2014-10-13
Price: Free
Edition: #
Previous Issues
Submit Article
Tycoon Times - MMA Magazine
Tycoon Times - The World's Premier Weekly Mixed Martial Arts Newspaper
Corner

Highland Games 3 Preview

Event Preview: Highland Games 3
Highland Games
2014-10-13, The Island, The Underground - The Island
Author:Callum McGregor

 Eddie Kilpatrick (2-2) Vs Barney Gumble (3-0) – Heavyweight

After evening up his record at Highland Games 1 by stoppage Jason Newstead in the first round, Eddie Kilpatrick is looking to score a victory over one of the division’s top stars and get his name in title contention.

At Highland Games 1, Eddie took Newstead down and took the mount quickly. Although he briefly looked for a submission attempt, he was content to punch his opponent in the face until the mat was transformed into a slaughterhouse floor, and the referee had to step in.

Barney Gumble is currently ranked #2 in the division after a highly impressive main event victory over Diamond Andy.

The fight with Andy was all one way. Gumble quickly secured the clinch and absolutely brutalized his opponent with his dirty boxing. Like Kilpatrick’s fight, the doctor had to intervene because the amass of blood which had been generated from the shots had placed Diamond Andy in a seriously dangerous position.

I think Barney Gumble is entering this fight as a considerable favourite. Although we haven’t seen it, it is said from his training partners that Gumble’s chin is one of the best in the business, and his muay thai experience means Kilpatrick wants nothing to do with the stand up game. For Kilpatrick, this fight has to go to the floor. Kilpatrick’s BJJ Blue Belt could be the make or break factor in this fight, but I personally think Gumble’s TDD will be too much, and it’s only a matter of time before he secures the clinch and puts another one away.

If Gumble wins this fight, he will most likely get a title shot against number 1 ranked Christian Long at Highland Games 6.

Also to note is that this fight will be the last non title fight to go 5 rounds in Highland Games. Originally we were going to make every main event go the distance, but feedback suggests we should reserve that for title fights only.



Mib Louie (2-0) Vs Pedro Lazaro (1-0) – Heavyweight

Mib Louie is yet another fighter to enter Highland Games from the impressive stable of fighters currently being managed by ZyD XyD. Louie enters the cage after Diamond Andy and top ranked Light Heavyweight Joel Nicola, and looks to keep everyone talking about this elite team.

I just want to talk a little bit about Louie’s MMA career up until this point, specifically his amazing debut. For two entire rounds, Louie was on his back, trying diligently to defend shots. It wasn’t looking like a promising start to his career, but when the bell went for the third round. Out comes Louie, knocking his opponent out with a spectacular axe kick. The crowd go nuts for the original comeback KO. THAT is what I want to see from him in Highland Games.

How can I talk about ZyD without mentioning Pedro Lazaro’s manager? Torrelio Sacana is a true legend of the sport, amassing an insanely impressive 253-124-4, and developing several champions in several top promotions, if you see that your fighter is facing one of Sacana’s, you should be very very afraid. This is no difference for Lazaro.

Pedro Lazaro is a muay thai fighter who will want to see the action play out inside the clinch. His dirty boxing is designed to wear opponents down and take the rounds. When striking, Pedro is accurate and clinical, but it’s only really there to make the opponent back up towards the cage, allowing the Panamanian to secure a clinch and rough you up.

Prediction wise, this is a hard one. Louie isn’t the best at avoiding grappling exchanges and has been taken down several times. If this one goes to the clinch, I could see him being worn down over the course of the fight, allowing Pedro to either get a late stoppage or a decision win. Louie needs to land hard and fast, while still maintaining his distance. Louie has two options. If he is aggressive, Pedro could get caught cold and be out quickly. This is the riskier strategy, but probably the best one. Alternatively, if ZyD feels like mixing it up, Louie could attempt to counter the few strikes Pedro throws, and make him pay for the clinch attempts.



LightHeavy Weight (1-0) Vs Amir Rutten (1-0) – Light Heavyweight

I wonder if LHW will want to move up in weight class?

After an impressive first round stoppage at Highland Games 1, LHW is currently ranked 5th in the division.

In his debut, LHW took on Billy Benson. Instanty, he secured the clinch and elbowed his opponent until the doctor stopped the fight due to cuts. As you can tell if you’re reading through this entire preview, quite a few fighters were stopped due to cuts at Highland Games 1 haha.

I’m expecting LHW to attempt much the same in his next fight. He will quickly go for the clinch and try to land his vicious elbows to cause some serious damage to his opponent.

Now, for what makes this fight really really interesting. Amir Rutten is also a muay thai fighter who excels inside the clinch.

In his professional debut, Rutten quickly got the clinch and landed elbows and knees, the latter of which eventually knocked his opponent out.

I know Rutten’s manager, Mma Jimmy, knows his stuff. One of my fighters was quickly destroyed by one of his in V-Mask MMA.

Really, how do you predict this fight? Both want the clinch, both want to beat their opponent up inside it. I guess Rutten has a few more tools at his disposal, but we haven’t actually seen everything from LHW. I think the most interesting thing in this fight will be if either decides to throw much from distance. LHW probably has some slightly better wrestling and boxing, so I wonder if he’ll be able to get anything off before the fight enters the inevitable clinch.



George Alvarez Jr (2-0) Vs Arthur Jawetz (0-1) – Middleweight

On paper, this fight was a slight mismatch. We were struggling to get an opponent for Alvarez, and Arthur wanted the fight. Jawetz says he will fight any fighter, any time, and who can’t respect that mentality?

Here’s the interesting thing though; following some kind of dispute with the commission, Alvarez Jr’s former manager Texas Badboy Army badboy (great name) has had his licence revoked. Now fighting as a free agent, it’s hard to tell if his team got their tactics together before the split. Alvarez might well be going out there without much of a strategy.

To even this up however, Alvarez isn’t the most technical fighter. He walks out there with scary knockout power, and that won’t change just because he didn’t alter his approach to deal with Jawetz.

The underdog, Arthur Jawetz, comes into this fight with a 0-1 record. Like Alvarez, Jawetz wants a stand up war which makes this an extremely intriguing contest. In his debut, Arthur was quickly put in a clinch position. He broke the clinch and landed two shots to his opponent, quickly cutting him. Unfortunately, he was then taken down and instantly submitted. The few seconds on the feet didn’t tell much, but it looked like Jawetz had the striking to put his opponent away.

Alvarez is the tried and tested knockout artist, but we don’t really know what to expect from Jawetz. This will be an exciting affair no matter what happens, but I reckon the smart money has to go to Alvarez.



Lou Hole (1-0) Vs Paul Jackson (1-1) – Middleweight

In his professional debut, Hole had a few problems with his takedown defence. On the ground he took a few shots and although he was successful in landing sweeps, he in turn was swept a few times. Lou’s your classic all rounder. He can do it all, but the old expression has this jack of all trades as a master of none. Even without a specific skill, Hole proved he has KO power by taking his opponent out with an overhand right in his debut.

Jackson’s debut was a strange one. He didn’t quite know what he wanted to do, but he definitely wanted to grapple. His next fight was a little bit more strategic, and he wanted the takedown at all costs. Although he was successful a few times, he was unsuccessful a hell of a lot more, and after a tiring and uneventful fight, Jackson was caught cold and knocked out in the last round.

I can’t really call this fight either. Jackson might be able to dominate with takedowns, but I’m just not so sure that he will have what it takes to do much when the fight gets there. It’s a fight that will be defined by strategy, and I don’t know which fighter has the better manager to put that in place.



Chiyono Fuji (1-0) Vs Zeco Fulero (0-0) – Heavyweight

On paper, Zeco has the better striking. After his 5 second KO in his Highland Games debut, I wouldn’t want to stand with Fuji no matter who I am.



Shama Abioye (0-0) Vs Khal Rakharo (0-0) – Heavyweight

Abioye is a free agent and probably doesn’t have his tactics down, so Rakharo should take this fight by however he wants.



Leorio Allamazz (0-0-1) Vs Lister Man (0-1) – Middleweight

I reckon Allamazz will either get a quick KO, or Lister will work him over on the ground.



Alexander Mason (0-1) Vs Timothy Segura (0-1) – Light Heavyweight

In his debut, Mason, a BJJ specialist, took his opponent down and let him up straight away. He’s not the most intelligent. To counter this, Segura, a muay thai fighter, decided to keep trying to take his debutant opponent down and throw no strikes.

The least stupid wins this one.



Barol Kedorf (0-1) Vs Michael Kamara (0-1) – Heavyweight

Kedorf throws way too many combos. Kamara’s only loss was a decision to Morce, which Morce is an expert at. I think Kamara will win by KO.

 

Article views: 229
» Donate to this author

Editorial Staff
Tycoon Times Discussion
Tycoon Times - MMA Magazine MMA Tycoon
MMA Chat Room
MMA Forum