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| POSTED BY: MMA_Fan on 11/02/2007 19:19:29 |
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IFL WORLD GRAND PRIX 2007 PREVIEW
Friday, November 02, 2007
- by Ricardo Mendoza - MMAWeekly.com
After
a long and strenuous team season, the International Fight League is now
set to begin crowning champions in five different weight divisions with
its 2007 World Grand Prix, which is set to take place on Nov. 3 at the
Sears Centre in Chicago.
What was once a promising card full
of the IFL’s biggest stars vying for a championship belt in their
respective weight division has now gone through drastic changes due to
contract disputes and injuries.
One of the more notable absences
in the Grand Prix is the promotion’s No. 1 heavyweight, Ben Rothwell,
who along with Mike Whitehead and Antonio McKee is absent due to
contractual disputes. Other stars like Andre Gusmao, Brad Blackburn,
Pat Healy, Reese Andy and Mike Ciesnolevicz were forced out because of
various injuries.
In what is the most competitive weight class
in the Grand Prix, the lightweight division features a much-anticipated
rematch of two of the IFL’s most popular stars in the Anacondas’ Chris
Horodecki and the Silverbacks’ Bart Palaszewski. In their first
meeting, Horodecki won a close split decision victory over Palaszewski,
who at the time was undefeated in the IFL. Expect another war from
these two fighters in what will likely end up being the fight of the
night.
In the other half of the lightweight bracket, Wagnney
Fabiano of the Dragons takes on the Lions’ John Gunderson. Fabiano is
undefeated in the IFL with all three of his victories coming by way of
submission in the first round. Gunderson has only tasted defeat once in
the league, losing a controversial split decision to Palaszewski in a
fight many thought he won. Gunderson needs to keep the fight on the
feet in order survive the submission onslaught of Fabiano on the ground.
The
welterweight division features rematches of two fights that went to
decisive finishes the first time around. The Pitbulls’ Delson Heleno
submitted the Dragons’ Gideon Ray by Kimura when they first met back in
June of this year. Ray needs to keep the fight on the feet in order to
avoid the same fate as their first fight.
Fan favorite Jay
Hieron of the Anacondas rematches the Razorclaws’ Donnie Liles in the
other welterweight semi-final. They met for the first time in March
with Hieron submitting Liles with a choke. Hieron is coming off a
shocking loss to Brad Blackburn and will want to prove a point in this
fight. Not much has changed since these two last met; so expect the
fight to play out much like their first encounter.
In the
middleweight division, heavy favorite Benji Radach of the Anacondas
faces off with the Dragons’ Brent Beauparlant. Radach is undefeated in
the IFL, finishing all four of his opponents within the distance.
Beauparlant has looked like a new fighter since moving down to
middleweight, but it will be a big upset if he can pull off the win
over Radach.
Eccentric Wolfpack middleweight Matt Horwich takes
on the Razorclaws’ Brain Foster in the other divisional match-up.
Horwich has had an up and down career in the IFL, but he is a dangerous
submission fighter that can strike at any time. Foster has been the
most consistent fighter on the Razorclaws and has been rewarded with a
spot in the Grand Prix. As long as he keeps this fight on the feet, he
can stop Horwich. This is an even match-up that should be decided by
whoever is able to take the fight to their comfort zone.
Due
to an abnormal amount of injuries, a champion will be determined in the
light heavyweight division in Chicago, skipping the semi-final round
altogether. In a battle of Ultimate Fighting Championship veterans, the
Sabres’ Vladimir Matyushenko face Alex Schoenauer of the Anacondas.
Matyushenko has dominated the 205-pound division and winning this fight
would be the crowning achievement of his IFL career. Schoenauer has
shown flashes of brilliance, but has been inconsistent throughout his
career. He needs to be at his best here. Look for Matyushenko to
continue his dominance and become the first divisional champion in the
league’s short history.
The heavyweight division is without its
biggest star in Rothwell, which now leaves it wide open with two
contenders sticking out. In the first match-up, Antoine Jaoude of the
Condors faces the Dragons’ Shane Ott. Jaoude has put together an
impressive run this season, but has been unable to finish off his
opponents. Ott made an impressive debut in the IFL, but lost in his
second fight to Roy Nelson. Look for Jaoude to use his slow technical
ground game to grind out another dominant decision victory.
In
the other half of the heavyweight bracket, Roy Nelson of the Lions
takes on the Pitbulls’ Bryan Vetell. Nelson has been impressive with
his only IFL loss coming to Rothwell in a fight that many believe could
of gone either way. Vetell has had a mixed career in the league, losing
to the top heavyweights but holding his own against lesser-experienced
fighters. Look for Nelson to use his superior striking skills and
experience to overcome Vetell.
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Die Hard MMA Fan!!
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