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A very happy New Year from the Liberty Dome here in New York City, for anybody else nursing a hangover after last night I can’t imagine any better cure than being here for SPNY 143 featuring 9 MMA fights headlined by 2 Heavyweight eliminators. The Main Event will feature former champion Shane Waitzel’s attempt to return to the winners circle with his fight against fellow knockout specialist Rocco Stupka. The Semi-main Event will feature two former champions in Roger Freedmen against legendary grappler Krayzor Windfather. The rest of the card features some up and coming fighters especially with 4 fights from the Featherweight Division.
Main Event: Heavyweight
Shane Waitzel 26-7 (5-3 SPNY) vs Rocco Stupka 19-13 (2-1 SPNY)
Despite a 5-3 record with SPNY at face value suggesting Waitzel is out of form the truth is far from that. Of those 3 losses 2 were title fights and one was a title eliminator, in fact before he lost his last 2 outings Waitzel had won 17 of his previous 18 fights. Waitzel relies on his power more than his accuracy and loves to dirty box in the clinch; with his 2 inch reach advantage expect him to strike at range when he can but to force a clinch if Stupka tries to close the distance. Waitzel has never lost 3 fights in a row throughout his career and will be desperate to avoid that tonight.
Stupka is relatively new to SPNY but with 5 wins from his last 6 fights putting him in arguably career best form. Heavy handed boxing is Stupka’s true strength but it is difficult to see how that will help him against an even more accomplished boxer in Waitzel. Stupka best advantage over Waitzel would come on the ground but I suspect he does not have the takedown technique to make that relevant to this fight. Expect a brave showing from Stupka but I suspect he might be outclassed in this one.
To me Waitzel’s ability to dominate Stupka in the clinch will be key; Waitzel by KO.
Semi-Main: Heavyweight
Roger Freedmen 18-8 (3-1 SPNY) vs Krayzor Windfather 32-22-1 (5-4-1 SPNY)
Freedmen has impressed quite a few people since joining SPNY with 3 “Of the Night” awards in his 4 fights with the org. What impresses me most with Freedmen is his determination to win whatever the situation he finds himself in which was seen in his Heavyweight title win over Waitzel when after being knocked down he successfully pulled guard and submitted Waitzel. Tonight, however, I expect to see him use his 10 inch reach advantage to strike at range and avoid going to ground against the grappler Windfather. Freedmen will back himself to finish this one by knockout.
Over the years Windfather has always been a genuine contender in SPNY, although since winning the title at SPNY 76 has failed to record back to back wins. It is also worth noting that he has not lost back to back fights since joining SPNY, but tonight may change that. Windfather is a truly world class wrestler but he will be outmatched on his feet tonight against Freedmen. The question of whether the veteran can withstand the heavy strikes from Freedmen for long enough to secure a takedown will be answered early in the first. Giving up 10 inches reach I just can’t see Windfather making it through.
Freedmen to use his enormous reach advantage to pick the veteran apart and finish this by KO in the 1st.
3: Welterweight
Fabio Del Mar 11-9 (0-1 SPNY) vs Also Zarathustra 22-15 (3-2 SPNY)
Del Mar was disappointed when he SPNY debut resulted in his first ever submission defeat and is looking to make amends here. Del Mar relies on his Muay Thai and BJJ skills in his fights with a useful Thai clinch and decent submission skills making him a threat. He can also do a lot of damage with his high kicks but tends to throw too many of them and becomes predictable. Zarathustra’s recent loss to Conan Cross has put aside any immediate hopes for a second shot at the Welterweight title but will be looking to win tonight to build his way back to contention. Most at home striking at range or grappling the weakness that has dogged Zarathustra throughout his career has been a quality clinch which means he will be vulnerable at times in this one.
Zarathustra to use his 2 inch reach advantage to land his punches to soften Del Mar up early before finishing this by TKO on the ground.
4: Middleweight
Jason Stern 21-9 (1-0 SPNY) vs Fredrik Meduza 7-3 (0-1 SPNY)
Stern enters this fight on back to back wins and knows that posting a 3rd successive win tonight will all but guarantee a shot at one of the Middleweight contenders in his next fight. Stern is a world class boxer with almost perfect defensive technique on the ground. While he has no weaknesses he is up against a fighter in Meduza who has never been stopped and has shown he has knockout power in his previous fights, so while Stern is the favourite going into this he will need to be careful to keep his defences up. Meduza for his part is a more versatile striker who mixes more kick boxing into his stand up than Stern and should make for a competitive fight.
Stern has to enter this as the favourite but I like Meduza to pull an upset and finish this with a late KO.
5: Light Heavyweight
Steve Rogers 35-21-1 (1-1 SPNY) vs Dominic Rude 15-6 (1-3 SPNY)
At 40 years old it would be fair to say that Rogers is past his prime. While his boxing led to him being a world class contender in his younger days as he has aged his ability to take a punch has waned and the knockout losses have started to pile up. Rude for his part is a boxer with very good power who has struggled against grapplers in his recent fights. With tonight’s fight likely to remain on its feet I expect to see his power on display which could spell trouble for Rogers.
Rude by KO.
6: Featherweight
Kam Ba 1-4 (SPNY Debut) vs Lee Maokhamphiou 2-0 (SPNY Debut)
Two debutants meet in this Featherweight clash that I expect Maokhmaphiou to dominate. Ba has shown in his fights to date his strategy is entirely tied to attempting to take his opponent down and submit them, unfortunately for him he does not have the takedown offence or defensive grappling to truly execute such a plan and has been submitted himself 3 times already. Maokhamphiou has shown decent KO power in his boxing in his 2fights to date, and I’m told he has very good defensive grappling on the ground but as he has not been taken down in his first two fights I’m yet to see the truth of those claims.
Maokhamphiou by KO.
7: Featherweight
Moe Biscapoe 1-2 (1-2 SPNY) vs Sacha Stilakov 2-0 (SPNY Debut)
In what should shape up to be an all out submission grappling battle Biscapoe meets SPNY newcomer Stilakov. While neither fighter has been overly impressive with their defence to date, Stilakov has been more efficient with his submission offence. Whether that is a reflection on his skills being better than Biscapoe’s or simply an indictment of the quality of his opponents we will discover tonight. One thing is certain; this won’t last 3 rounds.
Biscapoe by submission.
8: Featherweight
Wee Ning 4-2 (1-1 SPNY) vs William Harrison 2-2 (1-2 SPNY)
This Featherweight clash matches up submission grappler, Ning, with Muay Thai clinch fighter Harrison. Ning will almost have to shoot for a takedown immediately as he will be outmatched at range and Harrison is too good at controlling in the clinch to allow Ning to pull guard. If Ning can land the takedown he will dominate Harrison on the ground and use his grappling skills to advance to a dominant position before finishing the fight. Harrison in the clinch will be so dominant that I expect he could be the first fighter to knock Ning out. This fight is entirely about who can dictate where the action will take place.
Ning to use his greater experience to claim this by submission.
9: Featherweight
Jason Paw 2-7 (0-6 SPNY) vs Brian Williams 2-2 (0-1 SPNY)
Paw has now achieved the notorious record for the most losses in SPNY without recording a win of any active fighter, but despite that continues to jump at the chance to face any opponent thrown his way. Despite his poor record and lack of defensive skills he continues to eschew becoming a member of a gym and training with coaches which is a strategy that just doesn’t seem to be working. Williams has solid boxing and decent submissions and tonight I expect him to take Paw down and submit him.
Williams by submission.
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