Titan Fighting Championships is making a return trip to the Pacific Northwest this weekend for what will be their first show of 2016. Clearly looking to start the year off with a bang after the unfortunate cancellation of their last card, the folks over at Titan FC have filled this card with talented young prospects, UFC veterans, and a trio of title fights. If you were looking for a good lead in to UFC 196, this is it. The card takes place this Friday, March 4th at the Clark County Event Center in Ridgefield, Washington and will be broadcast on UFC Fight Pass. I am sure at least a few of you out there signed up for your free trial of fight pass last weekend to watch Anderson Silva and Michael Bisping; now you have a chance to see some of the young talent that is knocking on the door of the UFC.
The bout order is as follows:
Bantamweight Title – Ricky Simon vs. Anderson Dos Santos
Featherweight Title – Andre Harrison (C) vs. Steven Siler
Flyweight Title – Tim Elliott (C) vs. Pedro Nobre
Lightweight – Pat Healy vs. Mushin Corbbrey
Bantamweight – Anthony Gutierrez vs. Gabriel Solorio
Lightweight – Jason Novelli vs. Zak Bucia
Featherweight – Grant Dawson vs. Robert Washington
Welterweight – Ben Egli vs. EJ Brooks
Lightweight – Austin Arnett vs. Dave Burrow
Bantamweight – Jose Torres vs. Travis Taylor
***As always card is subject to change
There is plenty to lookout for on this card. You have the return of Pat Healy coming off a disappointing split decision loss to the now retired Rick Hawn, the crowning of a new bantamweight champion (the vacant title is up for grabs), and the Titan FC debut of Portland, Oregon standout Ben Egli. There is a ton to talk about, so let’s break it down.
The Title Fights:
First up we have the flyweights. The flyweight champ, Tim Elliot, has truly been able to show off his skill set since coming to Titan, immediately securing the title and defending it only two months later. Elliot fights to entertain a crowd but his somewhat wild style can leave him open for submissions. His supreme confidence shines in his fights but at times it can appear that he might not be taking things as seriously as he needs to. Even in his last fight, his cornerman, UFC lightweight James Krause, urged him between rounds to “get serious” and “go for the finish.” The skill is there for Elliot, the only question is how serious will he take this fight? Elliot will be taking on Felipe Nobre, a hard-hitting knockout artist who boasts a 17-1-2 record with fourteen finishes to his credit. Nobre had a one fight run in the UFC that ended in a no contest. Since that time, he has been vocal about his release saying it was a mistake by the UFC and he seems to carry that chip on his shoulder. I anticipate this fight will be a fast paced bout that ends early; don’t blink in this one.
-My Prediction, Elliot by submission before the end of the third.
Next up are the featherweights. This fight is a classic striker versus grappler matchup. While the champion, Andre Harrison, does possess a decent kickboxing game, his bread and butter is his wrestling. Harrison has proven consistently that he can get fighters down and he can wear them out with his excellent cardio. He isn’t known to be a finisher but his grinding style is what I consider to be a pressure first offense. At 11-0 with wins over Desmond Green, Kurt Holobaugh, and Cody Bollinger, he has little left to prove before the UFC or Bellator MMA come calling. However, before that happens, Harrison will be going up against former UFC fighter Steven Siler. While Siler may be known for his aggressive striking and fast paced attacks, he has proven that his skill set is very well rounded. With fifteen submissions to his credit, he is very much a threat on the mat. Siler’s comfort on the mat could be a detriment to him in this matchup, however. If he allows Harrison to stay in top position while he looks for submissions I fear this will be a long night for Steven Siler.
-My prediction, Harrison grinds out another decision victory.
In the night’s main event, you have two remarkably talented bantamweights in Ricky Simon and Anderson Dos Santos fighting to secure the vacant strap. Dos Santos is a late replacement for one time titleholder Brett Johns, who was forced out of the fight due to a shoulder injury. Dos Santos brings a strong submission background to this fight, but it will be his takedown defense and striking that keep him alive in this one. Training with Chute Box, Dos Santos has a decent striking game and it will be paramount to his success against Simon. Ricky Simon, on the other hand, has brutal power, strong wrestling, and excellent cardio. In my opinion this is his fight to lose. Simon has turned things up a notch in his prep for this fight and in speaking with him last week he said, “I’ve been doing everything in my power to get that belt. I’m feeling ready.” If Simon can dictate where this fight takes place, I see no reason why he won’t walk away the new champion.
-My prediction, Simon by TKO stoppage in the third.
The Prospects:
There are a number of solid up and coming fighters on this card, but none more impressive than Grant Dawson and Ben Egli. These two fighters are most certainly on the fast track to the top and this weekend is just another step in the right direction for them both. Dawson is an 8-0 featherweight who trains alongside Tim Elliot and James Krause at Glory MMA and Fitness. Never having seen the third round in his career it is clear that Dawson is always looking to get the finish, which is one reason people have their eye on him. Confident and brazen, Dawson seems a likely choice to challenge for the Titan FC featherweight title should he secure a victory this weekend.
Not quite as vocal as Dawson, is Portland, Oregon product Ben Egli. Egli is 6-0 with a total fight time of around just seven minutes; he has finished every on of his fights inside the first round and seems to be just coming into his own in the striking department. In Titan FC’s last trip to the Pacific Northwest, Egli was the one fighter Titan CEO Jeff Aronson mentioned to me by name that he was upset about not getting on the card. In this second trip to the region, it was clear that Egli would be a target for the promotion. This fight will be a bit of step up in competition for Egli, so it will be interesting to see if his dominance continues. A big win would go a long way in getting him a high profile opponent that could be seen as a marquee win for the young welterweight.
Other Fighters to Watch:
Pat Healy, Jason Novelli, Anthony Gutierrez, and Zak Bucia
This card has filled out nicely and should be a great way to start off 2016 for the Titan FC family. If you’re feeling the itch to support some local mixed martial arts, head on out to the Clark County Event Center in Ridgefield and settle in for a night of fights that is poised to deliver.
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