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Honour Fighting Championships presents:
HFC 22 Perry vs Powell
November 12, 2016
At The Underground - London (1000)
In conjunction with Versus Merchandise
Author: Master Po
Under Card:
James Taylor vs Jack Smith
Kicking the evening off is a Super Heavyweight matchup between James Taylor and Jack Smith. Both fighters enter the bout with a record of 3-2. Taylor, who looks more comfortable with standup, has 2 KOs, and a decision victory, while all 3 of Smith's victories come by way of submission. Both of these fighters are young at 18, and have room to grow. These guys are both managed by Darren Hayden, and train at FIERCE gym in London, so they should be similarly prepared. Whoever can find their comfort zone is likely to come out victorious. My gut feeling is that Smith will withstand Taylor's standup, whose power could be questioned, and use his decent wrestling background to take the fight to the mat where he has the clear advantage.
Prediction: Smith wins by Submission early in the second.
Ronald Dela Rosa vs Max Anderson
The second fight matches up the Filipino Ronald Dela Rosa, and Max Anderson of Bulgaria. Dela Rosa was a prize fighter in the Phillipines, and rumor has it that he even spent time as a sparring partner for Pac Man. Anderson's striking comes from his training in Muy Thai. Dela Rosa also has a respectable amount of wrestling skill. This has the looks of a great matchup and should set the tone for the event. Both these fighters coming off of losses that leave question marks and we know the test that can be for a fighter's morale. All things considered, I say Dela Rosa lands a clean one.
Prediction: Dela Rosa KO (Punch) late second.
Melvin Gorman vs Mike Rockhold
Melving Gorman is doing something right sitting at 3-1 with 2 KOs. Rockhold's only victory on a 1-3 record came in a quick fight. He's 0-3 since joining the org. This may be his last hoorah. I'd like to be able to say something to make this seem competitive, but alas, I digress. Gorman manhandles Rockhold in the clinch.
Prediction: Gorman first round TKO (Strikes)
Mahatma Gandhi vs Renan Faber
Faber at 6-3 with 6 KOs may be too big of a jump in competition for Gandhi who comes to the cage at 2-3 with 2 submissions. Gandhi is 2-2 in the org and looking to turn the corner. These two right here have big heart. This should be a good little tussle. Things point to the Brazilian, Faber going 7-3 with 7 KOs, simply because I doubt Gandhi can overcome the considerable reach and striking advantage that Faber brings to the table. With this being said Gandhi is adept at Muy Thai. If Gandhi could somehow force a ground battle with his lower center of gravity he could possibly pull a flea flicker armbar out of thin air...or get knocked the eff out.
Prediction: Faber TKO (Strikes) second.
Main Card:
Max Steele vs Kevin PercivalH
Starting off the main card is a fight between two undefeated fighters with 1-0 records. The bad thing is, they have only one fight each and quick fights at that. The good thing is, they are both finishes. Max Steele a Texan, who took a trip across the pond to refine his BJJ skills has minimal striking, but that gives him an advantage over PercivalH, who has no perceivable striking skill at all. PercivalH, the Floridian has Olympic level wrestling skill and a BJJ game that is not too far below Steele's. I imagine this fight going down with Steele winning any exchanges on the feet, PercivalH managing to catch a lazy strike for a takedown, and Steele tricking PercivalH into getting overconfident with his grounding and pounding to catch an arm and twist it into a pretzel.
Prediction: Max Steel Submission (Armbar) late first round.
Lucien Paol vs Bichael Misbing
The bloody brit Misbing is a wonderful boxer with respectable wrestling and on course to lose his MMA virginity to a considerably more experienced Lucien Paol a Frenchman sitting at 2-2 with two submissions. This is a tough one to analyze. Misbing has never fought so all we have to go on are second hand stories from the local watering hole, and Paol has never fought a striker. Give me a second to flip a coin. Heads for Misbing? Tails. I guess Paol gets another W.
Prediction: Paol Submission (Arm Triangle) midway through the first.
Renato Ibanez vs Anthony Pettis
Ibanez is a superb wrestler, that when seen in action, may make you want to grab a guitar and chug on some power chords. Pettis is a respectable wrestler as well. This is an intriguing matchup. Ibanez has yet to lose since coming into professional MMA, and his manager told me he was born breaking bones. I questioned his chin and his manager said, "Don't be scared homie." I didn't feel threatened. As far as Pettis goes all I know is he graduated his high school on the A and B Honor Roll, he seems to have a roll of quarters in his fists, and he may be vulnerable to submissions. I think Pettis chin checks Ibanez in 3/4 time in Drop D tuning.
Prediction: Pettis KO (Spinning Backfist) 3:45 round 1.
Lasovicz The BIG MaN vs Enok Jepsen
Nice looking fight here between two undefeated fighters. The BIG MaN comes into the contest at 3-0 with 1 KO and 2 Submissions. Jepsen sitting pretty at 5-0 with 4 KOs. I feel that Jepsen has more experience in a cage and an edge in management although a slight bit wet behind the ears at 18 years old. The Big MaN might have a hard time dealing with the top notch striking from the Dane opposite him in the cage. At the risk of sounding redundant, I believe The Big MaN will fall to the bigger man and slip to 3-1 in professional mix martial arts. Jepsen will improve to 6-0 with 5 KOs and become one of, if not the, most promising prospect in the organization in the light heavyweight division.
Prediction: Jepsen KO (Superman Punch) at 2:45 in round 1.
Peter Faup vs Jake Johnson
The last fight leading up to the main event is an aspiring submission artist Taiwanese Peter Faup who after 5 mma fights is looking at 3-2 with 2 Submissions vs Jake Johnson the sprawl and brawler out of Las Vegas with a record of 2-0 with 2 KOs. Faup will look to take Johnson into the clinch early and test his conditioning. Johnson will most likely be trying work Faup over from inside which could become a challenge with an 11 centimeter reach advantage for Faup. Johnson should have good power and balance with a good run in college wrestling. Oddly enough on paper Faup appears to have a dirty boxing and Thai clinch tool box, with a novitiate level of BJJ, but his last two fights netted him submission victories. Probability would point to Faup winning by experience. This time I think Johnson sprawls on Faup and pulls an upset out of...somewhere.
Prediction: Johnson TKO (Strikes) round 2.
Main Event:
135 lb title
Mike Perry vs Scott Powell
Title holder Mike Perry, hailing out of Quebec, comes ready to stand and bang at 6-2 with 6 KOs. Manager Sunny Palmer is doing something right with this 23 year old sprawl and brawler winning three of his last four fights with two sucessive title defenses and four "of the night" awards in his last 5 showings. Powell the British dirty boxer is no easy notch in the belt, except for the fact his only loss on a nearly perfect record of 4-1 with 4 KOs, comes from aforementioned Perry. Both these young men are decorated, Powell a former champ, and Perry the incumbent. It should also be noted Powell has 2 "of the night" awards to his credit. Best believe this will be a firefight, decided before anyone reaches the mat.
Prediction: Perry retains his belt by way of first round TKO (Strikes).
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