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 Empire Grand Prix’s Super 8 round is on Saturday, and it should be an exciting card. The four matchups will not only decide who will move onto the Four Horseman stage, but they will also greatly impact the 145 lbs rankings, which are in flux following Corsair Light’s title being stripped due to inactivity and declining fights. Here are the four matchups.
Danny Peterson vs. Tyson Abreu: This is the least exciting matchup on the card, and for good reason. Tyson Abreu is an incredibly one-dimensional fighter, as his only skill is wrestling. That being said, he was able to use his one skill to submit Rounin Hashima in the first round. He will face a tougher test in Danny Peterson, who is a much stronger wrestler than Hashima. Peterson had a NC in his first round fight because Darius Rucker missed weight. Peterson is the stronger fighter, but he is making his debut in this one. I think talent wins out and Peterson gets the first round TKO.
Huckleberry Flint vs. Jung Ho Park: The Belgian Flint is a strong fighter on the ground, as he won his previous two fights by submission and ground and pound TKO. He is a big threat to win his side of the bracket, but Park is nicknamed “The Korean Wonderkid” for a reason, and he showed why in his domination of Myke Bonner in his first fight. He may not be as good on the ground, but if he takes the fight into the clinch, he will not take long to end it. If Flint cannot take down Park, who is no slouch of a wrestler, Flint might be in trouble. I think Park will win by second round TKO.
Ergun Cerrahoglu vs. Dario Balic: Cerrahoglu is one of the most talented fighters in the field, but these fights are not fought on paper for a reason. The Turk is an exceptional wrestler, meaning that he will decide where the match is fought. He has enough boxing skill to bring the pain while standing and a BJJ blue belt to outmatch his opponent Dario “Dragi” Balic. Balic is a respectable muay thai fighter, but Cerrahoglu’s advantages in both wrestling and BJJ pretty much negate the Croatian's best attribute. Cerrahoglu should be able to cruise through this one to a second round submission.
Ricardo Morra Jr. vs. Jax Sigthorsson: Ricardo “Monkey Style” Morra Jr., the pre-tournament favorite, improved to 4-0-0 with his first round TKO victory over Akihiro Imanari. The Finland native is not nearly as proficient of a boxer or muay thai fighter, but he presents a unique matchup for the Thai Morra Jr. Sigthorsson is almost solely a BJJ specialist, while Morra Jr.’s one weakness is on the ground. For that reason, I think Sigthorsson will be able to score a takedown and pull off the shocking upset in the same fashion as his first round matchup, by first round submission.
Here are my predictions for the other matchups:
Reuben Ruckus over Luke Maddox by first round TKO
Trevor Barnes over Hadr Bari by majority decision
Rounin Hashima over Sterling Draper by first round TKO
Myke Bonner over Ernesto Powers by unanimous decision
Rony Stark over Damian Molina by unanimous decision
Jim Reefer over Akihiro Imanari by majority decision
It should be a fun one here in New York!
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