The lead up to GCC 5 had quite a few valleys and peaks. As I headed into the arena in Thailand, I thought a lot to myself about what could have been but maybe just maybe it's not the biggest fights that make the best of fights.
I love meeting new fighters. You never know what to expect. Such is the case of Sergei Radmonivich, a behemoth of a man from Medved, Russia. If you're looking for my sleeper pick, it's this guy. Although I didn't know it at the time, I truly believe he had the best training camp heading into to Saturdays fight -- not only was he ripped to shreds, his diet plan and day to day training regimen looked closer to something you'd see from an NBA player (rip kobe).
Also an interesting point during camp, Sergei and Legion founder Tony Savage were in London fighting exhibitions fights at North London Boxing gym as part of a fundraising drive to help the family of local boxer Michael Graydon who was diagnosed 2 months ago with stage 3 stomach cancer. All proceeds from the expo fights went to help his family pay expenses while he undergoes treatment.
I spoke with Sergei before he started his open workout and that is what he said translated from Russian.
''Theatrics and bombastic guarantees are not something I'm good at. Robby is a solid fighter, and despite is record, I must respect he has a record with the company. In many regards, we are matched up near identical. Good boxing, take-downs. I feel, though, a superior ground game on my part will beat him out. I do not see him slipping out of my submissions attempts or ground and pound. This will be a difficult test, but every opportunity I see in that fight, I will take. This is a huge step to begin my career. A victory in Poland puts myself and Legion on the map within the company.''
Sergei Radmonivich
Trait 1 >>> This fighter has a higher chance to lock in Kimuras
Trait 2 >>> This fighter will look to avoid the clinch at all costs
Trait 3 >>> This fighter will look to get the fight to the ground at a higher rate
Stamina +100, consistency +89
Speaking of training camps, Jade Young had a great camp herself. After her amazing fight with Jessica House, I really think she can benefit from joining a top tier gym that would serve to help her grow as a fighter. At the open workouts, she looked to be in great shape but I couldn't name one notable person helping her prepare for the fight.
I managed to get a short sound byte from Jade,
''Katherine's not much of a problem for me. She might claim she's "That Bitch", but from what I've seen of her recently, she's more like a dog with no bite. I'll see you at the fight.''
Jade Young
Trait 1 >>> This fighter will look to keep the fight standing and within striking range
Trait 2 >>> This fighter will look to wall and stall her opponent up against the cage
Stamina +90, consistency +80
I got a good look at Paul Rossi as he and Rob Jones did a few warm up rounds with a light spar with their protective equipment on. Based on my eye test, Paul Rossi will do his best to avoid going to the ground with Indigo Greene and notably, I didn't seem him rolling with Jones and any point during his open workout session which leads me to believe Rossi has a belief in his ability to keep the fight standing.
Here is what I think you can expect from Paul Rossi on Saturday Night based on his ammy footage.
Paul Rossi
Trait 1 >>> This fighter will look to start the bout fast and aggressively
Trait 2 >>> This fighter will opt to throw strike combinations over one big KO shot.
Trait 3 >>> This fighter will throw head kicks at a higher rate
Stamina +100, consistency +89
After a light sparring session with fellow lightweight and training partner Paul Rossi, I spoke with Rob Jones about his upcoming fight with Jake Rogers. Rob Jones was extremely dismissive of Jake Rogers lambasting him for his career in pro wrestling, lack of work ethic and overall fighting abilities calling his initial win over Agustin Gates a fluke.
He showed complete dismissal of Jake Rogers as an opponent ending his tirade with a shrug of the shoulders and bodily predicted he'd knock Jake Rogers out with a head kick when it was all said and done.
Rob Jones
Trait 1 >>> This fighter will throw a high volume of leg kicks
Trait 2 >>> This fighter will look to lock in a Muay Thai Clinch at a higher rate.
Trait 3 >>> This fighter will look to out Counter-Strike his opponent
Stamina +100, consistency +89
The last time we seen Renegade Kali in action, it wasn't long. Renegade Kali had a straight forward approach in her training regimen and her approach to the fight. You can see it in the way she worked on the heavy bag, power shot... after power shot. She stopped long enough to pay me some attention and I asked her about her thoughts on the fight.
Scowl and all, she said...
''I was told to take no chances in this match. Keep their openings to a minimum, if I must, break their spirit and crush them, whatever means necessary. Domination doesn't care about anyone. Or anything.''
...
''I'm going to do it just like I do every other night. Look them straight in the eyes, as I knock their lights out. That is, unless they survive. Lasting the 3 rounds does not mean you are better than me... It just means you've managed to survive. Remember that. All will fall at one point, even the giants.''
Renegade Kali
Trait 1 >>> This fighter will look to out Counter-Strike her opponent
Trait 2 >>> This fighter will look for one big KO shot in favor of combinations.
Stamina +90, consistency +80
As I made my way to the north side of the building, I ran into Sanoh Ngam Chit. She wasn't stationed with the rest of her camp Lone Wolf MMA but instead escorting a group of young boys and girls backstage.
At the time, I didn't know what it was about. Later on, I found out that her elder cousin Awut Somaskul was inviting the local kids to spar with him and the rest of his team and the open presser. Sanoh smiled and kindly waved at me as she passed on by, greeting me for a second in broken English.
Unable to speak with Sanoh, I've drafted up what I think her strategy will be for this fight.
Sanoh Ngam-Chit
Trait 1 >>> This fighter will look to jump to guard whenever possible.
Trait 2 >>> This fighter will look to wrestle with her opponent at a higher rate
Trait 3 >>> This fighter will look to lock in Triangle Chokes at a higher rate.
Stamina +100, consistency +89
When faced with a question about what he thinks about his chances for the upcoming fight, Sigurd scratched his nose and said, "Well, I know that I lost the previous fight. That guy is really tough. I'm still pretty confident in my ability to bounce back though. Let's see who really is number three after Jack and Clive".
Sigurd Bjarnasson
Trait 1 >>> This fighter will avoid striking exchanges at all costs.
Trait 2 >>> This fighter will look to get the fight to the ground at a higher rate.
Stamina +100, consistency +89
Tristan McPeak is a fighter coming off a tough decision loss against, Jack Clive. Still, he managed to have a positive outlook heading into his fight with Sigurd on Saturday. Yet, I do have some concerns. It seems that Tristan McPeak may not be getting the most out of his training sessions at TW Combat Sports as he looked to be in just ''decent enough'' shape for the fight.
Tristan McPeak
Trait 1 >>> This fighter will look to throw a high volume of combinations
Stamina +80, consistency +70
At the open workouts team Hilite FC was missing a few key members most notably lead boxing coach, Misty DeMeans. Due to her removal from the card, a large void was left to be filled by lightweight challenger Sergiy Revenko and there were many questions on whether or not he has what it takes. A relative unknown in GCC in terms of his popularity, he quickly climbed atop the rankings with two dominate one sided victories.
Sergiy had shined a grin when asked about the chance to fight Awut for the GCC lightweight championship.
"Damn, it really caught me off guard. Awut looks freaking scary, man. I'm working my ass off here in the gym to make sure I can best him. But I'm quite confident in ability though and very excited for this fight"
Sergiy didn't look all that excited though, but that's how he always looks, so who really knows?
Sergiy Revenko
Trait 1 >>> This fighter will look to initiate the clinch at a higher rate.
Trait 2 >>> This fighter will look to lock in a Muay Thai Clinch at ahiger rate.
Trait 2 >>> This fighter will focus almost exclusively getting back to his feet
Stamina +100, consistency +89
The fanfare surrounding Awut Somaskul was simply amazing. In his hometown on Thailand the support his fellow countrymen was virtually unmatched. With Krystal Knight being notably absent from his open workout session, Awut held the pads for a few local kids no older than 12 so they could punch and kick the pads he held up. It was a heart warming moment one that we don't see often enough in this sport.
Say what you want about Awut Somaskul, he may not be the most exciting fighter or someone who is going to bring a bunch of new fans to the sport but he has a spirit that embodies mixed marital arts and truly fights for the love of the sport and nothing more and despite everything that had occurred leading up to the fight it seems fitting that it is he, Awut Somaskul the GCC lightweight champion who is given top billing in his home country in-front of a nation who loves him dearly.
I expect Awut Somaskul to take the following approach heading into Saturday's main event championship fight.
Awut Somaskul
Trait 1 >>> This fighter will look to jump to guard whenever possible.
Trait 2 >>> This fighter will look to lock in arm bars at a higher rate
Trait 3 >>> This fighter will look to get the fight to the ground at a higher rate
Stamina +100, consistency +89
On Saturday Night, Awut Somaskul will defend his GCC championship in his homeland against Sergiy Revenko for the very first time. It may not be the main event we had anticipated, it may not even be the main event we wanted but maybe in spite of all our ignorance it turns out to be a main event we all really didn't deserve.
It's Lone Wolf vs. HILITE FC part one.