|
Heavyweight GP is still on – with quaterfinals coming up on August 18th, with stacked card we can expect great night! Not only we will declare semifinalists but we will crown two new champions – at 185 and 205lbs!
But first, we will start with Heavyweights – Winston Cole and Ryan Martin. Cole had a little bit of luck, as his opponent in first round didn’t make weight and he advanced as a results of NC. Ryan was lucky too – because he is Lucky Loser, who was given second chance in this tournament. Both are well rounded fighters, with Muay Thai advantage for Cole. We can expect a fight, that will take place not only on their feet – but on the ground as well.
Two guys at 170 will make their MMA debut – as Grayson Pierce will take on Max Pein. Former All-American wrestler from state of Washington, Grayson Pierce is ready to prove why his wrestling make him one of the top dogs at 170 – but Max feels like his boxing is incomparable in Welterweight division. They have a chance to prove which one of them adapt better to MMA, and which one of them will start their raise, and one day challenge for World Title.
Take a deep breath, and show what you can do. These words motivated Daniel Haukka last time, when he score Unanimous Decision victory over DeSean Larson – in what end up as Fight Of The Night. Finally back in winning column, Daniel is set to face one of the strongest Lightweight wrestlers – ]b]Jens Johansson[/b], who is coming from a submission loss to Anzor Azhiev and for sure he wants to start winning as well. Stand up advantage goes to Daniel, and ground advantage is for Jens…that means one thing – expect total war!
Rutger De Groot was TKOed by Rami Kottari, but he is back as a replacement…and he is set to fight Rami Kottari once again! He hope to score completely other outcome this time, as the winner of that fight will move on to Semis. With something like that on the line, and with second chance – he will give 100% and even more. What about Rami? He is confident that he can beat Rutger again, but can he be THAT confident? This time is different, so his opponent will not act like he did last time. Even I don’t know what can happen during that bout…so, watch and see!
Andrei Makarov was one of the competitors in Featherweight GP, but he lost by Submission to John Barris and he wants to make his way to the top outside of that tournament. First obstacle? Ivan Nifontov – 4-2 wrestler from Barnaul, Russia. 145 lbs division is always stacked with amazing action, so from these two we can expect Fight Of The Night Nominee. If Andrei can defend Ivan’s takedown attempts, he may win this fight with his superior striking skills – but don’t make mistake about it, if that one hits the ground he won’t be without chances to win it.
Beatriz Orsini and Livana Jalo will fight in 3rd quarterfinal fight of this GP. And it may be fight with length of blink of an eye. Beatriz loves to use his Muay Thai skills to clinch up, and destroy his opponent with lethal knees and elbows. Livana is a little bit more well rounded fighter, and even with Muay Thai disadvantage he may be able to outwrestle his opponent, if he can overpower Orsini. It’s one of this fight where we have the underdog, but it’s really pretty even match up. So, when everything can happen, we can count on exciting bout and unanimous winner.
After his Submission Of The Night performance, Rico Gracie is back. Dynamic 205 submission specialist will take on Light Heavyweight sensation from Brasil – Marco Da Silva, who is coming of a Fight Of The Night against Ilia Kosarev. Both scored Night Award in their debut, what means we deal with true ARTISTS of that sport. Both are 2-0 undefeated, but after that show only one of them will have still 0 losses. Will it be Rico Gracie, after another Submission Of The Night victory? Or will it be Marco Da Silva – with impressive KO Of The Night awards? Styles make fights, and there is nothing better than Fight Of Opposite Styles!
Alexander Anderson’s Ground And Pounds skills made him 3-0 thus far, and put him in title fight in Light Heavyweight Division. But his first victim feels like he is able to avenge that loss and take the belt with him – especially after scoring back-to-back KO Of The Night awards. Brian Baxter asked for this rematch and he put down two top contenders to get his wish granted. What he should to now is focus on takedown defense – because last time, it was what cost him the fight. Alex is outstanding wrestler, and nobody was able to stop him from doing what he does best – score top position and unload on you with powerful strikes. But with KO Power in his hands, and two KO with Takedown-Counter-Hits Baxter proved that he knows how to stop wrestlers…but…can he does that do Anderson?
If you saw European K-1 GP, you will like this one – last quarterfinal fight in Heavyweight GP – “Hammerfist” Sang Eek Moon will take on “Messiah” Abel Joseph, in Co-Main Event. Both guys loves to throw bombs – 10 combine victories and 9 came by way of (T)KO. What that means…well, somebody will get knocked out for sure. Question is – who? Who has more determination, who has bigger heart, and whose chin is harder? They will answer these question for us, when they start to throw. No matter how long they will fight, it’s gonna be hard-hitting showdown of pure striking. If you like K-1 GP, you can not miss that fight!
Main Event Of The Evening will be 5 round fight, that will crown new champion at 185 pounds. 4-0 Jack Balance Vs 3-0 Mark Forolov. When title is on the line, whole mindset of fighters changes. There isn’t anything like “Ok, maybe I can win a decision”. It’s kill or be killed situation, when you have to stop your opponent if you want that belt. Being world champion means a lot to fighter, and they will do everything they can to make sure that they will achieve their live-long dream about being the champ. Both are primarily wrestlers, and they know how to fight on the ground., and Im curious – which one of them will think first about keeping that fight standing. Neither one of them is Boxing or Muay Thai world champion level, but they know thing or two about it, so it may be pretty interesting bout. Sit back, and enjoy.
Article views:
257
» Donate to this author |
