2015-06-03
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Highland Challengers 3 Review

Event Review: Highland Challenge 3
Highland Challengers
2015-05-30, The Island, Micro Arena - The Island
Attendance:400, Event Rating:78
Author:Callum McGregor

 With Highland Challengers being such a young organisation with so much potential, I absolutely love watching things unfold. This card delivered and as the Island’s Micro Arena was packed from wall to wall, we got to see a new generation of mixed martial artists fight to leave their mark on the sport.

  Middleweight

Kimmo Kiiruna (0-1) def. Bear Grylls (1-1) by KO (Punch) at 0:09 of Round 2 For the entire duration of the opener, Kiiruna was highly effective with his clinch, beating Grylls up in close and doing some serious damage. When the bell went for the second, a hook followed by a straight send Grylls to the canvas, completely out cold. The brutal finish will be shown on highlight reels in the future that’s for sure.

  Middleweight

Oliver Queen (1-1) def. Phil Eccles (0-0) by Unanimous Decision  Phil wanted to take this one to the floor and was very active with punches, kicks and takedown attempts. Unfortunately, Queen was way too slick for Phil and easily capitalized with brutal body kicks which sapped Eccles from the beginning. When Oliver tried to taunt his opponent, landing a huge takedown into side control, he was swept quickly and was in real danger so he needs to stick to what he’s good at in future.

  Light Heavyweight

Antero Teeri (1-0) def. Mati Gengala (0-0) by TKO (Cut) at 2:19 of Round 1 Mati came out with some solid leg kicks but we didn’t really get a chance to see how he was going to use them to set up the rest of his game. Teeri quickly got the clinch and didn’t take long to rip Mati’s eyebrow wide opened. With each elbow, it seemed to get worse and worse and the referee made an easy decision to stop Mati from having a permanent injury as a result of Teeri’s superb close elbows.

  Welterweight

Alexander Stubb (1-0) def. Floyd Juneweather (0-0) by TKO (Strikes) at 1:50 of Round 1 Yet again we saw a clinch fighter take control here. Juneweather came out and looked powerful and accurate with his shots at distance, but as soon as Stubb closed the range and clinched his opponent, the match was basically over. Some great uppercuts and hooks on the inside from Stubb hurt Juneweather quickly, and late in the second minute a combination send June down against the cage.

  Lightweight

Quintonio Vasquez (1-0) def. Glen Danzig (0-0) by Unanimous Decision Man, big night for clinch practitioners. Vasquez was content to close the range and land shots to the head and body all night long. He seemed to be looking for the stoppage but unfortunately it never came for him, but I’m sure he’ll be happy with the dominant decision victory.

  Middleweight

Joseph Wright (2-0) def. Takakazu Nakamoto (1-0) by KO (Punch) at 1:33 of Round 3 I absolutely loved this fight because there were so many interesting dynamics. Joseph Wright was destroying Takakazu early, who was fresh off the heels of a Highland Challengers 1 victory. Despite getting hurt bad, Nakamoto still scored several takedowns, although he wasn’t able to do much when it hit the floor. In the second round, Takakazu decided to abandon the ground game and box with Joseph, and he was doing okay but still was unable to walk out of the round with his hand raised. It was much of the same in the early goings of the final round, but Joseph managed to stun Takakazu with a flash knockout and finished him cleanly with a left hook. Big win for Joseph in a really good fight.

  Heavyweight

Dave Ysengrin (2-0) def. Kalle Kettu (1-0) by TKO (Strikes) at 0:34 of Round 3 After winning Knockout of the Night at Highland Challengers 1, a lot was expected of Dave coming into this fight. He did not disappoint. Kettu looked capable with his boxing, but Dave was overall the more knowledgeable and intelligent customer. Dave took the fight in close, landed shots to wear his opponent down, then stood at distance and picked Kalle off whenever he threw a shot. Dave’s striking is becoming something that opponents will fear in Highland Challengers and the heavyweight division is more certainly on notice after this, his second organisational victory.

  Light Heavyweight

Mel Gordon (2-0) def. Marcin Kowalski (2-0) by TKO (Cut) at 1:17 of Round 1 Just like his brother Louis Gordon, who will fight for the Highland Games title soon, Mel is an absolute beast at landing elbows in the clinch. Marcin is a tricky opponent but Gordon didn’t allow his opponent into the fight and did what he does best, elbowing his opponents until the referee jumps in to protect them. Routine win.

  Welterweight

Kobe Bryan (3-0) def. Gunnar Larsson (4-1) by TKO (Strikes) at 0:23 of Round 1 Want to know how to make a statement? Ask Kobe Bryan. Gunnar came out looking for the takedown early, but every single time he dropped his hands, boom, Kobe Bryan landed with precision, speed and most importantly power. It didn’t take long for Gunnar to be hurt badly and after just 23 seconds, Gunnar was on the crowd hiding behind his guard as Kobe Bryan stood over him victorious. Gunnar will bounce back as he has a good record and appears to be a tough opponent, but Kobe Bryan might emerge as a huge star in Highland Challengers with performances like that.

  Featherweight

Fred Aslop (5-0) def. Hugh Janus (1-0) by Submission (Armbar) at 1:57 of Round 2 We knew this would be a jiu jitsu competiton from the word go. At HC 1, Janus looked incredibly slick with his BJJ and looked quite the same in this fight. Alsop, who had 4 submissions coming into this fight, was also expected to be happy to engage in a grappling contest. It was Hugh who was able to take the fight down and for the duration of the first round, Janus was able to keep the top position and even pass to side control. Aslop then swept the position and ended up on top himself, just showing the calibre of grappling these men possess. When the second round began, it was much the same. Hugh shot in and got a quick takedown. Both fighters were active in attacking for submissions, but it was Aslop who would emerge victorious. In the second minute of the second round, Fred managed to slap on an armbar. Hugh attempted to battle out, but it was too late. Fred Aslop was victorious and puts his record to 6-0. With him currently not having a manager, Fred Aslop is one of the hottest names on the market today. 

  FIGHT OF THE NIGHT

Dave Ysengrin Vs Kalle Kettu

KNOCKOUT OF THE NIGHT Kobe Bryan   SUBMISSION OF THE NIGHT Fred Aslop   It’s really interesting to watch the landscape twist and turn in Highland Challengers in these early events. With every single fight we’re learning more and more about these competitors, and while some are becoming top level guys, some are crumbling under the pressure. At Highland Challengers 4, we are sure to see much of the same so make sure to tune in.

 

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