ONE FC 4 Main Card Breakdown: Renato Sobral vs Tatsuya Mizuno

ONE FC 4 Main Card Breakdown: Renato Sobral vs Tatsuya Mizuno

Published on June 18, 2012 by The Coffee Boy in ONEFC

ONE FC 4 Main Card Breakdown: Renato Sobral vs Tatsuya Mizuno

ONE FC has put together a super-stacked card, and their main event features none other than two veterans of the sport: Renato Sobral and Tatsuya Mizuno. Let’s take a quick look at what these two are bringing to their epic clash.

Renato Sobral, the former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion and ex-UFC fighter will make his debut with the promotion, and promises to bring a memorable fight. He has a record of 36 – 9, making him one of the more seasoned fighters signed to ONE FC.

With a decorated background in wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, he has faced and defeated fan-favorites such as Robbie Lawler, Bobby Southworth, Jeremy Horn, and current No. 1 middleweight contender in the UFC, Chael Sonnen.

He is known for his grinding-style of fighting, excellent ground skills, slick Muay Thai striking, and persistence. Even at 36, Sobral doesn’t seem to be slowing down much, and will prove to be a lot for many fighters to handle.

Standing in his way is none other than Tatsuya Mizuno, the Japanese light heavyweight terror who is a Dream Light Heavyweight Grand Prix finalist, will also be making his debut at ONE FC. He holds a record of 11 – 7, and only one of his fights have gone the distance.

A 3rd degree black belt in Judo and training out of Japan, he has beaten respected fighters such as Trevor Prangley, Melvin Manhoef, and Yoshiyuki Nakanishi, finishing all three opponents in the first round.

Best known for his fierce style of striking and solid Judo skills, he poses a threat to anyone in almost any background simply due to the versatility which Mizuno possesses.

Both fighters need to make a serious impact here – Sobral lost his last fight to Dan Henderson (and in effect, lost his Strikeforce title), and Mizuno’s last opponent wasn’t anyone spectacular, and submitted him easily.

Mizuno is the bulkier of the two fighters, but Sobral is in better shape and has shown to have a decent gas tank in him. Their heights are identical, and their reach isn’t too far apart. This fight boils down to pure skill and solid game-planning.

In the standup game, I believe Mizuno has a slight advantage, and he certainly has the heavier hands and has the ability to knock out opponents with either his punches or knees. That said, Sobral has seen it all, having fought 45 professional mixed martial arts fights, and he does stand a good chance at landing some fair shots.

The ground game, however, I see a significant advantage in favor of Sobral. With 18 submission victories, no one should ever write him off. He is good both in the top position and off his back, demonstrating the latter against Chael Sonnen back at UFC 55.

For Renato Sobral to win, his best chance is to stay on the outside, and land quick, heavy strikes to score points and put on some damage. At some point he could take it to the ground, and work his superior ground game there.

Tatsuya Mizuno has an uphill battle against Sobral. The best way for him to win, I believe, is through boxing, and getting into the clinch game, landing strikes in there. At any point in time in the clinch, he could do a hip-toss and land some ground and pound.

The Coffee Boy’s prediction: Renato Sobral has a lot to prove and a lot more to lose, considering his resume and decorated background. This could be advantageous to some, and disastrous for others. In this case, I think Renato Sobral will be able to effectively land solid strikes, and pull off a TKO victory sometime in the 2nd round.

Super Fight League 3 – The Sandman Speaks

Super Fight League 3 – The Sandman Speaks

Originally Published on May 5, 2012 by The Sandman in Super Fight League

This weekend India’s Super Fight League present SFL 3

The Sandman has not given up on them yet or has he?

Main Card 
Bobby Lashley V James Thompson (HW/ Main Event)
Trevor Prangley V Baga Agaev (LH)
Doug Marshall V Zelg Galešić (MW)
Lena Ovchynnikova V Joanne Calderwood (125 lb) 

Under Card 
Kultar Singh Gill [India] vs Quinton Arendse [South Africa] [80 kg catchweight]
Gurdarshan Mangat [India] vs Liu Si Cong [China] [62 kg catchweight]
Lakhwinder Singh Sekhon [India] vs Vladimir Biandov [Bulgaria] lightweight
Anup Kumar [India] vs Noom [Thailand] [60 kg catchweight] 

Bobby Lashley V James Thompson (HW)

James Thompson (17-14) comes into this fight with one SFL win already under his belt after Bob Sapp tapped from a takedown (of course he did).

Anything Thompson can do, Bobby “The Dominator” Lashley (7-1) can do as well; Lashley has forced Sapp to tap as well due to strikes.

Thompson looked sloppy in his fight against Sapp and I expect the weight cut to be gruesome.

Lashley 2nd round TKO.

Trevor Prangley V Baga Agaev (LH)

Prangley (23-9-1) has lost 3 in a row now with his most recent loss being against now UFC fighter Hector Lombard.

Agaev (26-12) is fighting again less than a month after his loss to Juha Saarinen at Lappeenranta Fight Night 7 in Finland.

Prangley has experience on his side but at 39, you really have to wonder how much he has left in the tank. I’m going for Prangley via second round submission.

Lena Ovchynnikova V Joanne Calderwood (125 lb)

Submission specialist Ovchynnikova (8-1) is coming off a loss in SFL 1 to Sanja Sucevic and her opponents will not get any easier against Calderwood (1-0).

Despite only having one MMA fight under her belt, Calderwood is a distinguished Muay Thai fighter and a champion kickboxer. This is going to be one exciting fight.

Ovch…(I’ll just call her) Lena to win this via submission in the first round.

Doug Marshall V Zelg Galesic (MW)

Former WEC Light Heavyweight champion Doug Marshall (14-5) faces DREAM veteran Zelg Galesic (10-6). Both fighters will be swinging for the fences that’s for sure. I’ll go with Marshall in this one but who really cares.

 I don’t care about the undercard.

(The Editor writes: OK well it looks like actually the Sandman may also be losing interest in the SFL, he can’t even be bothered to write about the undercard!

Part of the problem I have with the SFL is the fact that they have ignored all attempts to get any press information out of them since the first show. Before that first show we had contact with them and they were asking for press, but as soon as that first show they have gone into their shell. The one thing they need on their side is the press and we as a website have tried to be supportive).

Super Fight League – Thankfully Its More Than Bob “Tap” Sapp

Super Fight League – Thankfully Its More Than Bob “Tap” Sapp

Published on March 1, 2012 by The Editor in Opinion, Super Fight League

With The Super Fight Leagues First Event Getting Closer I Ask The Question, Whats It All About?

With the news that SFL has signed Todd Duffee, Trevor Prangley, Paul Kelly, Xavier Foupa-Pokamand Joey Guel for future events one has to wonder what the plan is for SFL?

Todd Duffee (6-2-0) had two fights for the UFC (finishing 1-1) and last fought in Dec 2010 at a K1event losing in just 19 seconds to Alistar Overeem. One has to wonder what has suddenly motivated him to get back in the cage and why he has chosen India to do it in. Surely, Bellator, Pro-Elite or ONE FCwould have been bigger stages, or does he know something?

Trevor Prangley (23-9-1) is 39 and his last appearance in UFC  was all the way back in 2006, his record since then is reasonable. He has fought at Strikeforce, Dream and Bellator in his last three fights, however these were all loses.

Paul Kelly (12-4-0), is a true UFC veteren as his last nine fights were in the Octagon and his UFC record is a solid (5-4). His last fight a loss to Donald Cerrone just over a year ago is nothing to be ashamed of.

Xavier Foupa-Pokam (21-17-0) who has just one win in his last nine fights and has been matched up with Joey Guel (14-7-0) who has not had a fight for four years and has not had a win in five!

Add these signings to Bob Sapp (11-10-0) a man who cannot tap quick enough nowadays and is a pathetic 1-7 going into this event – He has not made it out of the first round win or lose for 10 years and he never looks very fit. His recent loses are pretty much to people you have never heard of and never will. The most shocking thing of all is he is the main event at SFL 1. Yes, the main event at the first show of a big new fighting organisation is a fighter I would not even waste time walking across the road to watch.

Really think about it, if he is the main event what does that say for the undercard fighters?

Sharing the limelight with him on that fight is the Brit James Thompson (16-14-and 1 n/c)  his recent record is 4-10-1 n/c

So what is the plan with SFL? Is it a home for the washed up, the has beens and the never will be’s? Is it a launching pad back into the big show. I mean surely Paul Kelly still has a high level MMA career left in him.

Looking at the fight card it would appear that the fights are a mish mash, but let’s delve deeper

Let’s check it out:

We have already discussed Xavier “Professor X” Foupa-Pokam (21-17-0) vs Joey “Coyote” Guel (14-7-0)

Satish “Crazy Indian” Jha (0-0-0) Vs Jimmy “The Titan” Ambriz (15-18-1)

Sadly, I know little about Jha, He is an Indian, so that’s a good start because for the sport to grow in India, the locals need somebody to cheer. His amateur record is 3-0 and apparently he is a European Shooto Champion. Ambriz on the other hand is an American who I presume has been brought in to provide a test but not too much of one to allow a local winner.

Lakhwinder “Lightning”  Sekhon (2-0-0) Vs Madura Rathnayake (3-0-0)

Sekhon is a British Indian who has two wins to his name in the UK under the Fusion Fighting Championship flag and Rathnayake has three wins at Sri Lanka’s Colombo Fight Nights. I guess it’s a question of who has been fighting in the tougher organisation. I think you should put your money onSekhon, he very smartly has seen a chance to get himself a really big following by returning to his Indian roots and his last win was a storming 25 second TKO due to punches, an Indian star will be born.

Mohammed “The Hawk” Shahid (0-0-0) Vs Mayura Dissanayake (2-0-0)

I am afraid I know nothing about Shahid. Dissanayake has two wins both at Colombo Fight Night events in Sri Langka.

The good news is it looks like we will get to see some ladies MMA as they have also signed: Lena “Hunter” Ovchynnikova (8-0-0) and she will be facing Sanja Sucevic (2-1-0). However, Ovchynnikova is such an exceptional fighter that I really cannot see Sucefvic living with her, look out for an arm bar victory by the Hunter.

Hardeep “Hardcore” Singh (9-2-0) Vs Jeff Bailey (6-5-0)  Singh is a Canadian Indian who I am sure has also been tempted back to his roots with the chance to tap into the massive potential of Indian fight fans. And he is no mug, he has been fighting in an established MMA nation and therefore has got a solid winning record against quality opposition. Bailey is an American who I am sure will be trying to keepSingh away from victory in front of the Indian fans. It should be an exciting fight but I ultimately thinkSingh will win and another  ”Indian” star will be born.

Chaitanya “Dangerous” Gavali (0-0-0) Vs Tiran Thakshala (2-0-0) – Indian, Gavali has an amateur record of 4-1-0, but his debut against another fighter from the Colombo Fight Night series will be no walk in the park, both Thakshala’s previous fights were won by Rear Naked Choke.

Neil “Real” Natasadu (0-0-0) Vs Travis Bell (0-0-0) Natasadu is an accomplished Kick Boxer and it will be interesting to see how he manages in MMA. I am afraid I know nothing of Bells previous work.

So, the Super Fight League is it to be a home for fighters who are no longer good enough for the big show or for fighters who make bad decisions or for fighters looking for a good pay day?

Or………

Is the Super Fight League a new organisation attempting to gain some favorable press by giving the fans a great opportunity to see some fun fights, to introduce them to some Indian fighters who are already established overseas in the process creating some immediate fans favorites and a chance for some local fighters to get some real experience?

I actually think it’s a bit of both and I think we need to give them time to get settled before we judge them. After all they are not going around like ONE FC claiming to be the biggest, greatest, most prestigious and I don’t recall Raj Kundra claiming to be India’s answer to Dana White.

What they are going to do is bring us in their own word ‘Sportainment’ and good luck to them.

Just please no more Bob Sapp!