SFC 8 - Preview by JImbo

Post date: 18-Apr-2014 16:47:30

This Sunday, one of Scotland’s top promotions SFC returns to Stirling with an incredible card, probably the best pro card I’ve seen since I really started following Scottish MMA – SFC 8 is full with interesting fights at both professional and amateur, and loaded with some of the top fighters and prospects of both rule sets, this is not a show to be missed. Let’s get straight to the point and start previewing the fights, starting with the professional fights – in the order that I am personally excited for. Don’t take this as the running order!! I’ll put that at the end.

Euan Sloan (0-0) (Shooters) v Rab Truesdale (8-5) (Assassins) @ Heavyweight – this is the one I’m most excited for. It’s a heavyweight pro fight in Scotland for starters, which in and of itself is super rare. It’s not often you get to see the giants go at it in Scotland! Factor in that Rab has been ranked #1 in Scotland at both the heavy and light heavy divisions for a considerable time now, you’re also getting to see the top Scottish talent here. Sloan is also a highly respected figure on the Scottish MMA scene. I would imagine Euan will want to keep this fight on the feet, and if Rab obliges then we should be in for a slugfest of epic proportions! Can safely say this one will not go the distance!

Matti Laurenson (1-0) (Spartans) v Craig “Mop” McIntosh (0-0) (DNFT) @ Featherweight – Two of the best young prospects in the Scottish featherweight division and a fight a lot of people I have spoken to are interested in. Matti is coming off an impressive pro debut where he defeated Jonny Goodall and Mop recently won a one night 4 man tournament to cap off what was an very successful semi pro/amateur career. Both guys are big for the weight and both are well rounded. I’d guess that Matti may have a power edge on the feet and Mop may have a submission edge, but both guys are comfortable everywhere, having both submissions and highlight reel Kos on their amateur resumes. My pick for FOTN.

Iain Postlethwaite (0-2) (Lycans) v Robert Carlin (0-0) (Antonine MMA) @ Strawweight – as rare as heavyweight fights are, Strawweight fights make them look ten a penny. To the best of my knowledge, this is the first pro strawweight fight in Scotland and maybe even in Europe! Regardless, it’s always fun to watch Postlethwaite fight. Don’t be fooled by his record, “The Ferret” is a BJJ Purple belt who went on a tear at amateur before stepping up to pro where he has to this point fought in a weight class up from his natural weight. I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do at his natural weight. I don’t know much about Carlin, but I don’t think a strawweight fight can ever be bad!? It certainly won’t be fought at a slow pace!

Iain Feenan (0-0) (Headhunters) v Willie McCurdy (0-0) (Force Fitness) @ 80kg Catchweight – two of the best prospects at semi pro/amateur in Scotland for a long time, this is a great match up for both of them in their pro debut. Both are grapplers first, with Feenan having international level Judo and McCurdy being a skilled BJJ player and when these two hit the mat, it will be fun for all to watch. Will Feenan’s size and judo advantage overcome McCurdy’s BJJ and tenacity? Buy a ticket and find out!

Kieran Malone (3-7) (DNFT) v Stephane Guaresi (Boxing Squad France) (1-3) @ 72kg Catchweight – the only time I’ve seen Kieran, arguably Scotland’s best wrestler, fight live was when he fought Kyle Cassidy, where he took him down and destroyed him with elbows. If Kieran can do that to his French opponent then the crowd is sure to be sent home happy. Hopefully Kieran can use what I assume will be a severe wrestling advantage and get a win for Scotland in this international clash.

Paul Patrick (0-0) (Shooters) v Edipo Fernandez (?) (France) – I admit I don’t know a lot about either guy, but the guys in Shooters tell me great things about Paul, and it’s always good to see Scottish guys making their pro debuts adding depth to the sport in the country.

That’s it for the pro card – 6 well matched fights which should offer no end of entertainment. Now time to go through the pick of the Amateur fights

Peter McCafferty (Chimera) v Mark Duncan (Wishaw MMA) @ 62kgs – when Peter is fighting, you should be watching. His fight with Ryan McShane at Vision 4 was bat shit crazy. His fight with Dean Begg at Cage Warriors was insane. This guy makes a habit of stealing the show from the pros above him on the card and is the most exciting semi pro fighter to watch in my opinion – go and watch those two fights tell me I’m wrong. In Mark Duncan he faces a highly skilled prospect, who recently defeated Kev Brooks at FFC which demonstrates just how good he is. The 62kg C – Class division is just stacked right now and these guys are right in the mix at the top. DON’T MISS THIS FIGHT

Mike Cowperthwaite (Spartans) v Roddy Campbell (Shooters) @ 84kgs – another fight featuring two of the top guys in their weight at C Class. I train with Mike and he is the round in sparring that everybody fears! Roddy is fresh off an impressive stoppage of the very skilled Carson Riches. I think it’s safe to call the winner of this one the best at the weight at C Class.

The rest of the amateur undercard is full of top Scottish prospects and there is also a K1 fight on the card featuring Adam Stevenson (SMAC) taking on Razvan Boast @ 70kg.

This will be a great show and if you can go to it, DO.

Full card and running order below

Sfc 8 Firepower. 20th April, Albert Halls, Stirling. Main Pro card Craig McIntosh (DNFT) v Matti Laurenson (Spartans) FW Keiran Malone (DNFT) v Stephane Guaresi (Boxing Squad France) 72kgs CW Paul Patrick (Shooters) v Edipo Fernandez (France) 73kg CW Iain Postlethwaite (Lycans) v Robert Carlin (Antonine Mma) StrawW Euan Sloan (Shooters) v Rab Truesdale (Assassins) HW Ian Feenan (Headhunters) v Wully Mccurdy (Force Fitness) 80kg CW. *K1 rules Adam Stevenson (SMAC) v Ravzan Boast 70kg* Amateur MMA Undercard Peter Mcafferty (Chimera) v Mark Duncan (Wishaw MMA) 62kgs

Chris Duncan (SMAC) v Chris Morton ( Ind ) 77kgs Mike Cowperthwaite (Spartans) v Roddy Campbell (Shooters) 84kgs Garry Priestley (Ind) v Aubery Tarr (IFS Ni) 57kgs Simon Kelly (Team Parente) v Scott Drummond (SMAC) 68kgs Brian Forrest (Independent) v Kalvis Ciemins (Fusion MMA) 84kgs Owen Longrigg (Lycans) v Jack Demarco (Team Parente) 70kgs Grahame Postlethwaite (Lycans) v Thomas Henney (SMAC) 80kgs

Cheers for reading and enjoy the show!

Jimbo

#sfc #scottish MMA #Scotland MMA