2015-09-19
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KOTB 9: Nocuate

Event Review: KOTB 9: Nocaute
King of the Beach (270k+)
2015-09-19, Rio de Janeiro, The Underground - Rio
Attendance:1,000, Event Rating:88
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KOTB 9: Nocuate 

The King of the Beach promotion heads back to the comfy confines of the Underground on Saturday night, as another KOTB fighter attempts to be the first champion to successfully defend his title. We’ll also have an interview with out current champion later today, so stay tuned for that.

Gary Finkler (3-1, 0-1) v Pablo "Breaker" Esposito (1-1, 0-1)

Opening up the main card will be a pair of lightweights looking to rebound from their promotion debut losses, as the Texan Gary Finkler takes on Rio’s own Pablo Esposito. Both fighters hold BJJ purple belts but Finkler should hold a slight wrestling advantage, so look for him to be working from top control.  It’ll be interesting to see if Esposito looks to work in some muay thai on the feet, or if he’s confident on the floor. The winner of this bout will move right back into the lightweight contender mix.

Lucas "Samurai" Campos (2-0, 2-0) v Inci Yarakos (2-3, 1-2)

An important fight in the welterweight division is up next, as Brazilian dynamo Lucas Campos takes on the Turkish tower that is Inci Yarakos. Campos looks to follow up a 13-second and a 15-second KO in his third professional and promotional fight. Campos has shown devastating combinations and looks to move closer to a title shot with a win here, while Yarakos will be looking to use his half-a-foot reach advantage and grappling skills to push Campos into deep waters and test his stamina and heart. 

Gustavo "Montanha" Gouveia (3-1, 1-1) v Blob Sapp (2-1, 0-1)

A pair of super heavyweights will battle next, when 6’7’’ grappler Gustavo Gouveia takes on 300lb wrestler-boxer Blob Sapp. Gouveia’s gameplan is simple: get this fight to the floor where he can utilize his Donkey Kong-worthy ground and pound and jiu-jitsu skills. Slapp, on the other hand, will try and use his takedown defense to setup his heavy-handed boxing game. Only one thing is certain: this one will not be going to a decision.

Bago "Badaboom" Biga (3-1, 1-1) v Starling Silva (0-0, 0-0)

A title eliminator will make up our co-main event, as Romanian grappler Bago Biga looks to rebound from his title loss against Brazilian newcomer Starling Silva. Biga will probably want to get this one to the floor where he can press with his vaunted submission attack, but he might also have something else up his sleeve for the newcomer. Silva is a bit of an unknown here, but has top-level skills on paper and a good team behind him. This is a tough one to call, but the fans and the promotion are paying close attention to how it plays out.

"The Avalanche" Thatcher Halverson (3-0, 2-0) v Eric Ashton (6-1, 1-0)

And finally, champion Thatcher Halverson looks to be the first man to successfully defend a KOTB title when he takes on a fellow wrestler in Eric Ashton. Halverson switched up from a submission attack to devastating ground and pound in his championship win, showing growth as a complete martial artist. It’ll be interesting to see how he approaches his next opponent, as Ashton has been cutting through his opponents with a deadly ground and pound assault of his own. Ashton has been known to be a bit of a partier, and hasn’t been available for interviews all week, so hopefully he’s as focused as he needs to be on Saturday night.

 

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