ITFL Season 4 - "Carpe Diem"

[bjornmma1]

http://i62.tinypic.com/bipfdf.jpg

Fabian Hoi

My manager received 50k for my submission victory award. That must have been a mistake as it wasn't him that subbed Yates, but I did that. My manager has sent back the money to GBK, the org owner, and has messaged him twice to ask why there isn't an official sub of the night award and the other awards, so that it gets put on the fighter their profile page on our internet pages. My manager and I still haven't had a reply from him. So this is why I ask it here: " GBK, why isn't there an official award? I think the winners of those awards have the good right of having it being shown on their fighter page, just like always. "

[listerman]

http://www.bajiroo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/monkey-funny-facepalm-memes-pics.jpg

[762x39]

I know it is not a big deal to most of us about seeing the award on our fighter page, as long as I got paid that is all I would care about. But that sub was huge for Hoi, I can understand wanting to show that sub of the night award, same for Wani KOing Artie, that was big I think he was losing the fight until he got that KO. They should have the award showing on their profile. Just my opinion.

 

Some people care more about their fighter awards then the cash they get, just the way they like to play. I don't know anything about running an ORG, so is it harder to send out the of the night awards that way? I don't know so just asking a question.

[ArtieBanks]

I know it is not a big deal to most of us about seeing the award on our fighter page, as long as I got paid that is all I would care about. But that sub was huge for Hoi, I can understand wanting to show that sub of the night award, same for Wani KOing Artie, that was big I think he was losing the fight until he got that KO. They should have the award showing on their profile. Just my opinion.

 

Some people care more about their fighter awards then the cash they get, just the way they like to play. I don't know anything about running an ORG, so is it harder to send out the of the night awards that way? I don't know so just asking a question.

 

 

It is more difficult to send fighter cash directly to the manager plus you also have transfer fees; so Grant goes above and beyond with that. A vast majority (and i mean a vast) prefer to be paid straight to their manager account with money instead of the fighter. It is one of those things that is at Grant's discretion and he cannot suit everyone sadly. Looking at the posts i think the majority has spoken though...

[bjornmma1]

It is more difficult to send fighter cash directly to the manager plus you also have transfer fees; so Grant goes above and beyond with that. A vast majority (and i mean a vast) prefer to be paid straight to their manager account with money instead of the fighter. It is one of those things that is at Grant's discretion and he cannot suit everyone sadly. Looking at the posts i think the majority has spoken though...

 

I only asked him in a PM why he did that since he normally doesn't. He refused to reply. All I wanted was to know why he doesn't do it this time as he normally does and that I like it otherwise. Nothing strange was in my message, I can post them here.

[Marky]

Just let it go, it's a minor issue if even that. I would think everyone prefers to be paid straight to the manager account but the awards could still be given out as a $1 dollar bonus for recognition even if it's paid in another way. Come to think of it many orgs nowadays don't bother giving out the awards which would require many seconds to do.

[bjornmma1]

A one dollar award would be fine for me, it's just that it adds a bit more to a fighter's career when you see his awards on the fighter page.

 

And yeah, it's literally almost no work at all. Just type the amount of money they get and select from a scroll menu who gets it and press 'submit'.

[762x39]

I have to agree with Marky on this, time to let it go. You have asked, privately and publicly, your point has been made you want to see the sub of the night award on Hoi's profile. Yes it would be nice to see it, but even without it he still has that sub win. Everyone knows he tapped Yates, hopefully Grant will chose to send you the award, it is up to him.

[bjornmma1]

It's up to him now indeed, but a reply from him would be appreciated. I won't talk about it anymore, but I think the least GBK can do is to reply and hopefully send the award.

[markyosullivan]

I think it's nice to have the x amount of fight of the night awards on your fighters profile

[fpv]

The official awards of each round shouldn't stop GBK to give the regular awards of each event even if it's just 1 buck bonus.

[GBK16]

I just gave out the awards so we can focus more on the competition and less on the issue of awards. I will be giving out $1 OTN awards only to the fighters that win each week, and sending the $50k to the manager accounts so there isn't a need for managers to launder.

 

I will be working on the Preview starting this weekend, and hopefully will have it done before Wednesday.

[762x39]

Thank you Grant! Cant wait to read the net review, this is going to be a tough round for The Stray Dogs, but I think we take it 4-3.

[762x39]

I cant type! I meant read the Next Preview! The only thing worse than my typing is my spelling. You should see all the red lines I get before I post.

[762x39]

Almost time for the next round! Good luck to everyone, I am expecting a tough round for us.

[Guest]

Props to Hong for being the first fighter to finish Flavius Odoacer! Only the second man to beat him as well.

[bjornmma1]

When I was looking for one more heavy fighter to make the team complete, I suddenly noticed Hong and was thinking 'damn, if he joins, that would be brilliant!' . I was a happy man when he joined our team, Hong is a beast!

[Guest]

Preview!

[bjornmma1]

Maybe he didn't have the time to do so this time or it will come online right before the fights

[bjornmma1]

Will there be a preview or didn't he have time?

[ArtieBanks]

Shinataro Nomo also known as "The Croc Boy" was born and raised in Fukuoka, Japan. Nomo in his childhood was once quoted as saying "Muay Thai is for lady boys" has rising swiftly in his MMA career by tapping, knocking fools out. His record is a very respectable 17-4 and has never been knocked out in his career with a chin made from the left overs of Captain America's shield. Rumors are that Shintaro belongs to a sacred temple of flying ninjas who assassinate various different people for various different reasons that no one particularly cares about or believes; however this was worth mentioning to boost my word count. His manager AJ Nex is from the reputable Evolution Fight Clan also known as the Amazing Slider men, who i have just checked and are apparently losing members left, right and centre, i guess i should say former reputable EFC team. He has entered the ITFL to prove himself as a top manager and his fighter as a contender in the division. Giving his lack of kicks however i firmly am in the belief he will be punted into outer space whenever he fights anyone worth their salt as a fighter. Nomo should be spamming kicks and sparring MT for the rest of the tournament to hopefully be more of a threat to the individual stage of the tournament, if he does that i fully expect him to be a real solid fighter with a chance at taking the individual tournament.

 

Tomorrow he fights someone with a Spanish name from Norway.

[GBK16]

 

INTERNATIONAL TEAM FIGHTING LEAGUE

 

SEASON 4

 

ROUND 2

 

Good evening ladies and gentlemen and welcome to our preview for the ITFL Season 4 - Round 2! The tournament exploded into life last round, with the excitement from fans of the tournament on full display and there was no disappointment. Victories for Team Conquer, The Stray Dogs and FinnFighters put them ahead of the other teams, with Team Conquer holding a slender lead over the other two.

 

The fights have been selected for week two, and now we are really getting down to the business side of things where you will see the excitement from the entrants die down, and their competitive sides really start to come to the fore.

We have a long preview to get through, with 21 fights on display, so without further ado, let’s get right down to it!

 

TEAM MATCH #1

http://i.imgur.com/uXXftn1.png

VS

http://i.imgur.com/kO8Lfvf.png

Coming up first we have Vendino, who will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing loss to The Stray Dogs last week, taking on Team Conquer, who are currently leading the tournament following a big win over The Corporation last week.

 

Our first fight being previewed of the week sees two fighters looking to redeem themselves as Ruslan Mstislav Volkov takes on Durlag Trollkiller.

Ruslan Mstislav Volkov didn’t get off to the best start in the ITFL tournament, as he took on one of the most touted fighters in the tournament in Wilder Wein. Despite losing, Volkov actually looked like he was comfortable in the cage until being caught with the combo which spelled the beginning of the end. Volkov has a great grappling background, but his main weapon is his vastly improved striking, as he strikes with diversity in order to keep his opponent guessing, and not be a one trick pony.

Durlag Trollkiller also lost in his first fight in the ITFL last week, losing to Paul Landen of The Corporation via 2nd round KO. Trollkiller actually had the first round won on the scorecards, but found himself rocked by a left from Landen before being knocked out with a big combination. Trollkiller will be relying on his striking in this bout, with his opponent being a proven grappler, but even then, the fight is not a completely one sided affair.

Overall, I feel that both fighters are evenly matched with their striking, with Trollkiller’s offensive hiddens likely giving him an advantage. Despite this however, I feel Volkov will claim a decision win through a mixture of his striking and grappling.

Prediction: Ruslan Mstislav Volkov to win via Unanimous Decision

Our next fight is a sort of Grappler vs Striker matchup now as Vendino’s Bosco Brown takes on Team Conquer’s Jay Gatsby.

Bosco Brown struggled in his initial fight, as Adelhard controlled the position and didn’t give him an inch of breathing space. He lost a decision, but will be feeling this is a better overall matchup for him. While his opponent is an accomplished striker, Brown has never been knocked out, and holds an advantage with his grappling. He will need to get the fight down, but if he can do that, he will be able to dominate the position. While he may not gain the submission, he will score favourably on the judges cards and he may look to gain a decision win in this bout.

Jay Gatsby got off to a winning start in his first round matchup, gaining a KO win in the second round against Bjorn Lodbrok. His striking is his most feared weapon, and he is no slouch on the defense. The big thing for Gatsby in this bout is keeping it standing so his immense striking can come through for him. If the fight gets to the ground, he will be in real trouble, and he will be hoping his KO power can win the bout for him before too long.

Overall, this is a fight both fighters can win, but I feel Gatsby will take it in the second round, but if Brown can get it down, it could be good night also.

Prediction: Jay Gatsby to win via (T)KO in Round 2

The last 170lbs fight between Vendino and Team Conquer now as Dorian Yates takes on Pernell Whitaker Jr.

Dorian Yates had a hard task last time out, suffering a Submission loss to Fabian Hoi. Despite this, there are still high opinions on Yates, and he will have the chance to right the wrong from last time. Blessed with a Granite Chin, he is a diverse fighter who can strike and grapple, and has the ability to last into the later rounds.

Pernell Whitaker Jr got off to a winning start in his last bout, taking a Decision win against Brett Hartlock. While he had a striking advantage in that bout to battle his grappling disadvantage, he doesn’t have that same striking edge going into this one. He will be hoping his ability to strike with more damage comes through, but he can easily be caught himself.

I think Yates will be getting onto the winning path in this bout. He has a good enough grappling advantage, and is not at a major loss in the striking area, so I expect him to mix in the takedowns to get the points for a decision win.

Prediction: Dorian Yates to win via Unanimous Decision

It’s the Heavyweight’s turn now, and it kicks off with Vendino’s Lance Legstrong taking on Team Conquer’s Itse Perkele.

Lance Legstrong has been described by many as the best grappler competing in the Heavyweight section of this season’s ITFL, and he lived up to that billing with a second round RNC victory over Joe Louis. Worth mentioning is that Legstrong has been putting weight back on since finishing the Mad Cash tournament, and that may work against him as he will lose the speed advantage and that could impact on his ability to gain takedowns.

Itse Perkele is one of the tallest competition, and he will be looking to use that range to work his opponents over with strikes. However, that height could work against him as he faces a grappler who will be looking to take him down. His Solid Chin won’t be tested much in this bout, but he will need to keep the pressure on Legstrong and avoid being taken down, especially on the counter.

Overall, I think Legstrong will take this. His Granite Chin should keep him safe for long enough to gain the takedown, and with a Black Belt, it should be simply matters for him to gain a submission win over a Purple belt.

Prediction: Lance Legstrong to win via Submission in Round 2

The next bout of the tournament sees Vendino’s Flavius Odoacer take on Team Conquer’s Bruce Wayne.

Flavius Odoacer suffered the first (T)KO loss of his career last round, as he lost to Antoni Kristofer Hong. However, he was impressive in his showing, displaying a good wrestling game with takedowns and clinchwork before taking the loss in the last round. He will need to use that wrestling base again in this bout, as he takes on one of the more respected strikers in the season.

Bruce Wayne gained a first round KO win in this last fight, defeating Ivar Lodbrok of The Corporation. He has excellent KO Power, and his chin is good as well as his losses have all come in either the 4th or 5th round. He will need to avoid the fight getting close, as he will dominate from range.

Overall, I just think Wayne’s KO Power will be too much for Odoacer. He will survive until the third round I feel until succumbing to the power of Wayne.

Prediction: Bruce Wayne to win via (T)KO in Round 3

The penultimate bout of Vendino and Team Conquer now as Giacomo Benvenuti takes on Anakoni Kai.

Giacomo Benvenuti bounced back from the first defeat of his career in typical fashion, gaining the first round TKO win over Mikaiah Rynn. He has made noticeable improvements to his grappling game, which makes him all the more scary when you consider his striking game is probably the best in the tournament. With 17 (T)KO’s from 17 wins, he looking for the finish against all opponents, and he will be a real test of Kai here.

Anakoni Kai meanwhile has a Granite Chin and has never been defeated via (T)KO. In his first round fight, he defeated Frank Damozzi via Unanimous Decision, and will now be switching his focus from fighting a grappler to fighting a striker. While this fight doesn’t looking great for Kai, he can win if he can land strikes with damage.

This fight just doesn’t looking good for Kai. He is fighting a taller opponent, who has better striking, and scary power. His Granite Chin could help him last a while, but it will give out eventually.

Prediction: Giacomo Benvenuti to win via (T)KO in Round 1

The final fight between Vendino and Team Conquer now, with John Paul Wani taking on Jamal Jackson.

John Paul Wani got off to a flyer in the ITFL, defeating Artie DeVanzo with a third round KO which saw him win the KO of the Week award. Another dangerous striker, he will need to use his height and weight advantage to dominate here, and with his power, he could be spelling an early night for Jackson.

Jamal Jackson suffered a defeat in his opening bout, losing to Pablo Escobar. His striking is his main weapon, and he will be free to use it in this bout as Wani won’t be looking to take it to the ground. With this fight being a striking battle, Jackson just needs to hit fast and early to gas Wani and he can win.

Overall, I think Wani will take this one. He has superior striking, and that is what this fight will boil down to - A striking battle.

Prediction: John Paul Wani to win via (T)KO in Round 2

[GBK16]

TEAM MATCH #2

 

http://i.imgur.com/e5CBmm0.jpg

VS

 

A battle between two well known alliances now as The Corporation take on the FinnFighters.

 

Our first bout is a heavyweight contest as Diego Bustamante takes on Algot Van Panzerhosen.

Diego Bustamante suffered a loss in his first week match, losing to Itse Perkele via KO in the second round. He will be delighted at his matchup this week, competing against the man known as “The Chinless Bastard”. Bustamante’s main weapon is his striking, with his kicks being a big part of that. With his opponent’s weak chin, Bustamante will have a target to lock onto and he should be in confident mood going into this.

Algot Van Panzerhosen lost to Dante Cross Furia in his first round matchup, with a TKO coming in the second round on that occasion. It has been nearly a year since Van Panzerhosen has gained a (T)KO win, and he will need to up his game coming into this bout, or risk losing again here.

I believe Bustamante has the power to put Van Panzerhosen out, and another factor that plays into Bustamante’s hands is that Van Panzerhosen has some cut issues that may not be cleared up in time for the fight.

Prediction: Diego Bustamante to win via (T)KO in Round 2

Our next matchup sees Brett Hartlock take on Sambo Rambo.

Brett Hartlock suffered a loss in his opening matchup, losing to Pernell Whitaker Jr via Unanimous Decision. Hartlock is a dangerous grappler, who has a blossoming striking game, and while he may not hit the hardest, it helps to set him up for the takedowns, and that is where he truly shines. A Black Belt in BJJ, 4 of his 5 wins have come via Submission, and Rambo should be wary about giving up his back, as Hartlock has made 3 opponents tap already from this position.

Sambo Rambo is another grappler who lost in his first week matchup, losing via Unanimous Decision to Shintaro Nomo. He has a high level boxing game, but his real skill is in his grappling, as he has put away 4 opponents via Submission. With his opponent also being a ground specialist, it will be interesting to see how Rambo plans for this.

This is an interesting matchup, as both fighters have skill striking, but both specialise on the ground. It will be a tough fight for both guys, but I am going to go with Sambo Rambo for the decision.

Prediction: Sambo Rambo to win via Unanimous Decision

A big fight now for both teams as Pablo Escobar takes on Antonio Jose De Sucre.

Pablo Escobar is an elite striker who won his opening bout against Jamal Jackson via KO in the second round. He has Elite Muay Thai, and with Sensational Wrestling and Boxing, his striking game is one to be feared. A solid chin with the ability to knock people out, Escobar will be one of the main threats The Corporation offer this season.

Antonio Jose De Sucre suffered defeat in his first round matchup, losing to William King via TKO in the second round. A Granite Chin, he has a high level striking game, and despite his loss, is a fighter who can go on a great run this season with the right matchups. Of course, he faces an elite striker in this round, so his chin will truly be tested.

Overall, I think Escobar is the favourite coming into this. His overall better skillset should allow him to cause the damage to De Sucre, and he will be hitting with more power due to his higher weight, but De Sucre can turn the odds if he can gas Escobar early.

Prediction: Pablo Escobar to win via (T)KO in Round 2

Midway through the fight now as Bjorn Lodbrok takes on Taisto Perala.

Bjorn Lodbrok is a Muay Thai specialist who likes to strike from range. Mixing up his strikes, he hits with punches and kicks to all areas and hasn’t seen a fight go past the second round. He faces issues against opponents with durability, but has the power to really put the effort in to winning.

Taisto Perala put on a fantastic showing in the first round, defeating Johnny Luca via TKO in the third round in a bout that won Fight of the Week honours. He is a great striker, and has a BJJ Black Belt that shows he is comfortable in all areas of the fight.

Bjorn Lodbrok is a heavy hitter, but he is coming up against a fighter who has a great chin. If Lodbrok will win, he needs to try to do it early as the longer the fight goes on, the more I give it to Perala.

Prediction: Taisto Perala to win via (T)KO in Round 2

A highly anticipated clash now as Paul Landen takes on Helix Cabrera.

Paul Landen got off to a winning start in the ITFL, defeating Durlag Trollkiller via KO in the second round. Primarily a striker it seems, Landen also has no problem with going to ground and controlling the position to score points. He will need to be wary in this bout as he comes up against a fighter who is also very comfortable in all areas.

Helix Cabrera has a huge win in the first round of the ITFL, defeating Yaniv Schulmann and ending his undefeated streak. A highly skilled striker, he also has a penchant for taking the fight down and laying some ground and pound on his opponents, as we saw against Schulmann.

I feel this is a fight that Cabrera should be winning, as his superior skills and hiddens should make this straight forward for him.

Prediction: Helix Cabrera to win via (T)KO in Round 2

A fight between two big men now as the 6”9 Ivar Lodbrok takes on the 6”5 Urho Berserk.

Ivar Lodbrok is one of the tallest competitors in the ITFL, standing at a staggering 6”9 tall, but that height couldn’t prevent him from losing in his first round fight against Bruce Wayne. An elite Muay Thai fighter, he has a good record of 8 (T)KO’s from 10 wins, however, all 5 of his losses have come via (T)KO. This shows he has an issue dealing with heavy hitters, and is usually a 50/50 fighter who can win and lose fights with ease.

Urho Berserk is a high level striker who won his first round matchup by defeating Chris Severn via Unanimous Decision. While not blessed with amazing KO Power, he has still gained 6 (T)KO’s from 11 wins. His two losses have both come via (T)KO to bring some questions into play, but he has developed as a fighter well enough to cover the cracks enough that he can deal with many threats.

Overall, I think Urho Berserk will gain the win in this bout. While Lodbrok has the height advantage, Berserk has more reliability when it comes to his defenses, and I am banking on him showing that confidence again and coming away in the second round.

Prediction: Urho Berserk to win via (T)KO in Round 2

The final matchup between The Corporation and FinnFighters sees Frank Damozzi take on Joey Kocur.

Frank Damozzi suffered a loss in his first round matchup, losing to Anakoni Kai, but despite this, showed good resilience to take it to a decision. Primarily a Wrestler, Damozzi has developed his striking well and can now strike long enough to land his takedowns where he really thrives. His main output comes in his Ground and Pound, and if he gets you down, he can usually damage you enough that you become a punching bag for the rest of the fight.

Joey Kocur had one of the biggest wins of the tournament last week, defeating Timur Rubin via Split Decision in a bout that many had called off his chances in. A devastating striker, he has gained 12 (T)KO’s from 14 wins, and his fight against Rubin last week was a good showing of how he does against wrestlers. He also has one submission win, so if people think he is easy when it hits the ground, they are sorely mistaken.

Overall, I think Kocur’s showing when dealing with a wrestler last weeks makes it hard to doubt him in this bout. While Damozzi will come at him in a different style, I expect the end result will be the same.

Prediction: Joey Kocur to win via Unanimous Decision.

[GBK16]

TEAM MATCH #3

 

http://i.imgur.com/RhHJmLW.jpg

 

VS

 

 

Our final team contest sees The Stray Dogs take on The Misfits.

Our first contest sees Mikaiah Rynn take on Dante Cross Furia.

Mikaiah Rynn suffered a loss in his opening ITFL fight by losing to Giacomo Benvenuti via TKO in the first round. Rynn is a boxer who has the ability to knock out opponents if he is given enough space. With 12 (T)KO’s from 15 wins, all but one of his (T)KO wins have come in the first round, and he will be looking for more of the same in this bout.

Dante Cross Furia picked up the win in his first round matchup, defeating Algot Van Panzerhosen in the second round via (T)KO. At 6”10, he is the tallest competitor in the ITFL this season and will need to use this range to efficiently pick his opponents off. He has the ability to knock his opponents out as his 100% KO record shows, but he can also crumble from heavy hits.

Overall, I think Mikaiah Rynn should be looking to close the range and not allow Cross Furia to work him over. If he does that, I expect a first round finish won’t be out of the question.

Prediction: Mikaiah Rynn to win via (T)KO in Round 1

Our next match up sees Antoni Kristofer Hong take on Chris Severn.

Antoni Kristofer Hong picked up a win in his first round fight as he defeated Flavius Odoacer via TKO in the third round. He is a highly skilled striker, and shows that with 8 (T)KO’s from 10 wins. Possessing a Granite Chin also, he is a fighter who causes issues for almost any opponent, and he will be looking to come through and make it 2 for 2 in the tournament.

Chris Severn suffered a loss in his opening matchup, losing to Urho Berserk via Unanimous Decision. He is a Muay Thai striker, who lands a lot of leg kicks to take his opponent’s base away before going for a mixture of punches, kicks and takedowns. He has gained 7 (T)KO’s himself, as well as picking up a solitary Submission win.

A major factor for this bout is that Chris Severn will actually be entering it with an injury, and when you factor in Hong’s striking and Granite Chin, you have to call Hong winning this.

Prediction: Antoni Kristofer Hong to win via (T)KO in Round 1

Our next contest sees Bernhard Adelhard taking on Yaniv Schulmann.

Bernhard Adelhard got off to a winning start, defeating Bosco Brown in his opening bout via Unanimous Decision. He is primarily a grappler, as he uses his Black Belt to dominate once the fight hits the ground, and with his striking also developing well, he is aiding himself to compete against more styles. He will be facing a similar style this round as last round, and that may help him when it comes to planning.

Yaniv Schulmann suffered a defeat in his first round matchup, and indeed the first of his career, with a TKO defeat in the second round against Helix Cabrera. Primarily a decision fighter, he has high levels of boxing and grappling, and uses these to dominate the position and score on the judges’ cards. He will feel more confident about this bout as he faces an opponent he isn’t as outmatched by.

Overall, I think Schulmann will bounce back from his loss with a win here. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Adelhard pick up a win either, but I think Schulmann matches up well in this bout.

Prediction: Yaniv Schulmann to win via Unanimous Decision.

Midway through this team fight now and we see Artie DeVanzo take on William King.

Artie DeVanzo suffered a loss in his first round matchup, losing to John Paul Wani via KO in the third round after being seemingly in control up til then. He will take confidence from that performance however, and will learn to not slip up his concentration like that again.

William King picked up a win in his first round matchup, defeating Antonio Jose De Sucre via TKO in the second round. His gameplan is pretty simple, as he strikes to damage while also shooting for takedowns every so often. With 8 (T)KO wins, he has the ability to finish things with his striking, but he also had 2 Submission wins to show he can do the business on the ground too.

Overall, I think DeVanzo will get the win here. He is overall more skilled than King, and I feel he will get the (T)KO.

Prediction: Artie DeVanzo to win via (T)KO in Round 2

Our next fight sees Wilder Wein taking on Johnny Luca.

Wilder Wein gained a win in his last bout, defeating Ruslan Mstislav Volkov via TKO in the second round. With Elite boxing, he has gained 6 of his 7 wins via (T)KO, and he holds a height advantage in this bout which he will exploit to gain the edge.

Johnny Luca suffered a loss in his first bout, losing to Taisto Perala via TKO in the third round in a bout that won Fight of the Week honours. A Muay Thai fighter with decent KO Power, he has gained 7 of his 9 wins via (T)KO and does this by landing a mixture of punches and kicks from range, while landing a high volume of head punches inside the clinch. It will be a dangerous fight for Luca, and he will need a good plan coming in.

Overall, I just think Wein will take this fight. He has superior skills, and with no real weakness in his game, he should have no major issues in this bout.

Prediction: Wilder Wein to win via (T)KO in Round 2

The penultimate fight of the round sees Joe Louis take on Timur Rubin.

Joe Louis suffered a loss in his first round matchup, losing to Lance Legstrong via RNC in the second round. His main strength is his striking which he uses to soften his opponents up while shooting for takedowns in order to get the fight down where he can land some ground and pound to his opponent. He will need to be wary in this fight however as his opponent is a Ground and Pound master, and will be looking to dump him on his back whenever he can.

Timur Rubin suffered a split decision loss to Joey Kocur in his first round matchup in what was probably the most anticipated fight of the first round. He is a wrestler whose main aim is the get the opponent down before raining bombs on him in order to finish the fight. While it may not have worked against Kocur last time, it may work better against a fighter who struggled against a grappler last time out.

I think Rubin’s elite wrestling should be enough to get the fight down, and although Louis has skill in grappling, I feel Rubin will simply overwhelm him, and barring a hail mary submission, Rubin should be able to get the job done.

Prediction: Timur Rubin to win via (T)KO in Round 2

Our final fight of the round sees Fabian Hoi take on Shintaro Nomo.

Fabian Hoi defeated Dorian Yates in his first round matchup, in a bout that won Submission of the Week for Hoi. He has shown diversity in his striking and grappling, and has the ability to fight in any area.

Shintaro Nomo defeated Sambo Rambo via Unanimous Decision in his first round matchup. While a highly skilled fighter, his lack of Muay Thai will cripple him in fights, an exploit he tries to prevent by landing a takedown as soon as he can. If he can land a takedown, he has a good chance of winning, but striking will be an issue for him.

Overall, I think Hoi’s better overall setup will get him the win. With the training he has had throughout his career, he is set up in order to win against any fighter in front of him, and that should carry over to here.

Prediction: Fabian Hoi to win via (T)KO in Round 3

That’s it from me this week. Best of luck to all fighters competing, and be sure to look out for the results that come in at 5pm and 6pm GMT!

[bjornmma1]

Nice preview GBK. Once again very well written!