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Celebration is cool way to show that you are happy with something. But you need to know how to celebrate. IMMA’s owner knows. That’s for sure – for the second time on his birthday IMMA’s fighter will do battle inside LA Memorial Colossuseum. And this card is stacked with amazing action!
First Featherweights will kick off this card, when Gichin Funakoshi will battle young prospect – Ray “one-name” Mond. Well-rounded Japanese fighter will have to deal with Ray’s amazing muay thai and kickboxing skills, so closing the range would be useful – but it would be dangerous also. Every time he will try to come closer, he will has to avoid deadly kicks, knees and elbows – which Ray throws from every possible angle. But, if Gichin puts his hands on 24 year old fighter from UK, Mond will be in troubles. Grappling advantage goes to man from The Country Of The Rising Sun, whose 3 out of 4 submission wins were awarded with Submission Of The Night trophy. Will Funakoshi’s experience pays off, and will he be able to control his young opponent, or will it be Ray making an example out of his Asian opponent? This question will be answered soon, as they fight day comes closer and closer. In my opinion fight should be even, but Gichin’s experience and well-rounded game will help him get the decision over Mond.
Next bout will take us a little bit higher, with 185ers with a lot of fights and brawls on their records – Richard Bennett Vs Kublai Congo. Combined 83 fights with 52 wins…pretty impressive, those guys were around for a long, long time. But this fight has something more into it, as they were schedule to do battle at IMMA 119. That fight was called No Contest, because Kublai wasn’t able to make it to the arena. A lot of things were said, but finally we are set for this exciting fight! You can look at it as a striker vs grappler fight, as Richard loves to put people out with his strikes, and Kublai has nothing against good roll on the ground with his opponents. Richard is nearly elite level striker and he is as proud of it, as Congo is proud of his grappling skills. Intriguing fight, that made a lot of fans arguing what can happen, when they two collide. It’s gonna be fun for fans, hard battle for fighters and glorious moment for one of them. We deal with really gamed guys, they really know so much about this sport, that experience shouldn’t be major factor in this one. What can be? Explosiveness and emotions – as Richard may be pissed off, it wasn’t his fault that fight at IMMA 119 was cancelled, so I bet he will come out to prove that he is better fighter and he will knock Kublai out.
With third fight, we stay at 185lbs. We stay here to watch elite boxer taking on one of the ADCC finest – Abe Goldman Vs Buff Dickens. Abe is 29-12, and maybe he doesn’t have amazing run in IMMA now, but he steps against 10-2 Dickens, who – comparing his record to his opponent’s – starts his MMA career. He has amazing grappling career thou, and his ground game? It’s second to none, that’s for sure. Abe will have to stay off his back if he plans to win this fight. Buff is in complete other situation – there is no doubt who has striking edge in this fight. Clear striker vs grappler matchup? I don’t think so. They are pretty well-rounded, and even if they have those advantages, it’s still MIXED martial arts, so you have to have your wrestling high, your boxing, muay thai and BJJ as well. Combination of this styles makes you complete fighter, and those guys? They aren’t complete yet, but they can grapple and they can punch hard. This Middleweight fight will show us how big factor can experience be, because Abe has twice much wins, as Buff has fights overall – and overall, Abe has over three times more fights. It’s gonna be interesting fight, but Buff shouldn’t have a problem with it, to be honest. We know what his plan will be and I think he will execute it and secure eleventh win of his MMA career.
19-7 Eli Bracha was successful at 170 and 185, winning FFC Middleweight and Welterweight World Titles in back to back fights. This 27 year old fighter from Israel is legit threat to anyone at 170lbs. For Dominick Rivaldi it’s gonna be hell of a fight, but he is confident – and ready to bang. Both guys are very evenly matched, it is hard to say which one of them has any advantage over another…and that’s what guarantee us such an amazing fight. Both prefers to knock their opponents senseless, because they treat that kind of stoppage as a true victory. They separated other people of their senses combined 25 times, but they were finished also – too much brawling? Maybe. But they don’t care. They love it. And fans love them for it. They always do their best to bring excitement with them and put on a show, but as it always is – only one of them can win. Both are heavy handed, both are intelligent and aware of each other strong sides…one of the most even fights on that card. I would say that Eli will take it, but wouldn’t bet my money on that one. For simple reason – it may go either way.
Daniel Ruanti and Angelo Smokeleaf will take us higher, to 205lbs division, for their fight. Once again on that card we have sports vet – in Ruanti – and someone who already established himself as a solid fighter – in Smokeleaf – so once again we will witness something that may be called “Battle Of Generations”. Daniel is former IMMA Light Heavyweight champion, he won the belt by forcing De Matos to tap due to Arm Triangle in 4th round of their championship fight. Angelo is looking to make impression of his own, and work his way up the ladder and find himself in a spot of No 1 contender in packed 205lbs division. But as of right now, he is 2-2 and he needs big win. For example over…former champion? That would do a lot of good thing for him, expect him to be 100% focused on task in front of him. But not only he will be focused – I bet that Daniel would love to take that belt once again and wear it around his waist. For both of them this single victory may be one of the most important W’s of a last few weeks of their careers. And in this fight experience should make a difference – in my opinion Daniel should be able to overcome Angelo and make another step towards second title reign in IMMA.
Another fight, and we are back to 170lbs limit. The Vicious Fighter Runner up – Pertti Peto – will stand face-to-face against Japanese wrestling champion and former Olympic team member – Ozuma Obata. Obata is one of a few fighters from country Of The Rising Sun that doesn’t know much about Jiu Jitsu. We are used to Japanese magicians of BJJ or JJJ, but he is not of them. Peto is seasoned and gamed vet, who always look for a finish. 24 times of 31 he was successful in ending fight before time. But his opponent is no difference, as Ozuma finished 10 of his 11 wins, all of them by way of KO or TKO. I wouldn’t count for a decision in this fight. Elite wrestler form Japan will probably looks to take this fight down and beat Pertti up, but he will have to watch out for armbars and triangles that Peto loves to use to stop his opponents’ ground and pound. With 10 submission wins on his account, you can be pretty sure that on the ground he will be legit threat to “DJ”. It looks like this fight should be even, but BJJ advantage will do its thing and should lead Pertti to one another win. Don’t make mistake about it thou – it’s not guaranteed. Ozuma showed us a few times why he is that dangerous. So, make sure that you will see this Welterweight fight.
Another Middleweight fight will take place on that card when Charles Harper will fight Sami Sykloni in a clash of two heavy handed guys that could very well destroy people at 205. To be honest, Sykloni fought at 205 and he is proud of his Light Heavyweight World Championship that he won prior to signing with IMMA. Both guys openly said that they are looking for KO, and Charles is known for devastating clinch game, with his elite level of muay thai. Sami is more classic striker, who prefer to put his knuckles to his opponent’s face. Either way, someone’s destiny is clear…and black. One of them will take a small nap, while other one will celebrate another KO victory. Their fight may determine which one of them will fit into IMMA’s Middleweight title picture – and which one will have to work for his position, as an established middleweight name. Competition in IMMA is really tough, one win or one loss may ruin months of work and may require another months of work to rebuild it, so losing is last thing you want to do here. But one of them have to do it. And I think it will be Sykloni’s hand raised after the fight.
Another Middleweight fight will follow, when IMMA’s cage will become a battlefield for Lauri Torni and Bruce Lee. Another to nearly equal bangers will do battle for fame, hype, money and bragging rights – sounds like fun, doesn’t it? Both once were top 10 fighter on this planet and Im sure that they would love to get back there. This fight may not launch them now, but it would be awesome start for it. Lauri won a few titles during his career, but Bruce won title in four different weight classes – from 155 all the way up to 205. Very talented fighter, who won everything he could – and now it’s time for him to conquer IMMA. A lot of KO’s, but some ground mix and ground and pound is on their skill list as well. They are dangerous, dangerous people and you don’t want to mess with them. If they won’t keep their hands high enough, they are fucked. Imagine them going to 3 rounds war…it has everything it needs to become Fight Of The Night. Epic fight material right here. So, prepare yourself and brace yourself – because amazing fight is coming! And winner of it…hmm…tough question. But I think I will go with Bruce Lee, basing on how great his career was and his recent performance.
Co main event will showcase skills of heavyweights, same with main event that will follow – but before Heavyweight title will be defended, Dustin Douglas will take on Fedor Emelianenko. IMMA always brings the best fighters in the world, but they brings skilled vets also. If you have division with young guns just waiting to make a name for themselves – you need some heavy names for them to beat. But I doubt that anyone of those kids would like to mess with Dustin or Fedor. Those two are simply too good for a new-comer to fight. Fedor is a BJJ Black Belt, he won 8 fights by way of submission so he uses his grappling skills in his fights. Is Douglas afraid? Probably. Even thou he wasn’t tapped in his career, he has to be aware of this fight going to the ground if he have plans on winning this battle. Fedor may not be as good of a striker to keep up with Dustin, but at same time – Dustin isn’t that good of a grappler to roll with Fedor. As we always says – styles make fights – this one is red hot and packed with ambition for of the night awards. Whoever wins this fight, may be so damn close to take on the winner of next – and last – fight of this card in 5 rounds fight. It’s simply amazing, to have so packed card – and that’s how MegaJug celebrates his Day. Both will do their best to win, but in my honest opinion “The Last Emperor” will take this fight by way of submission.
Congo Ashantie is current IMMA Heavyweight World Champion and he’s planning to keep that thing around his waist for a long, long…loooooooong time. But John Staal is determined to spoil that party and take that strap from him. In other words – we are set for a fuckin MAIN EVENT! One of the most anticipated fights will happen that night, when those two collide. They may not be the BIGGEST heavyweights, but they aren’t Light Heavyweights either. They are pretty fast and strong as bulls. Expect heymakers to fly early into fight, as they know what they have to do and what people want to see. Beating Congo is essential for John in order to send a message and show people that there is new sheriff in town. But will Ashantie let him do this? I highly doubt that. It looks like we are set for a good old scrap, with two outstanding strikers, that carry dynamite in their hands. They are packed with amazing skills, talent, experience and power…what else we can add to make it more exciting...is it even possible? They will throw everything but the kitchen sink on each other, trying to take each other heads off and stop it as quick as they can, to enjoy their win and world title over unconscious body of their opponent. Putting your money on this fight is really dangerous – you can’t predict what will happen here. They are evenly matched, but if I would have to choose…I would go with current champion. Congo has better chances to win this fight in my eyes, so I don’t expect title change on that night.
But as a human, I can be wrong. Want to check if I’m right? Order this PPV and find out yourself! It’s gonna be night to remember!
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