Lion Fight 23 Predictions

Lion Fight 23 takes place tonight in Temecula, CA at Pechanga Resort and Casino. The UK's Liam Harrison will take on Malaipet Sasiprapa in the main event of the evening. In the co-main event Tiffany Van Soest will look to defend her Lion Fight title when she takes on Martyna Krol. Check out our predictions on tonight's fights below and let us know who you think will win.

Liam Harrison vs. Malaipet Sasiprapa

Harrison is arguably the best UK Muay Thai fighter, and one of the best around the world. Malaipet has a great reputation, but when facing top opposition he has struggled. There are always talks about the old Malaipet coming back, but he never quite seems to make a full come back. 

Malaipet will likely start strong like he does in nearly every one of his fights, but as this fight goes on he will begin to slow down. Harrison will keep his work rate and pressure consistent throughout the fight and this will spell trouble for Malaipet. Harrison packs power in his strikes and is very accurate with his strikes. This fight should resemble Malaipet’s fight with Pinca, although Harrison will probably inflict more damage than Pinca did on Malaipet. The first round we will see Malaipet taking the fight to Harrison, but after the first round Harrison will be in full control.

Malaipet is tough so it is difficult to imagine Harrison stopping him, although the potential is there with the heat Harrison throws. More than likely Malaipet absorbs the punishment and this ends up in a decision win for Harrison.

Prediction: Liam Harrison def. Malaipet Sasiprapa by Decision

Tiffany Van Soest vs. Martyna Krol

Tiffany Van Soest has been able to set herself apart from most of her female counter parts because of her athleticism and this shouldn’t be any different in her fight with Martyna Krol. Van Soest knows how to move in the ring, using angles and exploding on her opponents when openings present themselves. Caley Reece defeated Van Soest in the clinch, but since that fight she has improved in that aspect of her game and Krol’s clinch is not the level of Reece’s. 

Krol is a tough and has a decent amount of experience, but it is hard to imagine here out pointing Van Soest let alone stopping her. Krol is a very linear fighter and mainly moves in a straight line which will play right into the hands of Van Soest. This fight should be all Van Soest from the opening bell. Expect a stoppage win for Van Soest and a lot of damage inflicted from her before this one is over.

Prediction: Tiffany Van Soest def. Martyne Krol by (T)KO

Kevin Ross vs. Rungrat Sasiprapa 

Ross will be looking to rebound from his loss to Tetsuya Yamato, and he did not pick an easy fight. Rungrat is a quality Thai opponent and this should be a close fight. Ross is tough as nails and likes to press the pace, the faster the pace the more comfortable Ross seems to get. Rungrat has the potential to fight that type of fight, if that will happen is another story. 

Ross is going to want to use his boxing and use his movement, which are some of his strongest assets. If he can stay out of the clinch his high volume style should yield positive results. Rungrat should want to grind in the clinch and slow Ross down. This is a hard one to pick, but we say Ross is able to stay out of the clinch and implement his game plan to take home a decision.

Prediction: Kevin Ross def. Rungrat Sasiprapa by Decision

Victor Saravia vs. Stan Mancebo 

Saravia is on a roll since turning pro. He has knockout power and uses it aggressively. If you are going off of recent history Mancebo is going to have his hands full with Saravia. The biggest advantage Saravia has is that he is a smart fighter; he waits for the opening and then goes for it once it becomes available. 

His power should be the difference maker and Mancebo is going to have to respect it. Expect Saravia to take control early and deliver a stoppage win.

Prediction: Victor Saravia def. Stan Mancebo by (T)KO

Mike Lemaire vs. Andrew Kapel

Lemaire and Kapel have fought before and it was a close fight the first time. So close that it had to be settled with an extra round where Lemaire took the decision win. This fight should be another close fight, but Kapel might have the advantage because it will be Muay Thai rules rather than Kickboxing like their first encounter. Kapel seems to have traditional Muay Thai style and being able to clinch and elbow should favor him a bit. 

Lemaire packs power and it will be important for Kapel to close the distance and use the clinch so that Lemaire can’t deliver those heavy shots. This is going to be another close fight, but with the clinch in play Kapel should be able to edge out a close decision.

Prediction: Andrew Kapel def. Mike Lemaire by Decision

Daniel McGowan vs. Romie Adanza 

Adanza has not been very active lately, while McGowan has not only been active but is considered the best bantamweight fighter in the UK. Adanza has great boxing, but his inactivity could prove to be an issue. 

McGowan should be able to control Adanza throughout the fight especially in the clinch, but you can never count a crafty veteran like Adanza out. The pick here is McGowan as he is the younger and more active fighter of the two. A stoppage victory might occur if McGowan can deliver some serious damage from the clinch, but I think the safe pick is a decision.

Prediction: Daniel McGowan def. Romie Adanza by Decision

Tony Fausto vs. Marvin Madariaga

Fausto did not have a good showing his last fight under Lion Fight as he out struck by Nick Chasteen. You can’t question his toughness as he was willing to fight until his corner threw in the towel. This fight against Madariaga will be power vs. technique.

Fausto has a very technical style and should want a slower paced fight. Madariaga should hold the advantage in power and that will be his strongest tool. He should take the fight to Fausto and wear him down, and this should help him get a stoppage in the later rounds as long as his cardio holds up.

Prediction: Marvin Madariaga def. Tony Fausto by (T)KO

Lion Fight 18 Predictions

Lion Fight 18 takes place tonight and once again Nathan Aripez is back with predictions. The last Lion Fight event was an even split down the middle. I was 3-3 at Lion Fight 17 thanks to a few upsets. Lion Fight 18 features the return of Yodsanklai as he defends his Lion Fight middleweight title against Salah Khalifa. Jorina Baars was originally slated to defend her title, but her bout was removed at the last minute.

There should be some exciting fights on the night and aside from the main event and co-main event which I would say are a close to guarantees as one can give in the fight game, the rest of the bouts are going to be tough to call. Now without further ado here are the predictions.

Yodsanklai Fairtex vs. Salah Khalifa
This fight is Yodsanklai’s to win or lose. Khalifa is a good young fighter, but Yodsanklai is on a completely different level. Khalifa’s best chance of winning this fight is by either knocking out Yodsanklai or cutting him and hoping the doctor stops the fight. Yodsanklai has proven in his career he can take damage and if he does get knocked down or hurt he can recover fast meaning that Khalifa would have a small window of time in which to try and capitalize.

Yodsanklai might start off slow so that he can get a feel for Khalifa, but as soon as he picks up on his timing expect Yodsanklai to start firing of kicks and mauling Khalifa in the clinch. Khalifa is a tough fighter but I don’t think he is going to have enough to hang with a wrecking ball like Yod for five rounds. As soon as Yodsanklai begins to connect with powerful kicks to the body Khalifa will start to slow down. This one ends in the second or third round.

Prediction: Yodsanklai wins by (T)KO

Stan Mancebo vs. Jason Andrada
Andrada is trying to rebound from his first career loss, and he should do so against Mancebo. Andrada is a fast paced fighter. He doesn’t slow down and has the gas tank to keep a high level through all five rounds. Most of his opponents can’t match his pace. Mancebo needs to land something big early to stand a chance against Andrada, if not Andrada will dictate the pace and take over. Even if Mancebo happens to hurt Andrada he needs to be cautious because Andrada can put the hammer down at any time. His first fight with Mohammed Lemjerdine is the prime example.

Andrada should rebound nicely in this fight. He is going to come out full of energy as always and he should be able to score a stoppage in the second or third round.

Prediction: Jason Andrada by (T)KO

Jose Palacios vs. Nick Chasteen
Chasteen lost for the first time as a pro in his last outing, and he didn’t get an easy fight to try and rebound. Palacios is a gritty veteran that is as tough as they come. Chasteen has a very straight forward style; he likes to walk down his opponents. This is going to be an issue since Palacios counter fighting style is perfect for this. Palacios is good at avoiding damage and has great counter boxing, if he is patient he should be able to rack up a lead on the judge’s score card.

Chasteen needs to try to keep this fight in the clinch; his height advantage should be useful in gaining leverage when in the clinch. Chasteen should also try and use the clinch to wear down Palacios, if there is anything that could make a huge difference it will be Palacios cardio. At times his cardio has looked rock solid and other times it has not. If Chasteen can wear him down then Chasteen might be able to pull this one out in the later rounds. This really is a hard fight to call and it is probably going to be a close one.

Prediction: Jose Palacios by decision

Chris Culley vs. Brian Del Rosario
This is going to be another difficult one to call. It is going to come down to which fighter can implement their game plan. Culley has a counter fighting style and if Del Rosario chooses to try and simply trade with him then he could be in some trouble. If Del Rosario decides to take this fight into the clinch then Culley might end up in trouble. This is another difficult one to pick, but I think Culley will be able to avoid long periods in the clinch and take home the win.

Prediction: Chris Culley by decision

Eddie Abasolo vs. Damien Earley
This is going to be a good fight between two young fighters. These two fought as amateurs before with Abasolo winning by (T)KO late in the fight. That fight took place over two and a half years ago, but I don’t think the result is going to change. Abasolo has to watch out for Earley’s explosiveness, but as long as he is cautious he should be able to take home another victory over Earley. I don’t think this time around he will score a (T)KO but he will use a well rounded attack to take home a judge’s decision.

Prediction: Eddie Abasolo by decision

 

Nathan's Prediction Tracker:
2014 Record: 8-5
Career Record: 40-23
Last Event (Lion Fight 17): 3-3

Lion Fight 17 Predictions

Lion Fight 17 takes place tomorrow at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Ledyard, CT. The event will feature some of the best talent on the East Coast as well as some internationally recognized talent like Cosmo Alexandre and Malaipet Sasiprapa. The main event will feature a re-match between Malaipet and Justin Greskiewicz and the co-main event will feature a bout between Cosmo Alexandre and Jo Nattawat.

It's time to break down all the action for the six pro fights on the Lion Fight card. Nathan Aripez breaks down the fights for you and gives you his picks on who he thinks will end up victorious on the night.

Malaipet Sasiprapa vs. Justin Greskiewicz
When Malaipet and Greskiewicz first fought back in 2012 many thought that Malaipet’s career had stalled out. He was 1-3-1 in his last five fights and 5-4-1 in his previous 10. Greskiewicz on the other hand was entering the fight with a 3-fight win streak on the line. When it was over Malaipet had won a clear cut unanimous decision and all three judges awarded him every single round. This time around Malaipet is trying to snap a two fight losing streak and Greskiewicz will be looking to string together back to back wins as well as avenging the first loss.

Having lost his last two Malaipet should be entering this fight with intentions of proving to everyone he still has what it takes to make another run at a Lion Fight title. Physically he should be the stronger fighter, especially in the clinch. Greskiewicz is going to have to press the action while avoiding getting locked up in the clinch with Malaipet, he will need to press forward land a few punches and move. Malaipet has a tendency to gas in the later rounds so Greskiewicz needs to be able to keep pace early in the fight and in the later rounds he needs to try to take over when Malaipet seems tired. For Malaipet he needs to come out and establish dominance early in the fight by landing a few sweeps and beating Greskiewicz in the clinch. If he can avoid gassing in the later rounds there is no reason that the result this time around should be any different than in their first fight.

Prediction: Malaipet by decision

Cosmo Alexandre vs. Jo Nattawat
Cosmo and Jo Nattawat both step into this bout on short notice. Cosmo has fought for Lion Fight on several occasions and always puts on a technical performance. Nattawat although a technical fighter will not be as physically strong as Cosmo and that will be the difference maker. Both fighters will fight a technical bout and you will see a full Muay Thai display. When they clinch Cosmo should be the stronger fighter and that is where he will separate himself in the fight. Cosmo has always been one of those fighters that can be aggressive; however, he needs to face a fighter that approaches him aggressively for fans to see him get aggressive. If Nattawat decides to try and press the action on Cosmo fans will definitely be in for a treat.

In the end this will be another technical a fair that will feature great technique by both fighters involved. Fans of Muay Thai should be able to appreciate the display of technique that takes place. Cosmo will use his technique and strength to out point Nattawat in the bout.

Prediction: Cosmo Alexandre by decision

Rami Ibrahim vs. Carlos Lopez
Ibrahim vs. Lopez will be an interesting matchup featuring a solid veteran in Ibrahim and a young up and comer in Lopez. Ibrahim has shown he has excellent boxing in the ring and it has proven to be the difference maker for him on several occasions. Lopez will come out looking to add a name like Ibrahim’s to his belt and his youth should serve him well in being able to keep a high pace, but in the end Ibrahim will be too savvy and his experience and grit will carry him to victory.

Prediction: Rami Ibrahim by decision

Victor Saravia vs. Andy Singh
This fight has the potential to be the fight of the night; Singh is a master technician while Saravia is a fire cracker who can end anyone’s night in the blink of an eye. Singh is a strong technical fighter and will use his teep to keep Saravia from trying to inside and land of his power punches. If Singh can stick and move it will be a long night for Saravia.

To win Saravia needs to get inside on Singh and land some big punches and make him feel his power. If Saravia can get inside and turn this into a dirty fight it will be a huge plus for him. This fight is actually one of the toughest if not the toughest on the card to predict, but going on gut feeling I would have to say Saravia is going to land one of his big punches.

Prediction: Saravia by (T)KO

Cyrus Washington vs. Brett Hlavacek
Washington and Hlavacek just fought a little over a month ago and this fight will probably mirror their first. Both fighters are technical and both have the ability to finish the fight, but this will end being a technical affair. If this fight were to change it would be because Hlavacek was sloppy and he got hit with one of Washington’s explosive kicks and was knocked out. I don’t see that happening, Hlavacek is a very cerebral fighter and he is going to grind down Washington for five rounds to take home the win.

Prediction: Brett Hlavacek by decision

Pedro Gonzalez vs. Tim Amorim
This is going to be interesting fight; Amorim has long been one of Muay Thai’s young prospects and made a successful pro debut at Lion Fight 15. Gonzalez also made his pro debut at Lion Fight 15 winning a short notice fight over Nick Chasteen. Gonzalez has an aggressive style that is more MMA than Muay Thai, but the kid can fight and is tough. Amorim is a more traditional Muay Thai fighter and this will definitely be a battle of styles. Expect Gonzalez to come out aggressive, but Amorim will have the technique to stifle his aggression. As the fight wears on Amorim will be able to take control of the fight and in the end the judges will favor him.

Prediction: Tim Amorim by decision

Nathan's Prediction Tracker:
2014 Record: 5-2
Career Record: 37-20
Last Event (Lion Fight 15): 3-2

Lion Fight 16 Predictions

Lion Fight 16 takes place tomorrow from The Pearl at the Palms in Las Vegas, NV. The event will feature some exciting fights including the highly anticipated clash between Kevin Ross and Michael "Tomahawk" Thompson.

It's time to break down all the action for the five pro fights on the Lion Fight card. Nathan Aripez breaks down the fights for you and gives you his picks on who he thinks will end up victorious on the night.

Kevin Ross vs. Michael Thompson
Ross will definitely have the crowd on his side on this one. Not only is it the 4th of July so patriotism will be riding high in Las Vegas with American fans, Ross is one of the sports most popular American fighters. Australia's Michael Thompson will definitely have to ignore the crowd because you can be assured that he won't be hearing anything friendly from them.

Ross has looked like a former shell of himself in the last two years but he is entering the fight having won his last two fights. In his last outing Ross cut his opponent, Chris Mauceri early in the fight and you could see that Ross was extremely confident afterwards. If Ross can do some damage early and build that confidence and momentum it could mean trouble for Thompson. The likeliness of that happening doesn't seem high, Thompson is a lot more seasoned than Mauceri and I don't see him allowing Ross to build any type of momentum. Ross is known for his incredible cardio and ability to take damage and keep moving forward, if Thompson fades in the later rounds then Ross will definitely be able to take advantage of the situation, however, don't expect Thompson to fade as the young lad is resilient.

Thompson has all the tools and is one of Australia's youngest and brightest fighters. He mixes up his punches and strikes well, and is as durable as they come. With his willingness to stand and trade he and Ross should be an entertaining match up, but Thompson can't simply stand and trade with Ross or he could pay the price because that is the type of fight Ross likes. Thompson needs to mix in a solid clinch attack as Ross has shown in the past the clinch is not his strongest area. If Thompson can mix his strikes and then move into clinch range and work some solid knees and elbows he should do well.

I don't see either fighter finishing the fight, it will most likely go the distance and these two will beat each other up until the final bell. If anyone were to finish the other off I would have to pick Thompson as the more likely one to earn a stoppage win. With that said I think Thompson just has more tools to win and will take home a decision.

Prediction: Michael Thompson def. Kevin Ross by Decision

Tiffany Van Soest vs. Sindy Huyer
This will definitely be a match up of styles. Van Soest is extremely athletic and light on her feet and she uses this to explode with punches and kicks. Huyer is more of a grinder, she likes to clinch and grind her opponents from there, but she isn't afraid to mix things up from a distance either.

Van Soest's only area that needs improvement is her clinch. Caley Reece used a clinch heavy attack to beat her and other opponents have given her trouble in that area as well, but Van Soest has been able to over come it on several occasions. Huyer needs to make this a clinch heavy fight and try to keep Van Soest from creating distance. If Huyer can't keep Van Soest tied up in the clinch then she will be in trouble. Van Soest will pick her apart from a distance with her diverse array of strikes. Huyer might prove to be some trouble early, but Van Soest will rectify any issues Huyer might present with her clinch in the early rounds and score a stoppage in the later rounds and she gets more comfortable in the fight.

Prediction: Tiffany Van Soest def. Sindy Huyer by (T)KO in Rd. 4

Rungravee Sasiprapa vs. Adrian Morilla
A lot of people are wondering why this match up was made. Rungravee is extremely more experienced than Morilla, and Morilla hasn't shown in his young career that he is ready to take on someone like Rungravee. Despite what anyone thinks Morilla is a tough kid, but though in this situation will only mean that Morilla will last a little longer than expected before the inevitable happens, and that is a stoppage by Rungravee. Expect Rungravee to come out looking to end this early, Morilla will probably make it to the second round possibly the third but he will most likely take a beating to make it that far in the fight.

Prediction: Rungravee Sasiprapa def. Adrian Morilla by KO in Rd. 3

Gaston Bolanos vs. Tyler Toner
Bolanos is one of Muay Thais brightest young stars. He is explosive and has a well rounded style, Toner who is mainly an MMA fighter will have his hands full with the "Dream Killer". Bolanos will be looking to finish this fight early and eventually his arsenal will be too much for Toner to handle. Bolanos will score a stoppage in the third round.

Prediction: Gaston Bolanos def. Tyler Toner by (T)KO in Rd. 3

Josh Shepard vs. Casey Parlett
Shepard will be the bigger of the two in the ring and that will prove to be a huge advantage. Shepard will use his size to bully Parlett around the ring and eventually use his hands to score a stoppage victory. Shepard has a well rounded attack and will probably use all his tools to break down Parlett, but with his movement and athleticism expect him to lands some big punches from different angles.

Prediction: Josh Shepard def. Casey Parlett via KO in Rd. 3

Predictions for Take-On XXI

Take-On XXI takes place today at Resort World Casino in New York City and will feature two pro bouts. In the main event Cyrus Washington will take on J.R. Hines and in the co-main event Jay Matias will take on John Vargas. Some exciting fighters are involved in these two fights so they should definitely be action packed. 

Here we break down each fight and give you our predictions on who will come out on top tonight.

Cyrus Washington vs. J.R. Hines
Washington is the hands down favorite going into this fight. His experience alone should prove to be too much for Hines. Washington has a traditional Thai style as far as pace goes, but is explosive. He's collected a number of highlight reel knockouts because of this explosiveness. Hines has actively fought MMA in the past few years so he isn't lacking ring experience, but Washington has over 50 Muay Thai fights to his name and that experience will be hard to over come. Washington will methodically break Hines down en route to a unanimous decision win.

Pick: Cyrus Washington by Decision

Jay Matias vs. John Vargas
This fight has fireworks written all over it. Matias is known for his fast paced, highly explosive fighting style and Vargas is known for his gritty tough as nails approach. Don't expect either fighter to back down unless they are hurt by the other fighter in an exchange. Matias has the speed and height advantage in this fight and it will serve him well. Vargas will have trouble getting inside on Matias, but will make it a fight none the less. In the end Matias should take home a decision victory, or maybe even score a late stoppage in what is going to be a fire cracker of a fight.

Pick: Jay Matias by Decision

Chad and Nathan's Pick 3 - Glory 9 Predictions

With Glory 9 set for this Saturday in New York; Chad Sanderson of Fight Sport Asia and Nathan Aripez of Muay Thai Authority have teamed up once again to bring you predictions. The three fights we are giving our predictions on this time around are Daniel Ghita vs. Brice Guidon, Joseph Valtellini vs. Francois Ambang, and the winner of the Light Heavyweight Grand Slam. Let us know if you agree or disagree with our dashing duo.

For the latest on the Asian combat sports scene be sure to visit our friends at FightSportAsia.com, and the latest news on on the North American striking scene stay right here at MuayThaiAuthority.com.

Daniel Ghita vs. Brice Guidon:

Chad’s Pick: Daniel Ghita
In all honesty, this fight is will more than likely be serving as the introduction of Daniel Ghita to the American fanbase. The Savage Samurai is coming off two knockout losses to Semmy Schilt and Gohkan Saki, while Guidon has found himself on the losing end of two bouts with Schilt. While Guidon is a master game-planner and has the potential to out-manuever some of the best fighters in the division, I don’t think it’s a coincidence he’s not ranked inside GLORY’s top 10 heavyweights, and yet finds himself facing the number three HW in the world. I predict that Daniel Ghita doesn’t let this one go the distance.

Nathan’s Pick – Daniel Ghita
Both Ghita and Guidon will be looking to end two fight skids. Ghita lost his last two fights by (T)KO, one to Semmy Schilt and the other to Gokhan Saki. Guidon has lost both of his past two fights to Semmy Schilt, once by decision and once by (T)KO. These are heavyweights here so they both posses fight ending power, but you have to give the edge to Ghita. He has fought better competition through out his career and before his current two fight skid he had won ten consecutive fights with nine of those wins coming by (T)KO and all against solid competition.

Expect this fight to be close early, but midway through the second round Ghita will begin to pull away and should be able to get a stoppage before the final bell.

Joseph Valtellini vs. Francois Ambang

Chad’s Pick: Joe Valtellini
This is sort of a difficult pick to make, considering that Valtellini has proven himself on the GLORY stage and Francois Ambang is relatively untested. While he pulled off some great wins against Marcus Fisher and Brett Hlavaceck at the Road to Glory lightweight tournament, it’s hard to say how good he’ll look in the face of a true kickboxing veteran. While “Bazooka Joe” hasn’t been around very long himself, we at least got to see his handiwork in GLORY when the Canadian dismantled the grizzled Murat Durekci in his kickboxing debut.

Both guys have a ton of power, but I believe that Valtellini is the smarter fighter, while Ambang is the more aggressive one. We saw in Istanbul that Joe not only has the ability to give a beating, but he can take punishment as well. Again, this fight is hard to call, since we’ve never seen Ambang take a solid hit (In kickboxing). While I think Francois is skilled enough to land a knockout shot, I’m going with Joseph Valtellini to win the fight by Knockout in the first round.

Nathan’s Pick – Joseph Valtellini
This fight has knockout written all over it, both Valtellini and Ambang are known for their heavy hands. Valtellini last competed at Glory 6 in Istanbul where he defeated veteran Murat Direkci by (T)KO. Ambang was last in action when he won the Road to Glory USA welterweight tournament, Ambang scored two (T)KO’s on the night.

Valtellini is the more technical fighter of the two, blending crisp punching with leg kicks to create some of the best combinations around. Ambang is a little less polished with his striking and tends to open up a bit when unloading on his opponents. This will give Valtellini an advantage; he is not only an offensive power house but also has a pretty strong defense. Expect to see Ambang unloading early trying to end the fight, but Valtellini’s guard will hold up and he will find his own opening to end Ambang’s night early. Expect a stoppage victory for Valtellini in the second round.

Glory Light Heavyweight 8-Man Grand Slam:

Chad’s Pick: Tyrone Spong
I don’t think there’s anyone in this tournament, or at 95kg in general (With the exception of Nasthan Corbett) that can beat Spong. He’s the most technically sound fighter in the division, one of the biggest, one of the most hard hitting, and one of the fastest. The only question now with Spong is how he’ll deal with fighters that are younger, faster, and stronger than his last couple opponents (Remy Bonjasky and Peter Aerts). Also, how Spong’s mma training has conflicted with his kickboxing regimens will be out for debate.

If anyone has a chance to beat the Dutch fighter in this tournament, I’d put my money on either Danyo Ilunga, who recently won via nasty knee KO against Stephane Susperegui, or Steve McKinnon, who seems re-energized after his debatable loss to Michael Duut. Again, similarly to Daniel Ghita, I think this tournament will serve as Spong’s American introduction to NYC.

Nathan’s Pick: Tyrone Spong
You could have said this tournament was up for grabs, then it was announced that Tyrone Spong would be competing. Spong has to be considered the heavy favorite to win this tournament. He is technical and powerful with his striking and any one that fights him in the tournament is in for some punishment.

This is a tournament and anything can happen, but with his experience and skill set it would be fool hearted to bet against Spong. Although if Spong was not in this tournament I would say Danyo Ilunga would be pulling out the tournament victory.

Chad and Nathan's Pick 3: Glory 8

With Glory 8 just a few days away, Chad Sanderson of Fight Sport Asia and Nathan Aripez of Muay Thai Authority have teamed up once again to bring you predictions for three fights at this weekend’s Glory 8 event. With Glory 8 featuring the featherweight tournament, Chad and Nathan will give you their picks on two of the night’s fights as well as who they think will be the last man standing in the 8-man 65 kilo tournament. Let us know if you agree or disagree with our dashing hosts.

For the latest news on combat sports in Asia make sure to visit our friends at FightSportAsia.com, for the latest on the North American Striking scene stay locked on here at MuayThaiAuthority.com.

Peter Aerts vs. Jamal Ben Saddik

Chad’s Pick – Jamal Ben Saddick
I’m a little torn on this fight. Jamal Ben Saddick is a big, strong, behemoth of a man. But there’s no doubt in my mind that his recent wins over Errol Zimmerman were due in part to the unusual tournament ruleset. His stamina is an issue, and once he tires out it could be over. That being said, I think Peter Aerts’ time is up. He was showing his age against Tyrone Spong, and has been more susceptible to injuries over years past. While he did beat Semmy Schilt in one of the most intelligent performances of his life back in 2010, I don’t think he has the athleticism to deal with the 23 year old Saddick. I’m picking Jamal by TKO in round 2.

Nathan’s Pick – Jamal Ben Saddik
This is a match up of youth vs. age, and youth is going to win. The 42 year old Aerts is a legend and tough as nails, but the 23 year old Saddik is a heavy hitter. This fight will start evenly in the first round, but in the second Saddik will begin to pull away as he begins to unload on Aerts. 80% of Saddik’s wins have come by stoppage, and he continues his trend of finishing fights in this one. Saddik wins by (T)KO.

Albert Kraus vs. Andy Ristie

Chad’s Pick – Albert Kraus
Albert Kraus is a bad matchup for Andy Ristie. Ristie is a very wide puncher- his strength is overwhelming his opponents with sheer volume and power, but if that doesn’t work the fight usually turns into an ugly mess. Not only that, but Ristie has a tendency to ignore his defense when he begins to turn up the pressure- something that is dangerous against a strong counter puncher like Kraus. Another issue his cardio. Andy has a real problem with setting a pace, and if he doesn’t get a quick finish he usually looks exhausted by the end of the fight. Basically, Kraus is strong in every area Ristie is not. He has patience, extreme endurance, and nasty boxing. I could see this one ending before the final bell. I’ll take Albert Kraus by TKO in Round 3.

Nathan’s Pick – Albert Kraus
Ristie did not look like his usual self in his last fight at Glory 6 against Alessandro Campagna. If he shows up to fight Albert Kraus looking like that he is in for a long night. Kraus is currently on a five fight win streak which includes three wins in one night as part of the WLF-World 8 Man Tournament. Despite some moments in the fight for Ristie, Kraus will impose his will as he presses the action in the fight and earns a hard fought decision victory over Ristie.

Glory Featherweight 8-Man Grand Slam

Chad’s Pick – Yuta Kubo
This such a good tournament. Really. It’s awesome. And while I’m pretty confident about my pick to win, it could just as easily swing back in another direction. Kubo is going to be coming into this tournament physically larger than most of the others after his attempt to steadily work his way into the 70 kilo division. He’s been undefeated for nnearly the last three years and is the undisputed kingboxing king of Japan. I’m relatively certain he’ll get past his first fight of the tournament, Korea’s Chi Bin Lim, which will then open a path to either Gabriel Varga or Abdallah Ezbiri. Kubo has beaten Ezbiri twice before, and I believe Varga is comparatively inexperienced. The other side of the bracket is full of monsters. Liam Harrison, Masaaki Noiri, and Mosab Amrani will be destroying each other. There’s almost no way they’ll enter the finals unscathed, whereas there’s a strong chance Kubo could be in relatively healthy condition. I’m going with Kubo to win the whole tournament, capping off the finals with a decision victory.

Nathan’s Pick – Liam Harrison
Mosab Amrani knocked out Liam Harrison in the first round of their recent encounter at Glory 5 with a body shot. You can bet the house that Harrison is chomping at the bit to even the score. If they both win their quarterfinal match-ups they will meet in the tournament semi-finals. In the eyes of many this tournament is Harrison or Amrani’s. Harrison will out point Amrani en route to a decision win when they re-match and Harrison then cruises to victory in the tournament finals.

Chad and Nathan's Pick 3 - Glory 7 Predictions

With Glory 7 on the horizon, Chad Sanderson of Fight Sport Asia and Nathan Aripez of Muay Thai Authority have teamed up to bring you predictions for three fights at Glory 7 they feel are most interesting for fans. As usual the fight card is stacked with top tier talent, but these three stand out. Let us know if you agree or disagree with Chad and Nathan.

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Giorgio Petrosyan vs. Hafid El Boustati:

Chad’s pick – Giorgio Petrosyan
A lot of people aren't giving Hafid el Boustati much chance in this fight. It's understandable, Petrosyan has only looked mortal when he's been either injured or sick, so anyone outside of the very top of the 70kg probably won't pose much of a threat to him. That being said Boustati is a technician, and as we saw in his fight against Fabio Pinca, Petrosyan typically has to work a little harder to impose his dominance against the technically gifted. Don't get me wrong, he still wins pretty easily but it's not an obliteration of epic proportions. I have to go with Petro by decision.

Nathan’s pick – Giorgio Petrosyan
Petrosyan is arguably the best striker in the world. Boustati is a solid striker in his own right, but he's not Giorgio Petrosyan. This should be another routine fight for Petrosyan as he uses his accurate striking and great movement to pick apart Boustati en route to a decision victory.

Murthel Groenhart vs. Robin van Roosmalen:

Chad’s pick – Murthel Groenhart
This is an interesting fight, because it will reveal if there's anyone in the 70kg division that can still challenge Petrosyan for the MAX crown. Roosmalen likes pushing guys to the ropes, cornering them and unloading when they have nowhere to run. But Groenhart is a big, big dude. He usually fights at 77kg and has the power and strength behind to back it up. I don't think Roosemalen will be able to bully him like he does to his smaller opponents, and when that doesn't work it'll come down to a brawl. Roosmalen is built like a brick stove, but Groenhart is such a giant in his weight class that I imagine he'll put 'Pokerface" on his back foot. I'm picking Murthel by decision.

Nathan’s pick – Murthel Groenhart
It's probably a safe bet that Groenhart vs. van Roosmalen will steal the show at Glory 7. Both are aggressive fighters with a penchant for finishing their opponents before the final bell. This is going to be a barn burner as both fighters land some powerful shots, but size is going to be the X factor. Groenhart is the larger fighter and it will be evident as he scores a stoppage in the final round.

Artem Levin vs. Sahak Parparyan:

Chad’s pick – Sahak Parparyan
Until very recently, both Sahak and Levin stood at the heads of their respective divisions. Sahak was recently uprooted by Franci Grasj, and Levin lost his #1 spot to Simon Marcus. Levin will be coming up in weight from 80kg to 85kg in this match and Parparyan is a tough, tough opponent to have for the transition. Both guys love to punch, so I definitely see this being a firefight. That being said, I think Parparyan is a little more comfortable at this weight, and has fought more frequently under kickboxing rules. I'm going with Parparyan by decision in this one.

Nathan’s pick – Artem Levin
Levin will be looking to get back to his winning ways against Parparyan and his boxing will be the key. Levin should be able to use his boxing skills to out strike Parparyan, however, he can't get cocky as he does at times and drop his hands because Parparyan is a heavy hitter. As long as Levin works his boxing and mixes in a few kicks he should take home the decision victory.

Photo Credit: Ben Pointer/GLORY

Who wins, Team America or Team Thailand? Predictions for M-One "Team Thailand vs. Team America"

With M-One "Team Thailand vs. Team America" right around the corner it is once again time for predictions. Team America certainly has their work cut out for them, but despite being seen as under dogs all of Team America fighters posses the tools to win. It will be an exciting night of fights and could potentially be a huge step forward for American Muay Thai depending on the results and performances of the American team.

Kevin Ross vs. Sakkedao Petchpayathai - WBC Muay Thai super lightweight world title
Ross goes from a fight with Saenchai to a fight with Sakkedao. While most people would like an easier fight their next time out that isn't the case with Ross, he continues to want to take on the best. Sakkedao has defeated Saenchai twice, but as Ross has stated, it doesn't matter because they are both different and the fact that they both have fought Saenchai is a mute point.

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.

Predictions: Lion Fight Promotions "Battle in the Desert 3"

It's prediction time again. Lion Fight Promotions "Battle in the Desert 3" will takes place this weekend at Buffalo Bill's Casino in Primm, NV. A night of exciting fights is expected with four WBC Muay Thai title fights on the line. You can't go wrong with a card that includes the likes of Cosmo Alexandre, Sakmongkol, Ky Hollnebeck, Joe Schilling, Jeri Sitzes and Simon Chu. Below are the predictions by Muay Thai Authority, remember if you decide to bet on any of these fights in Primm please do so responsibly.

Cosmo Alexandre vs. Sakmongkol Zingano
This is an interesting match-up pitting a world ranked fighter such as Cosmo against a legend of Muay Thai in Sakmongkol. Cosmo is the type of fighter that fights based off of how his opponents fight. Sakmongkol showed in his recent fight against James Martinez that there is still plenty of steam left in his legs as he brutalized Martinez with kicks in route to a stoppage win. He came out looking to damage his opponent and if he comes out against Cosmo like that we can expect to see Cosmo and Sakmongkol in an exciting bout. However, if Sakmongkol comes out and wants to fight a slow paced fight then Cosmo will do the same. Whether it turns into an exciting fracas or it is a long drawn out affair, Cosmo will likely end up the winner. Yes, Sakmongkol looked good against James Martinez, but Cosmo is by far a more superior fighter than Martinez and his age and speed will play a big factor in the fight.

Who wins, Kevin Ross or Saenchai? Predictions for Stand Up Promotions "M1 Grand Muay Thai Championship"

Once again it's time for predictions. This Sunday August 14th Stand Up Promotions "M1 Grand Muay Thai Championship" will be taking place at Commerce Casino in Commerce. CA. In the night's main event fans will see Muay Thai great Saenchai taking on American stand out Kevin Ross. Also on the card Rungravee Sasiprapa will take on Kunitaka Fujiwara, Coke Chunhawat will face Tetsuya Yamato, Malaipet Sasiprapa will look to defend his WBC Muay Thai international title against Chike Lindsay and Daniel Kim will lock horns with Carlos Ramirez.

Saenchai vs. Kevin Ross
With the WBC Muay Thai diamond belt and the MTAA world title on the line there is a lot at stake in this fight. In one corner you have Saenchai, arguably the P4P best Muay Thai fighter in the world and in the other corner you have Kevin Ross, America's Muay Thai poster boy. Saenchai expressed interest in fighting Ross last year, but the bout didn't seem like much of a possibility at the time, fast forward to present day and the fight is now a reality. There are a few things to take into account in this fight, the first being the American scoring system. Aggression plays a big factor and many judges are not Muay Thai judges, but rather MMA or boxing judges that are scoring Muay Thai fights. This could play in favor of Ross because he is an aggressive fighter and like many Thai's have shown in the past they tend to simply feel their opponents out in the first few rounds.

Predictions for Stand Up Promotions "Oblonsky vs. Krause"

Saturday night Stand Up Promotions "Oblonsky vs. Krause" will take place at Commerce Casino in Commerce, CA. There are three excellent pro fights scheduled for the event.

Defending his MTAA title Shane Oblonsky will look to spoil the return of Bryce Krause. While the other two fights on the card are expected to provide fireworks as Artem Sharoshkin takes on Jose Palacios and Borzoo Honargohar steps into the ring with Sheldon Gaines.

Battle in the Desert 2 predictions

This coming weekend Lion Fight Promotions "Battle in the Desert 2" will take place at Buffalo Bills Casino in Primm, NV. The card is filled from top to bottom with quality Muay Thai fights featuring some of the United States biggest names, as well as some highly regarded international talent.

Kevin Ross vs. Mark DeLuca for WBC Muay Thai Super Lightweight International Title

Ross is the hands down favorite to win this bout. He has more experience against higher level competition and as he showed against Sittisak his last fight he can stay in a fight even when things are not going his way. None the less this is a fight and DeLuca has the ability to KO Ross, although it seems highly unlikely. DeLuca is known as a slow starter and despite being able to rally late he can not afford to start slow. In the end this fight is going to be Ross' fight to win or lose. Expect to see him pull out all the stops in route to an early stoppage.

Pros Pick: Malaipet vs. Kevin Ross

On Sunday Dec. 5th at the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles, CA the biggest Muay Thai fight in America will take place when Malaipet and Kevin Ross meet. The fight is set for 147lbs Malaipet is moving down and Ross is moving up and it should prove an exciting bout.

Muay Thai Authority contacted several fighters, trainers, and Muay Thai personalities to get their opinions on this highly anticipated fight.

Mark Beecher: Well since I train Kevin, and he is one of my best friends…I'm picking Malaipet .... JOKING !!! Kev all the way man !!

WCK Muay Thai Pala Predictions

Denis Grachev vs. Fernando Gonzalez
In what is being dubbed a Muay Thai  vs. MMA fight Denis Grachev will take on "The Menifee Maniac" Fernando Gonzalez. If everything goes as it should, Denis Grachev should will win by KO. It's a fight and Gonzalez is a tough guy so anything can happen, but it seems like a long shot that Gonzalez who's MMA style is mainly ground and pound will be able to out strike Grachev, an IKF Muay Thai champion. As this past weekends Shane Oblonsky vs. Anthony McDavitt fight on the MTAA show demonstrated, MMA fighters who's bread and butter involves the ground game should not step into the ring with an experienced Muay Thai fighter, more often than not they will end up on the wrong end of KO.
Prediction: Denis Grachev by KO in the 2nd Rd.