2015-05-16
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Highland Challengers 1 Review

Event Review: Highland Challenge 1
Highland Challengers
2015-05-15, The Island, Paddy O'Malleys Bar - The Island
Attendance:352, Event Rating:59
Author:Callum McGregor

When Highland Games 1 happened, no one knew just how amazing some of the fighters on the inaugural card might be. LightHeavy Weight, Barney Gumble, you didn’t know who would emerge as greats. This is exactly the situation we face right here, right now. Highland Challengers 1, this is where a fighter’s destiny will begin, with no boundaries or limitations as to how far they will go. Let’s get this started!

Heinz Smorebrod (0-0) Vs Oliver Queen (0-1) – Middleweight Just two hours prior to this fight, BJ Arnold defeated Serge Ibaka for the Bantamweight Championship in Highland Games using his stunning body kicks. I don’t know if Oliver Queen was tuning in, but man did he emulate the new champion. Smorebrod was swinging for the fences for the entire duration of the fight, but Queen easily stayed on the outside, countered with hard body kicks, and coasted home to a decision. He’ll be slightly unhappy not to finish this fight. Perhaps he could have switched it up with a head kick or two but a win is a win. Oliver Queen Wins by Unanimous Decision.

Vicente Nunes (0-0) Vs Takakazu Nakamoto (0-0) – Middleweight This was a strange one. Both were looking for takedowns, both were trying to pull guard, it seemed like the gameplan here was to do whatever the other guy didn’t want you to do at that moment in time. Vincente Nunes controlled the first round from side control, but in pulling guard in the next two rounds he handed his opponent top control and was caught by a few strikes which were ultimately the decider. Takakazu Nakamoto Wins by Unanimous Decision.

Archie MacDuff (0-0) Vs Phil Hellmuth Jr (0-0) – Heavyweight Archie was controlling the fight on the outside early, but Phil managed to get the clinch quite quickly into the first round. Knowing these two fighters, and knowing some of the guys Phil has worked with, we expected this to be an elbow-off. We weren’t disappointed, but one aspect that was surprising was how ineffective Archie was in his attempts and how easily Phil out worked him inside. Phil wins on the 3rd fight on the card by cuts from elbows. It’s interesting to note that at this stage the greatest Highland Games fighter ever, his training partner LightHeavy Weight, started as the second fight on the first HG card and won by the exact same method. Exciting things ahead. Phil Hellmuth Jr Wins by TKO (Cuts) at 4:56 of Round 2.

Jack Jacks (0-0) Vs Declan Franks (0-0) – Light Heavyweight Declan Franks was devastating with some massive punches and one very nice leg kick in the short moments that this fight was able to offer. Jack Jacks wanted the takedown instantly but was denied twice by the heavy hitter, enabling Franks to kick off his career with a first minute KO. Declan Franks Wins by TKO (Strikes) at 0:45 of Round 1.

Roger Bennett (0-0) Vs Hugh Janus (0-0) – Featherweight It was an absolute masterful performance from Janus. Roger Bennett clearly wanted to work his knees from the inside, perhaps in a style similar to HG’s Dan Sten. Hugh, a BJJ Brown Belt fighting out of Australia, was extremely slick in everything he did. He first pulled guard to avoid the knees. Next, he sweeps to the top position. Then he moves to side control, then mount, then the back, ending the movement with a Rear Naked Choke. Absolutely textbook from the rising contender. Hugh Janus Wins by Submission (RNC) at 3:55 of Round 1.

Marcin Kowalski (1-0) Vs Eduardo Santos (0-0) – Light Heavyweight A very lack lustre fight here which no one was impressed with. Both fighters really struggled to land anything of any significance, and only a handful of shots actually landed. Kowalski was able to prevent Santos from getting the clinch or taking the fight to the ground which was the biggest aspect of the fight. Marcin landed a couple of little shots here and there which is why the judges nodded his direction. Marcin Kowalski Wins by Unanimous Decision.

Xavier Oliva (0-0) Vs Charles Crawley (1-0) – Light Heavyweight Oliva was really looking to stall in this fight, avoiding the action at all costs and keeping on the outside. Charles Crawley was walking him down, but inexperience set in on his part as it appeared he was unable to cut off the cage and pin his opponent down. Crawley looks like he could grow into a good fighter, now with a 2-0 record, but he’ll have to hit the target a little bit more if he wants to capture the eyes of critics. Charles Crawley Wins by Unanimous Decision.

Mel Gordon (1-0) Vs Hayir Karaman (0-0) – Light Heavyweight Mel Gordon fought similarly to Phil Hellmuth Jr earlier on the card. He was looking for the clinch quickly and wanted to land damaging elbows to rip his opponent opened. Unluckily for Karaman, he was able to do just that. Although Hayir got out of the clinch several times in the early moments, he was eventually overwhelmed and Gordon won the fight by doctor’s stoppage. Mel Gordon Wins by TKO (Cut) at 2:29 of Round 2.

Dave Ysengrin (1-0) Vs Slade Wilson (1-0) – Heavyweight It’s not the first Dave Ysengrin we’ve seen in a Highland organisation, but for this fighter, his journey is just beginning. Few fighters have their first fight in a big organisation go exactly how they planned, but Dave did exactly that. But punches saw Slade dropped and cut very early into the fight. He looked like he hung in there though and the fight entered the clinch, but only moments later Wilson was back on the ground, this time too damaged to continue and Dave finished the fight. Huge victory for Dave who emerges from this fight as a top contender. Dave Ysengrin Wins by KO (Punch) at 1:59 of Round 1.

Jet Force (1-0) Vs Woody Forrest (0-1) – Heavyweight Jet’s big brother Mase was victorious in Highland Games earlier tonight, but unfortunately for Jet he was not received with the same fate. He seemed a little too focused on going to something big, throwing more head kicks than any other strikes. Although both men appeared to be fairly even in the stand up, Woody really quickly began taking control. Force was hurt quite badly from what was essentially a slap, which is quite embarrassing. He tried to fight on but was dropped by an uppercut. As he struggled to grab Woody and tie him up, Forrest switched to a jiu jitsu game, looking for leg locks repeatedly. It would be mid-way through the third minute when one was successful. Woody managed to rock a striker with his punches, and submit him on the ground. With an all-round impressive game like that, especially in the main event of the first ever Highland Challengers, Woody Forrest is not a name to forget. Woody Forrest Wins by Submission (Kneebar) at 3:21 of Round 1.

Well there we have it, the first Highland Challengers is done and dusted and in the books. Although not every fight was one for the ages, we got an interesting look at some fighters as they struggle to understand who they are going to become as competitors down the line, while others knew exactly who they were and what they were going to do before the fights even got announced. The crowd was a lot smaller than anticipated which will no doubt be a huge hindrance to the organisation in the coming days but Highland Challenge will persevere and eventually become one of the greatest Island organisations of all time.

 

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