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 TTFC Leonidas vs Teixeira II is presented by KillShot Klothing of Rio. No jokes, no puns, no false wisdom, let's just get to what has the potential to be the biggest night in TTFC's proud history. Saturday night, fight night!
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Super Heavyweight: "The Red Bull Cola" Jonathan Williams (12-10) vs Clay Thomas (3-0)
A card as epic at this one needs to kick off in style and these two behemoths promise to the deliver. Williams and Thomas only have forward gear and go for the jugular like men possessed. Both love to come forward and tie up but not to hang heavy and drag things out but to smash their opponent mercilessly. Williams loves to punch the head and body in the clinch, utilisng big upeprcuts - just ask Gene Carano. Thomas is the mroe versatile often scoring the trip takedown. Once down he is just as aggressive however, dropping bad intentions and submission hunting. Neither will want to give an inch when they inevitably end up in a clinch war here and that makes for and exciting battle of pure fight finishers.
Prediction: After last weeks spectacular failures at predicting fights I'm not even going to try here but it is going to be a blast from start to finish, and it will finish impressively.
Heavyweight: "The Freight Train" Cain Colbert (18-9) vs Optimus Prime (6-4)
Whilst it may be a little early to say that Cain Colbert is back to his best he did look like a vastly improved version of himself than the one who dropped 4 straight when he took out Robert Baratheon in the very first round. Known for his fight ending knees and crippling power shots Colbert is still much further down the divisional ladder than he would like, nay expect. To move on up he must first pass the fighting pride of Cybertron, Optimus Prime. Prime comes into the fight high on confidence having blitzed Ron Vincent and Christian Vieri in impressive fashion in his last two outings. His fight with Vieri lasting all of 9 seconds. The usual modus operandi for Prime it to use his stellar wrestling to plant his quarry then to wail on them until they are done. That said he does have a tendency to expose his chin and and that will fill Colbert with confidence.
Prediction: Prime is high in confidence and maybe this is his time to shine. His level is a lot higher than his 6-4 record suggests but he is the significantly smaller man which will effect his game plan. He is more than capable of defeating Colbert but look for the Freight Train to blast him with the knee as he looks for the double. Colbert by TKO in the second.
Heavyweight: BJ Barnes (19-14) vs Hurba Derba (9-2)
Well rounded BJ Barnes has tasted both victory and defeat in his two fight tenure in the TTFC. Out classed by Monty Brown he then out grappled Ilya Murometz and his bout with Hurba Derba is a chance to show where he belongs in the pecking order. Derba is the kind of up and coming heavyweight that TTFC is known for, piecing together a 4-1 record under the banner with 2 KOTN and a FOTN award to show for it. Derba is a Muay Thai specialist but it is not the clinch or kicks that are his most dangerous weapons but his punch combinations. Accurate and technically perfect he can put fist to face 3 or 4 times without reply before the victim knows what hit them. The obvious chink in his armour is his grappling however which Barnes should look to expose pitting his brown belt against Derba's white. The size disadvantage that faces him coupled with Derba's previously mentioned punching prowess will make taking him down a difficult task but it is Barnes best hope of victory.
Prediction: I fancy Derba to get the job done here but with my current run of predicting failures Barnes should win by submission in the first!
Bantamweight: Magatsu Taito (10-3) vs "O Louco" Nando Rafael (10-1-1)
In a 135lb war that would not look out of place on any fight card in the world two fo the finest fighters in TTFC showdown to break out of King Leonidas and Richard Teixeira's long shadows. Magatsu Taito is consistently improving his already impressive skillsets and has long been one of the toughest outs in all of TTFC. In dispatching the King Leondas conquering Victor Olsen last time out he looked as impressive as he ever has, submitting the durable Viking in less than two minutes. In Nando Rafael he faces a man who never does the spectacular but always does the necessary, and his record reflects that. To get another shot at the gold in the 135lb division you have to escape the snake pit that Dave Carpio, Bruce Bellec, Trinity Hill, Lawence Mars and more call home. A win here puts these two back in the mix, especially Taito who may be next in line if he can win in impressive fashion. As for the fight itself expect it to be a technique master class in everything these two do. Being sloppy is not something you can ever accuse these two of it won't be a high velocity affair but a fascinating one nonetheless.
Prediction: Rafael is going to be looking to slow down Taito with his patented chopping leg kicks but Taito will keep on coming, grinding his man down relentlessly and taking home the decision win.
Middleweight: Kublai "The Raw Dawg" Congo (17-9) vs Tommy "Gun" Kane (23-9)
Former middleweight champion Kublai Congo looks to take his win streak to 3 as he tangos with 32 fight veteran Tommy "Gun" Kane in a mouthwatering contest with consequences in the 185lb division, where every fighter jostles for postion in the wake of the recently announced middleweight tournament. Kublai Congo is versatile, dangerous and hungry to have that belt around his waist once more. His 3 TTFC contests have yielded 3 Of The Night Awards and a reputation as a man who imposes his will where ever the fight foes. In the clinc, on the mat or standing The Raw Dawg is the kind of tenacious battler that can beat men on pure grit and determination so Tommy Kane will need every bit of experience he has stored up to weather the storm. In reply he will offer his own brand of relentless fury as he unleashes suprising power in both his kick and punches, as well as offering some of the best offensive grappling in TTFC. Always looking to pass once it hits the mat and always looking to drop bombs Tommy Gun can be nothing short of brutal if not met with equal force. Luckily for the fans Congo brings it and this shapes up to be a fight of the night front runner on a card of fight of the night contenders.
Prediction: WAR!
Super Heavyweight: Jefferson Davis "Boss" Hogg (6-2) vs "The Magic Staton" Jeremy Staton (10-2)
Boss Hogg looks to continue on his path of destruction, smashing his way through virtually everyone who stands in front of him. If he gets you in the clinch you need to do something drastic fast because once those knees launch it doesn't matter if they are aimed at the head or the body they will endy our night if not dealt with quickly and effectively. Comparable to being hit by car they put people into orbit as Hogg puts all of his 300 plus pounds behind every bone smashing connection. Jeremy Staton will be will aware of the dangers that Hogg poses and despite identical height he weighs over 50lbs less than Hogg, which makes speeds his best friend here. Hogg's cardio belies his bulk but 15 minutes will seem like years for 320lber. Controlling distance and using speed to tee off and get away is Staton best chance here. If he does so after 5 minutes of chasing and being picked away at Hogg will be open mouthed and stationary and Staton can pounce if he wishes. He may want to just continue dancing around the big man en route to a one sided win.
Prediction: Hogg has the tools to blast Staton into unconciousness but a smart Staton win this at a canter using speed and distance. Staton by decision.
Welterweight: Doctor "Indiana" Jones (16-3) vs Dummy Jones (10-2)
In a case of keeping up with the Jones' Doctor and Dummy square off to put themselves on Henry Chinaski's radar. Both men enter on the back of disappointing defeats but both still bring undeniable quality in everything they do. Dummy Jones must have been a can-can dancer in another life because his kicks come thick and fast. Leg kicks, front kicks, head kicks, push kicks and all manner of spectacular flying feats that are not just for show. First or last minute he can end fights with a well placed shin and Doctor Jones will need to be on his toes throughout. Former champion Jones utilises excellent foot and head movement to set up his punches and his takedowns and has no obvious weaknesses. If he choses to stand with Dummy Jones he will be constantly moving so as not to get caught by a kick and will be moving forwards to stop Dummy setting his feet and letting fly. If he takes him down, which he is very capable of, he will look to sap the energy out of Dummy Jones so that he will be more subdued should they work their way back to standing.
Prediction: Jones' maybe a dime a dozen but not ones of this quality. That said only one of these can win and the Doctor should have enough to outpoint Jones over 3 rounds with excellent movement and well timed takedowns.
Super Heavyweight: "Big" Ralph Maguire (15-6) vs Armin "Martillo" Merkel (20-4)
Anyone who wants to suggest that these two super heavyweight staples are not deserving of their high place on this card coming off defeats needs to only look at their histories to see why they are where they are. 14 (T)KO's in 15 wins for Maguire, 17(T)KO's in 20 for Merkel. These boys come to finish fights and they succeed more often than not. Some fighters TKO ratios are boosted by super wrestlers with takedowns and brute force but these two are no ground and pounders. Both love nothing more than to wade into the flames and trade until one gets burnt. It's not complicated, it's not strategic but it is damn exciting. They are not brawlers either, they both possess technique in their boxing. The shots are clean and crisp to chin, temple, body and anywhere else open for the impact. This is going to be a knockout or I'm King of the Koalas! Both want this bad and if that adds even more spice to this tasty dish then I'm all for it!
Prediction: Only one man has ever played Merkel's game and won and it took one of the greated KO's in TTFC history to do it. Maguire is a willing participant but he has a chin check coming his way from the brutal Swede that will put him down a place or two.
Light Heavyweight: Tyson Gauge (22-8) vs Sonny Corleone (10-1)
There are few more dangerous opponents than a knockout artist who has just been knocked out. One who lost his title in the same sitting is more dangerous still. Enter Tyson Gauge the recently deposed 205lb Kingpin. Coby Skrilla, Malcolm Stumps and even James William the first time around have tasted vicious defeat at Gauge's hands and to get the rubber match with William he so craves he needs to get back to his best and defeat Sonny Corleone, a man with warheads in his gloves. The dynamic kick boxer swarms from the opening bell tearing into shell shocked opponents, hacking at their legs with kicks, puncturing their gas tank with hooks to the body and putting them to sleep with some of the cleanest and most powerful punches TTFC has ever seen. When these two collide there will be fireworks and one may look to escape to the mat where both have seriously underrated ground games, especially Corleone. What should happen though is that both throw down in a Chuck vs Bruce, King Kong vs Godzilla, Luke vs Darth, Rocky vs Ivan contest that will have those in attendance feeling privileged to have been in the building, and that may be under selling how good this one can be!
Prediction: An instant classic that starts with Corleone teeing off only for Gauge to come back swinging hurting the New Yorker before Corleone reasserts himself with a right hook from Hades that puts the exclamation point on a hard fought victory.
Bantamweight: King Leonidas (14-4) vs "Lil Terror" Richard Teixeira (22-3)
He's back. This one is the one that everyone has been waiting for ever since that historic night on New Year's Eve 2011 when King Leonidas shocked the world, doing what no man in 19 attempts had done, defeat Richard Teixeira. Not only did he beat the then undisputed number one bantamweight in the world he finished him inside two minutes with an upper cut followed by a stiff jab that took Lil Terror's legs from under him and wrenched the belt from his vice like grip. Since that fateful night King Leonidas has struggled to gain the respect he deserves from his bantamweight peers and Teixeira has wandered the globe fighting anyone who dares in a desperate attempt to reclaim his seat on the throne. Neither has found what they have been looking for and this fight offers them their best chance to lay any ghosts to rest. Leonidas wants to prove his win was no fluke and that his top 10 status is well earned. Teixeira wants to avenge that defeat and tell the world he is coming for them. The drama aside it is easy to forget just how incredibly talented these fighters are. This isn't a movie it's a battle of elite warriors and perhaps the biggest fight in the history of TTFC. Fans of TTFC know what both these men bring, for the newcomers it is pure class in everything they do; perfect footwork, timing and head movement, crisp and versatile striking as well as excellent wrestling pedigrees and effective jiujitsu. This is a truly epic fight.
Prediction: Who knows what would have happened if their last meeting had gone on further but it didn't because Leonidas found Teixeira's chin and don't think for one minute that Lil Terror has forgotten how that felt. It will be cagey to start but the roar of the crowd and the significance of the moment will spur these two on for 25 minutes until the judges have the unenviable task of deciding a winner. Leonidas deserves more respect than he gets but Lil Terror is Lil Terror. Teixeira by close decision.
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