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 In a lot of these previews I talk about up and comers and prospects and stuff. So I suppose it’s only right to refer to what happened here as “graduation”. Up and comers became legitimate challengers and title contenders, although one battle tested vet was able to keep things as he feels they should be.
Bantamweight
Dominance Zelditeez (11-5) def. Yolo Yolovski (6-1) by Submission (Strikes) at 3:55 of Round 3
Yolo was looking like a solid prospect at 135 but the veteran Dominance managed to take the fight to the floor and land strike after strike for three straight rounds. Yolovski is as tough as it gets, but it was too much in the end and he was forced to submit. Dominance is now riding a three fight win streak for the first time since he joined Highland Games so it might be time for him to have another step up.
Bantamweight
Zakari Moss (11-8) def. Tatsuzo Fukuda (6-1) by Submission (Americana) at 1:18 of Round 1
Fukuda’s impressive sweep game was no match for Moss here as yet another veteran took out an up and comer. Moss managed to get the fight to the floor instantly and attack with submissions until eventually one broke through. This is Tatsuzo’s second straight loss, both by submission, so he’s going to have to do something different if he ever wants to make a name for himself within this organisation.
Lightweight
Jason Smith (11-8) def. John Smith (7-3) by Submission (Kimura) at 1:33 of Round 3
Well, this was interesting to read. By interesting, of course I mean impossible and annoying. Not only are their names strikingly similar, but basically the entire contest involved Jason taking the fight down and both of them attacking relentlessly with submissions. Based on his control from the top position, Jason was taking the rounds but still put a stamp on the win by locking in a late kimura. This breaks the three fight losing streak which Jason was on, while it forces John into a three fight skid of his own.
Light Heavyweight
Roan Jenkinson (5-0) def. Rimario Gracie (5-4) by TKO (Punches) at 2:57 of Round 1
Rimario has never been able to replicate the success of his brothers Rodrigo and Renato, often sitting at the bottom of the division without much to take him out of it. Yet again, this is what happened. Roan took the fight into the clinch and easily broke his opponent up, getting his third Highland Games TKO victory in a row. Jenkinson is emerging as a real contender and with an impressive 6-0 record, he’ll probably be looking to move up a level in his next time out.
Middleweight
Ty Semerad (10-1) Vs John Smithing (6-1) by Submission (Kimura) at 1:59 of Round 1
Semerad was out of management for this fight, so there was always a question mark to whether he did or didn’t have the correct gameplan worked out. In the end, it was irrelevant. John Smithing has proven to be a decent submission fighter but he was completely out matched in that respect here, leading to Semerad picking up another effortless first round submission victory. Semerard will be looking for new management, of which I’m hoping to be in the running for, while Smithing goes back to the drawing board and tries to figure out how he comes back from the devastating loss.
Bantamweight
Dan Sten (11-4) def. Long Wang (6-0) by Unanimous Decision
It was a big step up for Long Wang who was cautious about accepting a fight against such a well-travelled fighter, and in the end it would appear that it was correct. Dan Sten is renowned for getting the clinch and landing devastating knees to wear his opponents down, usually for the entire duration, and that’s exactly what happened. Wang has a little bit further to go before he can fight at this level once again.
Lightweight
Rama Udo (9-1) def. Warren Parker (8-3) by Unanimous Decision
Warren Parker was coming off of a huge win over Jason Smith in which he used his underrated boxing to keep the fight standing and in his control. In this fight, he tried to use his strikes to set up takedowns to potentially get a submission. Rama Udo though, nah man, he’s not the guy to try and play with in the strikes. While he might not be a knockout specialist, he personifies technical and accurate striking and he was able to outbox Warren effortlessly. He took a few shots but he adjusted. When he was eventually taken down, he held on and forced the standup, completely taking Parker out of his game.
Middleweight
Massa Hurmaaja (17-5) def. Jon Askren (10-1) by Submission (Armbar) at 4:57 of Round 2
This was an extremely intriguing fight. In one corner, you’ve got Massa Hurmaaja who seems to have the champion’s number. On the other, you’ve got the champ’s training partner who was probably instructed to hold the challenger back and protect his friend’s title as well as he could. Massa though, this guy isn’t someone to overlook. Askren was able to take the fight to the floor quite easily and was very active with ground and pound and moving into dangerous positions. When he took the mount, it seems like the fight was over but no, Massa managed to not only overcome that situation, but locked on a second round armbar for the victory. Massa will probably be the next title challenger but as Massimo Benvenuti will compete in World Combat for their Welterweight Title, he could well have another fight in between.
Heavyweight
Mase Force (16-5) def. Alexey Juralev (12-4) by KO (Punch) at 0:47 of Round 1
WOW! Alexey Juralev was probably the scariest striker we’ve had in ages. He was right there with Jason Barrett as the biggest hitter in the division, was. Mase Force sparked him out cold just 47 seconds. Incredible. But you know what that means right? Pedro Lazaro Vs Mase Force for the title, AGAIN. I’m secretly hoping someone knocks out Force, Lazaro or Gumble just so we can break this deadlock at the top of the division. But I suppose I can look at it in a different light. Sooner or later, these days will be gone and we’ll be reminiscing about how amazing this triple threat situation was.
Lightweight
Taisto Anttila (8-0) def. Ska Asap (19-6-1) by Unanimous Decision
And just like that, the main event was upon us. Ska Asap, a man of 27 fights who held the AFL Welterweight Title twice and the World Combat Middleweight title, taking on Taisto Antilla, a much greener fighter with just 8 bouts but an already impressive history as both the Featherweight and Welterweight Champion in Choke. Ska Asap walks around at 164lbs, while Anttila is around 145. Asap has become known as a slightly boring wrestler who utilizes a lay and pray controlling style of fighting. Earlier in his career, the brown belt had many submission wins but those seem less frequent as of late. Taisto’s entire career has been filled with submissions. All of his fights latest one round before he joined HG, where the step up in competition had seen his contests go into the second. This fight however, went the full distance. The most incredible thing for me was the superior wrestling of the Finn. Perhaps his smaller stature and build allowed him to swiftly get under the legs of Asap, but it was still surprising. Anttila was active in looking for submissions but Asap’s an extremely tough man to finish by that method, with Billy Tinkl being the only man to have done it back at AFL 21. Essentially, that’s all that went down. Taisto kept the top position which led to him taking all 3 rounds. Taisto wants a little time to train, but since his extremely impressive arrival in Highland Games he’s done enough to challenge for Zoran Jolevi’s title.
KNOCKOUT OF THE NIGHT
Mase Force
SUBMISSION OF THE NIGHT
Massa Hurmaaja
FIGHT OF THE NIGHT
Rama Udo Vs Warren Parker
So with Rama Udo and Taisto Anttila, along with heavyweight Thresh Whiteman, proving to everyone that Choke was one of the most underrated organisations the world has seen to date, we begin to see the up and comers transform into title contenders. Taisto Antilla will not compete for the title against Zoran Jolevi, so time will tell if the change in the guard is upon us.
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