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TROID
Event: Forais Chruthaíonn IV
Date: 8th July 2014
Venue: Hayashi’s Lounge, London (2000)
Hello everyone, and welcome to Troid! We will be hopefully running regular previews and reviews regularly from now on and we hope you enjoy them. Our event we will be previewing is Forais Chruthaíonn IV, so let’s get right down to the action we will be looking at, in running order.
205lbs
Daniel Leone 1-0-0 (0-0-0) vs Philip Levasqua 2-6-0 (0-2-0)
Our first fight of the night puts Troid newcomer Daniel Leone against unfortunate Philip Levasqua. Leone is an intriguing individual. Despite it appearing his main strength is his stand up game, in his first fight, he used his wrestling to bring the fight to the ground and earn a decision win. He will need to be alert against the more experience Levasqua. Levasqua has superior wrestling but is currently on a 6 fight losing streak. He will be hoping to reverse his fortunes and pick up a win using his grappling.
PREDICTION: Leone wins via TKO in Round 1
170lbs
Bratt The Lion 1-3-0 (0-2-0) vs Eric Be 3-3-0 (0-2-0)
In this fight, we have two fighters with similar records in the Troid cage. Simply put, there is only one route to victory for both fighters here. The Lion needs the keep the fight standing and hope his Muay Thai can help him knock Be out. Be will need to use his wrestling to gain a position where he can execute a submission. Will be interesting to see both fighters strategies in the fights, and who the winner will be.
PREDICTION: Be wins via Sub in Round 1
185lbs
Paul Ming 4-3-0 (1-2-0) vs George Pierre 2-3-0 (1-3-0)
Two men who both have struggled as of late compete against each other in an attempt to change their fortunes in the Troid arena. Paul Ming has struggled to excel since he switched to MMA from KT. 1 win from 3 fights since signing for Troid, Ming has the perfect chance to get back to winning ways. From what we have seen of Ming, he likes to GnP his way to victory, but can also stand a fight. Pierre has yet to finish a fight, with both wins coming via decision. He looks to score points from stalling after gaining a takedown, and it will be hard for Ming to counter this.
PREDICTION: Ming wins via TKO in Round 2
205lbs
Magnus Svensson 2-1-0 (1-1-0 in Troid) vs Fraser Opie 2-0-0 (0-0-0)
Here we have Magnus Svensson taking on Troid debutant, Fraser Opie. Svensson is dangerous on his feet, showing good accuracy in his fights so far while also displaying his power to KO his opponents. He has an average ground game and a BJJ blue belt but we have not been able to witness his abilities in these areas yet. He may need to hope they are up to scratch against dangerous wrestler Fraser Opie. Opie has been dominant in his two fights so far, bringing his opponents to the ground before pounding them into unconsciousness. He has a solid chin which may be enough to keep him in this fight, but unless he gets the takedown, it will soon succumb to Svenssons power.
PREDICTION: Opie wins via TKO in Round 1
170lbs
Jack Milligan 4-5-0 (3-5-0) vs Jimmy Wallhead 2-2-0 (0-2-0)
This will be an interesting fight with both fighters skilled in multiple aspects. I expect Wallhead will try to go for a sub win again, while Milligan’s only KO win coming from a top position. I will be surprised if Milligan can pull off a sub win, but in MMA, anything can happen. This will be a close fight, where either fighter can win.
PREDICTION: Wallhead wins via Sub in Round 1
145lbs
Junior Borg 3-3-1 (2-2-1) vs Aoki Yoshidas 5-2-1 (1-0-1)
This is a highly anticipated rematch after their first bout was fought to a majority draw. Borg will again be looking to use his wrestling to keep the fight standing where they are evenly matched. Borg is dangerous standing, but Yoshidas is dangerous in all areas. This could receive Of The Night honours in any of the 3 categories.
PREDICTION: Yoshidas wins via Sub in Round 3
170lbs
Dave Matthews 5-6-0 (4-4-0) vs Alexandre Ribeiro 6-2-0 (2-0-0)
Matthews will want to use his stand up game in order to defeat dangerous submission specialist Ribeiro. Matthews is the more experienced fighter, and will want to use that to his advantage. Ribeiro will be looking to extend his undefeated Troid record against Matthews, and woud love to do that with another submission. This could be an interesting fight, but it will require both fighters to be on top of their games.
PREDICTION: Ribeiro wins via Sub in Round 1
185lbs
Nick Clark 3-1-0 (2-1-0) vs Owen Williams 4-0-0 (3-0-0)
This fight hinges on one factor: will Williams be able to instigate the clinch? Williams has shown his devastation in the clinch, and Clark will need to avoid it like the plague. One thing I believe will help decide the fight will be Clark’s lack of morale, and that is what I am basing my prediction on.
PREDICTION: Williams wins via KO in Round 1
Co-Main Event: 185lbs
Lugh Blackburn 4-1-0 (4-1-0) vs Robb Wells 5-0-0 (0-0-0)
There aren’t many tougher challenges Wells could have faced in his first fight in Troid, but Wells has the ability to challenge at the top immediately. Blackburn is a top contender in the division, and will capitalise on any mistakes Wells makes in the fight, meaning a KO can come from anywhere. Blackburn will also need to be aware of Wells superb ground game. This fight will be completely one sided, the only question, is which side it will fall on.
PREDICTION: Blackburn wins via TKO in round 1
MAIN EVENT: 205lbs
Jackṏb Jṏhanssṏn 6-1-0 (2-0-0) vs Thors Hammer 7-1-0 (3-0-0)
We have an absolute belter of a Main Event here. Reigning champ Jṏhanssṏn dominated previous champion Earl Grey not once, but twice! He has the ability to trouble any opponent, being skilled in all aspects of MMA. We know how good the champ is on his feet, but how good is he on the ground? If there ever was a man to test this out, Thors Hammer is the man to do it. Hammer won a tournament, beating 3 other men to be crowned the #1 contender for the title. After winning the tournament, he was inexplicably sacked by his manager at the time, Will Stuart. Fortunately for Hammer, he has been picked up by Guy Mezger, and it will be interesting to see if there is any change in his sliders. This has the potential to be a great battle if Hammer can get the fight to the ground, but if he doesn’t, then I am afraid there will only be one result.
PREDICTION: Jṏhanssṏn wins via KO in round 1 and remains the Light-Heavyweight Champion!
Well, that is our preview for the event, with a great card lined up. Be on the lookout in the forums for your chance to smack talk your opponent, give a longer post fight speech, and call out your next opponent!
~T~ Co-Owner
Grant Brophy
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