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DFC: Mayhem 10 – Laston vs. McVitie (16 September 2016 – Hayashi’s Lounge, Las Vegas) Preview and Predictions – Written by Gabe T.S. Gardner (112290)
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The middleweight title gets defended tonight in a fight that I personally have been waiting for, for a LONGTIME on an absolutely stacked card for Mayhem 10. Let’s run down what promises to be a spectacle of a card tonight.
Fight 1
John “Icon” Laston 7-1-0 vs Jack McVitie 3-1-0: 5 Rounds of 5 Minutes for the DFC Middleweight Championship
The toughest test of Laston’s career is no doubt this title defence as he takes on a phenomenal striker in his own right, Jack McVitie. Both fighters will try and keep the fight standing up and both made short work of their last opponents, with both disposing of them inside 30 seconds. That is “I touch you, you go to sleep” kind of power there.
So there isn’t much to separate the two at first glance, however – they do have one opponent in common: Harley Umbuku, who McVitie put away much earlier. Now, you can argue that Umbuku lasted longer against Laston because he brought his game to him, and it was for the title but I think it is very telling about the differences between the two. Laston might be riding a hot streak a mile long but he hasn’t quite fought somebody on McVities level.
As I said in the beginning, this is truly the toughest test – and one I think that McVitie is going to pass. I think both will be aggressive from the get go, but that McVities superior boxing ability will see him land that right punch or counter that right combination and put Laston down.
Gabe T.S. Gardner’s Prediction: (W) Jack McVitie Round 1 (TKO/KO)
Fight 2
Maximus Ragnarsson 5-0-0 vs Ortais Gatavs 3-1-0: 3 Rounds of 5 Minutes 145lbs
Another fight between two top strikes based warriors here as the undefeated Ragnarsson takes on DFC debuting Gatavs. This fight has got to be about Gatavs avoiding getting this fight in the clinch – Ragnarsson’s territory. One misstep and he could be flat on his ass before he sees that fatal knee, elbow or punch coming.
However I think that this will be a lot easier said than done when dealing with a 5-0 monster. This one is a tough fight to call as I have to deal with a lot of variables in the differences in their styles between the two, but I think that Ragnarsson is probably just a little too good for Gatavs. Round 1 KO.
Gabe T.S. Gardner’s Prediction: (W) Maximus Ragnarsson, Round 1 (TKO/KO)
Fight 3
Uriah “Money” Hall 3-0-0 v Ingram Tottingham 5-0-0: 3 Rounds of 5 Minutes 185lbs
It would come as no surprise if the winner of this fight called out whoever will come out on top of our main event tonight, as potentially either fighter could add another notch to their undefeated streak. Tottingham has shown his absolutely LETHAL BJJ skills get him this far after he has amassed a 5-0 win streak with his last three fights ending inside round 1.
“Money” Hall however has seen his lethal kicking ability and great stand up skills get him this far, including a decision victory over tough cookie Combat Device, no small feat. My mind says that hall should have this one as he has the striking and wrestling advantage over his opponent, but Tottingham has that uncanny ability to get you into a world of hurt before you even know what has happened, and I think he will take Hall unawares at some point in the fight and force him to tap out.
Gabe T.S. Gardner’s Prediction: (W) Ingram Tottingham, Round 2 (SUB)
Fight 4
“Mysterious” Billy Smith 4-3-0 v Glenn Williamson 2-1-0: 3 Rounds of 5 Minutes 155lbs
Both fighters here are far better than their record suggests in my opinion, with both only just maintaining a winning record. The striking and wrestling advantage here goes to smith, who is a bit of an unknown quantity coming into this fight, making his DFC debut. Williamson has to be recognised as the superior grappler, having major experience when the fight gets taken to the mat.
If Smith isn’t careful and gets cocky, he could end up playing Williamsons game and get into a grappling match, which is one thing he does NOT want to do.
Other than that, Smith holds an advantage in every turn and I think he will have enough to get an eventual KO victory.
Gabe T.S. Gardner’s Prediction: (W) Billy Smith, Round 1 (TKO/KO)
Fight 5
Marcus Sharpe 4-1-0 v Nairo Velasquez Quintana 3-1-0: 3 Rounds of 5 Minutes 155lbs
Yet another exciting lightweight fight in a row, as Sharpe as Quintana look to further their standing in the division after both having suffered losses early on in their DFC careers.
While Quintana does have the obvious striking advantage, I think that he is quite obviously outmatched on the ground, and has put all his chips on his ability to get a quick KO if he is to find success against Sharpe. Sharpe has good striking defence however and has been able to avoid being knocked out so far in his fight career, with only one stoppage loss against Glenn Williamson who submitted him.
I think that Sharpe will fight the more intelligent fight between the two, and submit Quintana in a round or so.
Gabe T.S. Gardner’s Prediction: (W) Marcus Sharpe, Round 2 (TKO)
Fight 6
Victor “Brejcha” Ruiz 1-2-0 v Hinrik “The Ice-Giant” Leifsson 3-1-0: 3 Rounds of 5 Minutes 265lbs
A big heavyweight fight is always an attraction, and we have just such a fight right here. Ruiz finally got his first win in his DFC debut against Auld Bawls, and is coming up against a fighter that has had a stop-start beginning to his DFC career in Hinrik Leifsson, a tall MT practitioner whose loss against Artur the Axe has taken some of the shine off of him.
Both fighters have a good chance of pulling out the W here but I think that Ruiz may turn Leifsson’s long limbs against him and submit in in a frantic floor scramble.
Gabe T.S. Gardner’s Prediction: (W) Victor Ruiz, Round 2 (SUB)
Fight 7
Dada Buckeye 2-1-0 v Stefan “The Swede” Struwe 4-0-0: 3 Rounds of 5 Minutes 145lbs
From Heavyweights to Featherweights as Buckeye will be the first opponent for Stefan Struwe, an undefeated first round knockout prospect whose first match in a big organisation like DFC could be very telling over whether or not he has what it takes.
This fight is definitely going fought standing up and I think that approach favours the debuting swede over Buckeye.
In an all-out brawl, like I predict any punch can put somebody away, but I think that Struwe is far too talented for Buckeye, and will continue his first round KO streak tonight.
Gabe T.S. Gardner’s Prediction: (W) Stefan Struwe, Round 1 (TKO/KO)
Fight 8
Viktor “Devastater” Lombarge 2-1-0 v Tommy Gunner 2-0-0: 3 Rounds of 5 Minutes 185lbs
Two prominently grappling faced fighters square off for fight number 8 and as always, I look forward to any fight taking place at 185lbs. Common sense would dictate that the fighter with more experience or higher martial arts ranks would stand a better chance against someone with less experience, but while he might be the underdog, I think that Gunner has a good solid chance to pull off an upset by submitting Lombarge.
I say this because Gunner has seemed to be faster and more efficient than his opponent and that Lombarge has suffered a submission loss to a purple belt before.
I think that this grappling match will end with Gunner slipping into a submission that Lombarge just won’t be able to free himself from.
Gabe T.S. Gardner’s Prediction: (W) Tommy Gunner, Round 2 (SUB)
Fight 9
Hundo “Barracuda” Varga 2-0-0 v Jacob Demon 3-0-0: 3 Rounds of 5 Minutes 155lbs
another lightweight fight in what is turning out to be a showcase for the division tonight. While I would consider both fighters relatively low down in the rankings, they have a good chance at generating momentum here.
Who do I think has the edge? Well I think that Demon’s superior striking ability makes him a heavy favourite, and has ended fights via submissions and strikes so far – such diversity in ability shows the hallmarks of a great fighter. In my opinion, while Varga has great wrestling ability, I don’t think that will be enough and he wil either get floored from a good right hook or submitted on the ground.
Gabe T.S. Gardner’s Prediction: (W) Jacob Demon, Round 2 (TKO/KO - SUB)
Fight 10
“The Closed Hand” Willie Stroker 0-1-0 v Jon “Junior” Lewis 2-2-0: 3 Rounds of 5 Minutes 185lbs
Last fight between two people very much at the bottom of their division here and I would bet I am not the only one who considers Lewis to be the overwhelming favourite. Not just because of the experience factor but I feel as though if Lewis can impose his boxing ability on the fight then he should have this one relatively easy.
Neither have overly impressed me so far, but this is definitely the time to start doing that.
Gabe T.S. Gardner’s Prediction: (W) Jon Lewis, Round 2 (TKO/KO)
And that IS IT! Another great card to come out of DFC- Las Vegas with the top four fights being as good as you can get and a pretty well-built undercard to match! The middleweight and lightweight divisions are both on display here so make sure to catch what will undoubtedly be a great night of fighting at Mayhem 10!
Written by Gabe T.S. Gardner (112290)
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