2012-11-16
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EPL Season 4 Event One Preview

Event Preview: EPL4: Event One
The Evil Empire
2012-11-21, Helsinki, Hard Knocks - Helsinki
Author:Chris Garcia


Season Three is behind us, with Colton Trayne taking home European Premier League Championship, now it’s time to start next season – packed with amazing fighters, and promising to be best season thus far. Event One will bring first look on current skills and shape of this 14 fighters.


But before we start EPL competition, we will see 135lbs fight between Anti Hero and Jaska Raatikainen, they will battle it out just to see which one of them is better. Both are great muay thai strikers, with solid boxing game – but clear advantage in this fight will go to Jaska, who is BJJ Purple Belt, and will try to take Anti down for sure. In the moment when that fight will hits the ground, Hero will have to step up and do everything he can to get back up. If not, he will end up tapping out. But Jaska can’t be as confident in his stand up as Anti is, but it doesn’t mean he can’t stand and bang with him. And that’s what makes this fight so interesting.


Stan Berg is one of the best heavyweight submission specialists in VF, but he didn’t has a chance to show his grappling skills, when doctor decided to stop his VF debut due to cuts. Now, Helsinki’s own, will take on 1-2 Laxus Dreyar, Muay Thai practitioner from Fiore, Italy. Stan will be probably able to stand toe-to-toe with him, but his goal is score a takedown and bring his grappling magic to this fight. Laxus is pretty skilled wrestler himself, but if he won’t be able to defend takedown attempts from Stan, it won’t help he much in this fight.


Umbra Uxxarest made a name for himself with a fight straight submission victories in his career thus far. Undefeated Welterweight will take on fellow unbeaten fighter – Scott Gouken, who started in MMA and he finished both of his fights – showing his well rounded skills. He can punch you, he can kick you, he can destroy you in the clinch – but he can also roll with you on the ground, what is prime weapon of his opponent. If Umbra can overcome this, and impose his will and his skills – he we will walk out as 6-0. If not, his undefeated streak will go to the history books.


EPL Season 4 opening bout – Charismatic playboy from Evaston, Illioins, USA – Jake Ryan – will take on Evander Holyshit. Randy Ortiz’s teammate and former Asencion Heavyweight title contender knows few things about pressure. His goal is to show who really is superior fighter here – and that’s him.  Jake Ryan is relaxed – he’s just coming of another victory, and will try to create impressive winning streak now, with Evander as his first EPL victim. Evander fought nothing but the best competition in the world, and he is well-known for his ridiculous KO power, that you can barerly match with anyone on this planet. But Jake possesses outstanding Muay Thai and he will does his best to show it.


Tyler Dingman wasn’t on a roll after EPL Season 2, going 1-4 in his last five bouts. But it doesn’t mean we can just cross his name, and count him out right away. His first opponent will be the highest competitor in this season – “Big” Duncan McAlister, who showed his skills and KO power on EPL Warm Up card, scoring first round KO over Criag Rave. With over 2m, this man is swinging like a psycho – and if you get caught with one of his punches, you are going to sleep, no matter who you are. Tyler has a power of his own, and we can count on stand up exchanges…hard to predict what may happen, as one slip or one punch can easily turn this fight upside down.


If you can call someone “EPL Original” it has to be James “Bombman” Bomb. Two time Runner Up – in seasons 1 and 3, semifinalist in season 2…this man made a hell of run here. Beating this man really means something. And first man with a chance of doing that – Poncho Villa born and raised in Mexico City, fought for Synchrocity, for Blitzkrieg, for ONI…he was everyone and fought top guys everywhere. He is real deal, and if you want to say James will run through him…you may be right. But you don’t HAVE to be right. When it comes to top level guys, you always watch it – because everything may happen, especially with a Muay Thai destroyer like James Bomb, or a MMA Striker like Poncho Villa.


Another Muay Thai specialist will take on the best wrestler of this season – when High Voltage will collide against Charlie McGregor – and this is rare moment in EPL – old-school Striker Vs Grappler match up, with complete opposite styles and game plans. One of the most intriguing fights of this card. Prediction? Stand up edge goes to High Voltage, ground advantage stays with Charlie McGregor. Pure battle of will, who can impose his style? Who can break his opponent mentally to get this fight where he wants it? It will goes down to one thing. Who is tougher. And it’s gonna be awesome.


Cookie Monster combined 3 fights winning streak before joining VF, and he definitely has the momentum behind him. And he isn’t complete stranger to VF, as ICON/Vicious Fighting Championship Light Heavyweight title was his first title ever. His opponent will be Heavyweight Vijo Lane, who won 5 of his lat 6 fights, and is on a roll as well. Even if lot of people sees Vijo as the underdog, who is outmatched in this fight – you can’t deny his elite boxing skills and heavy hands. And with these two hands, he may fight his way up. It will be hard to put him out, but Cookie will try do this for sure. Remember – stoppage victory gives you extra point. And points are most important thing here.


One of the premier strikers in Wales will participate in first Co-Main Event of this season, when Nigel York will meet AJFC Heavyweight title holder, Johnny Ives. 20-2 Dutch fighter is one this fighters that you don’t know, but when you see his fight – you can’t forget this monster. Nigel York will keep his distance, tries to avoid all-out brawl, but if he smells blood – he will be all over Johnny, trying to knock him out. That’s the beauty of this tournament, you have to fight smart. You can’t let your opponent to hurt you, to be ready to fight on next card, and you want to make other fighters unable to compete – just to have easier life.


Syezd Kepe Eses draw the biggest shark he could in this season. His first opponent? Colton Trayne, who won Season 3 of EPL, and showed outstanding striking skills. But striking game isn’t new to Eses, who is pretty cool KO artist himself, coming off a 2 first round TKOs in a row. Is Colton afraid? Probably not. Should he be? Probably yes. His confidence allowed him to win EPL 3, and make a statement heard all over the world. Eses needs to do same thing – he needs to let everybody know, that he is here, and he is the force to be reckon with. If he does that, he will become serious contender to EPL 4 crown.


Atmosphere on that event will be second to none, if you can’t be there – watch it. It’s definitely worth it. It’s time to kick off EPL Season 4!


 

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