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 Good evening and welcome to the Hard Knocks Arena here in New York City for SPNY 136 featuring the Welterweight title rematch between Julio Madrigal and Tomi Atomi. The record is now 1-1 and Madrigal is desperate to defend his new title after having inflicted Atomi’s first ever loss in SPNY. Our undercard tonight features 9 fights the pick of which is the battle between Welterweight contender Also Zarathustra and Conan Cross. Steel Penn NY Bookmakers have odds on all of this evenings fights.
Main Event: Welterweight Title
Julio Madrigal (c) 19-7-1 (7-1 SPNY) vs Tomi Atomi 23-6-1 (8-1-1 SPNY)
Clearly the top two Welterweight’s in SPNY neither of these fighters have lost to anybody other than the other since debuting with the org. Madrigal was forced to win 3 fights to secure his rematch with Atomi after losing a title challenge at SPNY 106, and after doing just enough to secure a majority decision at SPNY 131 will make his first title defence a rematch against Atomi. Interestingly I had their match at 131 scored 48-47 to Madrigal but not one of the 3 judges scored it that way.
A sensational grappler with very good boxing, Madrigal proved to be slightly too active against Atomi to secure the judges decision. It came as a surprise to me that Madrigal attempted more submissions than Atomi who is less well known for his power. Madrigal will fight this one in the same vein, attempting to outscore Atomi on the feet and to keep the top position on the ground.
Atomi knows that he is good enough to catch Madrigal in a submission hold having beaten him with an armbar in their first fight. It appeared to me in their first rematch that he assumed he would be able to finish the fight rather than fight for a decision as is more usual from his strategy. He will need to lift his work rate rather than bide his time for a decision win in this one.
Madrigal did well to win the first rematch, but I still feel Atomi is the better chance to come away with a win this evening. Atomi by decision.
2: Welterweight
Conan Cross 12-6-1 (SPNY Debut) vs Also Zarathustra 22-14 (3-1 SPNY)
Conan Cross arrives at SPNY having the bizarre record of having changed his name more times than anyone else whose career I have followed. Whilst he is amazingly talented with world class striking and grappling he lacks the power to put fights away and cuts fairly easily which has kept him from being top class. We know how good Zarathustra as he attempts to build back towards another shot at the title, whislt I usually consider his grappling to be his strength I wouldn’t be surprised to see Zarathustra using his 4 inch height and reach advantage tonight.
I like Zarathustra by decision for this fight.
3: Welterweight
Tiao Macale 50-18-1 (SPNY Debut) vs Darrell Miles 12-13-1 (8-9-1 SPNY)
Macale might be 39 and past his prime, but he can still claim to have been competitive in every weight division between Welterweight and Super Heavyweight once even being ranked the top Super Heavyweight in the world whilst being a natural Welter. Currently he has the 7th most wins of any active MMA fighter in the world with 50. A genuine striker with very little left to prove he returns to the cage after a very long layoff from fighting. Miles is a decent wrestler who has never quite been world class; while his youth may get him through on the ground he certainly does not have the class to match Macale on his feet.
The veteran Macale to show his class and win by KO.
4: Welterweight
Fabio Del Mar 11-8 (SPNY Debut) vs Ogami Itto 15-10 (0-2 SPNY)
Del Mar is a kick boxer and submission grappler from Brazil who is looking to build himself a stronger reputation after an inconsistent run of results. His preference for throwing flashy head kicks has made him a little predictable but he has very dangerous knees from the Muay Thai clinch. Itto has now lost 5 fights on the trot and does not appear to have the confidence to shake his current run of poor form. Whilst I’d heard big things of his Judo background and submission grappling skills after 2 fights with SPNY we still haven’t seen any evidence of them.
Del Mar with a resounding KO win.
5: Welterweight
Sonny Boom 8-6 (0-1 SPNY) vs Bradley Boston 15-10-2 (3-2 SPNY)
Boom is primarily a clinch fighter who is looking fro his first win in SPNY, another fighter who likes a flashy head kick and throws them a little too often to take his opponent by surprise he none the less has devastating power within the clinch. Boston’s first 3 fights with SPNY were good enough to see him earn a title shot but he lost both that fight and his follow up bout and is now in the position of needing a win to stop his ranking sliding and still be considered a contender. Boston will be frustrated to give up a 2 inch reach advantage to a fellow striker, especially as he lacks the knockout power of Boom.
Boom wins this from my point of view, but I don’t see him finishing Boston; Boom by decision.
6: Lightweight
Arturro Affi 14-6-1 (1-1 SPNY) vs Gabriel Fenili 14-11 (SPNY Debut)
I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone telegraph combinations as regularly and ineffectively as Affi, while he has a decent record he seemed to be all at sea in his loss to Westside and I don’t know how well he will bounce back tonight. He has a good 5 inch reach advantage over Fenili tonight and as long as he can keep the fight standing should have an easy path to victory. Fenili is a pure submission grappler like many other fighters coming out of Brazil. Affi is a very hard fighter to take down, but should Fenili get the takedown he will probably be able to finish him by submission without too much resistance. The real question will be just how fit Fenili is for this fight having fought 5 of his last 6 fights at exhibitions and a long lay off from fighting.
I like Fenili by submission.
7: Light Heavyweight
Jeff Bakreek 10-20 (SPNY Debut) vs Steve Rogers 34-21-1 (0-1 SPNY)
I can only assume a fighter with a record as bad as Bakreek’s has only been signed into SPNY to provide an appropriate opponent for Rogers tonight. Bakreek is a wrestler who has next to no defensive abilities, a weak chin, and no understanding of how to avoid submissions. If he can connect with his ground & pound from the top position he can come away with a knockout but doesn’t ever look likely to win a fight. Rogers was once a force in world MMA but his recent arrival at SPNY suggested he is well past being competitive at this level. A decent boxer who lacks the skills to compete with the quality of all round fighters we see in the modern game.
I think Bakreek is a good chance of getting the takedown and working for a TKO.
8: Lightweight
Brij Khali 28-39-1 (1-1 SPNY) vs Amazing Game 10-11-1 (0-1-1 SPNY)
With only 1 win from his last 7 fights I do have to question what is motivating Khali to keep fighting. He does hold the odd record of having lost at least 10 fights by KO, submission, and decision but has little else of distinction to say for his career. Game is a solid wrestler who just has no power to finish a fight. His boring style has won him few fights and even fewer fans.
I like Khali to bring out his experience and finish Game by KO.
9: Featherweight
Tomas Alderbaran 0-1 (SPNY Debut) vs Jimmy Snooka 1-3 (SPNY Debut)
Two org debutants meet in this one with both fighters having a reputation of going all out for the takedown. That surprises me given Alderbaran has a background in boxing and Snooka in kick boxing. Tonight I expect Snooka to stand and strike given just how bad Alderbaran’s striking defence looked in his debut. As yet I haven’t seen anything from Alderbaran to suggest he has the ability to win this fight.
Snooka by KO.
10: Featherweight
Maniek King 1-3 (SPNY Debut) vs Thiago Silveira 1-3 (SPNY Debut)
Neither of these fighters are coming into this in fighting shape and I am disappointed for the fans who have to see it. King is booked on a late flight and may struggle to make weight, is also broke and has been kicked out of his training camp for failing to pay his fees. Silveira is badly out of shape, naturally a Bantamweight he won’t have any problem making weight, but should the fight go ahead I doubt he will have the fitness make an impact on King.
Silveira would be my pick, but I doubt it will entertain you.
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