By TXMMA Staff // Dez Moore
Fury FC 2 returns to Humble Civic Center this Friday night
Check out our preview and predictions for Fury FC courtesy of staff writer Dez Moore below:
Fury Fighting Championship 2 – Preview and Predictions
150 lbs.: Rey Trujillo (16-11) vs. Javier Obregon (7-9)
At a catch-weight of 150 lbs. Houston’s Rey Trujillo will meet Dallas/Fort Worth’s Javier Obregon in the main event for FFC 2. Both fighters are accomplished veterans that have held titles in the IXFA and STFC. Trujillo is coming off a third round TKO stoppage victory over Rocky Long last August, while Obregon is trying to bounce back after losing his STFC title to Fabian Saldivar last September. Trujillo is known for being an aggressive knockout minded fighter racking up 12 KO/TKO victories. Obregon lives or dies for the submission. Nine of his fights have ended by submission, but only three in his favor. The hometown fighter gets the nod in this competitive fight.
PREDICTION: Rey Trujillo wins by TKO in the second round.
125 lbs.: Ryan Hollis (7-4) vs. Humberto Deleon (6-5)
A potential Fight on the Night right here with Ryan Hollis facing off against Humberto DeLeon. After being scheduled to fight each other more than once, these two finally get the chance to square off. Hollis was riding a three-fight win streak, the second longest streak of his career, before losing to Hector Sandoval last August. DeLeon recently snapped his three-fight losing streak beating Chris Myers by split-decision. Both fighters have never been finished inside the cage, only losing by judge’s decision. DeLeon has won all but one of his fights by submission; however, Hollis is no dud on the ground either showing he has slick submission skills as well. These two are regarded as some of the best flyweight talent Texas has to offer, so fans should be treated quite the show.
PREDICTION: Ryan Hollis wins by split decision.
145 lbs.: Alex Black (7-3) vs. David Armas (5-10)
After winning his professional debut then losing his next three fights, Alex Black has rejuvenated his career winning six straight fights. During his six-fight win streak, Black has strategically limited himself to two fights a year. This will be his third fight in the 2014 year. David Armas has not been as successful in his professional career as Black has. Armas is currently trying to fight his way out of the losing column, dropping his last two fights. His last fight was a title-loss to aforementioned Javier Obregon. While Black is looking like he has all the traits to make a run at the major leagues of MMA, Armas is playing the spoiler role. A loss to Armas could set Black back quite a bit.
PREDICTION: Alex Black wins by submission in the first round.
170 lbs.: Guilherme Moriera (0-0) vs. Aaron Reeves (2-0)
After a 6-1 amateur career, including five title fights, Team Tooke’s Guilherme Moriera has made the move to the professional level. Moriera has not fought since his lone amateur loss in 2012 assumingly to prepare and get ready for his move to the professional level. Waiting for him in his debut will be Metro Fight Club’s Aaron Reeves. Reeves is undefeated, beating both Steven Rodriguez and Julius Holmes at Legacy 27 and Legacy 31. With a win here, Moriera will show that he made the right move to the professional level after losing his last fight and showing he is a capable threat in the welterweight division. A win for Reeves will put him at 3-0 and might find himself a title shot for a smaller promotion or a higher-profile bout.
PREDICTION: Aaron Reeves wins by decision.
135 lbs.: Ricky Turcios (2-0) vs. Edward Longoria (0-0)
Another debuting fighter, bantamweight Edward Longoria makes the move to the professional level after a lengthy amateur career totaling 11 fights (6-4-1). Longoria will be facing undefeated Ricky Turcios. Turcios is a Muay Thai fighter who enjoys utilizing his quick jab, front kicks, and leg kicks. He also has wrestling and submission skills to go along with the rest of his skillset gained from a lifetime in martial arts. Conversely, Longoria is also a confident striker who shoots for takedowns to score points and to initiate his ground-and-pound game. However, Longoria gets a little sloppy with his standup due to some overconfidence.
PREDICTION: Ricky Turcios wins by decision.
180 lbs.: Alex Morono (6-3) vs. Larry Hopkins (3-15)
One of Houston’s top prospects, Alex Morono, will look to bounce back from his most recent fight, a TKO loss to Diego Henrique Da Silva at Legacy 31. He is in prime position to do that at FFC 2 facing Larry Hopkins. Hopkins is a 33-year old journeyman looking to get into the cage again after seven straight losses. His most recent loss was to rising light-heavyweight Daniel Jolly. Morono is looking to get out of the losing column as well as rebound from his main event loss in the first Fury Fighting Championship event, a fight he lost by a razor-sharp split-decision to Rob Wood.
PREDICTION: Alex Morono by submission in the second round.
170 lbs.: Patrick Hutton (4-9) vs. Rashid Abdullah (4-10)
Another holdover from FFC 1, Rashid Abdullah proved to be quite the surprise for Travis Tooke, a well-known instructor in Texas and heavy favorite in his matchup with Abdullah at FFC 1. Abdullah winded up losing the matchup but only by split-decision. Since then Abdullah’s record has taken a turn for the worse dropping four of his last five fights, including a controversial disqualification loss to Alex Morono. Patrick Hutton is a gritty tough fighter with a focus on boxing. Both fighters will definitely look to come out strong and throw hands.
PREDICTION: Rashid Abdullah by submission in the third round.
145 lbs.: Kody Williams (2-0) vs. Luis Lara (0-0)
The last fighter on this card that was featured on FFC 1 is Kody Williams. Williams is an undefeated fighter from Gracie-Barra Woodlands in Houston. Williams was a standout high school wrestler. Luis Lara is making his professional debut after an even 3-3 amateur record. His last fight was for the Legacy Amateur Series lightweight championship, a fight he lost by submission to Sage Northcutt.
PREDICTION: Kody Williams wins by submission in the second round.
UNDERCARD:
195 lbs.: Carl Perry (2-5) vs. Yonny Osuna (2-2)
After dropping four straight, Carl Perry bounced back in his first title fight, a first round TKO victory, capturing the Revolution Cage Warrior Challenge. He will look to continue his momentum and build back to a .500 record against Yonny Osuna. Osuna is looking to get to plus .500. Osuna has never won or lost two straight before. His last fight was a decision loss, the first decision loss of his career.
PREDICTION: Yonny Osuna wins by submission in the third round.
155 lbs.: Kolton Englund (0-1) vs. James Gonzales (1-3)
After a disappointing trip to Legacy, James Gonzales makes his way to Fury Fighting Championship to fight Kolton Englund. After dropping two submission losses in a row, Gonzales should look to improve his ground game to go along with his strengths, his standup and power. After capturing two amateur titles Englund made the move to the professional level, where he found himself on the wrong side of a first round TKO loss. Englund is a powerful striker with a lethal ground-and-pound game. These two fighters should provide fireworks with their striking.
PREDICTION: Kolton Englund wins by TKO in the third round.
155 lbs.: Dominic Rodriguez (0-2) vs. Edgar Juarez (1-1)
After achieving his first victory as a professional at 140 lbs., Edgar Juarez will face Dominic Rodriguez in a lightweight bout. Rodriguez is hoping to capture his first win this weekend at FFC 2. Both fighters have gone the distance in both of their professional fights.
PREDICTION: Edgar Juarez wins by decision.
HVY lbs.: Gary Harling (0-1) vs. Jeremy Hardy (0-0)
Opening the event will be a heavyweight bout between Gary Harling and Jeremy Hardy. This will be Hardy’s professional debut after a 6-1 amateur record including three titles. For Harling this will be his second fight inside the cage ever. He posted a 0-1 record at the amateur level before moving up to the professional level. Hardy, dubbed “The Nightmare”, should prove to live up to his nickname for Harling this weekend, capturing his first win as a pro.
PREDICTION: Jeremy Hardy wins by TKO in the first.