2016-04-26
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StrikeForce Union #10

Event Preview: StrikeForce Union #10
StrikeForce Union
2016-04-30, London, Hard Knocks - London
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StrikeForce Union #10 30/04/2016 Hard Knocks, London   There are eight titles at StrikeForce Union, ranging from 135 lbs to 265+ lbs. On this night, to honour a special milestone for the organisation in its tenth event, SIX of these titles will be on the line.

SIX of these titles will be up for grabs. Yes that's right. Six champions. Either new or retaining. Will be crowned at SFU #10.

It's unprecedented and it's sure to blow the roof off of Hard Knocks on the night of the 30th. I'm Dave Ashbourne, and here is the fight card that every fighter wanted to be a part of. This momentous occasion is brought to you by Machine Fight Gear and is a thank you from SFU to the fans:   

Henry Collins vs Otavio Madruga
Marcus Pereira vs Joe Johnson
Jimmy Riddle vs Dustin Kruger
Dmitry Boitsov vs Peter Larsson
Christian Battle vs Bob Brody
Remus Sala vs Miles Wilkins
Michael Myers vs Paul Starker
Noam Nystrom vs Sergio Diaz
Jackson Teller vs Grizzly Adams Jr Len Clothwell vs Fedor Hunt
    Len Clothwell (MMA 0-0-0 , SFU 0-0-0) vs Fedor Hunt (MMA 1-2-0 , SFU 0-0-0)

  WELCOME. To SFU #10. It's the first fight of StrikeForce Union #10 and the first SFU fight for both of these fighters. A big welcome to the grand stage Len and Fedor. Ahead lies the opportunity to impress the owners and send a message on the biggest platform in SFU history. It's not all sunshine and roses however. There is the added pressure that comes with such a big event. The higher the pedestal, the further you fall. Now obviously a lot of fighters wanted to be on this card.

Some may be wondering what Len Clothwell did to deserve his moment in the spotlight. Well our research department has been hard at work and we can tell you this. This Len Clothwell? Is one badass son of a gun folks. Don't be fooled by the lack of fights at the professional level. Videos have been surfacing online of Clothwell's wonderful boxing skills in action at the gym. Social media is abuzz with what Clothwell can do in a real fight. We hope Fedor Hunt hasn't been watching the same videos because he may decide to not turn up to the cage. We kid. Fedor Hunt is his own beast. "The Last Samoan" joins us from the internationally renowned Slaughterhouse FC organisation and is a proficient boxer in his own right.

If that is not enough, Hunt can look to take the fight to the ground and display his superior jiu jitsu skills. Truth be told, there are a number of ways that Hunt can win this fight. If he manages to do so, it would be a great start to his SFU career. A lot of fighters like to pad their record with fights in the famous (albeit often not challenging) Quick Fighting Championships. Well not Fedor Hunt. He went toe-to-toe with some of the best in his previous organisation and now he will look to do the same with us here at StrikeForce Union. Good luck to both fighters, and may you have a long and successful career here at SFU!
Dave's Prediction:  Fedor Hunt via Submission
Jackson Teller (MMA 6-1-0 , SFU 1-1-0) vs Grizzly Adams Jr (MMA 3-5-0 , SFU 0-2-0)   Jackson Teller has an impressive record with six wins and only the one loss. Grizzly Adams Jr has an impressive resume having fought for the title at SFU #4 and just falling up short against Jimmy Riddle. It's a typical storyline of a fighter that has beaten weaker opponents against a fighter that has lost to stronger opponents. For one of these fighters, a victory here will push them right back into title contention and the top of the SFU rankings. Teller was humbled in his last fight. He walked into SFU #7 undefeated. It took Dustin Kruger just over one minute to dispose of him via strikes and a knockout. We spoke to Teller earlier in the week to discuss how he plans to bounce back from his first loss:
"Well even the best lose at some point, look at Fedor and Silva. And damn that Kruger he hit me hard. I've been in the gym pretty much 24/7. That loss opened my eyes to some things. My power can only take me so far and I plan on getting back to what I do best in my next fight."
It's always great to hear direct from the fighters (thanks to manager Jamie Coton for the access) and it sure does sound like Teller is ready to dominate his opponent. A dominant Teller is a scary Teller. A scary Teller is the best Teller. Grizzly Adams Jr will have to be at his very best to be in with a chance of winning here.
Dave's Prediction:  Jackson Teller via Decision
Noam Nystrom (MMA 0-2-0 , SFU 0-0-0) vs Sergio Diaz (MMA 5-1-0 , SFU 1-0-0)   "I'm gonna grind you into the ground......" - Noam Nystrom. The fight has been made. The trash talking has commenced. Now it's time to take a look at these two featherweights. Diaz has been on fire since losing in his MMA debut. Winner of five straight, "Chico Malo" is surely a stone's throw away from a title shot. However, what he has here is a potential banana skin of a fight. Because Nystrom has lost both of his fights but he is far better than his record suggests. Noam Nystrom from Iceland is still trying to find out what he is best at. In his first fight, he looked for the takedown. In his second fight, he looked to engage in the clinch. Both strategies didn't pay off but once Nystrom gets it right, it's going to be very dangerous for his opponent. They are two teenagers with plenty of growth ahead of them. But to realise that potential, you have to win fights. And a win here at SFU #10 would be the perfect statement of intent.      
Dave's Prediction:  Sergio Diaz via Decision
Michael Myers (MMA 3-0-0 , SFU 1-0-0) vs Paul Starker (MMA 1-1-0 , SFU 1-1-0)   Paul Starker is living the dream. He loves to fight and it's his job to fight. But Michael Myers is a nightmare. He has three victims to his name and a KO of the night in his last outing. This bout is for five rounds of five minutes and that could prove the difference. Michael Myers total fight time in three fights is an incredible 105 seconds. Whereas Paul Starker went the distance in his debut, a loss to Jackson Teller. If Starker can somehow manage to survive and take his opponent into the second round, it will be uncharted territory for the undefeated Myers. Myers' last fight in particular was a bloody war. He was cut early. Then he cut his opponent Grizzly Adams Jr and an all out brawl followed until Adams hit the canvas soon after. Here's a guy that's not afraid to get in close and fight in the trenches.
Dave's Prediction:  Michael Myers via KO
Remus Sala (MMA 3-0-0 , SFU 2-0-0) vs Miles Wilkins (MMA 0-1-0 , SFU 0-1-0)   It is the first of our SIX title fights at StrikeForce Union #10. And it's a chance for Miles Wilkins to redeem himself. The last time these two fighters met in the cage, they were not fighting for the belt. Tonight. It is all on the line. Sala is the favourite. There's no doubt about it. But this is not the same fight. The belt changes a fighter. Becoming a champion. Changes a fighter. When Miles Wilkins walks into that cage on the 30th, he knows that he can make all the mistakes, all the pain, go away. That is the power of a championship belt around your waist. Remus Sala on the other hand, does not care about your improvement. Sala is so dangerous. He is the better boxer. The better wrestler. And just as good in muay thai and jiu jitsu. In his SFU debut, he beat Jeremy Hammond senseless. He beat him so bad, Hammond announced his retirement shortly after. Remus Sala doesn't just beat people. He retires them.
Dave's Prediction:  Remus Sala via KO
Christian Battle (MMA 5-2-0 , SFU 1-0-0) vs Bob Brody (MMA 3-1-0 , SFU 0-0-0)   All set to make his debut for the organisation at SFU #7, Bob Brody failed to make weight against Curtis Ruttenum and a no contest was declared. In a strange twist, that lack of professionalism may prove to have been a blessing in disguise. Because now he finds himself in a fight with much higher stakes as part of a much bigger event. Nobody should be surprised by this. Nicknamed "Da Raw Dawg Hippy Hoppa" Brody is well aware he's not taking part in a popularity contest.
Dave's Prediction: Christian Battle via Submission
Dmitry Boitsov (MMA 3-0-0 , SFU 3-0-0) vs Peter Larsson (MMA 5-0-0 , SFU 3-0-0)   You won't find any losers here. Eight fights between them and they always end with their hands being raised in victory. Dmitry Boitsov. Peter Larsson. Two of the very best. Boitsov is the submission specialist that has finished every single one of his fights by getting his opponent to tap. Larsson is the wonderful boxer that has finished every single one of his fights by putting his opponent to sleep. Something has to give but it's anyone's guess what happens here. It doesn't feel right to pick against either of these fighters. Let's delve deeper into the numbers. Larsson has a huge height advantage at 16cm taller. This could work against him however as it tends to make an opponent easier to take down. Boitsov is the higher ranked fighter with his best rank at 2863 to Larsson's 3869 in the pound for pound world rankings. Boitsov is the elder at 27 to Larsson's 20. Why then, do we believe Peter Larsson will win this fight and walk away the new champion? Because he is one of the best fighters to have ever stepped into the SFU cage. That's why. And on the night  of the 30th at SFU #10, thousands of fans will learn why this is true. The champ is the underdog. That in itself is a testament to Peter Larsson's strength and abilities.
Dave's Prediction: Peter Larsson via KO
Jimmy Riddle (MMA 6-0-0 , SFU 3-0-0) vs Dustin Kruger (MMA 4-0-0 , SFU 2-0-0)   We are running out of superlatives at this point. If Tina Turner was cageside you just know what she would be saying. Simply the best. Because that's what this fight is. Other Tina Turner songs that can be used to describe this incredible match-up? "Hot Legs" because both fighters have wonderful muay thai skills in this bout. "Don't Turn Around" because both fighters are blue belts and if they take their opponent's back, they are capable of getting the submission finish. And last but certainly not least, "Missing You" because Jimmy Riddle went for the clinch thirty four times in his last fight, a title fight, but was only successful in three of those attempts. He kept missing. Now that we have the Tina Turner references out of the way, let's see what makes these two fighters so special. We know about Kruger's rugby background. We know that Jimmy Riddle already has a Fight of the Night and a KO of the Night award. But this isn't the first time Dustin Kruger has faced an impressive and undefeated fighter. The scene was SFU #7. The opponent was 6-0-0 Paul Starker. The result was a first round knockout victory for Kruger. Jimmy Riddle is also an impressive undefeated fighter. But Dustin Kruger has been through this before. He will not be intimidated. He will be the next SFU Heavyweight champion.
Dave's Prediction: Dustin Kruger via KO
Marcus Pereira (MMA 7-0-0 , SFU 2-0-0) vs Joe Johnson (MMA 2-1-0 , SFU 0-0-0)   Legend is a term thrown around very loosely nowadays. But it wouldn't be amiss next to Marcus "Gordura" Pereira. The man. The legend. All 324lbs of the Brazilian. Nobody has been able to stop him. Nobody has come close to stopping him. Nobody has even come close to not being stopped by him. Seven first round finishes in seven fights. We have seen the kimura. The rear naked choke. Armbar and triangle on his way to two Submission of the Night awards. As a writer, we are supposed to be impartial. But Marcus Pereira is as dominant as they come. Enter "Fat" Joe Johnson. Finally a worthy opponent for Pereira. It's no secret that the Super Heavyweight division at SFU is a little thin. We believe Pereira is partly responsible for this. After all, who in their right mind would want to get in the cage with this man? Joe Johnson wants to. That's who. Johnson is a modern day mixed martial artist with skills in all of the right places and no glaring weaknesses. His boxing is better than Pereira's. His muay thai is better than Pereira's. And he's no slouch on the ground either. With the right tactics, Johnson can win this fight. If Johnson does pull off the upset, we won't be talking about Pereira the legend. It will be Pereira the myth.
Dave's Prediction: Marcus Pereira via Submission
Henry Collins (MMA 6-1-0 , SFU 2-0-0) vs Otavio Madruga (MMA 3-0-0 , SFU 2-0-0)   Otavio Madruga's manager Mr Donald Canmore had previously tried to downplay his fighter's chances of becoming a superstar this early on in his career. He is, after all, only nineteen years old in a division of far more experienced fighters. Canmore is going to have a difficult time preventing the hype from building for this one. Because whereas some dream of fighting at StrikeForce Union. And others dream of main eventing at StrikeForce Union possibly for a title. Henry Collins and Otavio Madruga are the highlight. The main event. Of the biggest and most outstanding card in the history of this organisation. Henry "Grinder" Collins won the title at SFU #5 in 23 seconds. He is a two-time Champion having won the belt at Red Star Fighting before becoming our champion. 
Dave's Prediction: Henry Collins via Decision

 

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