Titan FC Returns this Friday with Titan FC 27 (Fight Report)
A new contender on the network MMA battlefield, Titan FC goes from Kansas staple to mainstream attraction with a Titan FC 27 card built for serious fight fans. While the card is built on former UFC and Bellator battlers, the match-making promises some competitive and exciting match-ups. Let’s dig in.
Mike Ricci vs Jorge Gurgel: Fresh off his release from the UFC, Mike Ricci will look to polish his good name outside the octagon, taking on veteran slugger Jorge Gurgel. Ricci is an outstanding technical fighter whose downfall was an inability to deal with high-level wrestling, and he’ll luckily encounter none of that in this main event fight.
Gurgel some may remember from his ill-fated time in the UFC, having thrown his BJJ black belt out the window and replaced it with wind milling punches and not a bit of game planning. While fun to watch, he’s never materialized as a solid fighter despite his credentials, and faces Ricci in what could be the last fight in his long career.
I can’t see very many circumstances where Ricci loses this fight, as Gurgel doesn’t have the size or wrestling to force a ground fight, and will be soundly defeated standing. What this comes down to is what Ricci wants to show in his first fight outside the UFC, and whether he fights to a pedestrian decision or looks to decapitate Gurgel. Ricci just doesn’t have that kind of mean streak, even if it is what the doctor ordered here, and I expect a sound beating, but one that fails to make a true statement, as Ricci wins a striking decision.
Matt Riddle vs Michael Kuiper: Injuries and unemployment have plagued Matt Riddle for a while, but he finally lands on his feet in Titan, taking on former UFC fighter Michael Kuiper. Kuiper comes into this looking to bounce back from a pair of losses, and while he was never at the top of the division, he was making consistent gains in training throughout his career. Riddle was a staple in the UFC for some time, but moving back to Middleweight to take on a strength-based grappler seems like a recipe for disaster. While Kuiper is a bit on the slow side, he is incredibly strong and hits like a truck, making this fight a tough one for Riddle to walk away with. Expect a hard effort from Riddle, but the stiff punches and upper body strength of Kuiper force a striking battle that Riddle can’t win, giving the judoka a decision in his Titan debut.
Kurt Holobaugh vs Eric Marriott: An underappreciated fighter that was given the boot too soon, former UFC fighter Kurt Holobaugh faces off against Midwest staple Eric Marriott. Holobaugh is an exceptional talent on the mat, combining aggressive wrestling with slick submission work, giving opponent’s little room to work their own offense. Marriott is a solid grappler in his own right, having a well-rounded game, yet doesn’t tend to do well against opponents who dictate the fight. That’s exactly what I expect Holobaugh to do as he goes on the attack and clobbers Marriott, getting the submission win late in the encounter.
Kevin Croom vs Bryan Goldsby: The sleeper fight of the night, Kevin Croom will continue his marathon fighting pace, taking on journeyman wrestler Bryan Goldsby. Croom is someone who should be on your radar if you follow the sport, as his eight fight win streak in a little over a year has turned some heads to the young man’s work ethic. This comes down to Goldsby being able to perfectly execute against someone who has both the pace to break him and the wrestling skills to force a striking match. Don’t blink, as Croom will storm forward and dispatch Goldsby in short order, after a flurry standing leads to a ground and pound stoppage.
Titan FC 27 takes place at the Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas. The main card will air live on CBS Sports Network beginning at 8:30pm PT / 11:30pm ET.
Category: Featured, MMA, Titan Fighting Championship
About the Author (Author Profile)
I'm a 20+ year veteran of martial arts and a fan of MMA since UFC 1, when my world was thrown on its head by the budding sport. I'm obsessive in the pursuit of martial abilities and have competed across the country in everything from Vale Tudo to archery to Scottish broadsword. Once my body broke down, I picked up a pen and went in the direction of writing. I specialize in betting advice, predictions, and I'm a walking encyclopedia of MMA trivia. I own a cafe in Exeter, NH called Hammersmith Sandwich Company and write out of my office between customers.Subscribe
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