A slow week for mixed martial arts will be livened up on Friday night, with Shark Fights putting on its 14th event and first on HDNet, headlined by a main event between a couple of UFC veterans, and a co-main event that is one of the best women's fights of the year.
What: Shark Fights 14: Horwich vs. Villefort
When: Friday night, the HDNet broadcast begins at 10 PM ET
Where: Fair Park Coliseum, Lubbock, Texas
Predictions on the five televised fights below.
Matt Horwich vs. Danillo Villefort
Horwich's 26-17-1 record doesn't really do his career justice: His losses have almost all come by decision, and almost all against solid opposition. To break his record down a little more thoroughly, he's 20-4 in fights finished by submission, 3-0 in fights finished by knockout or TKO, and 3-13 in fights that go the distance.
But I don't much like the way Horwich matches up with Villefort, a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt who's never been submitted. Villefort is coming off a unanimous decision win over Joey Villasenor at the last Shark Fights event, and I expect him to win another unanimous decision over Horwich.
Pick: Villefort
Carina Damm vs. Tara LaRosa
This is the best fight on the card and one of the top women's matchups we'll see in MMA this year. Damm is a threat to finish fights with her grappling or her powerful striking, but she generally hasn't fared well against top competition, and that's what LaRosa is. I think LaRosa takes a decision and puts on a show that demonstrates why she's recognized as one of the best female fighters in the world.
Pick: LaRosa
Mike Bronzoulis vs. Lucas Lopes
Lopes comes into this fight on a three-fight losing streak, and life isn't going to get any easier for him against Bronzoulis, who should be able to take Lopes down and ground and pound his way to a TKO win.
Pick: Bronzoulis
Alex Cisne vs. Eric Davila
Davila has been fighting professionally for 13 years and has an 18-10 record, and he put on a solid showing in choking out Pete Spratt on the last Shark Fights card. I think his experience and submission game should be too much for the 5-1 Cisne.
Pick: Davila
Joseph Sandoval vs. Sean Shakour
This is exactly the kind of matchup a smaller promotion like Shark Fights should be making: Two young, undefeated bantamweight prospects. The 3-0 Shakour is returning to the cage after more than a year away, and I figure the ring rust will be too much for him to beat Sandoval, who turned pro last year and has a 4-0 record.
Pick: Sandoval
What: Shark Fights 14: Horwich vs. Villefort
When: Friday night, the HDNet broadcast begins at 10 PM ET
Where: Fair Park Coliseum, Lubbock, Texas
Predictions on the five televised fights below.
Matt Horwich vs. Danillo Villefort
Horwich's 26-17-1 record doesn't really do his career justice: His losses have almost all come by decision, and almost all against solid opposition. To break his record down a little more thoroughly, he's 20-4 in fights finished by submission, 3-0 in fights finished by knockout or TKO, and 3-13 in fights that go the distance.
But I don't much like the way Horwich matches up with Villefort, a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt who's never been submitted. Villefort is coming off a unanimous decision win over Joey Villasenor at the last Shark Fights event, and I expect him to win another unanimous decision over Horwich.
Pick: Villefort
Carina Damm vs. Tara LaRosa
This is the best fight on the card and one of the top women's matchups we'll see in MMA this year. Damm is a threat to finish fights with her grappling or her powerful striking, but she generally hasn't fared well against top competition, and that's what LaRosa is. I think LaRosa takes a decision and puts on a show that demonstrates why she's recognized as one of the best female fighters in the world.
Pick: LaRosa
Mike Bronzoulis vs. Lucas Lopes
Lopes comes into this fight on a three-fight losing streak, and life isn't going to get any easier for him against Bronzoulis, who should be able to take Lopes down and ground and pound his way to a TKO win.
Pick: Bronzoulis
Alex Cisne vs. Eric Davila
Davila has been fighting professionally for 13 years and has an 18-10 record, and he put on a solid showing in choking out Pete Spratt on the last Shark Fights card. I think his experience and submission game should be too much for the 5-1 Cisne.
Pick: Davila
Joseph Sandoval vs. Sean Shakour
This is exactly the kind of matchup a smaller promotion like Shark Fights should be making: Two young, undefeated bantamweight prospects. The 3-0 Shakour is returning to the cage after more than a year away, and I figure the ring rust will be too much for him to beat Sandoval, who turned pro last year and has a 4-0 record.
Pick: Sandoval