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It’s going to be quite a night from Hayashi’s Lounge in Helsinki, Finland, where the WFL will present their 22nd event, headlined by a highly anticipated Heavyweight Title fight between Jason Rogers and Leather Slammer, as well as a Lightweight Title fight, and the highly anticipated debut of Tommy Ward. Let’s get into it:
*all odds according to Murder Inc. Betting
Preliminary bout #1- Light Heavyweight fight (205 lbs)
Oruku Saki (0-0) {0-0} versus Trent Rock (5-6) {0-1}
Saki makes his MMA and WFL debut here as he battles Trent Rock. Rock debuted in the WFL having won five out of his last six, but was knocked out by Marcin Waligora. Rock prefers to striker, having won 4 out of his 5 wins by KO, but he may want to take this one to the ground against the superior striker in Saki. However, I don’t think Rock will be able to get this one to the ground, and I have Saki by 2nd round TKO.
Preliminary bout #2- Lightweight fight (155 lbs)
Cesys Kazlauskas (8-8) {1-0} versus Travis Milnes (1-0) {0-0}
Cesys Kazlauskas returns to the WFL cage after a submission victory in his debut and he will be taking on the well rounded Travis Milnes. Milnes should key on keeping the fight on the feet in this one, as he easily has the advantage in the striking department. However, when this one hits the mat, I see Kazlauskas having the advantage. This is a really tough fight to pick, but I will go with Milnes by decision in a back and forth affair.
Preliminary bout #3- Heavyweight fight (265 lbs)
Brutus Satanae (3-3) {2-2} versus Bubba James (9-16) {1-1}
[-355] [+245]
A pair of strikers look to get back on track here as Brutus Satanae takes on Bubba James. The former title challenger Satanae has now lost two in a row, and it appears he may have overtrained coming into this one, and that may be a problem against a striker the caliber of Bubba James. On paper, this one looks like a blowout for Satanae, but upon further examination, I think James may actually have the advantage, and I’ll take him by third round TKO.
Preliminary bout #4- Lightweight fight (155 lbs)
Mikko Hovimaki (9-4) {0-0} versus #4 Tommi Talentti (9-14) {1-0}
Hovimaki makes his much anticipated debut here as he takes on fellow top lightweight Tommi Talentti. This is a pretty clear striker vs grappler matchup, and there is no doubt Hovimaki lives up to his “One Punch” nickname, as 8 of his 9 wins have come by KO. Talentti meanwhile is more than competent on the feet but BJJ purple belt clearly prefers to grapple as 8 of his 9 wins have come by submission. This is a tough one to pick, but I think Hovimaki’s defensive wrestling keeps this one on the feet and he gets a second round KO victory.
Main Card bout #1- Light Heavyweight fight (205 lbs)
#3 David Thompson (5-0) {4-0} versus Kevin Stevens (4-3) {3-3}
[-199] [+147]
After winning his first three in the WFL, Kevin Stevens has now dropped three in a row, but will look to get back on track here against highly ranked boxer David Thompson. Thompson has been fantastic in the WFL thus far, going undefeated with two KO’s. The problem in this fight won’t be the standup for Thompson, but the problem will be keeping it there against the high level wrestler in Stevens. I think Stevens has success early in this one, but I think Thompson eventually pulls it off by third round TKO.
Main Card bout #2- Light Heavyweight fight (205 lbs)
#4 Don Schmidt (6-2) {4-2} versus #5 Shen Woo (3-2) {3-1}
[-144] [+108]
In our second marquee light heavyweight matchup of the evening, a pair of ranked strikers go at it. Schmidt, one of the longest tenured fighters in the WFL will look to get back into the thick of things with a win here, although he has expressed interest in moving to 185. Woo on the other hand has incredibly resuscitated his career, as he has now won three in a row, all by KO in under 1 minute. This fight really is a toss up between to brutal strikers. I might give Schmidt the technical advantage, but I believe Woo may have the better chin. However, I think Schmidt connects early, and ends up putting Woo to sleep at the end of the first.
Main Card bout #3- Lightweight Title fight (155 lbs)
Risto Haeyhae (4-1) {3-1} versus Joakim Akterhall (2-1) {2-0}
[-133] [+100]
Risto Haeyhae enters his first title defense as a slight favorite over striker Joakim Akterhall. Akterhall has had quite a run in the WFL, winning via head kick in his debut, and then avenging the only loss of his career in his sophomore effort. The gameplans for both fighters should be pretty clear here. Haeyhae need this one on the canvas, and as quickly as possible. On the other hand, if Akterhall keeps this one on the feet, it should be a good night for him. Despite never surrendering even one takedown in his entire career, I think Haeyhae gets this one to the canvas in the second and wins via submission.
Co Main Event- Featherweight fight (145 lbs)
Artie Lange (14-12) {2-1} versus Tommy Ward (13-4-1) {0-0}
[+167] [-228]
Artie Lange looks to make it 3 in a row here as he takes on Tommy Ward, who is making his highly anticipated debut. Ward is a dominant wrestler with some serious power in his ground and pound. Lange is also a great grappler in his own right, but he prefers to go for submissions. Throughout his career, Ward has shown fairly consistent submission defense, and if he keeps that in check, this one should be a smooth ride over the glass-jawed Lange. I will take Ward by first round TKO.
Main Event- Heavyweight Title fight (265 lbs)
Champion Jason Rogers (13-11) {3-1} versus #2 Leather Slammer (18-15) {2-0}
[-102] [-130]
I must say, I think Jason Rogers is my favorite fighter in the WFL. Rogers showcases some of the best hands in the WFL, and always comes to fight. He has a tough matchup tonight though as he battles dangerous grappler Leather Slammer. Slammer is the slight favorite in this fight, and that is because of his incredible wrestling and BJJ brown belt, which has led to him having 14 of his 18 wins come by submission. Rogers, meanwhile, should only have to keep this one on the feet for 3 or 4 minutes and I think he will have a KO over the shaky jaw of Leather Slammer. However, I think Slammer gets this one down quickly and wins by submission in round 2.
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