2016-03-10
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StrikeForce Union #5

Event Preview: StrikeForce Union #5
StrikeForce Union
2016-03-12, London, The Underground - London
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12/03/2016 The Underground London   Ladies and gentlemen, this latest event is brought to you by Machine Fight Gear. StrikeForce Union continues to acquire and retain some of the best fighting talent in the world. These fighters put it all on the line for your entertainment. Your support means a lot to all of us. Once again, here is Dave Ashbourne with your event preview:

      Magnus Looped vs Henry Collins Davie Joyce vs Marcus Pereira Mason Scott vs Dustin Kruger   Dmitry Boitsov vs Reginald Kray Elof Jurgs vs Vincenzo Crescenzo Steve Lucas vs Angus Bryant  Djin Kvasir vs Roger Jackson Jeff Roberts vs Gareth Gledhill Rodney Smith vs Givi Zurabovich Joonas Ragnarsson vs Jose Hernandez        Joonas Ragnarsson  (MMA 1-1-0 , SFU 0-0-0) vs Jose Hernandez (MMA 4-5-0 , SFU 1-2-0)   It's the first fight on tonight's card and it's Joonas Ragnarsson's first fight here at StrikeForce Union. The teenager from Finland is an expert in the clinch, dominating his last opponent in that area and coasting to a second round TKO win. Jose Hernandez is coming off two tough losses to two of the best in the division in Magnus Looped and Jeff Roberts and the rumour is that morale in the Hernandez camp is extremely low coming into this fight. The Spaniard has true knockout power that complements his strong boxing skills but more importantly, he has the ability to win standing or on the ground as proven in his career. If Hernandez gets caught in the clinch it could be another long night for him and he will have to gameplan around this. Luckily for Ragnarsson, he himself is not a one trick pony and is more than capable of mixing it up on the outside. A big fan of comics, he will be hoping SFU fans marvel at his debut performance.   Dave's Prediction:  Joonas Ragnarsson via KO
    Rodney Smith (MMA 6-0-0 , SFU 1-0-0) vs Givi Zurabovich (MMA 1-3-0 , SFU 0-2-0)   Rodney Smith is the clear star of the lightweight division and is fully expected to roll over his opponent here. But this is mixed martial arts and as we all know, anything can happen once you close the cage door. Smith has an impressive undefeated record and no clear challenger in sight. Some thought Nathan Griffin would be that challenge but Smith had him tapping out in the first round during his SFU debut. Givi Zurabovich does not back down from a fight. That's not the Georgian way. Both of these fighters are counter fighters so expect a slow build up as these two intelligent fighters try to feel out each other in the early stages. It's a great addition to the fight card and it would turn SFU upside down if Zurabovich comes away with the win. The pressure is on the local favourite Smith. It didn't phase him at SFU #3 and he will likely come through this latest test at SFU #5.   Dave's Prediction:  Rodney Smith via Submission
    Jeff Roberts (MMA 8-2-0 , SFU 2-1-0) vs Gareth Gledhill (MMA 2-1-0 , SFU 0-0-0)   This is a great match-up between two welterweight contenders with solid records. Jeff Roberts is only 24 years of age yet he already feels like a veteran in the MMA world. Roberts was a Division 1 All American wrestler. After college, he entered a 16 Man Tournament and finished as a semi-finalist. He has won Fight of the Night twice. He has won KO of the Night. And during his time at the now defunct Elite Canadian Fighting Championship, he became the welterweight champion and defended his belt twice, never losing it in the cage. However, Gareth Gledhill is no bum. Fairly new on the MMA scene, he won his first two fights comfortably with a seven second knockout in his debut. Gledhill has plenty of confidence but Roberts is a different kettle of fish altogether. Roberts defeated the fighter that is fighting for the title tonight, Magnus Looped. But later on, Magnus Looped beat John Winkle who was only one of two fighters and the latest fighter to beat Jeff Roberts. It's our very own love triangle at SFU. It is incredibly close at the top of the welterweight division. Fans and owners will be looking for a little more clarity to come out of this fight. Once his career is finally over, Roberts may fancy himself as an analyst of the sport, making the following prediction on twitter, "Collins, better hold on to that belt tight after you win, because Jeff Roberts is coming to take it". He's calling it. Henry Collins to win the belt tonight. After that? He's coming right for Collins. First though, he needs to get by Gareth Gledhill who should not be written off in this fight but is still the underdog going in.      Dave's Prediction:  Jeff Roberts via KO
    Djin Kvasir (MMA 4-9-0 , SFU 0-2-0) vs Roger Jackson (MMA 0-2-0 , SFU 0-0-0)   "Nasty" Roger Jackson is as flamboyant as they come. When asked what is his hometown he simply responded, Erotic City. He is a sex symbol to his native Marshall Islands. Seemingly competent at all of the mixed martial arts, Jackson will be hoping his recent manager change can propel him to this first win in MMA. Kvasir has had a difficult time of late, finding himself on a six fight losing streak but he's still the same fighter that went on a four fight win streak previously, Jackson, probably the most famous athlete from the Marshall Islands, is having a lot of fun while he's at it. If it's a game to him outside the cage, it's all business inside the cage. Yes this is a nasty man. But this is a dangerous nasty man. Nineteen and with the world at his feet thanks to his marketing, Jackson can go on to do great things under the right management. The talent is certainly there. So far the results have not been. That could all change tonight.   Dave's Prediction:  Roger Jackson via KO
    Steve Lucas (MMA 4-2-0 , SFU 0-1-0) vs Angus Bryant (MMA 2-2-0 , SFU 1-2-0)   In Steve Lucas' last fight, he lost via a unanimous decision to Angus Bryant. Bryant has actually fought twice since then, losing both fights via first round knockouts. There was a lot of pre-fight smack talk before their first meeting but it was mainly coming from the Scottish man's camp. It culminated in a Fight of the Night award and Bryant walking away the victor. An incredible stat from that fight, Steve Lucas attempted forty-three takedowns and not a single punch was thrown by the American. It was clear that the gameplan was to get the fight onto the ground as soon as possible. You have to be wondering whether Lucas will try this approach again this time round. If Bryant loses his third in a row, and against a fighter he has beaten before, he would have to go back to the drawing board. If Steve "Snake" Lucas wins, he wipes away the pain from his last loss and can move forward, onward and upwards.   Dave's Prediction:  Angus Bryant via UD
    Elof Jurgs (MMA 4-1-0 , SFU 1-0-0) vs Vincenzo Crescenzo (MMA 3-1-0 , SFU 1-1-0)   This could easily have been a Light Heavyweight title fight between two of the best in the division. It's another #1 vs. #2 match-up, something this writer loves to see and talk about. And no doubt this fight will get the fans talking. Two superb wrestlers go toe to toe. Elof Jurgs left his home country of Sweden to fight out of one of the best and exclusive gyms in New York - Altaca Gym. There he has benefited from numerous sponsorship deals that have contributed to this growth as a young and successful fighter. If the common opponent theory is anything to go by, Elof "Ranger" Jurgs should win this fight. He beat Crusher Breaker at SFU #2 who beat Vincenzo Crescenzo at SFU #1. But that's not how fighting works. Both fighters are in great condition having not fought since SFU #2 but Crescenzo is going to need a lot of help in this one. Jurgs is the better boxer, muay thai artist, wrestler and has superior jiu-jitsu skills. He is looking more and more like the future champion of this division and a win here tonight will be another step forward in that direction.   Dave's Prediction:  Elof Jurgs via UD
    Dmitry Boitsov (MMA 1-0-0 , SFU 1-0-0) vs Reginald Kray (MMA 6-6-0 , SFU 1-1-0)   It's a quick turnaround for Reginald Kray fresh off his disappointing loss at SFU #4 against Darren Crowley, a fighter he had beat just a couple of months earlier. It's hard to deny that it was a step backwards for Kray and you have to wonder if that's part of the reason he is jumping right back into the cage here. Dmitry Boitsov put on a great fight at SFU #3 against Akoni Gray, losing the first round before finally locking in the kimura after twenty-one submission attempts. His great takedown offense was on full display and it's likely we will see it again in this fight. Some fighters take down their opponents efficiently, other figthers like Boitsov take down their opponents violently.   Dave's Prediction:  Dmitry Boitsov via Submission
    Mason Scott (MMA 2-0-0 , SFU 0-0-0) vs Dustin Kruger (MMA 2-0-0 , SFU 0-0-0)   Two fighters hoping to burst onto the SFU scene and put themselves on the fight map. Both are sitting pretty at 2-0-0 going into their SFU debuts. it is great to see this match-up get made because a lot of 2-0-0 fighters like to be coddled and have their record protected. Not here. We are going to find out who is the better fighter. Mason Scott is five years the elder yet it is Kruger that has been training and fighting for a longer time. Dustin Kruger is a special athlete and manages to share his time between MMA and the rugby pitch and is equally as impressive in both sports. Don't be fooled by the rugby passion, it's certainly not a distraction. Kruger is a huge fan of MMA and has been training hard at The Zoo, a private gym that is solely for the use of fighters managed by the formidable Bwang Jong Sr. On the other hand, Mason Scott is currently in limbo and without a gym for reasons unknown. It hasn't hindered his abilities however with two first round submission victories under his belt. Some fighters don't have to train as hard as others, they are born fighters. Mason Scott is such a fighter. Hailing from Scunthorpe, England, he knows exactly what to do when a fight breaks out. He has an incredible 32cm height advantage over his opponent so even if the fight doesn't last long it will be quite the spectacle for those in attendance. Bigger isn't always better in MMA. We like the South African in this one.   Dave's Prediction:  Dustin Kruger via KO    Davie Joyce (MMA 1-2-0 , SFU 0-1-0) vs Marcus Pereira (MMA 6-0-0 , SFU 1-0-0)
    It's a rematch between two pioneers of the super heavyweight division. These two fighters know all about each other with Pereira comfortably beating Davie Joyce in their last bout. A lot has changed since then but Marcus Pereira is still the #1 Pound for Pound fighter in the organisation. With all due respect to Davie Joyce, Pereira is a class or two above the man from Ireland. But we know the Irish love to fight and are always in with a puncher's chance. Spirits are high in the Joyce camp and if they could pull off the upset here, they would all go down in history as the best at their respective jobs.         Dave's Prediction:  Marcus Pereira via Submission
    Magnus Looped (MMA 4-2-0 , SFU 2-0-0) vs Henry Collins (MMA 5-1-0 , SFU 1-0-0)  



  Make no mistake about it, this is THE biggest fight in SFU's history. It is THE fight to make in the welterweight division and a thank you has to go out to all involved in making this one happen. We have two true  contenders that everybody should agree deserve to be at the top fighting for the gold. And today is the day they get to do just that. It's a welterweight title fight between the #1 ranked and #2 ranked fighter in the division. Once upon a time, these two fighters were making the rounds in the famous Quick Fight Championships. As luck had it, their paths crossed and on 29th Nov 2015, we got Looped vs. Collins I. Looped was the more inexperienced fighter and it showed as Collins smashed his way to a nine second TKO win. Three punches, that was all it took. Looped will be hoping for a much different outcome this time round and we expect as much. Looped has the chance to redeem himself on the grandest stage of all. He has since gone on to improve his game tremendously winning fights via submission, KO and decision. He can defeat you in a number of ways. But then so can his opponent. Literally anything can happen in this fight folks. A first round knockout. A five round war. This is why we love mixed martial arts.   Dave's Prediction:  Henry Collins via KO

 

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