|
 HFC KO 6
Event preview with J.W. Hardman and "Hardcore" Harley Blaze.
Coming from New York, Hardcore F.C. presents another exciting event for all the Hardcore MMA fans of the world. No title fights, no make or break fights, just a good old slug fest of fighters looking to jostle for position in the rankings and have a chance at earning the $5k fastest KO bonus.
Yes, the fastest fighter to KO or TKO his opponent will win an additional 5k reward. This will be a separate reward from the normal KO of the Night. Harley, what do you think about this event?
Blaze "Hey, anyone will say hell yeah to a shot at winning 5 grand. But in the HFC, all these guys will say hell yeah to a chance at KOing their opponent anyway, so it's just frosting on the cake. Shit, I want some cake now."
I agree, HFC has been blessed with some talented KO artists and these guys value glory over money for the most part. But a free months worth of training never hurt anyone, right? Moving on to our preview.
Main Event:
Mankar Camoran vs Gregory Motts (265)
In our main event of the evening, two former Madness fighters square off for the first time against each other, each in their HFC debut. We have seen a flux in talent in the HFC over the summer, and it's nearly all due to the Madness merger. I'm very eager to start watching these fighters careers and see how far they can climb up the HFC mountain of dominance.
Camoran (8-3) comes into this fight looking to bounce back from a unanimous decision loss to the then Madness champ, Demir Kocak. With two title fights under his belt, both resulting in a loss, Camoran has endured and moved on and always bounced back from a loss.
He's a versatile fighter who's displayed great BJJ in his many submission victories as well as KO power in his KO victories. He is a proficient striker who's practiced in both boxing and MT, but just as well versed, if not a little better, on the ground in wrestling and being a BJJ purple belt.
Camoran holds an impressive "of the night" award display as he boasts 3 FotN, 3 SotN, and 2 KO otn awards. Very impressive and tells his opponents he's looking to finish. So I can only imagine a decision loss is just eating away at him building up to this fight, and he'll be looking to let loose of some built up aggression on Motts.
Motts (8-2) comes into this fight equally impressive with a very similar record to that of Camoran. He's a better boxer and wrestler than Camoran, and significantly better at that. Each fighter seem to be pretty even in the MT game, but Camoran's edge is in his superior BJJ training.
Motts will look to come out swinging and keeping this fight on the ground, and with his boxing skills, and high wrestling, he may just be able to avoid a takedown. If he can keep this fight standing, I think Motts will get another TKO victory here, but if this fight goes to the ground, his defense will surely be tested.
Another key note to this fight when looking at these fighters records, Motts lost a fight to Antonio Nagashima via submission, while Camoran defeated Nagashima in a decision fight a few months before that. No telling who's going to come out on top in this one, but we'll send it over to "Hardcore" Harley Blaze for his thoughts and prediction.
Blaze: "This should be a great fight to cap off the evening. If you look at the records of these two fighters, one thing stands out. They are both finishers, and both very good at it. The difference is that Camoran has shown the ability to really mix up his game and adapt well to any fighter. Motts is a lethal striker, and has very good wrestling training. If his wrestling is enough to ward off Camorans takedown attempts, I think the Boxing advantage will give him the win.
Prediction: Motts via TKO round 2
Co-Main Event:
Gunner Larsson vs Dixon Ulster (170)
Our co-main event features two fighters from last years island season, who both made their way over to HFC. Each have had a few fights under the HFC banner, and both have been impressive, to say the least.
Larsson is an accomplished grappler through and through. He boasts a 12-5 record and has won a title twice in his career to date. In the HFC, he fell short of his title shot against longtime former HFC champ Samuel Rodrigues. With 5 (T)KO, 3 Subs, and 4 decision victories under his belt, "Gunni" has long since proven he is capable of adapting and competing with anyone standing in front of him. A dangerous man on the ground, but some hidden KO power in those fists of his too.
Ulster (9-4) is another accomplished fighter who also has had a championship under his belt back on the islands when he TKO'd HFC's own Herlock Von Ryan in his early days. "Mad Dawg" is another versed fighter who can adapt his game-plan as he's also won victories via (T)KO, submission and decision. No doubt these two fighters will be trying to figure each other out going into this fight.
Ulster is the superior striker with superb boxing and respectable MT training, he's also a very good wrestler and a purple belt in BJJ. He has the skills to stay in the fight if this goes to the ground, and may even possible surprise Larsson if he's not careful.
Blaze "Larsson is a very good fighter, and very capable of winning this fight. He's got that "it" factor, some fighters have it, some don't, but he definitely does. Despite that, I don't think he's going to be able to finish off Ulster. Yes, he has an advantage in the wrestling department, so maybe he'll be able to get the fight to the ground. But I've seen Ulster, time and again, find a way to avoid being submitted or reverse things and pull out a win. With that being said.
Prediction Mad Dawg Ulster wins via TKO round 3."
Main Cards:
Bruce Vanorden vs Jean Lucroy (205)
Bruce Vanorden (6-3) is back in action with a new look after a recent management change. Bruce was doing great, mowing through the SMASH roster, but hasn't won a fight in the HFC since the merger. 6-0 before HFC, 0-3 since HFC. So with a manager change, a new training regime, it's time to see if Bruce can bounce back into the win column.
Bruce has some very solid skills, do not be fooled by this 3 fight losing streak. He's a superb boxer, just as well trained in MT, holds a purple belt in BJJ and has been wrestling since his youth. There are no holes in Vanorden's game, and he'll be out to prove it against Lucroy.
Lucroy (9-1) is not the striker Vanorden is, not even close. He's feeble at best from range, but let me tell you, this man has shown no problems in taking down his opponents. And when he gets them down, he puts them down. He's not looking to hug and tug, he wants to ground and pound and flatten faces.
His only loss came to Nenad Jovanovic in SAFO in a title fight. He's never tasted defeat before, nor since. Vanorden will definitely have his work cut out for him in this one, but if he can keep the fight standing, he should be able to pull out another KO victory. If Lucroy takes this fight to the ground, which he almost certainly will, it could be a very quick end to Vanorden's night.
Blaze "I think Bruce is a great fighter, I really do. I've seen him display some beautiful striking and ability to finish, but he's in a slump right now. And this is not the best opponent he could have right now to turn things around, but if he does get the win here, what a turn around it would be! This is a very important fight for Bruce because with the HFC rosters shrinking, these spots in the top 20 become extremely precious. I just think Lucroy is too good at what he does and finds a way to get this fight to the ground."
Prediction, Lucroy wins via TKO round 2
Jack Waller vs Florisvaldo De Oliveira (135)
Jack Waller (8-1), former HFC champ (3x defending) is fighting in his final HFC fight before moving over to BFC to compete for the belt there. For a fighter fighting older, better trained fighters his whole career, Waller has been as impressive as any fighter in HFC history. His only loss in his most recent title fight to new champ Chad Repine.
Waller displays some superb boxing and wrestling skills, but has been training in MT and BJJ as well. His striking and GnP have kept him in the win column most of his career, but De Oliveira will be looking to keep him out of it in this one.
Oliveira (4-1) is riding a 3 fight win streak, all by submission. He's a ground specialist who holds a brown belt in BJJ, and is pretty well rounded in his wrestling and striking abilities. Depending on how well he can do on the defensive side of things from the ground, he may find himself in a position to ward off and upset the former champ. But if he can't prevent that nasty GnP, Waller will look to mow right through him in his HFC finale.
Blaze "This should be a fun fight. I mean, Waller doesn't have fights that are not worth watching, but this is a really good matchup. Because I've seen nothing to tell me Waller won't continue winning like he always does, no matter who you throw in there against him. But in Oliveira, he's got the one tool that gives him a legit chance to take out Waller, Jujitsu.
If Oliveira can catch Waller's arm when he's trying to GnP, and lock in a quick submission, he could pull out this upset win that would surely catapult him in the division rankings."
Prediction, Oliveira gets a submission victory (armbar) late in round 1 and announces himself to the HFC.
Ed Ford vs Miguel Sandoval (155)
Ed Ford (3-2) is a much, MUCH better fighter than his record suggests. Ed boasts remarkable boxing, sensational MT, remarkable wrestling and even a purple belt in BJJ. This man has been in the gym for a while and training with the best, and he intends to show it in this fight against Sandoval.
Sandoval (7-4) is the much more experienced fighter of the two with nearly twice as many fights so far in his young career. He's a superb boxer and respectable MT fighter, but his bread and butter is his sensational wrestling accented by a purple belt in BJJ.
Seeking to use his GnP skills, Sandoval will be looking to get this fight to the ground quickly where he can capitalize on his advantage. He won't want to be standing with Ford for very long less he wants to chance going to sleep before he leaves the cage.
Blaze "I think you nailed that one J.W. Sandoval has to get this fight to the ground to win, plain and simple. If he does, he wins. It's that simple in my book. But if he can't get this fight to the ground, I think Ford will be walking away 4-2 and looking to take on the world."
Prediction, Sandoval gets the takedown late in the first and does some damage, but finishes it early in the 2nd round via TKO."
Undercards:
Not doing a full preview of under-cards at this time, but will let Harley take a shot at making his quick picks for these fights and highlight any notes he sees fit.
Harley Blaze
Don Piano vs Tobias Funke (265)
Blaze "Piano is the better fighter here, not by much, but all around just the better fighter. Expect both of these guys to stay standing, but look for Piano to finish this fight in the 2nd sometime for a KO victory.
Prediction, Don Piano via KO in round 2."
Jim Fox vs Sergey Telegin (265)
Blaze "Man! What a stache! I know Fox is only 5-5 and a well rounded fighter who doesn't excell at any particular style, but how can someone with that stache ever lose?? He'll be going against another fighter who is very similarly trained but seems to have an edge in wrestling. Maybe that will give him the edge, but due to that outstanding mustache I have to go with Fox for my pick."
Prediction, Jim Fox wins via decision (mustache).
Andrey Gorohov vs Malcolm King (170)
Blaze "Gorohov has shown to be a gym rat, but never found a way to apply it in the ring. He's 1-3 for a reason, despite having solid well rounded game and being a very good MT practitioner. Coming off back to back losses, I fear he loses again against King.
Malcolm King is a beast on his feet and very competent on the ground. He matches Gorohov's MT striking, but is a much better boxer and his record reflects it."
Prediction, King wins via KO in round 1.
Colton Northwood vs Crimson Foot (145)
Blaze "This fight has potential to be the fight of the night. These guys are as evenly matched on the ground as you'll ever see. Both are Brown belt BJJ and sensational wrestlers. Foot has displayed some very solid striking in the gym, so I'll be curious to see if he uses his striking to his advantage against Northwood. This will probably be a grappling match like no other, but don't be surprised if Foot mixes it up and shocks Colton. But Colton has the grappling experience that might give him the edge on the ground, so it can go either way."
Prediction, Foot wins via unanimous decision.
Nate Gracie vs Primo Volto (170)
Blaze "Well, Gracie is on a horrible skid and I don't see him lasting on this roster. I think he loses again in this one against Volto too. Volto is on the cusp and fighting for a spot in the top 20, but he's not there yet. This could set him up to have a chance of staying on the HFC roster."
Prediction, Volto wins via submission in round 1.
Thank all of you Hardcore MMA fans for tuning in to this preview. We hope you enjoy the fights next weekend and find out who will win this KO of the night purse. We are sure to have a lot of finishes, so grab a seat and lets get ready to rumble!
Article views:
48
» Donate to this author |
