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 Welcome to SPNY 106, we have midweek fight action for you from the Hard Knocks Arena in downtown New York where you will see 10 MMA rules fights headlined by the Welterweight Title match up between the champion, Tomi Atomi, and the challenger, Julio Madrigal.
Main Event: Welterweight Title
Tomi Atomi 18-5-1 (3-0-1 SPNY) vs Julio Madrigal 15-6-1 (3-0 SPNY)
Tomi Atomi comes into his first title defence of the back of a magnificent 5th round TKO over John Kyle Romo which earned him fight of the night honours. All the more amazing was that being only his second career knockout victory, coming after carrying a cut from early in the first through four gruelling rounds. Most fans who witnessed that fight are hoping he can get through Madrigal to set up a rematch with Romo.
Preventing the Atomi vs Romo rematch has been the brilliant recent form of Julio Madrigal; 5 consecutive wins have given him the right to be the challenger for the 170lbs title and he has all the skills to match Atomi’s strengths, Madrigal perhaps even has an edge in grappling. Madrigal’s stand up style is heavily reliant on punches, rarely in his career has he landed kicks regularly, and that may be a big disadvantage giving away 5 inches height and reach against Atomi.
Madrigal has the conditioning and grappling skills to keep this going deep into the available 5 rounds but will struggle to find a finish. I fancy Atomi to land more strikes and be able to outscore Madrigal for a decision to defend his title.
2: Welterweight
Abaka Khan 13-9-1 (SPNY Debut) vs Adam Rabago 9-2 (2-0 SPNY)
Adam Rabago has a solid career record and has made an impressive start in SPNY with 2 wins, but he comes up against a much tougher opponent tonight in SPNY newcomer Abaka Khan. Training out of Montreal Khan joins SPNY after a mixed set of results against tough opponents and is looking to settle into the hotly contested Welterweight division with a win here. Rabago is used to having an edge in striking against his opponents, but Khan has the ability to counter that with dangerous clinch work and a distinct advantage in grappling. I predict Khan to get a finish in this one.
3: Light Heavyweight
Austin Anderson 7-3 (1-0 SPNY) vs Clay Wilkinson 15-7-1 (5-4 SPNY)
Former Olympic Wrestler Austin Anderson looks to claim the biggest scalp of his professional career to date. Wilkinson is a tough and experienced campaigner, and has built up quite a following with SPNY fight fans, but can expect a torrid night against Anderson. Anderson has the boxing skills to win this fight on its feet, and will be very confident he will be able to outscore Wilkinson on the ground. Wilkinson’s best chance of a win is to attempt a submission from his back given Anderson has only recently begun training in BJJ, but I expect Anderson to do enough early damage to limit Wilkinson’s chances. Anderson by decision.
4: Super Heavyweight
Pops Cama 7-4 (6-2 SPNY) vs Jack Teller 8-5 (6-5 SPNY)
Despite being small for a Heavyweight, Cama has decided to move up to Super Heavyweight for this fight against Teller. Teller may have the better Jujitsu, but Cama should have the skills to keep this fight on the feet and take Teller out early. Sources close to Teller’s training camp suggest he is not confident heading into this fight; he can ill afford to be backing away against a striker of Cama’s ability. Cama by KO early in the first.
5: Super Heavyweight
Thiago De Santos 22-14-1 (1-1 SPNY) vs Rex Richards 19-22-1 (SPNY Debut)
Fans who like to see a finish should be happy to know that in a 42 fight career, SPNY newcomer Rex Richards has only once experienced a judge’s scorecard; for a draw. Less impressive is the 17 times he has been knocked out. De Santos has a well rounded skill set and should be favoured to win this, especially since Richards tends to rely on submissions for a win but will be up against a black belt for this one. Neither training camp seems to be suggesting their man is training the house down however, and anything could happen, but I still favour De Santos to win by TKO.
6: Heavyweight
Armand Battailen 9-5 (SPNY Debut) vs Side Swipe 2-4 (0-3 SPNY)
Battailen makes his debut for SPNY with all reports suggesting he has a well rounded skill set, but has not yet fought at a high enough level to know what he is truly capable of. Swipe on the other hand was a professional kick boxer and college wrestler, but has struggled to adapt those skills to the cage, and comes into this fight off a 4 fight losing streak. From a technical viewpoint Swipe should have Battailen’s measure and an upset may be on the cards, the question is will he have the gameplan. Expect this one to stay on its feet, with Battailen maintaining a higher work rate, Swipe may come away with a KO, but Battailen by points might be the safer bet.
7: Featherweight
Benjamin Franklin 2-0 (1-0 SPNY) vs Cesar James The Reaper 2-0 (1-0 SPNY)
Franklin is a jujitsu specialist with no other well developed skills who amazingly has accumulated 2 wins from 2 fights without a submission. The Reaper is a sprawl and brawl fighter who has relied more on his toughness than skill in his 2 professional fights so far, but to devastating effect. Franklin will be hoping to fight this on the ground, but the cost of getting close enough to The Reaper to get a takedown may leave his very vulnerable to some big shots. The Reaper should be able to claim this one by KO early in the fight.
8: Featherweight
Tony Frank 0-1 (SPNY Debut) vs Money Mike 1-1 (SPNY Debut)
These two 18 year olds are both newcomers to SPNY and will be hoping to make an impression with a first up win. Frank is a strong wrestler who fell into a triangle on his pro debut and will be hoping to be better for the experience. Mike is a jujitsu specialist who will be hoping that his submission skills will be good enough to get him through. Two factors decide this for me; firstly, we are yet to see how Mike will come back from a vicious knockout loss in his last fight, some young fighters lose a lot of confidence losing like that. Secondly, Frank trains with some good and more experienced fighters which should give him a competitive edge tonight. Frank by decision.
9: Featherweight
Thelonious Skunk 1-0 (1-0 SPNY) vs Rock Wood 1-0 (SPNY Debut)
Despite being known mainly for his kick boxing skills before joining MMA, Skunk made it through a 3 round decision in his first fight without attempting a kick. By comparison Wood won his debut fight with crisp striking, and landed two solid head kicks that impressed me. Skunk will probably have the edge in this matchup; he trains well but may need some time to prove himself. I’m a little worried about Wood’s ability to fly out from London and make weight for this one, he may well make the weight, but the jetlag and cut might take a lot out of him. I predict Skunk to claim his first knockout.
10: Featherweight
Kal Hunda (Professional Debut) vs Simon GM (Professional Debut)
With two debutants on show I can’t tell you a lot about either. Hunda could have wrestled at the college level but turned pro instead. GM is a reportedly a sprawl and brawl fighter with solid boxing. If training reports are correct GM will look to stay on his feet and should have the edge, but Hunda will hold a solid advantage if he can get the fight to the ground. I flipped a coin to predict it, and my lucky dollar says GM will keep it standing to record a debut win by KO.
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