|
 Honour Fighting Championships Presents:
HFC 28 Pickerage vs Jones (875042)
On December 10, 2016
At Wild Bob's Bar - London
Author: Master Po
Undercard:
Justin Duponte vs Regin Atkins - 135 lbs
Kicking off the event we have a match in the 135 lb division. Duponte is a wonderful boxer that lost his MMA debut in a quick fight, then signed with Honour and went on to win his next 3 fights by KO. He has since lost his last two fights, and is looking to rebound here against Regin Atkins. Atkins is less skilled in boxing, but still at a proficient level. He has struggled to gain any footing in the MMA game with only 1 win in 5 fights. If I had to come up with a reason he is struggling, it would be because he is over 7 foot tall, and can't even push a scale to 140 lbs. A ridiculous build like that might be better suited to hanging drywall or Christmas lights. If this plays out like it looks on paper it will be a confidence builder for Duponte that should help him get back on the right track.
Prediction: Duponte TKO (Strikes) round 1
Boney Maroney vs James Taylor - 265 lbs
Boney Maroney has a mixed martial arts record of 1-1. He won his debut in a quick fight then lost his first fight under a contract with Honour. He is a remarkable boxer with a little skill in wrestling and a blue belt in BJJ. James Taylor is an 18 year old version of him. Taylor is proficient with boxing, and has identical skill in regards to wrestling and ju jitsu. Both of these fighters are capable of chucking some heavy leather, but Taylor may have more of an upside. This is a hard one to call. I think that Maroney, although he has a 20 cm reach advantage, would do best trying to take this into the clinch. I think Taylor, although having a lot more mma experience, has a softer chin. Either fighter could win the fight if the correct tactics were put into play.
Prediction: Maroney unanimous decision.
Kurt Angle vs Kano Kobayashii - 265+ lbs
Kurt Angle is a strong boxer with a mediocre history of high school wrestling. He has really been struggling which shows in his combined MMA record of 2-4. He has a match here against a Japanese 18 year old with a devastating Muy Thai style. Kano "Finisher" Kobayashii is a young man that just recently signed with Honour Fighting Championships. He is 1-0 with 1 KO in a quick fight. He is coming to show and prove against the seasoned Angle. A loss for Angle here could very well be a death sentence. Either way I believe it will be a win win for Kano.
Prediction: Kobayashii KO (Head Kick) round 1.
Cody Ruttenum vs Jiaan Jatt - 170 lbs
In the meat of the undercard we have Cody Ruttenum, one of eight Ruttenum brothers. Cody has a good dirty boxer style. He stands at 2-2 with 2 KOs, but his 2 losses coming by KO as well. Opposite him in the cage is Jiaan Jatt a 19 year old with wonderful boxing. His mma record is at 2-1 with 2 KOs with his 1 loss coming by submission by Demian Maia at HFC 21. This should set the stage for an entertaining stand and banger. I think Jatt, the orphan that fought for everything he has, will take that mentality into the cage, and clean Ruttenum's clock. Unless...Ruttenum could take this to the ground and use his wrestling.
Prediction: Jatt KO (Punch) round 1.
Main Card:
Dorian Prine vs George Stobbart - 185 lbs
Stobbart is a new face in Honour. He comes into this match at 1-1 in quick fights looking to step up in competition and start gaining popularity and hype. He will be facing a well rounded Dorian Prine who has a well rounded 2-2 mma record to match. Prine, the purple belt submission artist/point fighter could present Stobbart a fellow purple belt submission artist, with a significant obstacle. Prine will be pulling out all the stops to thwart a recent losing streak. He has been KO'ed in his last two outings, but seems to have remained focused and kept any morale issues at bay. With both these fighters at 500 win percentage, it appears Prine should be considered favorite, due to experience and an advantage in striking ability, however limited that may be.
Prediction: Prine Submission (Arm Triangle) round 2.
Libio Do Santos vs Harry Duncan - 185 lbs
We haven't seen Do Santos since he lost to Luke Rockhold at HFC 24 by a punishing TKO. He is a purple belt submission artist witih some background in wrestling. With a mixed martial arts record of 3-1 with 3 Submissions he will be coming into the match looking for redemption against Harry Duncan who has won his last two fights with his Muy Thai clinch. Duncan is 2-2 with 1 KO. I imagine he will try to utilize that taxing Muy Thai clinch against Do Santos who should be at a disadvantage there. The storyline in this fight will be who can take the fight where they want it. If Do Santos can pull guard to takedown Duncan from the clinch it could spell trouble for Duncan.
Prediction: Do Santos Submission (Armbar) round 2.
Lucien Paol vs Randy Miller - 185 lbs
The Frenchman Paol is set to square up with the American "Reckless" Randy Miller in this bout in the 185 lb division. Paol is a purple belt BJJ practitioner with a good background in wrestling. He has been working hard on Muy Thai according to my sources at England Fight Club MMA. We last saw Paol at HFC 25 where he suffered a demoralizing TKO defeat to Enok Jepsen. Randy Miller is a decent looking prospect at only 18 years of age. He brings a Muy Thai clinch style of fighting with him into the cage. He is at 1-1 at this point in his career, and has yet to display the power to score a knockout. Paol has a granite chin by all accounts, and won't make a KO victory any more of a possibility for Miller. This seems like a tough one to call and will undoubtedly come down to tactics.
Prediction: Paol Submission (Triangle) round 1.
Scott Powell vs Yoshimasa Porter - 135 lbs
Scott Powell started his career with Honour. He came out of the gates on a 3-0 tear winning those all by TKO, including a fight for the title against Renan Faber. He then lost the title to Mike Perry, came back with a win against My Name, and lost a title fight rematch against Mike Perry. Looking at his history, it looks as if he may have been pushed a little too hard too quickly, in my humble opinion of course. Powell brings his Muy Thai style with heavy elbows to the cage against a dirty boxer by the name of Yoshimasa Porter who comes from the Netherlands. Porter has aspirations of expanding on his early success in quick fights with a newly signed contract with the Honour organization. He stands at 4-0 with 2 KOs. This should be a stand up fight with chins getting tested. Powell has a 3 fight experience advantage, but from what I have been hearing from those close to the fighter, he seems to have a serious lack of morale which will effect his performance in the cage without a doubt. Win or lose I think it would be in his best interest to take a week or two off and maybe go on a shopping spree at one of the many great clothing companies in the Tycooniverse.
Prediction: Porter unanimous decision.
Co-Main Event:
Antonio Silva vs Jake Johnson - 265 lbs
The Brazilian Antonio Silva is coming back under new management. He is one of the most popular fighters in the organization. The one time champion in the 265 lb division lost a pair of fights against the current champ Random Fighter Three by TKOs due to cuts. Because of these losses he has slipped in rank to 33rd. He was released by his former manager due to strong disagreements. He comes back ready to turn things around under new manager Slobo Dragovic, who has years of experience in the mma game. Jake Johnson is a remarkable boxer who had a great run in college wrestling at UNLV. He is also looking for redemption after suffering a similar TKO loss due to a cut. This is an interesting matchup between two warriors trying to right their respective ships. Silva has an edge in wrestling whereas Johnson has the advantage in boxing. Other than that these young men are very comparable. Both show a tendency to cut so defensive strategies are key to victory.
Prediction: Silva TKO (Strikes) round 1.
Main Event:
Taylor Pickerage vs Tito Jones - 185 lbs
The current champ of the 185 lb division is responsible for the only 3 losses on these two fighters records. He defeated Pickerage by TKO (Strikes) at HFC 16, and he defeated Jones twice by TKO (Strikes) at HFC 10, and HFC 20. I imagine promoters, match makers, and Rockhold himself will be paying close attention to this match. Pickerage seems to be the better boxer and wrestler with Jones showing an advantage with Muy Thai. Pickerage has a MMA record of 4-1 with 3 KOs. Jones has struggled when compared with Pickerage and sits at 4-2 with 2 KOs. Both fighters are apprentice level BJJ students with blue belts, but I don't see this fight being fought on the ground. Pickerage will likely try to use his strength in the clinch to dictate the pace with a dirty boxing style, and test Jones' chin. Jones with an 8 cm reach advantage should try to score from range. With the coming of super events with all titles on the line approaching, both fighters should have their war faces on.
Prediction: Pickerage TKO (Punches) round 2.
Article views:
162
» Donate to this author |
