By Felix Rodriguez, Staff Writer
The entire card is filled with some of the most promising regional prospects, looking to make a name for themselves in the sport, and many crafty veterans that have fought under MMA’s biggest promotions. Hornbuckle and Spratt definitely fall within the crafty veteran category with a combined total of 73 fights between them. Of all the fights, the main event is the most intriguing and potentially explosive affair of the night because both men are deadly finishers with entirely different styles of striking that, when paired together seem like a lock for KO of the night/Fight of the night honors.
Dan “The Handler” Hornbuckle (22-5) will be making his Legacy FC after going 3-3 fighting for Bellator FC. He is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt that uses his 6’2 frame and 83-inch reach to finish fights either with dazzling strikes or with creative submissions. The proud Native American uses his range to take control of the center of the ring from where he likes to push forward with aggressive striking. Of his 22 wins only two were by decision. Hornbuckle likes to stand and trade because his fluid head and body movement allows him to create openings for counterstriking that maximize his reach advantage. Akihiro Gono experienced this first hand when fighting Hornbuckle. Gono’s offense was shut down because Hornbuckle used his reach to strike first and stay out of range. The fight ended when a frustrated Gono tried to create some offense with a leg kick that Hornbuckle caught and countered with a merciless kick to the head for the KO. Hornbuckle has had problems with opponents that don’t engage him toe-for-toe and opt for systematic striking instead. Luis Santos was able to shut down Hornbuckle’s striking game by mixing up head kicks and body punches with repeated kicks to Hornbuckle’s legs. The added effect took their toll on the fighter who lost to Santos by unanimous decision.
Hornbuckle will be fighting the hometown favorite when he meets Pete “The Secret Weapon” Spratt (25-21) in Legacy 17’s main event. Spratt is another fighter who is well known for finishing his opponents, like Hornbuckle, he has only seen the bell twice when his hand is raised. Spratt made his name after stopping Robbie Lawler with leg kicks at UFC 42. The former kickboxer and 2nd degree black belt in Kenpo Karate combines accuracy and power to look for the knockout. Spratt has finished opponents like TJ Waldburger, Rich Clementi and Jason Von Flue by stalking them and switch their lights out with a single blow. Spratt has only been stopped with strikes twice in his 47-fight career –a doctor stoppage due to a cut and a legitimate KO back in 2001. Suffice it to say, those who choose to stand and bang with Spratt do so at their own risk.
Spratt has not been as successful once taken down. Spratt has been submitted 16 times throughout his career, but has not tapped out since Ryan Ford caught him with an RNC in 2010. Spratt seems to favor rolling onto his stomach to look for scrambles from the bottom when overwhelmed by his opponent and the vast majority of his submission losses have come from giving up the RNC in this type of scramble. If Hornbuckle thinks this is the safest route to victory he better tread carefully though because Spratt is perfectly capable of pulling of submissions too.
So who wins? It depends on where the fight ends up because, as said before, styles make fights.
Hornbuckle needs to temper his aggression on the feet and pick his shots more because if he swings wildly against Spratt he is likely to get KOd. Hard. It is a no-brainer that Hornbuckle should try to get things to the ground quickly, but it would also be ill advised for him to shoot in headfirst for a takedown. Spratt may never become a world-class submission fighter, but it is a safe bet that he has gotten very good at sprawling and brawling through the years. If Hornbuckle doesn’t set up his takedowns with punches and kicks Spratt could get the timing of his shots and blast away with his trademark counters. The Key for Hornbuckle would be to use his 13.5 reach advantage to keep a jab in Spratt’s face until the takedown crystallizes. Hornbuckle has the advantage on the ground, but should be mindful of giving up one of those long limbs in a submission while trying to open Spratt up with strikes from the top.
Spratt’s key to victory lies in his ability to close the distance to attack Hornbuckle’s legs. Spratt has had success with this strategy against opponents like Robbie Lawler and Hornbuckle’s loss to Luis Santos proved he’s vulnerable to this type of gameplan. At 42 Spratt is not as fast as he once was, but his years of experience as a striker should allow him to defend Hornbuckle’s punches mostly with success. Cracking Hornbuckle’s legs after parrying his initial flurries will take away Hornbuckle’s mobility and help to nullify his range. Softening up Hornbuckle’s legs will also help Spratt avoid his weakest area in the fight by taking the spring out of Hornbuckles takedowns. Spratt should look to systematically chop the tree down and be patient for Hornbuckle to drop his hands in search of a takedown. Capitalizing on such an opportunity would be the likeliest way for Spratt to have his hand raised at the end of the fight.