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By Dick Dirkin
There are a few certainties in life. Some would have you believe that it’s just death and taxes. But those people are boring, and short-sighted. Plenty of people live on after they die, in memories, photos, albums, films and fan-fictions where, for the most part, they become vampires.
Considering the relatively short life span of sanctioned, organized MMA, the opportunities to become those legendary figures in the sport are wide open.
Some have already achieved such status, in the world, in London, or just within the Highland Games organization, where Friday and Sunday night fights have become on of those aforementioned certainties.
There may not be any titles on the line, but with a healthy mixture of rising stars and respected veterans, one impressive win could catapult someone into the next level.
Light Heavyweight
MT Roberts (4-2; 0-2 in HG) vs. Marcelo Strazas (4-3; 1-3 in HG)
Roberts and Strazas face off in a match that may make or break their young careers. It’s another fight that’s do or die, as these guys have had very little success in the big leagues so far.
MT “The Tarak” Roberts is a tall, lanky fighter who prefers to get inside and work his way to a takedown. He’s a natural wrestler despite his lack of pedigree, and once on the ground, he does a good job of staying heavy and dishing out punches. He shines in the clinch with short punches, but everything else is still a work in progress.
MT (Milk Truck? Mister Tarak?) struggles when his opponents can negate his game, which happened in both of his Highland Games fights.
Marcelo Strazas is a Brazilian giant who relies on his Dhalsim-esque reach to kick people. Leg kicks and head kicks are his preferred method of attacking, and is very good at keeping people at bay. He’s strong in the clinch as well, but mostly uses that area to catch his breath, and his takedown defense is serviceable. If put on his back, however, his tall lumbering frame is more of a hindrance.
Prediction: Roberts may be running on empty (Heh, empty. Get it? GET IT?!) here in the Highland Games, and this match up doesn’t really do him any favors. Strazas seems like an almost perfect foil for what Roberts likes to do in fights, as everything goes downhill if he can’t get a hold of his opponent. Strazas should cost to a unanimous decision.
Heavyweight
Renato Sobral (3-1; 1-1 in HG) vs. Calixtro Guerrero (2-2; 2-2 in HG)
The first heavyweight fight of the night is a battle between USA and Brazil and will undoubtedly feature plenty of in-fighting.
Renato “Babalu” Sobral is a Brazilian export, one of the rare fighters from that county who focused on wrestling rather than jiu-jitsu. He plays the hurt game, and plays it well, opting to go straight for the takedown, mosey his way into side control or mount, and drop the thunder until the fight is over. He suffered his first career loss his last fight out, when Christopher Wilt was able to put Sobral on his back. It’s a problem area, but one that he might not run into tonight.
Don’t let the name fool you, Calixtro Guerrero is American indeed, and has spent his entire career in the Highland Games organization. He’s best in the clinch, but has very good wrestling in his own right, although he opts to use that in reverse. Punches are the order of the day for Guerrero, whether he’s hitting or getting hit, he leaves everything he has into the fight, although this has proved mixed results for his career.
Prediction: Both guys are fairly one-dimensional at this point in their careers, so it’s a matter of who can impose their will first or more often. Guerrero’s wrestling is relatively stout, but fighting in close to Babalu is hazardous to one’s health. Neither man has the ability to fight off their backs yet, but Guerrero won’t be looking to take it there. Babalu gets this to the ground and doesn’t let Guerrero up as he pounds out a victory in the first round.
Heavyweight
Angel Adriel (2-2; 2-2 in HG) vs. Liam Bourne (3-0; HG Debut)
Angel Adriel and debuting Liam Bourne meet in another heavyweight contest where…I’m running out of superlatives. We have two heavyweights who are trying to make some noise near the bottom of the pecking order. Simple enough.
Angel Adriel’s nickname is “Death and Destruction”, which is fitting because he’s Finland’s answer to The Undertaker. Somewhere between 6’10 and 7’0, you’d be right to assume he’s at home when striking at range. He possesses power that comes along with being that tall and weighing 260 pounds, but his chin is suspect and has been cracked. He’s also 0-2 against people not named Ralph Windsor.
Liam “Bruiser” Bourne makes his debut on the heels of three wins to start his career on the regional circuit. He’s shown well-rounded skills, preferring to work on the ground and grind his opponents down. He could stand to drop to light-heavyweight, as he’s going to give up significant size in this fight, and most of the division. The question, as with every fighter making the jump, is will his skills translate to the big stage?
Prediction: About a foot in height separates these two, Bourne will need to live up to his nickname in order to take this one. Adriel’s takedown defense is pretty solid, and getting inside is easier said than done. I think Bourne will have much better success when he can cut properly and go to Light Heavyweight division. Adriel should take this by stoppage, and then he’ll boast a win over someone not named Ralph.
Heavyweight
Bratt Nardello (5-3; 2-2 in HG) vs. Brian Collins (2-2; 2-2 in HG)
I’m getting a serious sense of déjà vu here. We have a gigantic heavyweight, taking on a normal size person, and one of them owes their entire career success to one former opponent. And one of them’s 2-2…and entirely in the Highland Games, just like the last previewed match! It’s crazy!
You know what else is crazy?
The size of Bratt Nardello’s head. It’s like someone figured out how to put one of those Easter Island heads on a 6’10 frame. He’s nicknamed Collision because he enjoys it when his fists collides into opponents’ faces, and boasts decent takedown defense, which is surely where most people will look to strike. Much like the giant in the previous match though, he does have his weaknesses.
He’s not well-rounded enough to adapt his game plan if his favorite face smashing one doesn’t work.
“Kid Ink” Brian Collins is unorthodox and follows the beat of his own tattooed drummer boy. His victories are at the expense of Jander Silva, an 0-3 fighter who thought that getting punched repeatedly was the best way to win fights. Collins has legit power in his punches, which is good, because like Nardello, he’s pretty one-dimensional at this point in his career. It’s knock out or be knocked out for him.
Prediction: With the large height disparity and the predilection for both wanting to punch at range, I tend to favor Bratt Nardello in this one. Collins hasn’t defeated a fighter that’s actually won a fight yet in his career, and I’m not sure if he’s going to start in this fight. The Nard dog takes this one early in the second round by stoppage.
Light Heavyweight
Joe Castillo (5-1, 1-1 in HG) vs. Juhani Tuomiola (5-0, 2-0 in HG)
Fresh off a win against MT Roberts, Joe Castillo is looking to make it two in a row against Finland’s own, Juhani Tuomiola. Castillo’s two matches in Highland Games actually came after Tuomiola’s last appearance, who has been taking time to heal various injuries.
Joe “Juggernaut” Castillo is mostly an in-fighter, who prefers to utilize his muay thai skills to rough up his opponents. He’s not a fast starter by any stretch of the imagination, and he doesn’t care to be either. His weakness would most likely be considered takedown defense, which cost him in his HG debut. Other than that, he’s well-rounded and seems comfortable taking the fight just about anywhere.
Tuomiola is coming back to the Highland Games after a bit of a layoff. He maintains a perfect record though, despite having a body which may be described as square-shaped. He utilizes this frame to his benefit with powerful wrestling. On the ground, he prefers to gain dominant position and pound away on his opponent, which usually lasts less than five minutes. Once on top, he nearly impossible to get off. The big question is, how is the layoff going to affect him.
Prediction: It’s always tough to say how a fighter’s going to respond after being away for some time. Skillwise this should be competitive as long as Castillo can avoid going to the ground. I don’t see this happening, as his takedown defense is in direct contrast with Juhani’s strength. Juhani should get one sooner rather than later, and finish the fight in the first with some ground and pound.
Heavyweight
Bob Simpson (6-0, 2-0 in HG) vs. Christopher Wilt (6-3, 2-1 in HG)
Two American heavyweights riding two fight winning streaks meet to take the next step up in the division. It’s another striker vs grappler match-up in a sense, and with only one win by decision combined for both fighters, there’s almost no doubt that somebody’s going to get finished in this one.
Bob Simpson (a.k.a. Big Nasty) could be classified as more of a striker, but he comes from a serious wrestling background. He tries his best to live up to his nickname, as all six of his wins have come by way of TKO or knock out, and all of them have come quick and inside the first round.
Through six professional fights, including two in Highland Games, his total fight time is ten minutes and twenty-five seconds. This raises questions on conditioning, but at the rate he’s going, that shouldn’t be an issue. He carries power in both hands that comes from being about 6’4 and actually having to cut weight for the heavyweight limit. He smashes people everywhere, on the feet and on the ground, showing no discernible prejudice for how he achieves his stoppage victories.
Pittsburgh native Christopher Wilt is a brown belt in jiu-jitsu, although he has been evolving his skill set as of late. He’s still relatively green on the feet, but has solid wrestling chops and is no slouch in the clinch, with elbows sharp enough that it makes up for his relative lack of technical skill. On the ground, he’s best when able to work from top position and very adept at passing to set up submissions. The trouble comes when he’s unable to get the fight to the ground, or unable to close the distance. Despite his pedigree, he’s been unable to secure a submission win in the Highland Games, an indication of his skill evolution, but also raising the question on whether or not he’s due for a submission win.
Prediction: Simpson’s never had to go very far into a fight, which is a fun thought when you think about how durable Christopher Wilt is. He took a beating from Barol Kedorf, survived being knocked down twice and seriously hurt multiple times before Kedorf put him away. Kedorf’s a much better boxer than Simpson, although raw power may be in Simpson’s favor. Wilt may have trouble getting past Simpson’s takedown defense, but the longer this fight goes, the more it may favor Wilt. There are multiple ways this could end, and questions this fight can answer. Still, if Wilt is unable to take Simpson down, he may not be able to overcome the boxing deficit. Simpson answers the questions on cardio, en route to a second or third round tko stoppage.
Heavyweight
Chiyono Fuji (11-5, 7-4 in HG) vs. Craig Marduk (8-2, 0-1 in HG)
I’m not a religious man by nature, but may God bless the sadistic HG matchmakers who came up with this one. It might look a little strange considering their respective Highland Games experience, but in twenty-six career fights between the two, all but one has ended via stoppage. For Fuji, he’s trying to prove that he’s a much better fighter than his recent 1-2 skid.
For Craig Marduk, it’s about getting that first Highland Games win, and do it over an impressive opponent.
It’s all or nothing for the “Wolf” Chiyono Fuji, who has never been to a decision in his career, and only been out of the first round in Highland Games once. The Japanese fighter likes to slug it out, occasionally clinching to change it up, but never looking to take the fight to the ground. He has good wrestling but uses it purely in reverse. His willingness to throw hands is an attributing factor to his record, and it can sometimes come back to bite him.
Impressively, despite the five tko losses, only Alexey Juravlev has truly been able to put him away. The rest have come via cuts, which seems to happen easily. Make no mistake about it, he may look small for a heavyweight and his striking defense may be lacking, but he brings it every night, and has six post fight awards to back that statement up.
Craig “Colossus” Marduk is an aptly named, carved from stone destroyer from Las Vegas, who blazed through the Tradition organization as their heavyweight champion before touching down in Highland Games. To say his debut was rough would be an understatement, as he was starched in less than a minute by Mitchel Thompson. Barring that setback, Marduk is a pressure fighter who prefers to use his wrestling to keep it standing, much like Fuji.
The difference between the two lie within the fact that Marduk would much like to fight in close quarters. He drops heavy punches in the clinch, frequently carving his opponents in the process. There may be a sense of foreboding when you look at both of their skill sets actually.
Prediction: Someone’s going to lose by tko would be a safe bet. The big question is who can impose their striking game on whom first. Fuji gives up considerable size to Marduk, and he’ll be sure to use it in this fight. Considering how paper thin Fuji’s face-skin seems to be (copywriting the term ‘face-skin’ right…now!), it seems inevitable that Marduk will be able to stop Fuji via a cut somewhere in the first or second round. I’m going to go with that pick.
Light Heavyweight
Teuvo Loman (10-3; 1-3 in HG) vs. Rodrigo Gracie (14-7-1; 5-5-1)
Remember the line about impressive wins catapulting someone to the next level? Well, an impressive win for one of these guys here might only save their job. To be fair, they’ve all lost to a bunch of studs in the organization, with a combined 1-6-1 record in their last 4 fights each, both of them desperately need a win.
Teuvo “Cityboy” Loman came to the Highland Games after a 9-0 run, including being the former AFL Light Heavyweight Champion. Speaking of Light Heavyweights, that’s who dispatched him in his first HG fight, which is a hell of a way to make a debut.
Despite his record, he’s lost to top contenders thus far. He uses his reach well on the outside, and generates surprising power from inside the clinch. His takedown defense is solid, but when someone can get him down, it’s like he’s stuck in quicksand.
Rodrigo “Tank” Gracie is a Gracie in every sense of the word. When he has an opponent down, more often then not, it ends with a submission. He’s been doing jiu-jitsu since he armbarred the doctor that delivered him. On the feet, well, he’s a Gracie in every sense of the word. He’s had real trouble getting the fight to the ground lately, which explains his drought in the win column.
Prediction: Gracie’s a better wrestler shooting from the outside than he is in the clinch, which makes this an interesting fight. Loman has a significant height advantage, but is adept in the clinch and prefers in fighting. I would say he should make an exception in this case, but Gracie isn’t as strong inside. If Gracie gets it down to the ground, he wins. The more realistic outcome might be Loman winning by second round stoppage.
Light Heavyweight
Ludko Struja (14-6, 11-4 in HG) vs. Rocky Balboa (9-1-1, 2-0-1 in HG)
Eastern Europe gets represented in the co-main event for the evening. On a card chock full of bombers, these two are no different, and look to put their opponents away with superior boxing. It’s Croatia versus Albania, a wily veteran versus a relatively fresh face who’s looking to keep his undefeated streak in Highland Games alive.
With four wins in his last five fights, Ludko Struja has been top five in the Highland Games light heavyweight division for what feels like forever.
The London-based Croatian has only recently faltered to the Light Heavyweight champ, umm, Lightheavy Weight. He’s another top level fighter who has learned to use reverse wrestling almost impeccably, forcing opponents to trade hands, which is a fight he usually wins. Amongst his victories, he owns a five second knockout, a seemingly impossible feat but one that proves exactly how much power he packs into his punches. Ludko’s been in the organization since the second event, and has challenged for the title twice. Some might say his best days are behind him, but no one else recently has been able to back that claim up.
Rocky Balboa, the Albanian Stallion I guess we could call him, is very similar to Ludko, in the sense that he likes to fight from distance. He has solid takedown defense as well, but most likely won’t have to worry about that in this fight. Balboa was the former G-Co light heavyweight champ before coming over to Highland, and after a draw in his first fight, he has managed two come from behind victories. He’s extremely hittable but also extremely durable, and is no stranger to going late into fights. The boxing on paper looks about even, although Balboa’s never been bested in a straight up at-range striking match in his career.
Prediction: Struja and Balboa are going to meet in the center of the ring and throw hands. Maybe my last set of predictions were off base, but this one’s going to be right. Struja may have the better wrestling if he chooses to try that, but why mess with success? Struja’s a fast starter, Balboa’s a slow starter. It’s going to be curious to see if Balboa can weather the storm early and showcase that durability to overcome later on. Not many have been able to do that against Struja though. It may be an upset, but I think Balboa takes a huge step forward and is able to put Struja away in the third round. Don’t tell Struja I said that though.
Heavyweight
Benny Askren (11-5, 9-4 in HG) vs. Thresh Whiteman (9-1, 3-0 in HG)
I’m going to be the first one to coin this main event fight as being ‘The Battle of the Butchers’! All future references must give ample compensation to me. With that being said, a blood bath will most likely be in store for the fans when Benny Askren fights Thresh Whiteman. Another veteran versus up-and-comer matchup for Highland Games, where most likely the first one to carve their opponent up will be declared the winner.
Benny Askren may look like a frosty-haired overgrown oompa-loompa, but he channels all of his strength in order to get the fight in close quarters. From there, he works short punches because his arms don’t allow for him to throw regular ones. He makes the best out of this shortcoming (tee hee) by throwing everything possible in order to put his foe away, or make sure they bleed enough to keep the ringside medics busy.
He’s won six fights in his career by way of cut, which is over half of his career victories, something which not many people can boast (foreshadowing). His previous five wins in Highland Games all take place in the first round, an indication of his pathological aggression that he uses to get up close and personal. Once he’s there, the jaws of life are needed to pry him off.
Thresh Whiteman is the anti-thesis to Benny Askren in appearance, from his alopecian chrome dome to owning a six-pack that cannot actually be drunk. The similarities between him and Askren are in the form that he also likes to get in the clinch, and paint a disturbing picasso with his elbows. Since coming down to heavyweight, he’s been almost unstoppable. Much like Askren, over half of his career victories come by way of cut stoppage, which brings a total of eleven cut stoppage victories between the two of them.
Thresh was born in New York, but had to relocate to Japan after accidentally slicing up patrons on crowded subways. Someone should have told the Japanese authorities that the subway situation in Japan is no better, and it’s only a matter of time before the country has it’s own Thresh-Level alert (it sits at green right now, as Thresh is on his way to London).
Prediction: Blood. Lots of it, more blood than the end of that movie There Will be Blood. Perhaps there will be milkshakes afterwards, which makes absolutely no sense unless you’ve seen the aforementioned movie. Benny’s another guy that only seems to lose to top competition, and devours everyone else. Thresh is on the rise, another guy who some peg to dismantle the current heavyweight champion one day. This fight will be crucial to both guys, but if I was a betting man, I would say the reach and length of Thresh comes into play big time. He needs to remain tall so Benny can’t reach his face, which I think he will en route to a second route tko stoppage via cut(s).
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