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 The number one fight organization in all of Australia will be returning to Tokyo for what could prove to be the most highly rated events in the history of the organization. After packing over 37,000 fans into the Tokyo Dome back in July, org owner Louie Depalma would love to see a full house on Saturday night. The card will be headlined by a bantamweight title fight featuring Sly Randolph's first title defense against upstart challenger Li Xiaolong. The co-main event of the evening will be the much anticipated re-match between light heavyweight contenders Fist Fighter and Sergeant Peppers. With a fight card this jam packed with talent, the Japanese fans are sure to go home with some memories that they will never forget on what could be a historic night for The Syndicate. Let's take a look at the fight card:
Starting off the night will be a pair of featherweights who are heading in opposite directions. After reeling off twelve straight wins and winning championship gold in other organizations, Jamie Reyes (12-3) has dropped two straight fights, including his debut fight with The Syndicate back in late July. At 25 years old, Reyes needs to prove that he's not on the decline and that he still has what it takes to be a contender. With eleven of his fifteen career fights going to decision, Reyes has developed a reputation as somewhat of a grinder. Opposing Reyes, will be 30 year old veteran Dwayne Hicks (18-8). Hicks has also worn gold in his past and wants to show the world that he's not finished yet. Hicks is riding a two fight win streak and has shown the versatility in his career to go the distance or flash occasional power and finish a fight. This should be a fantastic matchup between a pair of savvy veterans.
The second fight will be a middleweight matchup between Tweedle Dee (13-4-1) and Hofniel Apollyon (15-4). Dee recently recorded his first win since February and is looking to use that win as a springboard to get himself back into contention. With ten career wins by KO or TKO, Dee has shown the ability to finish fights violently when he is on his game. Apollyn started his career with an astonishing fifteen fight win streak and is no stranger to holding a championship belt. With that being said, Apollyn appears to have lost his groove of late, dropping his last four fights including his debut in The Syndicate. Like Dee, Apollyn has proven his ability to finish fights in the blink of an eye. The battle between these two sluggers is sure to be a treat and it's very likely that one of these fighters is going to be staring up at the ceiling when the fight ends.
The light heavyweights will do battle in our third fight when Johnie Ballantine (28-14) enters the cage to take on Mark Harrison (10-3). Ballantine feels that his experience gives him a distinct advantage over his opponent, who has been if far fewer cage fights. Ballantine possess some of the heaviest hands in the division, boasting 24 wins by KO or TKO in his career. Ballantine has been extremely inconsistent of late and is looking to start a win streak and get back on track. Harrison is a winner of three straight fights and finds his stock to be on the rise. With two straight TKO wins, Harrison has found his power stroke of late. Harrison has shown the ability to submit his opponent when necessary, but really prefers to finish fights with his fists. A win over a solid veteran like Ballantine would be a huge feather in the cap of Harrison, but don't expect Ballantine to go quietly. He's certain to test the chin of Harrison and see what he's made of.
Middleweight Usain Watts (26-9) will be looking for his forth straight win when he squares off against Jin Renka (11-2) in our fourth fight. Watts has twice been a middleweight champion in other fight organizations and would like nothing more than to climb the ladder in the Syndicate and ad another championship to his resume. Watts has picked up decision wins in his last two fights, but his power can't be overlooked. With 17 wins via TKO or KO, Watts is a threat to put his opponent on queer street at any given moment. Renka will be making his debut in The Syndicate cage. He is riding high on the wave of four straight wins and hopes to see his momentum carry him to a win on Saturday night. Renka's girding style could annoy Watts and force him into mistakes. With both fighters being on extended win streaks, something has to give!
The Syndicate lightweight title will be on the line in our fifth fight, with champion Aitch Bubbles (20-4-3) defending against challenger Barry Scott (15-6-1). Bubbles has cranked out five straight wins, including two title defenses and has looked unstoppable of late. Bubbles is a powerful striker with thunder in his fists and shows no intentions of letting go of his title. This will be the rubber match between these two fighters, with Scott having defeated Bubbles by unanimous decision back in January, only to have Bubbles come back and defeat him in late April by unanimous decision. Scott is a versatile fighter who is very adaptable in the cage. He has shown that he can go the distance, work for the submission, or score the knockout blow. This could prove to be one of the most talked about fights on the card when it is all said and done.
Fight number six will be a light heavyweight contest pitting James William (17-5) against John L. Sullivan IV (21-6-1). William had an impressive debut with The Syndicate in his last appearance, scoring a second round TKO to introduce himself to the fans of Sydney. He has strung together three straight wins, including an impressive showing in which he forced his opponent to tap out to strikes. William has outstanding conditioning, showing on a number of occasions his ability to go the distance. He has shown some power in the past but has also shown somewhat of a suspect chin, with all five of his losses coming by KO or TKO. Sullivan is no stranger to the Sydney fight scene. The highly respected veteran wants nothing more than to get back into title contention after losing his title in his last outing back in July. Sullivan has 17 wins by KO or TKO and many a light heavyweight have fallen victim to his power. Can William continue to impress fans of The Syndicate or will Sullivan quickly put him back in his place as he forges ahead for another shot at the title?
The seventh fight will see two perennial bantamweight contenders duke it out when Pablo Soriano (30-9-1) and Tad Ghostal (20-6) go to war. Soriano was on a six fight wins streak only to see it all come to a screeching halt in his last fight, where he lost his bantamweight title by unanimous decision. A determined Soriano will re-enter the cage looking to not only avenge a controversial loss to Ghostal back in February, but to re-affirm his position as the top contender in the bantamweight division. Though he has scored some nice wins via TKO, Soriano has achieved most of his success by managing the fight and taking his opponents the distance. Ghostal is trying to bounce back after losing two of his last three fights. He knows that a win over Soriano could put him right back in the mix for the bantamweight title but it won't come easy. Ghostal is an extremely well rounded fighter and will simply take what his opponent gives him. These two men do not like one another and the tension will be high when the cage door closes for this one.
Gristle McThornbody (30-7) will be making his first ever appearance in The Syndicate in our eight fight, taking on Sun Kato (26-7). McThornbody is a phenomenal striker with 18 of his 30 career wins coming by KO or TKO. After a very impressive showing in the Acsension 3 Million Dollar Tournament, McThornbody is looking to put his stamp on The Syndicate with a strong showing. Kato was a loser in his debut with The Syndicate, but he is determines to reverse his fortunes quickly by giving McThornbody a nasty welcome. Kato has proven to be equally comfortable taking his opponents the distance as he is swinging for the fences and looking for the knockout. This one could go either way with both fighters being long on experience and desire.
Since their last meeting that ended in a draw earlier in August at BDU 126, fans have been clamoring to see Fist Fighter (25-9-2) and Sergeant Peppers (25-6-2) settle the score. The co-main event will give the fans their wish! Fighter had picked up two straight wins heading into his last fight with Peppers and was none to happy to see his streak come to an end because of a draw. The last fight saw Fighter trying to take Peppers' head of with some mighty punches while trying to keep the fight standing. Peppers managed to keep survive a scary first round and do just enough to force a draw, much to the frustration of Fighter. Will Fighter come back out in this fight once again looking for the knockout, or will he modify his game plan? Peppers has had tremendous success on the ground, showing solid ground and pound skills along with very respectable BJJ. Logic would indicate that Peppers will once again be trying to get Fighter to the ground so that he can work his magic. Both fighters will be looking to impose their will on the other. Who will come out on top in this battle of contrasting styles?
The main event of the evening will be a tremendous match up with The Syndicate Bantamweight Title on the line. Sly Randolph (19-7) will enter the cage to make his first title defense against Li Xiaolong (16-5). Randolph has really transitioned his style of late to that of a patient grinder. Rarely do we see highlight reel knockouts from Randolph, but rather carefully thought out game plans designed to drain is opponents so that he can simply outpoint them. Xialong has also been in many decisions of late, but has shown the ability in the past to finish fights with vicious striking. Xiaolong is undefeated in The Syndicate and would love nothing more than to leave the Tokyo Dome with the bantamweight belt around his waist. With six wins in his last seven contests, Randolph is sure to give Xialong the fight of his life.
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