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I'm glad to sharw with you guys the preview for NYCL FN 3 by yours truly Maurice SImmons!
NYCL FIGHT NIGHT (3)
Ladies and gentlemen my name is Maurice Simmons and I am honoured to have been tasked the job of providing a preview for this great upcoming evening of entertainment. The average MMA fan may not know half the fighters on this card but that's a great chance to witness the careers of these future legends while in their early stages. Without further ado, let's get into the preview!
MAIN EVENT
Jerry Smith (2-0) squares off against Malamute Alaskiano (2-1) in the main event of NYCL Fight Night 3. This will be an interesting fight as the fighters have very similar skills, both being accomplished at wrestling and have blue belts in BJJ. An exciting fighter, Jerry Smith has knocked out both of his opponents in the first 2 rounds. His clinch game is something to take note of because it's the biggest weapon in his arsenal, but that's not to say he's a one trick pony. In fact, I did some digging and was able to find out that Jerry has another trump card that's he's yet to show since turning pro, and that's his dangerous Ground n Pound! His boxing may not be all that great but when combined with his clinching it's a force to be reckoned with as showed in his last fight vs Sean Mccarthy. While Smith has a hidden weapon I've reason to believe that Malamute Alaskiano is definitely the sneakier fighter in this match up. Fresh off a failed attempt at championship gold, I have a strong belief that he'll come into this fight swinging for victory. He mainly uses a "Lay and Pray" style so he's normally not one to rush a finish, but he will put you down if he catches you napping! He also has a 12cm reach advantage so he'll definitely look to use that in his game plan. Alaskiano also employs a lot of clinches in his game, though he mainly stalls and controls once he's got you against the cage. Another distinguishing characteristic in his game is his high self confidence, this man ain't scared of shit! Others may view it as ego but I think it will be very important in this fight as he is facing a powerful fighter so he'll need every ounce of his confidence to get close to Smith for a takedown or clinch.
Prediction: Jerry Smith has dynamite in his hands and I feel like he will once again show us his power with a KO victory. This fight can go either way though to be honest.
CO MAIN EVENT
Aleksi Saari (2-1-1) meets DeVon Hampton (5-0) in what many would consider the most uneven fight in this card. Aleksi Saari will look to make his NYCL debut in style as he aims to pull off a major upset by beating the undefeated DeVon Hampton. Although a boxer, Saari has showed that he can be quite versatile with his striking by utilizing kicks and knees here and there. That will surely make it super hard for his opponents to counter him considering he doesn't give off his rhythm. Saari will without a doubt use his 11 cm reach advantage to land strikes at a safer distance and make it hard for his opponent to close in on him. Given that his opponent manages to get close to him, he has decent enough wrestling skills to protect himself from takedowns. Although managed by former NYCL owner Dee Dee, DeVon Hampton will be making his NYCL debut on this card. A merciless fighter, Hampton has forced the referee to step in and save all of his opponents thus securing himself 5 (T)KO victories. Not only did this man change 5 faces, he also did it in the very first round! "I just want to maul people" is his style put into words, ring any bells? He goes into every fight with 1 plan in mind: take him down and smesh him! His Ground and Pound mixed with his near perfect BJJ certainly makes him the deadliest in the ground amongst his peers. Reading too much comic books has also affected the way he fights because every time he steps into that cage he turns superhuman!
Prediction: I see no way for Saari to win here unless he's able to KO Hampton very early. I have Hampton winning by TKO, but I'd love a surprise.
Match 3
Jonathan Duchesne (1-1) takes on Frankee Guh Noo (1-0) in what is expected to be a striking fest as both guys excel in either Boxing or Muay Thai. The 19 year old Duchesne comes in with a 11 cm reach disadvantage which will prove troublesome for him since he is facing a slightly more skilled striker. Even though he's a striker, Duchesne has showed that he is unafraid of taking the fight to the ground as he proved against Danny Canyon. His strength is something to take note of as he uses it to dictate where the fight goes and how long it stays there. Both of his fights have gone the full distance so this kid has a crazy gas tank. Duchesne has definitely been a fast progressing fighter and someone you should keep your eye on in the future. While Duchesne relies on his Muay Thai for striking Guh Noo prefers boxing. His uppercuts were the deciding factor in his last fight as only a few of them were needed to finish it. While his opponent Duchesne has showed us a lot in his 2 fights Guh Noo has only fought for 52 seconds so there is still a lot he is yet to show us.
Prediction: Duchesne will grab Guh Noo and play with him all fight to secure a decision win.
Match 4:
The next match up features Morgan Masvidal (4-2) vs Aidan Ajani (1-1). This is a contest between a striker and a grappler to see who has the upper hand. Morgan is probably the most experienced fighter on this card and he aims to show us why. Having just lost the first title fight of his career vs Jerry Goon, he had been craving to get himself back into title contention and right his wrongs. He will no doubt see Aidan as an obstacle in his way to the top of the NYCL Featherweight division! He comes in as the better wrestler in this fight and that is essential to get the fight to his favorite position, the clinch! Masvidal has shown deadly accuracy and power when inside the clinch. His opponent Aidan Ajani had his NYCL debut spoiled as he lost via unanimous decision but he'll surely be looking to have a killer comeback by beating one of the best in the NYCL Featherweight division. He is the better stand up fighter in this match up, possessing excellent Muay Thai. Keeping this fight standing will be of utmost importance for him. Aidan packs quite a lot of power in those fists but if he'll be able to fell the experienced Morgan Masvidal is anyone's guess.
Prediction: A hard one, but I have Morgan Masvidal winning by decision. Aidan Ajani indeed has a tough mountain to climb.
Match 5
Joe Winnar (3-1) faces a tough challenge in Adrian Mac Giolla Phadraig (2-1). Another interesting fight in the card as both fighters have won all their fights by (T)KO and their single blemishes in their records are also (T)KO losses. I imagine for both of these fighters it will be a strange fight because they're both heavy handed finishers but they do their deeds in different manners. Winnar's your typical stand up KO fighter, his 19 cm reach advantage can be the difference between a victory and a loss for him, used correctly of course. Winnar has never been past the first round his whole professional, with his loss also coming in 55 seconds. His clinch game is something to be aware of because when paired with his striking can prove to be troublesome indeed. His long limbs can also be used as an advantage inside the clinch as they will make knee strikes to the face less difficult. Winnar certainly has the odds stacked in his favor. Ever since losing his pro debut, Phadraig has gone on to have a 2 out of 2 record in NYCL, finishing both of his opponents. Unlike his opponent, Phadraig likes to rearrange his opponent's face on the ground. His ground and pound is among the very best in his division and he has rendered men helpless in the ground. To put it simply, this man mauls his opponents! His good wrestling is probably the most important aspect of his game as it has helped him take the fight to where he wants it to be. I trust he will also like to use his opponent's long limbs to get those takedowns easier.
Prediction: I have Adrian Mac Giolla Phadraig winning this one by TKO due to strikes. This is another fight that could go either way tho so I can't wait to see it.
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