Predictions for the Muay Thai Premier League's "Stars and Stripes"

With a stacked fight card set for the Muay Thai Premier League's "Stars and Stripes" event this Friday it is once again time for predictions. All of the fights on this card have potential to be the fight of the night. Most Muay Thia fans in America probably never thought they would get to see great fighters such as Buakaw, Julie Kitchen, Artem Levin, or Nathan Corbett fight live, let alone see all of them on one card unless they took a trip out of the country. Below are Muay Thai Authority's predictions for the Muay Thai Premier Leagues "Stars and Stripes" event.

Buakaw Por.Pramuk (THA) vs. Warren Stevelmans (RSA) - WMC World Title Fight
Buakaw's much awaited U.S. debut will be against Warren Stevelmans. Stevelmans is an experience fighter who has mainly competed in the Netherlands. He has fought some top names in kickboxing/Muay Thai such as Armen Petrosyan, Mike Zambidis, Saiyok, and Giorgio Petrosyan to name a few. Unfortunately for Stevelmans he has not been able to collect a victory from any of them. There is no reason to think that things will change when he face Buakaw. If anything Buakaw will be looking to impress in his American debut and you will see him pick apart Stevelmans in route to (T)KO win. Stevelmans will hang tough, but Buakaw will have too much for him in the end.

Result:
Buakaw via (T)KO in the second round

Baxter Humby (USA) vs. Zidov Dominik (SUI) - WMC Intercontinental Title Fight
Humby is coming off a tough split decision loss against Chonlaag Keawit, which could have easily gone his way. Now he faces former "The Contender Asia" participant Zidov Dominik. The Croatian-Swiss fighter will be a tough test for Humby who is hoping to earn a re-match with John Wayne Parr with a victory over Dominik. Expect Humby to be more game than people might give him credit for, however, Dominik will end up being just a tad better as he works his way to decision victory.

Result:
Zidov Dominik via Unanimous Decision

Middleweight 160lb (72.5kg)
Group B - Marco Pique (SRM) vs. Nieky Holzken (NED)
In this re-match from their 2008 fight, Marco Pique will be trying to avenge a KO loss to Nieky Holzken. The first fight was not fought under full Muay Thai rules. Holzken and Pique fought a technical fight that began to sway in Holzken's favor in the second round. In the third round a counter left hook knocked out Pique. Revenge will likely be in Pique's mind, but he needs to make sure to get reckless against Holzken or the result of the first fight will likely be repeated. This fight will likely go the distance, with Holzken once again being able to set the pace.

Result:
Nieky Holzken by Unanimous Decision

Women's Super Lightweight 140lb (63.5kg)
Group A - Valentina Shevchenko (PER) vs. Angelique Pitiot (FRA)
These two ladies are dangerous and technical. It is great to see high quality females like Pitiot and Shevechenko fighting in America. Expect this to be a technical fight from start to finish. Both fighters are well rounded and aggression might end up being the determining factor in this fight. Shevechenko will likely fight a little more aggressively as she tries to move in, clinch and use knees.

Result:
Valentina Shevchenko via Unanimous Decision

Group B - Julie Kitchen (UK) vs. Martina Jindrova (CZE)
Julie Kitchen is one of the most recognizable females competing in Muay Thai today, Martina Jindrova fly's under the radar a lot more, but is going to be a tough fight for Kitchen. Size will likely favor Jindrova, Kitchen likely plans on moving and making Jindrova work. Kitchen will work with volume and as always be technical. It will be a chess match that will end up in the judges hands.

Result:
Julie Kitchen by Unanimous Decision

Welterweight 147lb (66.7kg)
Group A - Mehdi Zatout (FRA) vs. Denis Schneidmiller (GER)
Zatout and Schneidmiller will prove to be an interesting fight. If one of them smells blood they will pounce looking to finish a fight. Scheidmiller fight at a slower pace than Zatout. He tries to pick his shots and once he can see he hurts you he attacks. Zatout is a bit more aggressive, but at the same time is elusive. He know how to move in and attack while doing a good job at not getting him much. Zatout will push the pace and be the more active of the two fighters unleashing some crowd cheering flurries form time to time. This one will also end up in the judges hands as Zatout sets the pace.

Result:
Mehdi Zatout via Unanimous Decision

Group B - Leo Monteiro (BRA) vs. Michael Dicks (ENG)
Monteiro a former Capoeira practitioner from Brazil and England's Michael Dicks will meet in what should be an exciting fight. Monteiro has been residing in Thailand and should provide a tough test for Dicks. Despite falling short against fighters such as Andrei Kulebin and Tim Thomas, Dicks is a quality fighter from the UK. He will push the pace against Monteiro and eventually end up hurting him enough to be able to end the fight via (T)KO.

Result:
Michael Dicks via (T)KO in the second round

Heavyweight 210lb (95kg)
Group A - Nathan Corbett (AUS) vs. Tomas Hron (CZE)
They don’t call Nathan Corbett "Carnage" for no good reason. Corbett is brutalizing in the ring and it is never a good idea to stand in front of him and try and trade, he hasn't lost a fight since 2006. Hron is a big and strong opponent and he will likely move in a straight line towards Corbett. This will be his downfall, despite being big and strong he can't stand in front of Corbett and eat his vicious strikes. This one will end early as Corbett continuously connects heavy strikes. An elbow will spell the end for Hron as Corbett connects and puts his lights out.

Result:
Nathan Corbett via KO in the second round

Group B - Martin Jahn (GER) vs. Filip Verlinden (BLG)
Jahn and Verlinden could provide one of the night's most exciting fights. Both fighters have KO power and both fighters are going to press forward. This could potentially look like rock em sock em robots. Expect these fighters to go at it for a round and a half before one of them hits the canvas. It will be a close fight, but when it is all said and done Jahn will still be standing.

Result:
Martin Jahn via KO in the second round

Light Heavyweight 182lb (82.5kg)
Group A - Simon Marcus (CAN) vs. Artem Vakhitov (RUS)
This fight features so talented youngsters, with both fighters in their early twenties it should be an exciting bout. Both are technical and fast, but the difference will be that Marcus hits like a freight train. Not only does Marcus hit hard he also throws with bad intentions, they don't call him "Bad Bwoy" for nothing. When he steps in the ring he looks to finish and he has the capabilities to end things early. Strong, fast, and vicious are three ways to describe Marcus in the ring. This will be a completely different match-up from the first fight they had, which was very close and went in the favor of Marcus. This one will be exciting while it lasts, but in the end Marcus will be too much for Vakhitov.

Result:
Simon Marcus via KO in the second round

Group B - Artem Levin (RUS) vs. David Keclik (AUS)
"The Lion" Artem Levin will be taking on Austrian David Keclik in what should be a showcase fight for Levin in his U.S. debut. Levin is one of the world elite light heavyweight fighters. The young Russian is technical, strong and has good length and should be able to pick his attacks against Keclik. With a potential match-up with Simon Marcus down the road it would be a huge upset if Keclik were to throw a wrench into those plans by defeating Levin. Keclik will give a good effort, but in the end Levin will be too much for him.

Result:
Artem Levin via (T)KO in the third round