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 WC 18: Bob vs Fitzgerald preview
Ladies and Gentlemen, the World Combat Championships together with Big Bear Nutrition presents an event live at Hard Knock - New York on Sunday, April 12th, its WC 18: Bob vs Fitzgerald!
The Bantamweight title is on the line as Bobby Bob Bob and Thaddeus Fitzgerald get set to battle it out in Sunday's main event!
The co-main event features two top-contenders in the WCC's heavyweight division as Mib Louie and Dick Wad enter the octagon looking for that signature win to set up a title shot!
Shtaaf Reimish here as always to break down all of this weekend's action, so let's get 'er going!
#12 Jake "Strangler" Ibarra (1-1-1) vs #7 Ionnis Markakis (1-0) Middleweight
WC 18 opens up with a middleweight clash between two fighters looking to take that next step up the division's rankings, its Jake "Strangler" Ibarra vs Ionnis Markakis! Ibarra fought a couple times with the Highland Games (1-1-1) while on the Island, but after being dropped by his former manager wen for a change of scenery and signed with the WCC.
The Filipino has seen all of his fights go the distance, and has no preference between the on the canvas or standing up, so we'll have to wait and see how he fights this one.
Markakis is also making his WCC debut in this one after winning his pro debut via fist round submission in the QFC.
The 23-year-old Greek is also quite well-rounded, so its anyone's guess where this one will go. I'll go with Markakis via decision.
#4 Kurt "Show Bow" Kiwi (2-0) vs #7 Jimmy Howard (1-0) Welterweight
The second fight on tap is a welterweight bout between two fighters making their WCC debuts after succeeding in the QFC, its Kurt "Show Bow" Kiwi taking on Jimmy Howard!
Kiwi comes to the WCC after reeling off back-to-back first round TKOs in the QFC to begin his career.
He's been quite an interesting figure in the smack talk scene, but we'll see if he can keep his mouth shut long enough to do some more damage with his fists now that he's in the WCC.
Howard is also debuting in the WCC after just one QFC fight, a first round TKO over Russell Palmer.
The hard swinging New Yorker has a solid wrestling background, but we'll see if he uses it in what will most likely be a stand-up affair.
I've got Show Bow taking it via TKO.
#8 Mario "The Red Plumber" Bates (1-0) vs #5 "Morceguino" Julio Cesar Neves Jr. (2-1) Featherweight
Next up, WC 18 heads to the 145 pound classification as Mario "The Red Plumber" Bates makes his long anticipated return to the octagon against "Morceguino" Julio Cesar Neves Jr! Bates comes to the WCC via London, where the Italian has been training hard in preparations for his MMA career.
The BJJ brown belt last fought way back in September, but expect rust not to be an issue, simply due to his simply amazing abilities in the cage.
Neves Jr has also been training hard for the majority of his career.
After two QFC victories on the Island, the fellow BJJ brown belt fell in the opening round of the Island tournament, and will look to reinvigorate his promising career in the octagon Sunday.
Expect this fight to see a bit of ground action in it, but I've got Bates taking it via TKO.
#10 Marco De Los Santos (2-0) vs "Lumberjack" Jeff Messer (1-0) Heavyweight
A couple of young heavyweights are the next to climb up into the octagon as Marco De Los Santos and "Lumberjack" Jeff Messer get set to do battle in what should prove to be a significant win for whoever gets their hand raised when its over!
De Los Santos comes to the WCC after two Island QFC victories placed him in a solid groove, believing he can defeat anyone. The stakes get raised here in his first WCC fight, but with the Brazilian's ground attack as well as decent striking abilities that can catch anyone off guard, he should be in good shape to keep it rolling.
Messer is as pure a boxer as they come. The American has some natural knock out power combined with a much improved takedown defense, that should make him a tough fighter to beat for anyone.
He dominated his first and only pro bout, but was unable to finish Riley Woods off, and took it on the cards.
I don't see this one going the distance though, as I've got De Los Santos putting Messer to sleep via submission.
#6 Jordan "Jack" Ellis (4-2) vs #8 John Smith (7-1) Lightweight
The last fight of the prelims comes to us via the lightweight division as Jordan "Jack" Ellis and John Smith look for the win to push them to top-5 contender status!
Ellis began his career on a four-fight win-streak, but saw that erased with back-to-back losses to Jimmy Etherington in the Island tournament and Benny bishop at WC 16. The 25-year-old American will look to rebound back into the win column with a win here using his devastating Muay Thai skill set that can end anyone's night early
. Smith has been an amazing fighter thus far in his career, albeit against slightly lesser opponents. He built up his record in the QFC and RioFC, only losing once, a RioFC title fight to Lee Sin.
The tough Canadian has won most of his fights via (T)KO, but does have a purple belt in BJJ, which he could utilize Sunday to combat Ellis' ground weakness.
This fight should be a good battle, and I'm taking Smith to get the takedown and finish Ellis off via submission.
#11 Tyhma "Kuin" Saapas (4-2-1) vs #9 Fedor "Stunna" Sambo (5-3) Heavyweight
We kick of the main card of WC 18 with another heavyweight tilt that is sure to end early, its Tyhma "Kuin" Saapas vs Fedor "Stunna" Sambo! Saapas comes to New York and the WCC after spending his entire career thus far as a kickboxer in PRIDE KT on the Island where he racked up a 4-2-1 record.
The Finish striker will have to adapt quickly to the differences MMA can hold as he makes his first trip into an octagon on Sunday. Sambo is no rookie when it comes to MMA or the WCC for that matter.
The Russian made his pro debut back at WC 4 and has fought well, but has been unable to put a decent run of wins together to push for a title shot.
The winner of this stand-up battle could be two wins away from a shot, but it all begins Sunday.
I've got Saapas in this one, simply due to his striking background, against his stand-up counterpart via KO.
#11 Bruce Brady (0-1) vs #8 Opananu Milan (1-1) Middleweight
Next up, two middleweights take center stage in what should be a highly entertaining affair as Bruce Brady makes his return to fight action against Opananu Milan!
Brady lost his pro MMA debut last September, but has been training his ass off in preparation for this, his WCC debut, and boy does he look to be in great form!
The New York native now trains in London and has developed such an amazing well-rounded attack, he should be in great form to push up the middleweight rankings toward a title shot.
Milan made his WCC debut back at WC 13 on the Island, where he fell via submission to Borhan Khan.
The Aussie has a potent Muay Thai skill set that could end anyone's night early if they lose focus. Brady has much more to fight for here, and, added to his superior skill set, I see him taking this one via submission.
#1 Papa Shango (12-6) vs #9 Grant "The Sensational" Knight (2-2) Lightweight
The top lightweight contender is one of the next two fighters into WC 18's octagon as Papa Shango looks to rebound after losing his recent title shot against #9 ranked Grant "The Sensational" Knight! Shango is a veteran fighter of 18 professional bouts with both the AFL and WCC, including a title fight in both divisions.
His WCC lightweight shot came last time out, losing via first round KO to Better Dead at WC 17 for the lightweight belt.
The Somalian is still ranked #1 in the WCC lightweight division, and will look to earn another title shot shortly with a win here using his sensational ground game.
Knight has fought his entire short career in the USFL where he went 2-2.
The Irish-born, Helsinki-based fighter will look to keep this fight standing at all costs to combat Shango's ground attack with his own solid boxing abilities.
Still, I can't see the #1 contender not getting the win here, and I've got him winning via submission.
#3 Mib "Home Run" Louie (13-5) vs #2 Dick Wad (10-3) Heavyweight
In the co-main event of the evening, the WCC pits together two of the top-3 ranked contenders in the ultra-competitive heavyweight division, its #3 Mib "Home Run" Louie vs #2 Dick Wad! Louie has had quite a career already since the Island season began.
He fought ten times in Highland Games, going 8-2 which includes losing his one title shot against current WCC heavyweight champ Barney Gumble.
The Canadian Muay Thai specialist is coming off back-to-back TKO losses to Pedro Lazaro in the Island tournament and at WC 16, and will look to rebound here with another huge test in the former WCC champ Wad.
Wad was the first ever heavyweight champ of the WCC, winning the belt back at WC 2 and defending it three times before eventually falling to Gumble. T
hat loss began a string of three losses in five fights, but after winning in his last trip to the octagon at WC 17 over Ali Mouba, the fellow Canadian will look to use his dominant striking skills to set up another shot at the WCC heavyweight title.
This fight will most definitely be one for the ages, and I'll take Louie via TKO.
Bantamweight Championship Title Fight
#1 Bobby Bob Bob (12-4) vs #2 Thaddeus "Junior" Fitzgerald (8-5) Bantamweight
And now, for the main event of the evening! The World Combat Championships, in conjunction with Big Bear Nutrition, present a battle for the recently vacated WCC Bantamweight Title, it’s the former champ and current #1 Bobby Bob Bob taking on the #2 ranked Thaddeus "Junior" Fitzgerald! Bob is looking for the title he once owned back before losing it to Arnold at WC 14 via a huge decision. Since that loss, the Bolivian has reeled of back-to-back WCC wins over Xyd and Miller to put him back in contention to fight for the vacated crown.
His striking skills are second to none in the WCC's bantamweight division, and his takedown defense is superb, but will it be enough to defeat the ever- persistent Fitzgerald. Speaking of Fitzgerald, this is the New York City native's first trip into the octagon here on his home soil.
His Island season ended a bit sooner than he had hoped with a second round submission loss to Renato Laranja, but this title shot should have him eager to prove that was a mere blip on his resume.
The hard striking 26-year-old has no problem going the distance if that's what is needed, but he does have the ability to end anyone's night early if presented the opportunity as well.
This should be a great fight for the WCC bantamweight title.
I'll go ahead and take the former champ, Bob, getting the belt back via decision.
MMA Tycoon fans in New York and around the world will not want to miss this event! With the bantamweight title on the line and many other huge rankings implicating fights, WC 18: Bob vs Fitzgerald is an event you will not want to miss! I'll be settled in my seat when the action begins Sunday! Will you?
Written by Shtaaf Reimish
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