Main Event Bout: Robin Van Roosmalen (30-14-3) vs. Shemsi Beqiri (72-8)
Luke Irwin: Beqiri has a trophy case full of shiny belts (insert smug Jake Shields pic), but none that carry much weight, and he has a lot of fights where whatever promotion books him, uses him as a name draw to throw a can against. RVR has wins over some of the best middleweights and welterweights in the world. Van Roosmalen via Decision.
Lucas Bourdon: The new main event of the evening features #2 LW Robin Van Roosmalen, Van Roosmalen is coming off a win over 2012 K-1 Max champion Murthel Groenhart and his extremely agressive style has made him a fan favorite since he burst out on the scene by winning the It’s Showtime Fast and Furious tournament in 2011. In the opposite corner will be the very talented Shemsi Beqiri, like Van Roosmalen , Beqiri relies more on his punching game than his kicks but while Van Roosmalen is a pressure fighter, Beqiri likes to keep his distance, outboxing his opponents with his very quick boxing combinations and looking to land devastating counters when an opening presents itself. This is a tricky stylistic challenge for Van Roosmalen and I wouldn’t be surprised by an upset but I have to go with Van Roosmalen’s relentless agreesion in that one. My pick: Van Roosmalen by Decision.
Co-Main Event Bout: Davit Kiria (20-8) vs. Murthel Groenhart (53-15-3)
Luke Irwin: Kiria is an interesting case. He’s been a professional for seven years, but only 28 fights is damned near microscopic in the kickboxing world for that amount of time. He’s very noble in that he’s careful about which fights he takes and always takes fights that are above his level, even going up in weight to fight some of the best. He’s incredibly fearless and never ducks anyone and made a very surprising run in Glory’s Middleweight Tournament. With his pacing, and only being 25, he’s got a ton more miles to go, and he will no doubt be one of the best in the world…but not quite yet. Groenhart is still a legit Top-3 in the world at his weight. Kiria will fight valiantly, but it won’t be enough…yet. Groenhart via Decision.
Lucas Bourdon: In the co main event, #4 Davit Kiria faces #7 and 2012 K-1 Max Champion Murthel Groenhart, Kiria defeated Yuri Bessmertny in April in Milan while rebounded from a loss to Van Roosmalen at the same event by scoring a quick KO over Elizio Cabral in a fight outside of Glory last month. Kiria is a very gifted technician but I believe Groenhart’s size, power and killer instinct might prove too much for him to handle in what should be a very entertaining fight. My pick: Groenhart by KO.
Tournament Reserve Bout: Robby Plotkin (1-0) vs. Wayne Barrett (2-0)
Luke Irwin: I like Barrett’s amateur experience much better here, tough as it is to pick against a Serra-Longo guy. Barrett via R2 TKO.
Lucas Bourdon: In the reserve fight of the tournament, the man I consider to be the brightest American prospect faces virtual unknown Robby Plotkin. He was originally scheduled to face Kengo Shimizu but the Japanese fighter was called up to fight Joe Schilling afeter Steven Wakeling withdrew. Plotkin is coming in on a week notice and is a likely knock out victim for Barrett who I’d probably have preffered to see in the tournament instead of Shimizu. My pick: Barrett by KO.
Glory Middleweight Championship Tournament Semifinals: Joe Schilling (13-5) vs. Kengo Shimizu (16-3)
Luke Irwin: Well, I like Schilling’s chances here a lot better now than when he was supposed to Steve Wakeling, who couldn’t get a work visa. Shimizu stepping in on very short notice, and I think Schilling has enough. Schilling via Decision.
Lucas Bourdon: This first tournament semi-final should be a very entertaining fight, Shimizu is a Kyokushin black belt with good offensive skills but huge defensive holes that he compensates by possessing an iron chin. Schilling for his part has a Muay Thai background and shares Shimizu’s penchant for agressive brawls. I don’t expect either of these guys to have much for the other finalist but this one should be a war while it lasts. Shimizu has a better chin and should have a size advantaged, having spent part of his career as a heavyweight. My pick: Shimizu by KO.
Glory Middleweight Championship Tournament Semifinals: Artem Levin (69-5-1) vs. Jason Wilnis (19-2-1)
Luke Irwin: Yeah…this isn’t going to be close. Levin is going to mow through Wilnis and probably a good mowing awaits Schilling too. Levin via R1 KO.
Lucas Bourdon: In the other semi final, #1 MW Artem Levin takes on prospect Jason Wilnis. Levin is without a doubt the most gifted fighter in the field but he can get extremely complacent in fights and don’t show his true potential for most of a fight. He can’t have one of those nights against Wilnis, who likes to get on the inside, overwhelm his opponent with very quick punching combinations and land nasty body shots and low kicks once his opponent is covered up. My pick: Artem Levin by decision.
Superfight: Alexander Stetsurenko (48-7) vs. Karapet Karapetyan (41-8-2)
Luke Irwin: Not much of a fight here. Stetsurenko has roughly between 3 and 8573x more power than Karapetyan, and when that happens, it usually ends up being the worst game of hide-and-seek ever. Draw.
Lucas Bourdon: Alexander Stetsurenko by decision.
Superfight: Brice Guidon (28-9) vs. Jahfarr Wilnis (17-3-1)
Luke Irwin: Yes, Guidon is 2-4 in his last six. His four losses? Ghita, Semmy, Semmy, and Saki. The top-two heavyweights in the world and the recently retired top heavyweight in the world. Gets a very winnable fight here. Guidon via R2 KO.
Lucas Bourdon: In the sole heavyweight fight on the card, Brice Guidon finally gets an easier fight than what he’s been given lately (he fought Semmy Schilt twice in 2012 and was rewarded with a fight against Daniel Ghita to kick off 2013) against the brother of middleweight tournament participant Jason Wilnis. My pick: Brice Guidon by decision.
Superfight: Andy Ristie (41-3-1) vs. Niclas Larsen (39-6-1)
Luke Irwin: Larsen is a fine kickboxer, just fine. Ristie is one of the best that this world has produced recently. Plus, look at that picture. You don’t want to see Larsen knocked out too? Ristie via R1 KO.
Lucas Bourdon: This fight was the one I anticipated the most on this card until Sanny Dahlbeck had to pull out, replacing him will be Danish fighter Niclas Larsen. Larsen has an interesting style based on movement and counterpunching but he’s never faced the level of competition that Ristie represents and apart from an uninspired performance against Alesandro Campagna at Glory 6, Ristie has looked like an elite fighter in recent years. My pick: Ristie by KO.
Superfight: Brian Collette (4-2) vs. Randy Blake (27-2)
Luke Irwin: Blake has been one of, if not the U.S.’s best hope for Kickboxing gold for some time now. The lost to Dustin Jacoby was an unfortunate wakeup call, but he’s still a good enough fighter to take care of Collette. Blake via Decision.
Lucas Bourdon: Randy Blake by decision.
Superfight: Albert Kraus (75-16-3) vs. Ky Hollenbeck (15-2-1)
Luke Irwin: Kraus isn’t the force he once was. After his win over Buakaw in 2008, every time he’s taken even a small step up from average competition, he has lost. Hollenbeck is an American prospect on the rise and a signature win over a name like Kraus would do wonders for his career. His last fight was against the best kickboxer in the world, and he suffered a knee injury. After fighting Giorgio, fighting Kraus will be like taking the donut off of the bat in the on-deck circle. I think he pulls it off and becomes a major player in the kickboxing world. Hollenbeck via Decision.
Lucas Bourdon: Back in the lightweight division, K-1 Max original champion and legend Albert Kraus fights Ky Hollenbeck who is replacing former foe Jordan Watson on a week notice. Kraus’s best days are behind him and he is coming off a knockout loss at the hands (or more accurately the knee) of #3 Andy Ristie but prior to that he looked excellent in a win over Warren Stevelmans at Glory London. Hollenbeck is a decent fighter but taking on a legend on a week notice is a hefty challenge. My pick: Kraus by decision.
Superfight: Hinata Watanabe (27-14-1) vs. Johann Fauveau (27-3-1)
Luke Irwin: Fauveau’s record is rather deceiving, since 95% of his fights have taken place in small shows in France. He’s done fairly well there, but Hinata has faced some heavy artillery in his career, and I think Fauveau is in for a surprise. Watanabe via R2 KO.
Lucas Bourdon: In the last lightweight fight of the card, after putting together a very respectable record on the French scene and a successful Glory debut, Johann Fauveau will face Japanese journeyman Hinata. Fauveau was known early in his career for his pressure and willingness to eat a body kick to get on the inside and land punches but he showed a new aspect in his game in his Glory debut by putting on a very slick performance against Costel Pasniciuc, outboxing him for all three rounds. Hinata is better than his record would indicate though, with wins over Mike Zambidis and Artur Kyshenko and his recent losses coming at the hands of very good fighters. He likes to use his lenght to outscore his opponents with left kicks to the body. My pick Johann Fauveau by decision.
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