Legend presents a full-blooded show from the Grand Hyatt Macau, City of Dreams
It’s Legend 9
Legend is the closest thing we have in this area to being a championship for Asian Pacific born fighters. It’s not enough to move to the region to fight on the Legend card, You have to have been born here. To be Legend Champion is to be the best in the whole Asian Pacific region. This is not a home for fighters on their way down, this is a major proving ground for fighters on their way up.
Legend are proud to announce Legend 9 at the Grand Hyatt, City of Dreams, Macau.
Here are my personal thoughts on the bouts:
Bout 1: Muhammad Hanif Bin Zainal (2-0-1) (Malaysia) Vs Diego Cuenca (no record) (Philippines)
Hanif is taking a step up from the local Malaysian shows where he has made quite a splash since his first fight which was a majority draw with Keith Alden. I was present at the show and that was a superb fight. Since then Hanif has had two quick wins, this is a step into a much bigger spotlight. Cuenca is making his pro debut but has a 4-0 amateur record. He also is a product of the American schooling system so you can be sure that he has a solid wrestling base. These two will both be determined to make a name for themselves and return home with a W.
Bout 2: Chengie Wu (2-3-0) (China) Vs Daniel Hooker (6-4-0) (New Zealand)
All three of Wu’s Legend appearances have gone to a decision and with his last bout being a pronounced a Win, maybe at last he has learnt what it takes to make the judges side with him. However, Hooker is not going to be an easy task for him to tackle. His last appearance at Legend was a rear naked choke loss to Wu Haotian since then he has defeated Rsuty McBride at AFC 3, So his confidence level will be on the rise. This is looking like a tough fight to call.
Bout 3: Yeong Gwang Choi (5-5-0) (South Korea) Vs Rob Lisita (9-4-0) (Australia)
Choi has two decision victories in his two Legend appearances but he is going to have an uphill task if he thinks he can get three in a row – Legend debutant Lisita has to hope his recent form in Australia transfers to Macau as he looks to make a name for himself.
Bout 4: Xian Ji (5-1-0) (China) Vs Jack Gooderham (6-0-0) (Australia) (Sun City Cup Bout)
Ji was on a five fight winning streak until he met Yusuke Kawanago at Legend 8 losing at 4:18 of the second round due to a guillotine choke. He is going to be desperate to get back to winning ways. However, his opponent Gooderham is making his Legend Debut and is bringing a perfect 6-0 record with him. This should be a very exciting bout.
Bout 5: Taiyo Nakahara (12-7-0) (Japan) Vs Nam Jin Jo (6-4-0) (South Korea)
Nakahara is massively experienced, however prior to getting into the ring at Legend 7 (Feb 2012) he had not fought for 13 months even though he was on a four night winning streak and that fight ended with him being disqualified due to punches to the back of the head. So, I am sure he wants to get his career back onto a winning road. Jin has had a mixed Legend history with two wins and two losses.
Bout 6: Hideto Tatsumi (3-2-0) (Japan) Vs Pat Crawley (9-2-0) (New Zealand)
Tatsumi is a big guy standing at 6’1″ and has a good ground game and a lot of power, but Crawley is a monster on a four fight win streak and after his last win where he rear naked choked Rob Powdrill at the recent K’Oz event he is back at Legend looking to win his third Legend appearance in a row. He’s a good three inches shorter than Tatsumi but I don’t know if that’s enough of an advantage to see Tatsumi win this.
Bout 7: Honggang Yao (6-3-0) (China) Vs Augustin Delarmino Jr (6-1-0) (Philippines)
In all three of his appearances in the Legend ring Yao has gone the distance with two of those being wins, Delarmino on the other hand has finished both his Legend appearances early. Delarmino’s only loss was via decision and I believe he is going to pose a real problem to the durable Yao. Can the much older Yao stand with him? I don’t know, but it should be a very exciting fight.
Bout 8: Haotian Wu (6-1-1) (China) Vs Damien Brown (6-3-0) (Australia)
Wu has proven to be a tough competitor and is a real submission expert something Brown would do well to be aware of especially as 50% of his losses have been via submission. I cannot she Brown being able to tackle Wu who is aiming for a Legend title shot.
Bout 9: Jingliang Li (6-2-0) (China) Vs Dan Pauling (8-1-0) (Australia)
Li is a submission specialist with just two losses on his record both via decision. His Legend record stands at 3-2 and he is about to take on first time Legend competitor Pauling. Pauling is 5 years Li junior and yet has more pro fights. He tore his way through eight straight wins at the Australia organisation Fightworld Cup before moving up to the Cage Fighting Championship where he came up against Corey Nelson who was on three losses in a row, that all changed as he knocked out Pauling in just 33 seconds. It remains to be seen if that was a lucky punch and Pauling will look to bounce back with a great display, or maybe that was a step up in class too far. Look out for an exciting bout.
Bout 10: Koji Ando (6-3-2) (Japan) Vs Rob Hill (11-5-1) (Australia)
Ando has a tough battle on his hands here, he is 1-1 at Legend, Hill is 2-2 at Legend but his last two fights were the Wins, so he is on a bit of a roll. Both of these fighters are looking for a Lightweight title shot and will both be going all out to earn that opportunity.
So that’s it an exiciting night of fighting to be sure.
Legend don’t care which gym you train at, they are only interested in you “bringing it” and they are not impressed with who you used to be, they want future stars, not past it ones! I like that.
