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 Island FC Preview (Card Subject to Change)
Event: IFC Challengers 2 - 28/3/2016 @ Hayashi's Lounge - The Island
Island FC returns to Hayashi's Lounge with a strong card headlined by the undefeated Miesha Tate defending the Bantamweight championship against Walton "The Tinie Fürer" Kunz. Well, let's get down to business.
#1 (185 lbs) - Vinapola (286722) (1-1-0) vs. Sulimani (287218) (1-3-0)
So in your opening bout, we've got a rematch prepared for you. Vinapola has already defeated Sulimani once before by decision, so he has to have the confidence advantage heading into this one. Vinapola is quite the grappler, controlling the clinch with ease as he batters opponents with punches. Sulimani is decent in the clinch as well, but really should look to stay on the outside in this one. Sulimani can outstrike Vinapola, so if he remains out of the clinch he should be fine.
Prediction: Vinapola by decision. Vinapola has already shown how easily he can control Sulimani in the clinch. Even if Sulimani tries to remain on the outside, I think it'll only be a matter of time before Vinapola manages to snatch him up and bludgeon him.
#2 (265 lbs) - Holworth (289969) (0-0-0) vs. Bob (288819) (2-0-0)
I'm not really sure if this one is fair or not. Bob is 21 while Holworth is only 18. Bob also has the advantage of having already fought in two other professional bouts. Holworth is fantastic when it comes to BJJ, but his wrestling skills don't quite compare. Bob is primarily a striker, but possesses good takedown defense and clinching ability. Holworth is going to have a tough time getting this one to the ground.
Prediction: Holworth by 1st round submission. Ha! I bet you thought that I was going to put Bob down to win this, eh? Not quite! Bob is only going to win this if it remains standing, but he tends to like the clinch. You can control all you want there, but if Holworth manages to pull guard, this one is likely over.
#3 (265 lbs) - Slice (290625) (1-0-0) vs. Thomsen (290385) (0-2-0)
Two 18 year olds here. Slice is a submission specialist while Thomsen likes to throw big punches towards the head. Thomsen showed some good escape skill in his first fight, managing to throw his opponent off of him quickly on each takedown. If this one stays standing, Thomsen should be able to win this.
Prediction: Slice by 1st round submission. We all know this fight would stay standing. Thomsen is absurdly one-dimensional and only throws for the head. Thomsen has also shown a weakness to takedowns, so expect Slice to take advantage of that and force the early submission.
#4 (265 lbs) - Hall (290186) (1-0-0) vs. Campion (286236) (1-0-0)
25 year old vs. an 18 year old; somebody probably shouldn't have taken this fight~
Hall is a great boxer who knows how to work the clinch. Campion is a pretty poor striker and will look to take this one to the ground as soon as possible. Hall, in his first fight, elected to go for a takedown once he was in the clinch and managed a submission. This isn't good. If Hall doesn't adjust his strategy, he'll play into Campion's hands as Campion is the far better wrestler between the two. Hall is four inches taller than Campion and about 20 pounds heavier.
Prediction: Hall by decision. Hall should really have this one. As long as he remains standing and lands his shots, he should be fine. Campion will have trouble taking Hall down and keeping him there due to the weight difference.
#5 (265 lbs) - Sin (288048) (1-0-0) vs. Jackson (286539) (1-1-0)
Sin has recently been dropped by his manager, so this will be a short write-up. Jackson is the superior wrestler while Sin is better at striking. Without a manager, however, I expect Sin won't get very far.
Prediction: Sin by 1st round (T)KO. Swerve! Sin is going to win this one. Jackson might be able to get Sin to the ground, but Jackson will struggle to lock in a submission. Sin loves the clinch and is good in it, so expect him to grab Jackson and batter him. Jackson's chin has also let him down before, so this might turn out well for Sin.
#6 (265 lbs) - Lang (287511) (3-1-0) vs. Balls (286247) (2-1-0)
Balls Mahoney from ECW will be stepping up to Clubber Lang. Not really. Lang is a Muay Thai expert while Balls is a bit more well-rounded. Lang's got some vicious and accurate kicks, so Balls will have to be on point out there.
Prediction: Lang by 1st round (T)KO. Balls doesn't possess the wrestling skills necessary to put Lang onto the ground. Lang is going to dominate Balls in the standing exchange. Lang has shown himself to have knockout power, so we'll have to wait and see if he goes head hunting or if he decided to keep Balls at distance and just score the easy points.
#7 (155 lbs) - Gonzalez (290425) (2-0-0) vs. McConor (289415) (1-0-0)
One of these two has a really original name... anyways, this should be an easy one to call. Firstly, Nate is only 19 while McConor is 25. Nate is a rounded competitor, but performs the best with boxing. Unfortunately for Nate, McConor is a far, far better striker. The two men are even in regards to BJJ, but Nate has the wrestling advantage.
Prediction: McConor by 1st round (T)KO. This is really simple to me. McConor is going to outstrike Nate and we're all going to move on with our lives. The only hope for Nate is to get Conor to the ground.
#8 (265 lbs) - Wahlberg (286072) (4-1-0) vs. Treestump (287967) (3-1-0)
This is going to be a tough one to call. Treestump is absolute garbage when it comes to a striking battle, but on the ground he is a guru of submission. Without fully knowing just how good, (or bad), Wahlberg is at defending takedowns, we can't accurately predict how this one will go. Wahlberg avoids clinching, which will work to his favor in this one. Wahlberg has gone his career without facing someone who could really test him on the ground, so we'll have to see how this goes.
Prediction: Treestump by 1st round submission. Like I said, this is a shot in the dark. I don't know enough information to put this out with confidence. I think Treestump should be able to get the takedown and then the submission, but he'll have to look out for Wahlberg's strong strikes.
CO-MAIN EVENT (170 lbs) - Dum (286555) (5-1-0) vs. Prompethius (286561) (4-2-0)
The former champion, recently dethroned by Peter Potter, takes on Prompethius in this Middleweight match-up. It's a bit strange that Dum didn't receive a title rematch, but whatever. Prompethius has also lost to Potter in his career and is coming off a loss as well. Both men are skilled strikers with great wrestling skills, so this will be quite the battle. Neither of these men really care where the fight happens so long as it is standing.
Prediction: Dum by decision. Dum is the more accurate striker in this one. We should see a vicious striking exchange between these two men, but I anticipate Dum getting the better of it.
MAIN EVENT (135 lbs) - *Champion* Tate (288240) (5-0-0) vs. Kunz (289231) (5-1-0)
Welcome to the big league, Kunz. Kunz has only competed in the QFC thus far in his career, so it'll be interesting to see how he performs against the tried and tested champion. Kunz is a great striker with some good Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The champion Tate is a purple belt, (the same as Kunz), but is the far better wrestler. Kunz has yet to show what he can truly do in the standing department, instead choosing to head to the ground and get the submission victory. Tate is not a good striker, but has yet to let that deter him.
Prediction: Tate by 1st round submission. Firstly, it is ridiculous that Kunz is getting a title shot in his first match in Island FC. Regardless of your wins elsewhere, there are already members of the roster who have fought hard in this company against talented opposition. Whatever. Anyways, Tate's superior wrestling skills should make this one obvious. Tate will control Kunz, transition well, and get the submission. Kunz has already tapped out to a slightly inferior version of Tate, so I don't see him winning here
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