UFC Fight Night 21

Written by Ben Datika

The only thing that beats speaking about Mixed Martial Arts is writing about it in my first article to my favorite audience – Philly!  MMA has fast become one of the hottest and most talked about sports, even winning the title of “The Ultimate Sport.”  Now the fighters return to Charlotte, NC after a long 15 years to mark the night, as well as the octagon with more sweat and blood.  The lightweight competitors, Kenny “KenFlo” Florian and Takanori “The Fireball Kid” Gomi are set to face each other in the much anticipated main event which is guaranteed to leave viewers feeling the rush. With Florian’s distinguished record of 14 wins and a mere 4 losses, coupled with Gomi’s impressive 31 wins with only 5 losses, there is no doubt that they each have so much to defend and even more to prove. Expect this showdown to include lots of power combinations, brutal takedowns, and complex grappling maneuvers in hope of the victorious sound of a tapout. However, please don’t be surprised if you are left in suspense by watching the fight take a multitude of sharp unpredictable turns. Only time will dictate what the outcome holds, since The Fireball Kid’s experience as the Japanese Superstar and former PRIDE champion is just about as impressive as the two-time challenger KenFlo’s extensive relationship with the cage.

The other highlight of the night is an all out battle between Roy “Big Country” Nelson and Stephen “Skyscraper” Struve. Measuring a sky-high 6’11’’ and weighing in at 238 lbs, Struve’s nick-name is more than fitting. The same applies to Nelson’s “Big Country” reputation, as he weighs in at 263 lbs, and stands at 6’0”. Despite the many claims that Nelson’s 11 inch height disadvantage may be a handicap when the bell rings, his dexterity and power will still ensure a very fair competition. The only concern is whether or not the cage will be big enough to hold the action expected from these two skilled beasts. Additional main card fights include Nate Quarry vs. Jorge Rivera and Ross Pearson vs. Dennis Siver, again, expect non-stop intensity between these fighters. The preliminary card is also scheduled for the following fights:

Rafaello Oliveira vs. Andre Winner

Ronys Torres vs. Jacob Volkmann

Rob Emerson vs. Nik Lentz

Gleison Tibau vs. Caol Uno

Lucio Linhares vs. Yushin Okami

Gerald Harris vs. Mario Miranda

Charlie Brenneman vs. Jason High

As a devout Mixed Martial Artist myself, I can attest to the training these fighters endure and the conditioning they enter the octagon with. Show your support for their committed efforts by tuning into Spike TV tonight at 8:00 to watch UFC Fight Night 21 and get your share of the adrenaline pump!