KO wins in his career and has some of the best boxing in MMA worldwide. Abe is the only opponent in his last 7 fights to have survived a round against his amazing stand up skills. He will be looking to land heavy punches early and secure a KO win.
Abe has never lost back to back fights in his career and will be determined to avoid this being the first time. For him to reclaim his title tonight, he will need to use his 5 inch height advantage to keep the heavy hands of Waitzel away. In the first fight he landed good low kicks that did a lot of damage leading into finally knocking Waitzel out. In the second fight he failed to land a kick and Waitzel got on the inside too easily. The fight plan must be clear for Abe.
Waitzel must be riding high on confidence after winning the rematch between these two, and must be considered the favourite to win tonight. This one will stay on its feet, and the judges should not be needed. I predict Waitzel by KO in the 2nd.
2: Light Heavyweight
Belin Billet 29-20-2 (1-0 SPNY) vs Jarred Rose 13-5 (1-0 SPNY)
Two relative newcomers to SPNY face off to work their way to the top of the Light Heavyweight division, despite both being new to SPNY these two have no other similarities. 36 year old journeyman Billet has had one of the longest careers in MMA history, with over 50 professional fights across almost a dozen orgs. He started out as a submission specialist and has developed a strong all round style with no real weaknesses.
His opponent is 26 year old Rose, who is considered one of the hottest prospects in the Light Heavyweight division. Rose, who won his first 10 professional fights, threw off a poor run of form to record a submission win in his first appearance for SPNY. The biggest criticism I have for him is that he is 0-3 in fights that have gone the distance.
I’ve got a lot of respect for Billet, who has done some wonderful things across a very long career. But in my mind, today is the younger mans day. While Billet may have a slight edge in the stand up aspects of the fight, Rose should have the edge on the ground. I give Rose a KO win in the 2nd.
3: Bantamweight
Herb Everyday 34-18 (8-8 SPNY) vs Angus Troyer 16-8-1 (1-0 SPNY)
Veteran SPNY old boy Herb Everyday, the original bantamweight champion at SPNY, takes on one of the biggest name signings to the org, Angus Troyer. In a long and successful career Everyday has recorded 20 submission victories, making him one of the best grapplers in the business. If there is a criticism of his fighting, it must be that he has never truly mastered Muay Thai or kick boxing; this could leave an obvious opening for the younger fighter Troyer to exploit in this match up.
Troyer came to SPNY having had a reputation as one of the world’s best bantamweights, who made an unsuccessful attempt to replicate his success up at featherweight. A new contract and trimmed down he is back to show he can regain the top ranking in the bantamweight division. Interestingly, he holds the distinction of having never been stopped in 25 professional fights.
If Everyday can take this fight to ground he should have the advantage, if they stand up and bang, Troyer should have the edge with Everyday’s struggles against Muay Thai. I’m going to go out on a limb here, and call Troyer to be stopped in the distance for the first time, Everyday by submission in the 3rd.
4: Light Heavyweight
Nate MacRally 20-19-1 (4-1-1 SPNY) vs Katsuji Rikidozan 10-13 (6-4 SPNY)
Two world class stand up fighters meet in this light heavyweight bout, with MacRally looking to add to his current 3 fight winning streak. MacRally is best known for his boxing skills, which makes Rikidozan, a former professional boxer, a real chance to overthrow his recent form. MacRally has the slight height and reach advantage, and comes into this one full of confidence after his recent wins. It will be close, but I back MacRally to outscore Rikidozan and take a points victory.
5: Lightweight
Mac Hansen 23-17-1 (9-7 SPNY) vs Teddy Westside 6-3 (3-2 SPNY)
Both these fighters have twice been unsuccessful challengers for the Lightweight title, but there are no other similarities between them. Hansen is a 32 year old who was one of the first to sign with SPNY in the beginning, despite never being the most technically skilled fighter, he has made up for it with determination and guts and is currently the No. 1 contender for the Lightweight division. Westside on the other hand is a supremely skilled 23 year old, two of his three career losses have been against a reigning champion, and he is far more adept in the stand up aspects of the fight. While Hansen may be the No.1 ranked contender, its hard to forget that these two met back in SPNY 80 with Westside recording a magnificent head kick knock out.
Hansen will believe he is coming into this with an edge in confidence and with the crowd firmly on his side. Should he take the fight to the ground he will no doubt hold the skills edge, but subbing opponents has never been his comfort zone. Westside will hold onto the knowledge that while ever the fight is on its feet he should be good enough to win. It’s a tough call but I’m going to back Westside to get the KO and reclaim the No. 1 contender spot.
6: Welterweight
Joe Average 28-16 (0-1 SPNY) vs Darrell Miles 10-12-1 (6-8-1 SPNY)
Joe Average came to SPNY after a long and distinguished career based on the other side of the country, where he was once regarded as one of the world’s best fighters, having won championships in 3 different weight classes. At 36 he is no doubt still competitive, but the question of whether he has the drive to succeed he had earlier in his career is yet to be answered. Miles is an SPNY old boy, and whilst he hasn’t been overly competitive since being the losing challenger for the Welterweight title way back at SPNY 20, he has been somewhat of a benchmark for contenders to prove themselves against.
Two interesting points about this fight; Miles has three times been involved in an SPNY fight of the night, he hasn’t won any of the three (0-2-1). Average has won on the scorecards 17/28 wins in his career so far, Miles has never lost a decision (3-0-1). Miles will compete while the fight is standing, but Average has the goods to produce a finish once the fight gets to ground. Average by KO in the 2nd.
7: Light Heavyweight
Jason Gambit 13-10 (0-1 SPNY) vs Richie McCaw 12-10 (1-0 SPNY)
Two newcomers to SPNY’s most hotly contested division will be desperate to work their way up the rankings with a win here. Gambit is very well rounded, heavy handed, and versatile. McCaw is a solid boxer and grappler, but has somewhat of a weakness in the Thai clinch which leaves him rather vulnerable. Gambit will try to exploit his stand up advantage and rough McCaw up early. It’s hard to forget though, that McCaw produced that spectacular fight of the night knockout win in his SPNY debut, with just one second to go and whilst behind on all 3 scorecards. I like McCaw, but Gambit by 2nd round KO.
8: Bantamweight
Jack Clark 18-16 (4-4 SPNY) vs Randall Johnson 7-6 (0-1 SPNY)
Clark brings a solid sprawl and brawl style up against the well polished ground game of Johnson. Clark will win this easily as long as he keeps the fight standing. Johnson should have the ability to win this if he can take it to ground. The one thing I am sure of is that the crowd will be firmly on Clark’s side, with most fans calling what they have seen of Johnson’s grinding wins “boring”. I expect (or at the very least, the crowd hopes) Clark to stop Johnson with a 1st round KO.
9: Featherweight
Dae Su Oh 1-0 (SPNY Debut) vs Kyle Hulse 1-1 (1-0 SPNY)
Korean born wrestler, Oh, takes on local boy Hulse. Hulse had some success in his SPNY debut with a decision win utilise his sprawl and brawl skill set. He may have a harder time surviving on the ground against Oh, who had the ability to secure an NCAA wrestling scholarship but turned to MMA instead of college. I rate the young Hulse, and feel that he is being better prepared in training leading into this, and that should be enough to get him the win tonight.
10: Featherweight
Joaquim Antunes (Professional Debut) vs Jonny Black 1-0 (SPNY Debut)
Antunes is another 18 year old who turned down an NCAA wrestling scholarship to try his hand at MMA, he meets Jonny Black here who in his professional debut successfully used sprawl and brawl tactics to secure a decision win. If Antunes takes this to ground, he should win, but will be very vulnerable in the stand up, especially early on. With the limited amount of information on fighters this inexperienced, I use my knowledge of their training to give me insight, and that tells me Antunes should have the goods to take this one.
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