Picks and Hits - UGP 14
- Toussaint Harper
- Aug 31, 2019
- 8 min read
My apologies for not having one of these up for the last Boss Fight. Life is expanding in a lot of ways for me now in this business and I have Union GP to thank. Looking to balance the weight well from here but I’ll be honest, this is nothing like the responsibilities I had back when I used to cover things in the far East. I also wasn’t paid as much either so that’s a more than decent payoff I’d say. Haha. I will pick up where I left off here and this will not have quotes from the fighters. I don’t wanna jinx anyone---Mr. La’Bank. LOL. Congrats on the contract though truly deserved. Ok, so quick recap from Harper vs. The World for UGP 13.
Cal McCluskey def Ian Clemens via KO (Elbows) at 0:48 Round 1
My Pick: Cal McCluskey / Fans Pick: Ian Clemens
August Pope def Lea Sun via Unanimous Decision
My Pick: August Pope / Fans Pick: Lea Sun
Lexi Sheckler def Kenzi Grey via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 3:10 Round 1
My Pick: Lexi Sheckler / Fans Pick: Kenzi Grey
Xabier Belazco def Gracyn Knight via Submission (Leglock) at 4:21 Round 1
My Pick: Xabier Belazco / Fans Pick: Gracyn Knight
Megan Reed def Arnie Dawe via Submission (Americana) at 2:08 Round 1
My Pick: Megan Reed / Fans Pick: Arnie Dawe
Natalie King def Andrei Kozlov via Submission (Americana) at 2:08 Round 1
My Pick: Natalie King / Fans Pick: Natalie King
Delaney Donovan def Jeremiah Ford via KO (Punches) at 2:44 Round 2
My Pick: Delaney Donovan / Fans Pick: Delaney Donovan
Zion Momo'a def Travis Decker via Split Decision
My Pick: Zion Momo'a / Fans Pick: Zion Momo'a
Donnie Calabrese def Derrick La'Bell via KO (Punch) at 0:51 Round 3
My Pick: Derrick La'Bell / Fans Pick: Donnie Calabrese
Robert Guilliman def Aries Reed via KO (High Kick) at 4:29 Round 1
My Pick: Aries Reed / Fans Pick: Aries Reed
RECORDS as of now (excluding Boss Fight XII)
Harper: 11-9 / The World: 10-10
When I have to come back I at least do it right. One of the two I was wrong about I couldn’t be mad because who doesn’t love that kind of hardworking story. Outside of that, I was shocked that swept the prelims. A good 50-50 for The World but now it’s time to get a little more space in between us you know ;)
PRELIMS
BANTAMWEIGHT BOUT
#10 Arnie Dawe (0-1) VS Darren Thatcher (0-0)
Honestly, I’ve seen a few highlights of Thatcher and right now I think he’s looking to make that statement where Arnie Dawe has shown me more of a ‘fight to survive’ kind of mentality than a ‘fight to win’ mentality. If that makes sense. Darren will introduce himself accordingly at the expense of Arnie Dawe I won’t go on a far limb and say he will do it quickly because there’s more to a fight than the highlights. Dawe hasn’t shown me much yet so I can’t help but go for the new blood Thatcher.
MIDDLEWEIGHT BOUT
#7 Travis Decker (1-3) VS Agustin Gates (0-0)
One of the roughest starts I’ve ever seen for a fighter but is returning right back into the cage and wiping it from his mind to welcome the new guy with a lot of heat on his neck. I won’t really get on the outside part of things because obviously I’m here to talk about the skill alone. Skill alone, Travis has grown from that first bout and continues to and to me if he fights anywhere near as he did against Momo’a, Agustin Gates is overwhelmed. The ground was something Decker made a perfect play on just this time about he has to get busier while down there successfully. I don’t see Gates handling that well. After so many roadblocks I see Decker showing every single part of his game improved.
CRUISERWEIGHT BOUT
Sigh, I want Ball to win. Simple as that. I’ll never support that guy.
LIGHTWEIGHT BOUT
Coin flipper because overall their strengths are kinda similar. Styles are relatively different and I believe Sofia would have a little more to offer to keep the pressure and space close with her Judo. Keeping hold of him overall and not allowing it to become an all-out war standing. Xabier did show me better in his last fight because that was a good showing on the ground. Before that fight, I would’ve placed King at the advantage on the ground but now I’m not so sure. Belazco shows well until coming into the higher-ranked competitors but it’s also a new time in UGP after the break and he’s shown a new him in that timeframe. The coin flip says, King.
UNDER CARD
BANTAMWEIGHT BOUT
Lauren Moore has a thing with predominant strikers and Megan Reed is a kickboxer. On top of that Reed also showed ground skill in how she won her debut. Lauren Moore’s ground game is nothing to sneeze at either. To be more specific her takedowns and wrestling base are a lot more than the record show. The thing is getting it on the ground to play to her strengths. Against a well-skilled striker that is hard to do. From the one fight, I can’t exactly say Reed was able to show me depth yet. A testament to her beating Dawe soundly. Moore has a little more in her which is supposed to happen the deeper into the tournament you go. I’m going to say Reed might be introduced to more of a controlled battle. I guarantee we’ll get to see more of Reed’s skills and I look forward to this battle. Right now I’m going to go Moore due to my belief she will control the fight and not play into the wild trades and play into Reed wheelhouse.
LIGHTWEIGHT BOUT
I mean Lexi Sheckler proved me right when it came to her debut but the theme as I said before, it gets harder the further you go. Enter UGP Lightweight Championship contender, Delaney Donovan, whose looking to taking the road back toward another title shot. JPK being the champ and how their battle went, I can’t blame him. Sheckler will get a good experience out of this fight because you have to face the contenders to learn where you need to be. I just believe Donovan will give Sheckler too much on the feet for her to handle.
MIDDLEWEIGHT BOUT
I’m well aware that experience isn’t everything. There are a few that come right out of the gate, training wheels off, and ready to take full strides. This could be one of those moments. It honestly could. I just don’t think it will be. McCarthy has the ground advantage here. Byron has his kicks and he works them well. If the fight goes there it could be interesting to see what McCarthy can mount up. I just don’t see it going there. Byron knows how to stay on his feet and get back to his feet if need be. It’ll be a high kick or counterpunch kind of display for The Last.
LIGHTWEIGHT BOUT
My underdog pick for Fight of the Night. Not enough shine is being placed on either of these young ladies but I believe this is the night people will see it much more clearly. The strikes I am coming to expect from this fight will only be rivaled by the main event. What will make the difference in this particular case is this fight is the clinch. I honestly believe if Momo’a can’t get out of that position of King dominance called the clinch, it will be the harshest night of her UGP career. Those knees are death dealers. King has finished each fight under a minute in UGP. Tatum has to stay clear of that clinch, let the distance be her guide. Momo’a will be the strongest competition King as seen in there but I believe King will still be able to get a hold of her somewhere in the fight. That’s where things will really turn up.
MIDDLEWEIGHT BOUT
The cub grows when the old lion stops learning the new tricks. Jrue is a fresh face with a fantastic showing in his debut fight. It obvious when two very strong grapplers get together gives me excited because before the break I believe it was something very rare. It would pop every now and again but overall it has been a quiet culture in Union GP. Everyone wants the flash KO and walk away. What they don’t understand is the satisfaction in making a man have to force the acknowledgment that he is done and has to tap out. A knockout is forced too in a way but it’s also unconscious. Williams has the pedigree of his outstanding BJJ. Thing is Jrue can do that all the same but he can also stand up. New tricks. The cub is more well rounded. Williams hasn’t the greatest record in Union. I don’t see him withstanding the young cub’s punishment on the feet. If it goes to ground Jrue has what he needs to get it right back where he wants to be.
CO-MAIN EVENT
LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
© Jordan Parker-Kane (9-6-1) VS #7 August Pope (3-0)
JPK has a way of making you work hard. I think in his youth he’s come to figure out it’s hard for anyone to do anything if they are struggling to breathe. He isn’t the strongest lightweight, damn sure isn’t the most dominant on his feet, but I have watched his fights and he makes sure without a shadow of a doubt that you have to work every single minute in that cage. You have to work to hit him, take him down, whatever you wish to do to him he will not make it easy and he will not make it fun. The only two losses are late in the fight or the full 15 minutes. August Pope gets his opportunity in just 3 fights within in UGP career and with that opportunity comes a HUGE jump in competition. I personally do not think he’s ready but this will definitely show me if I’m wrong. That’s a lot of work Pope will have to put in to become the new Lightweight Champion. JPK isn’t known for the striking side. Pope has the advantage there but if JPK goes to ground he has racked up a lot of submission wins for a reason. Pope does not want to go there with him at all.
MAIN EVENT
MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
© Robert Guilliman (7-1) VS #4 Zion Momo'a (4-1)
This one is the expected fight of the night for me personally but you never know what can happen at a Union GP show. Alright, the main event for the Middleweight Championship. The reason I have chosen Robert to retain is honestly kind of simple. Mental preparation. While Momo’a has dealt with a lot of thoughts on his win against Travis Decker Primarch has been dead set on defending his belt. That’s not to say Momo’a won’t have those problematic thoughts dead and buried by the time the cage closes. I just believe it places him at a hard disadvantage coming into the cage. There’s the physical part of the game then there’s the mental part no one likes to talk about for whatever reason. The mind has to be just as ready as the body. Momo’a has the tools to become a champion. He has the skill to succeed anywhere he wishes. What it will depend on is the mindset. You can’t come in against Guilliman at a disadvantage because he usually fights in mind of taking every single bit of advantage he can. I believe it will take a while for Primarch to catch him due to Momo’a agility but that kick will come and it will be unforgiving.
Portland will be a fun night and I’m looking forward to calling the action. One thing I believe this tournament is opening us up to is fights that would’ve either taken forever to witness or never would have happened due to ranking and the overall system. It’s an exciting time with this UGP restart and it’s been a pleasure to watch so much talent rise in the world of MMA.
I haven’t hit these at all really so I’m not expecting to this time but here it goes.
FIGHT OF THE NIGHT: Guilliman vs Momo’a
PERFORMANCE OF THE NIGHT: Delaney Donovan / Travis Decker
Fight game or Die.
- @HarperTUGP
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