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 Striking Masters 3 KT Preview and Predictions (930315) - 26 Oct 19 - Credit Card Center, New York - Brought To You By: Conviction -
Written by Gabe T.S. Gardner (112290)
Welcome one and all, to another stellar fight card from KT's rising stars: Striking Masters!
We have some absolutely incredible fights lined up, and some intriguing match-ups to break down, so lets get right to it!
MAIN EVENT
OXFORD VS PAZ
Alex “Foxy” Oxford 1-0-0 VS “The Alchemist” Rico Paz 0-0-0
5 3-minute rounds under KT rules at 205lbs
A promising MMA fighter makes his KT debut tonight against one of the front-runners of the burgeoning light heavyweight division, as Rico "The Alchemist" Paz takes on "Foxy" Alex Oxford. On Paper you'd think this was a done deal, and that Paz, a fighter making his KT debut and being thrown right in the deep end would be a mistake, but dig a little further and you'll see this heavy handed slugger is here on merit. the self styled "Alchemist" has fought twice under mixed martial arts rules before joining up with Striking Masters, cleaning out his opposition in a jaw-dropping combined 15 seconds. 15. Showing immense power in his outrageous head kicks, and big right hand, the raw strength Paz possesses would give a bull elephant trouble, let alone any one man standing in front of him.
Where Oxford boasts his largest advantage over the powerful Paz is in the technique department, while he has had considerably more time to show of his accurate array of strikes, that hasn't stopped him demonstrating the very definition of being effective in the clinch, and using scything kicks couple with hammering fists to keep opponents guessing.
Well, aside from the unlikely event of a draw (spoilers. Gabe thinks this one isn't going the distance.) I think this fight goes one of two ways.
1. Paz checks Oxford's relatively untested chin early with his insane power, and blasts him out inside of a round before Oxford finds his rhythm.
2. Oxford is able to use his full arsenal of strikes and distance management, coupled with superior technique to pick apart Paz, and take him to a decision, or finish a severely beaten Paz off in the later rounds.
Decisions Decisions.
While I don't think either Fighter has really faced that tough competition (Paz's previous opponents have a laughable combined 1-9-0 record between them, Oxford's 4-3-0, with his only win at KT coming over a fighter that was undoubtedly not a striking specialist, and was a completely outmatched MMA convert.) This will be a chance to show an inkling their true ability.
Could be a pick em fight, but I think first one to land hard wins. And I think Paz might just be able to pull it off with his sheer aggression, and balls to the walls style.
Gabe’s Prediction: “The Alchemist” Rico Paz (W) KO/TKO Round 1
CO-MAIN EVENT
TAI KUNG VS DUNN
Manolito Tai Kung 1-0-0 VS Matty “Chest Neck” Dunn 0-0-0
3 3-minute rounds under KT rules at 170lbs
A tough night ahead for combat sports debutante Matty Dunn here tonight, as he takes on one of the welterweight divisions most lethal strikers: Manolito Tai Kung.
The risk and reward are both very very high for the Englishman, who reportedly has a decent boxing background, and fundamental level grappling. On the upside, should he topple the undefeated Filipino fighter, he'll immediately stamp his presence on the division, and rise high up the rankings. On the downside, Tai Kung is a bad motherfucker.
Known for his large kicking output - something someone from a boxing background might be unprepared for - Tai Kung has three KO victories across all disciplines in his career, including a second round head kick stoppage in his KT debut.
Traditionally however, Tai Kung has avoided the clinch at all costs, preferring to strike at range against those that would close the distance on him. If Dunn can get the elusive Tai Kung into a clinch, and use his fundamental grappling skills to keep him there, working him over with peppering strikes, he might be able to smother the Filipino, and pull off a dramatic upset. Buuuuut....
I'm nigh on 100 percent certain, we see the opposite. I think Tai Kung sets the tempo with his dangerous leg kicks, and gives "Chest Neck" a striking lesson, possibly even getting rid of him in the opening stanzas with a head kick out of nowhere.
In this writers opinion, I can't Dunn winning. Tai Kung early.
Gabe’s Prediction: Manolito Tai Kung(W) KO/TKO Round 1
WONHEIM VS GONCALVES
Joshua “Akira” Wonheim 1-0-0 VS Guilherme “G.G.” Goncalves 0-0-0
3 3-minute rounds under KT rules at 155lbs
Boxing Specialist vs Muay Thai Master in this classic match up at lightweight.
Both men come into this fight having won their combat sports debuts by knockout, and in two polar opposite fashions. Under MMA rules, "G.G." knocked out his only opponent to date, showing an accurate, and diverse punching game, and strong boxing ability as he stuffed 6/7 takedowns, and boxed him up completely with fast combinations, heavy bodyshots and sickening power punches to the head, stopping his man cold in the dying moments of the first round.
"Akira" showed a soulcrushing clinch game, as he battered his opponent across two rounds with ceaseless, oppressive pressure in the clinch, and repeated thudding blows to the body and upstairs.
The winner here will be whoever can impose their style on the other fighter, and while it might be unfair to judge either of these warriors off of one contest, thats sort of what I'm being paid to do here. Goncalves while showing an admirable ability to keep the fight standing up, did succomb to a takedown in his MMA debut, and perhaps a cannier operator might have taken advantage, and beat him up on the ground. Wonheim however, has shown that he can happily trap the opposing fighter in clinch warfare, brutalising Will Kane over two rounds, before knocking him out, and if I'm pressed, I'd have to go with him again.
Kane inside the distance.
Gabe’s Prediction: Joshua “Akira” Wonheim (W) KO/TKO Rounds 1-3
BRANCH VS MAUI
Frank Branch 2-0-0 VS Raykuza Maui 1-0-0
3 3-minute rounds under KT rules at 265+lbs
Ho ho hooooo!
Christmas has come very early for this writer, as we have an absolutely delicious fight to pick apart here at openweight. Branch versus Maui. David versus Goliath. I. Can't. Wait.
Okay, so the obvious out of the way: Branch is giving up about 100lbs here to his opponent, as well as 3 inches in height and reach roughly. He's the smaller guy, no question. what does he bring to the table? Stamina. Stamina for days., and explosive power and accuracy for someone giving up so much weight. In a back and forth war at Striking Masters II he outpointed the 266lbs heavy hitter, Dru Quick, in a fighter where both athletes had to pick themselves off the floor, and both ate heavy, heavy shots. the key here for Branch is avoiding any kind of clinch or grappling exhange with the monsterous Maui, and use that same speed, output, and lightness of feet to steal rounds from his larger foe, and take him out if the opportunity presents itself.
So, whats the gameplan for the man mountain from Hawaii? AVALANCHE. Throw often, throw accurate, and Branch will feel the effects. a 300 pounder sitting down on clubbing blows is going to be enough to make anyone second guess their gameplan, and he needs to get Branches respect to stifle that ceaseless volume of punches he can expect to face. If he has a clinch game, this is an excellent fight to debut it, as his raw size and strength advantage over Branch will do a lot of the work for him, in trapping him, wearing him out, and eventually, when the moment is right: Knocking him out. While its prudent to be cautious against a dangerous opponent, being overly cautious against a busier fighter will give away rounds, something Raykuza cannot let happen. Hit him hard, hit him early, and he will fall.
I'm licking my lips in anticipation, and I expect another openweight war here tonight. the victor? only time will tell... but if you had to ask me, I can see Branch just stealing this one again by decision, but he'll have to be cautious. One wrong mistake? and its lights out. Maui grows more dangerous the longer this fight goes on, and the reverse result would not be at all surprising to me.
Gabe’s Prediction: Frank Branch (W) UD/SD/MD Round 3
UNDERCARD
Rogger Clowen 0-0-0 VS Anni Skystalker 0-0-0 145lbs
Gabe’s Prediction: Rogger Clowen (W) KO/TKO Rounds 1-2
Piger Whok 2-0-0 VS Tobias Haba 0-0-0 135lbs
Gabe’s Prediction: Piger Whok (W) KO/TKO Rounds 1-2
Andrey Arlovsky 0-0-0 VS Jory Rosewarne 0-0-0 265lbs
Gabe’s Prediction: Andre Arlovsky (W) KO/TKO Round 1
Sean Avery 0-0-0 VS Morgan Morris 0-0-0 185lbs
Gabe’s Prediction: Andre Arlovsky (D) UD/SD/MD Round 3
(Gabe's Notes: Both fighters are managed by the same manager? curious...)
Tafa Misipati 0-0-0 VS Eimi Fukada 0-0-0 265lbs
Gabe’s Prediction: Eimi Fukada (W) KO/TKO Round 2
Aaaaaaaand that is that! an incredible night of action awaits, I've been Gabe and thank you for reading! Look out and tune in for Striking Masters III!
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