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 Welcome to The Liberty Dome here in New York City for SPNY 126. Tonight’s 10 fight card is headlined by the clash of two Heavyweight contenders in Felipezoom Insano and Rocco Stupka. The semi-main event is the Light Heavyweight title eliminator between Jonny Bones and Johnie Ballantine. Earlier in the night you will be able to see the Featherweight title eliminator between Mingo Deems and Malakai Semerkhet.
Main Event: Heavyweight
Felipezoom Insano 23-8 (2-0 SPNY) vs Rocco Stupka 17-12 (SPNY Debut)
After his two year layoff from the sport, Insano made a perfect comeback with his first round KO of Hiruku Matah. Now in the position of being reinstalled as a genuine title contender, he has been given the task of testing out in form new arrival Rocco Stupka.
Insano showed during his comeback that his time out of the fight game didn’t affect his impeccable boxing or his knockout power. He will attempt to use his 2 inch reach advantage to out strike Stupka at range, and his vicious clinch skills if Stupka attempts to close the distance. Insano will be confident that he has no weaknesses that Stupka should be able to exploit tonight.
Stupka is also a world class boxer but brings to the cage a much better ground game than Insano. Stupka lacks the clinch dominance of Insano, and against heavy hitting strikers has had a history of cutting leading to 6 doctor’s stoppages. While his natural fight is to stand and strike, it would not be a surprise to me to see Stupka take this one to the ground if he can, where he will have the upper hand and take Insano completely out of his comfort zone.
With no fear of being caught in a submission, should Stupka get a takedown he will dominate Insano; but getting the takedown could be an issue. I like Insano by KO for this one.
Semi-Main Event: Light Heavyweight
Jonny Bones 16-7-3 (7-4-2 SPNY) vs Johnie Ballantine 36-20 (2-0 SPNY)
Bones enters this Light Heavyweight title eliminator with the extra motivation of having had his previous request for a title challenge rejected because he was not a big enough name having gone through a poor patch of form previously. He has continued to improve his all around fighting and now is on a 4 fight winning streak. Primarily a wrestler, Bones has worked hard on his stand up and is now considered a threat on his feet as well as on the ground. Tonight he knows his best shot is to get this fight to ground quickly as Ballantine does not like to grapple.
Ballantine is undefeated since joining SPNY and will be eager to be the one to get the title shot against Le Rone. Primarily a boxer but very strong in the clinch, will be frustrated today giving up almost 2 inches in reach against a fighter who is not only a good boxer but also very good on the ground. Will probably win the fight if it stays standing, but will give himself the best chance of winning if he can tie Bones up in a clinch.
I’ve got to say I like Bones for this one, I expect the crowd to be on his side and his recent form and motivation seems to give him the edge in tonight’s fight. Bones by KO.
3: Middleweight
Nick Follingus 11-8 (2-1 SPNY) vs Vartan Mamikonyan 9-6 (SPNY Debut)
Follingus made the demand to have bigger name opponents and will meet fellow BJJ black belt in Armenian Mamikonyan tonight. While Follingus has improved his striking, especially his low kicks, he is still entirely reliant on submissions to win his fights. Tonight he will meet a fellow grappler who has generally allowed his opponents to take him down before attempting to submit or sweep them. Follingus will be confident with his ability to transition between positions to keep the dominant position tonight.
Mamikonyan has a solid chin and impressive grappling, but relies to heavily on submissions and has not yet shown the ability to dominate position to keep the judges in his favour. Expect him to attempt submissions from the bottom and occasionally land a sweep, but I don’t favour his defence on the ground against a grappler as good as Follingus.
Follingus will win this one, but it will be a drawn out grinding decision.
4: Heavyweight
Viljo Laine 39-19-2 (SPNY Debut) vs Asko Vilenius 9-8 (0-1 SPNY)
Laine arrives at SPNY with the reputation of having once been amongst the top 5 Heavyweights in the world. Several changes of management and training camps have followed his peak, but he remains a true risk of recording a KO every time he steps into the cage and has won 4 of his past 5 fights. Tall and strong, he will endeavour to keep this fight standing at all costs. Vilenius has been in terrible form of late and must be wondering if taking this fight was a bad idea. Boxing and ground & pound are his strengths, and tonight he goes up against one of the most experienced boxers in the world. Unless Vilenius can score an early takedown he will finish tonight with his 5th straight loss.
Laine by KO.
5: Middleweight
David Ludher 12-14 (1-2 SPNY) vs Evangelista Nunes 14-11-1 (7-8-1 SPNY)
Ludher’s career could have had a different trajectory if his takedowns were as good as his grappling when he was on the ground. While Ludher has never won more than 2 fights in a row, he has also never lost more than 2 in a row, with a career of inconsistent performances behind him. Nunes will enter this fight full of confidence that his Muay Thai background will give him all he needs against the notoriously poor defence of Ludher, hoping for a second consecutive win to shrug off the horrendous run of form he took into his last fight.
Two guys meet in this one who have had recent form troubles, I like Nunes in this fight by a late knockout.
6: Bantamweight
Jonathan Brookins 9-5 (SPNY Debut) vs Iain Durrant 27-30 (SPNY Debut)
Two SPNY debutants meet in this Bantamweight fight with the up and coming Brookins meeting a man 13 years his senior in journeyman Durrant. Brookins is perhaps the most versatile fighter I’ve seen, capable of boxing, clinch fighting, and most at home grappling. The obvious criticism of Brookins is his inability to finish fights, relying heavily on a decision to go his way. Durrant has slowly been in decline for a few years, whilst he is still dangerous on the ground and capable of a submission, more and more punches find their way through his defences and he will struggle to control position against a wrestler as good as Brookins.
Brookins by decision.
7: Super Heavyweight
Jack Teller 8-7 (6-7 SPNY) vs Bailey Vaughan 7-4 (0-1 SPNY)
Tonight marks the farewell of long time SPNY battler Jack Teller; regardless of tonight’s results he will move on. Teller is a decent jujitsu specialist, but his lack of versatility and terrible striking defence have seen him slide further and further down the rankings. Should he get a takedown in this fight he remains a chance of a submission win, but will flounder around helplessly if Vaughan can keep his feet. Vaughan to this point in his career has fought mainly as a grappler but has a distinct advantage on his feet in tonight’s fight. He has worked hard on his stand up and tonight will have the chance to put into practice his new skills without too much risk of being knocked out.
Vaughan by decision.
8: Featherweight
Mingo Deems 2-1 (2-1 SPNY) vs Malakai Semerkhet 2-1 (2-1 SPNY)
In this Featherweight title eliminator two young fighters have shown that all it takes to be taken seriously is to win fights. Deems is not the most skilful fighter in the world, but he has show good heart and a willingness to fight what is in front of him, accurate punching and making the most of his opportunities on the ground has seen him reach this point. Semerkhet on the other hand is an extremely good kick boxer; if at this stage in his career a little predictable he compensates for this by being so much superior in his kick boxing his opponents have struggled to deal with him.
Deems has to take this fight down to be able to win it, and I don’t see that happening. Semerkhet to be the Featherweight challenger at SPNY 129 with a KO win tonight.
9: Featherweight
Gawain Orucai 1-3 (1-1 SPNY) vs Dean Hall 2-3 (1-3 SPNY)
Orucai somehow managed to record his first career win in his last fight with a majority decision. The win was scrappy, and 4 fights into his career I’m still not entirely sure how to categorise his style of fighting. Hall on the other hand is a one dimensional wrestler, while his lack of versatility may have haunted him in previous fights, he should have the strength to control Orucai in the clinch and land some punches.
Hall by decision, but I’d recommend some caffeine if you plan to watch this because staying awake may be a struggle.
10: Featherweight
Chad Ngaha 0-1 (SPNY Debut) vs Ahmad Christopher 1-1 (1-1 SPNY)
New arrival at SPNY Ngaha attempted to fight as a submission grappler in his first fight, however, he struggled to find the takedown and was out grappled once he did. He also ate a lot of shots early in that fight on his way to a decision loss. While he didn’t look like he was going to be knocked out in that fight, his opponent appeared far more focussed on accuracy than power. Christopher is a decent young boxer who favours throwing head punches and combinations. If he can keep this fight standing he should take an easy decision win.
Christopher by decision.
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