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 UNFC59: ‘Nicolosi Vs O'Connell’ will take place in the Shinjuku Indoor Arena in Japan on Friday, May 29, sponsored by Sun-Tzu, which have fight gear spawned from the greatest battles on earth, punched to perfection by shaolin monks to outlast mankind.
The biggest reason to tune in is to witness #1 and #2 ranked heavyweight’s battle it out for the biggest, badest title in UNFC – UNFC Heavyweight gold. It’s Nicolosi v OConnell part deuce. Can Nicolosi put a stamp on this rivalry, or can OConnell re-write the earlier loss to Nicolosi and at the same time snatch the ultimate prize?
Co-headlining are #4 and #6 ranked heavyweights, followed by #3 and #5 lightweights. The main card is stacked and the undercard has some important matchups to keep an eye on.
Let’s take a closer look.
[Main Event] (265 lbs) #1 Nicolosi v #2 OConnell – Heavyweight Title Fight
Frank Nicolosi is the #1 ranked UNFC heavyweight and sits at #12 on the UNFC Pound-for-Pound rankings, the only title holder outside the organizations top 10 P4P list. The Italian boasts an impressive 14 TKO’s out of his 15 wins
The lonesome decision victory his first professional career win back on November 30, 2013. “Fearless” has fought 21 times, 14 with UNFC and has etched an 11-3 record under his name with the #1 ranked Japanese fighting promotion.
When the Evolution Fight Clan affiliate steps into the cage on Friday he will equal Meguru Takayanagi and Toyoki Kawamura with most fights in UNFC history (15).
The knock-out artist is one of the most recognized fighters to step into a UNFC cage, stats wise, holding records for most wins (11) and most KO wins (11) in the organization.
Nicolosi first had a chance at the UNFC heavyweight title at UNFC 12 when he faced, and ultimately fell to, the gloves of Meyer Lansky in the second round. Since then the Team Butcher Gym trainee went on to win 7 of 9 fights, earning his chance to fight for the gold again.
In typical fashion, Fearless beat his opponent with a TKO in the third round and finally wrapped the belt around his waist.
Since becoming the #1 heavyweight, the Milan born Tokyo resident has made 1 title defence and goes up against none other than the man he originally fought for the then vacant heavyweight belt, Paul OConnell.
Paul OConnell is the #2 ranked UNFC heavyweight and although fighting less than half as many fights as his opponent, he’s only lost twice in the 11 fights he has competed. Out of those 9 wins, all have come by referee stoppage (TKO).
The last man to fall in the UNFC cage to the Irishman was VG Beloff at UNFC 55, the 2x KO of the night recipients sensational boxing on display once again, the fight finishing in just 50 seconds, OConnell’s second career win in under a minute.
Since signing with UNFC after a 3-1 fight stint with Destiny and an undefeated run with MLF before that, “Poc” is 2-1, his only loss being against upcoming opponent Nicolosi. With another opportunity to secure the belt, and the title of the #1 UNFC heavyweight, OConnell might do well to utilize his BJJ and height advantage.
Both men have world class stand up both on paper and inside the cage and are pretty evenly matched across the board. Nicolosi is one of UNFC’s vets, OConnell a new face to the Tokyo fan base, both still young in the MMA fighting scene and aged 24 and 23 respectively.
I like OConnell’s chances here yet who can dismiss the first encounter when Nicolosi walked away with the belt. It will be one cracking main event for the fans, and the top ranked UNFC heavyweights.
[Co-Main Event] (265) #4 Gaarlandt v #6 Kasvi
Ricardo Gaarlandt is the current #4 ranked heavyweight and is coming off a title fight loss to the current champ, Nicolosi, in a fight that may have had the challenger ahead with the judges before the TKO stoppage due to punches. It was his third loss since joining UNFC in October and only his sixth overall out of 20 fights.
“Demolition” fought with Las Vegas Prizefighting before making the switch, where he went 6-2. Out of his 14 wins 9 have come by way of TKO. The Nauruan has exceptional skill with his hands and is well versed in all mixed martial arts disciplines. His opponent on Friday will be one of his toughest to date, and The Exile affiliated fighter may just be considered an underdog.
Jyrki Kasvi is a Samoan born fighter and sits at #6 in UNFC’s heavyweight division. With just 6 fights under his belt and only 1 loss, the Dogs of War allied fighter looks the goods early on in his career.
Two of those wins are his most recent fights, his only loss in his first fight with UNFC and under his second manager who he has since departed ties with; currently he’s fighting under his third manager.
“Watcher of the Sky” has 4 TKO’s out of his 5 wins, his last coming against Dante Cross Furia at UNFC 55 to make up for his one and only loss at the hands of Furia at UNFC 42, 2 and a bit months earlier. The TKO victory wiped the blemish from his record and the world class boxer adds some good wrestling and a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Both have everything to gain from this fight, and Gaarlandt has more to lose. With a loss here he will go 5-4 since joining the Tokyo fighting promotion, which doesn’t look good on his resume short term as that will make it 5 wins from his last 10 fights.
Whereas Kasvi will be 2-2 since joining UNFC with a loss, but just 5-2 overall and is currently on a 2 fight win streak.
Both can do well with a win, and Gaarlandt needs it more, but I think Kavsi is one to watch and has an advantage with his BJJ, if he can utilize it.
(155 lbs) #3 Joe v #5 Adelhard
Orange Joe is currently the #3 ranked UNFC lightweight and with a win this Friday, he could be knocking on the door of UNFC’s top 20 P4P rankings, if not let himself in. The American born Evolution Fight Clan affiliated member is a healthy 9-4 with fights under the UNFC banner, 9-6 overall.
The highly recognizable orange haired fighter’s last two fights have been impressive TKO finishes over Meguru Takayanagi and Jimmy Johns, both top 15 lightweight contenders. The fight before it was a loss against the long standing lightweight champ and #2 UNFC P4P Hector Camacho at UNFC 40. Joe has world class wrestling and a black belt in BJJ, his opponent is a well versed striking BJJ black belt.
Bernhard Adelhard sits just two spots behind Joe in the UNFC lightweight rankings, and is coming into this fight on a 3 fight win streak, currently carrying an undefeated record since penning on with UNFC in January. During this streak the American has 2 first round finishers, which just so happen to be his last two fights.
“The Bear” has an overall record of 6-4, 2-4 of it with the now defunct International Team Fighting League where he chose to face opponents at 170 lbs, changing to 155 when he started with UNFC and is undefeated when weighing in as a lightweight.
A win here for Orange Joe could set up a fight against Dominik Kokoszka for the #2 lightweight rank and the #1 lightweight contender spot. Adelhard is undefeated in this division and has the slight edge with his striking, yet Joe tilts the scales in his favour with his grappling. In the end this will be another good fight, and although there needs to be a loser in the cage, the fans will be winners either way.
(145 lbs) #12 Thumbhisbum v Douglas
Benjamin Thumbhisbum is a #12 ranked featherweight coming into this fight and is streaking with 3 wins. Since starting his professional fighting career with UNFC, the Yank is 4-2 (7-4 overall), his very first fight a title shot which ended in loss to current #6 featherweight and then champion, Ferdinand Cortes, at UNFC MW #10.
Thumbhisbum fly’s the flag for Milwaukee's Best, training at The Beast in NY where he’s honed his all-round MMA skillset to be well equipped in all areas, including holding a brown belt in BJJ. Of his seven wins all have ended by way of TKO, including 3 within the first minute, 2 within 30 seconds and the fastest just 17 seconds in against Viktor Tsoi the fight before last.
Jack Douglas has one more fight under his belt compared to his opponent, and 1 more loss. His recent form hasn’t been as impressive, losing the last 3 fights and should he win he’ll put a skid to his lacklustre performances since joining UNFC.
“The War Master”, though, has finished all 7 of his winning fights (3 TKO’s, 4 subs) and 4 of his 5 losses have gone to the judges, including his last 3. The Abu Dhabi champ is an excellent grappler, highly skilled striker and attends the cage with his black belt in BJJ around his waist.
The Canadian hasn’t yet won a fight since venturing to Japan’s capital area, his record 0-2, and this is really a must win. He has the skills to take down and submit his opponent, and really needs to. Alternatively the American will stroke a 4 fight win streak with a win here and push himself into the top 10 in the featherweight division.
Thumbhisbum may just have the edge given his striking and grappling and should be considered a slight favourite.
(205 lbs) Cricket v Domingo #12
Rick Cricket is another fighter needing a win. Since swapping from the obsolete East Coast Fighting Championship to UNFC the American fighting out of Las Vegas is 1 win in 4 fights, his latest a loss to Taishi Mori late in the third round at UNFC 52, although he was considered the better fighter till Mori took the fight to the ground and locked in the Kimura.
The Legion of Doom affiliated fighter had a great run with then manager Huey Freeman. Fighting with ECFC, Cricket worked his way to a 10-2 record, and has some good all round skills to turn around his slow start since fighting abroad. Lethal striking with good wrestling is a good start, but will it be good enough against his next opponent.
Jorge Domingo is a Chaos inducted HOF fighter, currently on a 2 fight win streak. The American fighting and training out of Tokyo has an impressive resume, with 7 Fight of the night and 3 KO of the night awards. On his HOF run with Chaos, Domingo amassed a 10 fight win streak including winning the title twice and defending it a total of 4 times.
Besides his last 2 fights though, Domingo hasn’t seen the best of results. He lost 4 in a row before his last 2 bouts, and will be looking to add another win to his overall 17-6 record tally (2-3 with UNFC). He’s somewhat of a decision specialist, 10 of his 17 wins going the distance, his last 2 no different, and his last fight against Ernie Bezoink a win by split decision at UNFC 54.
Overall Cricket looks good on 11-5, yet is 2-4 in his last 6 fights. Domingo is 17-6 overall, and also 2-4 in his last 6 fights. This one is important for both fighters to make a stand and show UNFC they have what it takes to compete at this level, and their prior efforts weren’t just a fluke.
Cricket has an advantage with his Muay Thai, which could be the difference.
Undercard fights:
(170lbs) Dy No Mite v Hoffman
(265 lbs) Fongua v Maximus
(145 lbs) Dick v Tirta
(145 lbs) Law v Thompson
(170 lbs) Nash v White
Notable undercard mentions:
Dy No Mite on a 4 fight win streak, all 4 TKO’s (3 KO’s), 2 with UNFC.
Maximus on a 4 fight win streak, all 4 TKO’s, 1 with UNFC.
Tirta needs a win, currently on a 7 fight loss streak.
Law to debut with UNFC. Current fight record is 3-1.
Nash to debut with UNFC. Current fight record is 5-2.
UNFC59: Nicolosi Vs O'Connell brought to you by:
Merchandise partner Sun-Tzu. The fight gear spawned from the greatest battles on earth, punched to perfection by shaolin monks to outlast mankind.
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