Updated Light Heavyweight Rankings 4-13-2014

Simon Marcus continues to sit on top of the Light Heavyweight Rankings as he has for the past two years. Joe Schilling is no longer in the number two slot as he has been bumped up to the Cruiserweight Rankings after competing in Glory’s 187lb Middleweight division.  

Stephen Richards comes back into the rankings after a lengthy absence due to inactivity and replaces Schilling. Robert Thomas enters the rankings for the first time, and both Alex Berrios and Andrew Kapel move down one spot each due to their recent two fight skids.

1. Simon Marcus (39-0-1)
Simon Marcus has all but cemented himself into the number one slot for the 175lb rankings. The only mark on his record that is not a win is a controversial draw with Chidi Njokuani in September of 2013. In 2014 he is already 3-0 including a hard fought decision win over recent Glory signee Israel Adesanya and a knockout of Vehas TopKing. There are a slew of interesting fights for Marcus including a potential re-match with Artem Levin, but the bout that would get everyone excited would be the UK’s Steve Wakeling. If it will happen only time will tell, but right now Marcus sits perched on top of the Light Heavyweight Rankings and it doesn’t seem he will be coming down anytime soon. He is expected to compete for Glory in their upcoming Glory Middleweight Tournament and it will be interesting how losing some of his best weapons (clinch and elbows) and moving back up to 187lbs will affect Marcus.
 

2. Stephen Richards (8-2-1)
Stephen Richard has been one of North America’s best kept Muay Thai secrets for quite some time now. He is well rounded and full of grit, the problem is fight fans don’t get to see him fight very often. 2013 was his most active year in recent memory and he only had two fights that year. He defeated Alex Berrios and Glen Spencer, both by decision. If Richards can remain more active in 2014 and for the remainder of his career Muay Thai fans will definitely be well aware of who he is.

3. Robert Thomas (6-0)
Thomas has scored some big wins in the past few months. He bested Andrew Kapel by unanimous decision at Round Kick Rumble XXI. He most recently scored a (T)KO victory over Tarek Rached in New York at Friday Night Fights. The Mas Thai Boxing product is only 20 years old and like many of his Canadian counter parts that have climbed to the top of the North American scene it seems like the sky is the limit for him.
  

4. Alex Berrios (9-4)
Alex Berrios is known as one of North America’s best technicians. He has been in the ring with some of North America’s top fighters and has always shown to be a worthy opponent. In addition to his excellent technique, Berrios has shown he possesses fight ending power in his strikes which makes him that much more exciting to watch. Berrios has recently hit a two fight skid, the first time this has ever happened in his career. Both of his losses were by decision to solid opponents in Stephen Richards and Brett Hlavacek. Berrios doesn’t have a return date to the ring yet, but when he does there is no doubt that he will be ready to step in against whoever is placed in front of him. 

5. Andrew Kapel (10-5)
Kapel is another one of North America’s talents that would be more widely recognized if he was able to stay more active. The Minnesota based fighter has dropped his last two bouts. The first was in the semi-finals of the Road to Glory tournament last year in an extra round decision and most recently at Round Kick Rumble XXI where he lost a unanimous decision to Robert Thomas.

Rankings qualification - Muay Thai and Kickboxing bouts are all taken into consideration for the rankings. These rankings are not only based on Muay Thai Fights as many fighters compete in both full rules Muay Thai and Kickboxing bouts. Fighters are not to be inactive for any period longer than 12 months or they will be dropped from the rankings unless a fight is schedule within a month from the date they become ineligible. Fighters that compete in two weight classes will be assigned a weight class that they compete in regularly or hold a major title in. Fighters that are born outside North America, become eligible once they have permanently resided in North America for two years and are actively fighting on the North American fight circuit.
 

*If you are currently ranked in a weight class and would like to switch weight classes please notify Rankings@MuayThaiAuthority.com. Switching weight classes does not guarantee you will be ranked in the new weight class.

Friday Night Fights: Berrios vs. Hlavacek Results

Friday Night Fights was back this past weekend and the main event featured of a bout between two of the the United States finest Nak Muay. Florida's Alex Berrios and New York's Brett Hlavacek battled for five rounds. Early on it seemed Berrios was in firm control of the fight with Hlavacek. In the third round Hlavacek came out swinging heavy and was able to gain back some ground. The final two rounds were a little bit slower paced and when it came time to the judges decision it wasn't clear who would take it. The judges official decision awarded Hlavacek a unanimous decision win.

In the night's only other pro fight Michael Stevens out pointed Brian Wright by unanimous decision. Stevens was a step ahead of Wright throughout the fight and did a good job keeping good form and technique to earn the win.

Results:

Brett Hlavacek def. Alex Berrios via Unanimous Decision

Michael Stevens def. Brian Wright via Unanimous Decision

Brett Hlavacek talks upcoming fight with Alex Berrios at Friday Night Fights

Brett Hlavacek will meet Alex Berrios at this weekend's Friday Night Fights event in New York. Hlavacek vs. Berrios will serve as the main event. A win over Berrios would be a great for Brett's resume and would help continue him climb up the super middleweight rankings. 

Brett is known for his strong clinch and has proven he can end a fight with one strike. It should be an interesting match up with Berrios as they have both proven to be very cerebral fighters.

We were able to catch up with Brett and talk about his upcoming bout with Alex Berrios.
 

MTA: Big fight against Alex Berrios coming up, how is the training camp going? 

Brett: Training is going great! Can't wait to get some work in on April 4th.

MTA: Anything different being done this training camp as opposed to others? 

Brett: Nothing to new and crazy. This fight is at a higher weight so we are making adjustments. It's fun to get back in the gym and work clinching,elbows,and all the fun stuff that comes with Muay Thai. It's fun to be able to fight under Glory rules and Muay Thai. If keeps it fun and fresh.

MTA: How familiar are you with Alex and what strengths do you think he brings to the fight? 

Brett: I've only seen a couple fights of his on the internet but I know he is a solid fighter who has been fighting for some time now. He def brings a good Thai style which will make this fight very enjoyable for me.

MTA: If you had yo pick your biggest strength in the ring what would it be? 

Brett: I think my strength is that I'm comfortable wherever the fight goes. I can clinch,kick,and now I've been really working on my boxing. I'm really trying not to be a one trick pony. 

MTA: Can we get a prediction for the fight? 

Brett: I fell like both of us are in the same place in our career. We both need a win like this to get to the next step in our careers. It's going to be a dog fight. 

MTA: You have been fighting kickboxing rules lately. What do you prefer Muay Thai or Kickboxing rules and why? 

Brett: I grew up fighting Muay Thai and I will always prefer Thai rules over anything else. That's not to say I don't enjoy kickboxing though. Kickboxing gets me out of my comfort zone and forces me to work on my boxing and become a better fighter.

MTA: If you could have any match up in the world who would you fight and why?

Brett:  Right now my focus is on Alex. If I win this fight it's on to the international stage where I think I belong. I broke into the WBC world rankings this year and plan on cracking the top ten this year. So anybody ranked above me is on my list.

MTA: Thanks for the time Brett. Any words for your supporters? 

Brett: I want to thank everybody who is out supporting me. New York has a great Muay Thai scene and I'm lucky to be a part of it. Also a big thank you to my trainers,family,and wife Kim for all the much needed help.

Alex Berrios talks upcoming fight with Brett Hlavacek for Friday Night Fights

Alex Berrios and Brett Hlavacek will meet in the main event of this weekend's Friday Night Fights event. Berrios and Hlavacek are two of North America's best Super Middleweight/Light Heavyweight fighters. Both fighters are known for their technique and ability to finish fights and it should prove to be an exciting match up.

We were able to catch up with Alex Berrios and talk to him about his upcoming fight, as well as his training and more.

MTA: Big fight against Brett Hlavacek coming up, how is the training camp going?

Alex: Training is going great. Over the last year, training others I have looked at improving my fight training and applied it to this camp. I haven't felt so strong all the way through even the most grueling days.

MTA: Anything different being done this training camp as opposed to others?

Alex: Getting more sleep and nutrition (my girlfriend has been a lifesaver, often shopping preparing healthy meals for me.)

MTA: How familiar are you with Brett and what strengths do you think he brings to the fight?

Alex: I've watched some of Brett's fights and I got to say that we are a similar match up. I think he brings a good deal of fight knowledge and strategy to the ring.

MTA: If you had to pick your one biggest strength in the ring what would it be?

Alex: Smart fighting. Any knucklehead can run around swinging and kicking. As an engineer I want to bring efficiency and reflexive adaptability to my game. I like to fight deliberately.

MTA: Can we get a prediction for the fight?

Alex: I think you will see two guys who have a tremendous love for the sport and respect for each other having a great time in the ring. It will be a tough hard fight.

MTA: You are fighting at 168lbs now do you like it better than175?

Alex: Actually this fight is the other way around. I'm fighting at 175 according to my contract! haha. Anything between 170-175 suits me well, but as you know I usually fight above and below that.

MTA: If you could have any match up in the world who would you fight and why?

Alex: My dream fight would be to go to Thailand, train, and match up with a fighter (Thai or foreigner.)

MTA: Your day job is engineer, is difficult finding time to train and does anything from being a muay thai fighter help you in your day job?

Alex: I am a morning person, so the hardest part of fight training is finding training partners in the morning. Lucky for me, I rarely have a problem with that. I have more energy and productivity when I'm training hard. I think I get into a mindset of hard work and it permeates all the rest of what I do. I also train in the evening. I find that splitting time to hit pads, bag, conditioning in the morning and sparring clinching in the evening is a common and effective routine for me.

MTA: Thanks for the time Alex. Any words for your supporters?

Alex: Don't miss this fight. Every fight is huge for me and I always take this very seriously. I feel very strong appreciation for all the fight fans who attend and keep the sport thriving. Thanks everyone, especially those brothers and sisters in training!

Alex Berrios vs. Brett Hlavacek set for Friday Night Fights main event

New York's longest running Muay Thai promotion, Friday Night Fights will return on April 4th to the Ball Street Ballroom. The main event on the night will feature a bout between two East Coast stand outs as Alex Berrios takes on Brett Hlavacek. The night's co-main event will feature a bout between Brian Wright and Michael Stevens.

Berrios has long been considered one of the United States best technicians in the ring. His technical prowess along with his knockout power make him a threat to anyone he steps in the ring with. Berrios will be looking to rebound from a decision loss to Stephen Richards in his most recent outing which took place last April.

Hlavacek who is known for his effective clinch has has only tasted defeat once in his professional career. He was the runner up in the Road to Glory Welterweight Tournament in 2013 and has since then made a successful Glory debut.

Fight Card:

Alex Berrios vs. Brett Hlavacek

Brian Wright vs. Michael Stevens

TUFMED - "The Flying Knee" - The Alex Berrios Story

Check out TUFMED's video "The Flying Knee" featuring Florida's Alex Berrios. For those not familiar with Alex, he is one of the top American Nak Muay. Known for his technical skill set as well as his finishing prowess, Alex is one of the brightest stars. He trains out of Tampa Muay Thai in Tampa, FL and is someone you definitely want to keep an eye on in the American Muay Thai and Kickboxing scene.

Bangkok Fight Night "Shockwave" results

Bangkok Fight Night “Shockwave” took place last night in Atlanta, Georgia and in the main event Chike Lindsay locked horns with James Martinez. It didn’t take long for Lindsay to find his range as he dispatched of Martinez in the first round with some excellent knees. Lindsay is now set to face Thai powerhouse Saiyok in Thailand this upcoming May. It was a dominant performance by Lindsay, who has now won five consecutive fights.

Alex Berrios and Stephen Richards tangled in a re-match of their 2010 fight. This time it was for the WBC Muay Thai super middleweight national title, and from the start it was close fight as both fighters left it all out in the ring. In the fourth round Richards began to turn up the pressure, and although Berrios was standing toe to toe with him, Richards began to take control. In the fifth round it seemed Berrios suffered some damage when Richards connected with a leg kick, but he kept fighting. In the end the result was the same as their first fight, a unanimous decision for Stephen Richards.

Results:
Chike Lindsay def. James Martinez via (T)KO at 2:19 of Rd. 1
Stephen Richards def. Alex Berrios via Unanimous Decision
Jarred Batten def. Daniel House via Split Decision
Erik Castro def. Clint Blizzard via Unanimous Decision
Wes Bass def. Jose Medrano via Split Decision
Richard Goodine def. Darrius Crowley via Unanimous Decision

4 Muay Thai fights set for tonight's Bangkok Fight Night "Shockwave" event in Atlanta

In the Muay Thai main event on Fri, April 5th, Atlanta Muay Thai star Chike Lindsay returns to fight the ever-explosive James Martinez for the WBC title in the biggest Bangkok Fight Night to date. In the co-main event, prepare for a clash of souls as Muay Thai sensation Stephen Richards and the ever exciting Alex Berrios put their records and reputations on the line for the WBC U.S. Title. BFN Champion Dexter “Bolo” Carthon also steps up to fight the bone-crushing veteran, Kevin Brooks, and rising star Gui Curry goes toe to toe with the hard hitting Ramonte Chatman.

 

Fight card:

Chike Lindsay vs. James Martinez

Stephen Richards vs. Alex Berrios

Dexter Carthon vs. Kevin Brooks

Gui Curry vs. Ramonte Chatman

Alex Berrios vs. Stephen Richards set for Bangkok Fight Night "Shockwave" on April 5th in Atlanta

Another pro Muay Thai fight has been confirmed for the April 5th Bangkok Fight Night event in Atlanta. “Shockwave” will take place at Center Stage and will feature a WBC Muay Thai national light heavyweight title fight between Alex Berrios and Stephen Richards.
 

Berrios was last in action in January when he defeated Eric Utsch by majority decision under the Friday Night Fights banner in New York. Richards, meanwhile, has not competed since early 2012 when he fought to a draw with Cyrus Washington.

Both Berrios and Richards are known for their technical styles, but both also posses finishing power. The fight will be a re-match of their 2010 fight, which Richards one by unanimous decision. It should be interesting to see how things play out in this re-match. Since the first bout Richards has not fought consistently with long layoffs in-between, while Berrios has cone on to become of the top light heavyweight fighters in North America.

Current Fight Card:
Chike Lindsay vs. James Martinez
Alex Berrios vs. Stephen Richards

Updated North American Light Heavyweight Rankings 2/7/2013

Simon Marcus continues to be the ruler of the North American light heavyweight division, now pushing his pro record to 31-0. Not much shake up in the rankings aside from the new addition of Steve Hall, who replaces Travis Lerchen due to inactivity. Andrew Kapel retains his number four ranking since he is scheduled to fight on February 9th in the “Road to Glory” tournament.
 

1. Simon Marcus (31-0)
Marcus started of 2013 with two knockout wins in China. He has clearly entrenched himself as the top light heavyweight in North America. What’s next for the Marcus is currently unknown. A bout with Russian powerhouse Artem Levin has fallen through three times already, but is now expected to take place at Lion Fight 9 on March 15th. Other interesting match-ups for Marcus include Steven Wakeling, L’houcine Ouzgni or Damien Bujan to name a few.
 

2. Joe Schilling (13-5)
2012 was a rough year in the ring for Schilling. After his dominating win over Kaoklai to end 2011, Schilling went 1-3 with two losses to Simon Marcus and one to Eddie Walker in 2012. His lone win came to Karapet Karapetchyan by decision at Battle of the Belts in Thailand. What’s next for Schilling is not known, but a potential re-match with Walker in the future is something that might be a possibility.

 

3. Alex Berrios (9-2)
Berrios scored his first win of 2013 with an exciting majority decision over Eric Utsch. Berrios has now won three consecutive fights, and is easily one of the best light heavyweights in North America despite not walking much heavier than his fighting weight. With a Friday Night Fights deal in place for 2013, expect to see more of Alex Berrios in New York.

 

4. Andrew Kapel (9-3)
Kapel will make his return to the ring after some significant time off. He will be fighting in the “Road to Glory” tournament on Feb. 9th. A tournament win would be a huge in his return to action.

 

5. Steve Hall (3-1)
Hall was last seen in action against Anthony Nieves at Bangkok Fight Night in late September of 2012. In a close fight Hall was able to take home a majority decision. While dabbling both in MMA and Muay Thai, Hall has made it clear he prefers striking. Hall’s next fight is currently unknown, but he has all the tools to make a climb up the North American light heavyweight division.



 

Rankings qualification - Muay Thai and Kickboxing bouts are all taken into consideration for the rankings. These rankings are not only based on Muay Thai Fights as many fighters compete in both full rules Muay Thai and Kickboxing bouts. Fighters are not to be inactive for any period longer than 12 months or they will be dropped from the rankings unless a fight is schedule within a month from the date they become ineligible. Fighter's that compete in two weight classes will be assigned a weight class that they compete in regularly or hold a major title in. Fighters that are born outside North America, become eligible once they have permanently resided in North America for two years and are actively fighting in the North American fight circuit.
 

*If you are currently ranked in a weight class and would like to switch weight classes please notify Rankings@MuayThaiAuthority.com. Switching weight classes does not guarantee you will be ranked in the new weight class.

Pictures: Friday Night FIghts 2013 Season Opener Pro Fights

Our friend Bauzen was on hand at Friday Night Fights this past Friday to shoot their season opener. The night featured some exciting bouts, Alex Berrios and Liam Tarrant were both victorious on the night. As always Bauzen delivered some awesome photographs of the night's pro fights.

Make sure to follow Bauzen on twitter @Bauzen and check out his website www.Bauzen.com.