We're Back With Another LineStar Weekly Knockout!

Written by LineStar contributor, combat sports enthusiast, and practitioner, Chris Guy.

Instagram: @therealsethgeko & Twitter: @DadHallOfFamer

Main Card

Locals say the meat packing plant is a front for nefarious activities. By day it’s business as usual, loading and unloading, supplies in, and product out. But by night, throngs of young people are often seen coming out of the woods on foot from all directions and disappearing inside the confines. Their reemergence is rarely witnessed, however.

Residents’ ears have become accustomed to the low steady bass pumping through out the nights to the point they can no longer detect it. Like a steady buzzing in the ears that eventually becomes baseline background noise. But Calvin Kattar can hear it as he stands outside the plant’s main entrance. The festivities are already underway. Late again.

Concealed underneath the full-length black leather cape, Kattar carries a Benelli M3 shotgun and a modified Mac-11. Attached to the impenetrable leather vest are enough extra clips to create a standoff with most world armies. Perhaps the most deadly weapon in Kattar’s arsenal is strapped to his back, a double-edged titanium longsword with acid etching.

Within seconds Kattar has navigated through the warehouse of hanging dead animal flesh to a lower basement. Two armed guards that stood outside the heavy metal doors now lay on the cold concrete in four pieces. Kattar can feel in his chest the bass pulsing through the walls.

One teep, and the doors cave in. Kattar steps inside. Strobe lights and lasers reflect off the blacked-out lenses of Kattar’s sunglasses as he scans his surroundings. He can immediately tell fiend from human. The fiends can smell the Daywalker and direct their attention accordingly. The sacrifices keep dancing.

The double trap has been set. Deep within the labyrinth of the club, Kattar knows the Reapers lay in wait, and their leader Josh Emmett, known by his alter ego, Nomak, looks on patiently. The humans are the lures for the vampires, but unbeknownst to the vampires, they are the lures for the Reapers.

Before Nomak can catch wind of his presence, Kattar opens up with the shotgun, its fire-breathing muzzle lighting up the dance floor. The shotgun is quickly discarded, and the Mac-11 perforates the walls like notebook paper after passing through vampire bodies. Empty clips clatter to the ground, and soon the Mac-11 joins them. In a literal flash, Kattar is a Ninja blender shredding vampires and leaving them in wet heaps.

The remaining vampires flee; they’ve seen enough.

Kattar makes his way to the back of the club and up a set of stairs. At the top, he stops outside another set of doors. He slides the sword into the sheath on his back and takes a deep breath. Inside waits a foe like few others. Superhuman strength and speed with invincibility to common arms. Calvin Kattar will have to do this the hard way, hand to hand.

The doors open automatically, welcomingly, and Kattar steps inside an open vault. In its center stands Josh Emmett, and the two square up.

Josh Emmett (+195) vs Calvin Kattar (-235)

Emmett: DK: $7.4k | Kattar: DK:$8.8k

I’m telling you, Josh Emmett looks like Nomak in Blade 2. When he gets a KO and unleashes a celebratory rebel yell, his mouth splits wide open at the jaw, and a small maw with piranha teeth comes out. This weekend Calvin Kattar will have to be on that Blade type-ish if he wants to get the dub and all but secure a second title shot.

This is a big main event matchup between a massive power puncher, and a boxing technician. Speed and power vs. speed and finesse. Josh Emmett is the definition of a wrestler striker with Michael Chandler-like power in his right hand. And Calvin Kattar is a traditional boxer with kickboxing wrinkles like he left his stand-up it in the dryer for too long.

Josh Emmett is mostly all hooks and overhands and relies heavily on his athletic explosiveness more than technical savviness. Emmett also has a solid wrestling base, and the threat of takedowns makes his stand-up more dangerous. Nomak will feint level changes and come over the top with huge right hands. It’s almost like Emmett crow hops into his right hand. His left hook is also a fight-changer, especially when he uses it behind his cross, the 2-3 combination.

Emmett is a short combination striker averaging just under four and a half significant strikes landed per minute. His biggest weakness is hanging out in the pocket for too long and passively exiting with his hands down. In his two most recent bouts against Shane Burgos and Dan Ige, Emmett was staggered and had some scary moments. But his chin always seems to hold up.

Overall, Emmett is 17-2, including 8-2 in the UFC, and has only been finished once on the feet. That came by the little nuke, Jeremy Stephens. The key against Kattar will be to make this a multi-dimensional fight by using his wrestling, much like we saw Zhang Weili do against Joanna last week. Weili set up that KO by taking Joanna down and landing heavy ground and pound in the first round. Kattar has more tools on the feet than Emmett does, and Emmett can’t afford to box for twenty-five minutes hunting for the KO. This dude is sneaky good and has a solid all-around game that he needs to use more often.

Calvin Kattar debuted in the UFC in 2017 against Andre Fili and then fought Shane Burgos in his second bout. Those are two tough tasks to begin your career, but Kattar won both fights. He has since gone 7-3 and has only lost to elite competition. You might remember one loss in particular, the loss to Max Holloway. That fight was like a torture scene when you plead with the protagonist to just snitch to end the pain and suffering. Just tell them where the money is, Calvin! Kattar got the entirety of his ass kicked that night. Not even the sensitive areas only seen by a Brazilian wax specialist went unscathed.

I bring that up not as a cute garnish for a still fresh wound, but to say, that beating was what led me to doubt Kattar this past January against Giga Chikadze. Taking damage like Calvin did that night can literally change your life. We’ve seen the effects of losses like that plenty of times, and I didn’t know if Kattar would ever be quite the same.

Kattar dominated every round after the first and lapped Giga on his way to a unanimous five-round victory. The fight turned into a rout when Kattar changed the range of the fight by turning punches into elbows and battering Giga on the inside. It looked like Giga had never seen elbows thrown in his direction before. Chito Vera vs. Rob Font was the perfect example of how throwing a variety of strikes can be far more damaging than a high volume of hand strikes. The fighter who uses more weapons to attack, more often than not, has a major advantage.

Calvin will come into this fight and establish his jab on the outside and dictate the range. He’ll slowly work his way inside after he chips away at Emmett from distance and start engaging with elbows and longer combinations, hoping to catch Emmett where he’s most vulnerable. One of Kattar’s best techniques is the counter-power uppercut. He’ll slip the left hand to the outside and throw an uppercut. Up the middle strikes will help Kattar discourage any level changes.

Kattar is the better technical striker, but Emmett can make up a deficit in a hurry with his power. Emmett will be in the (+195) spot that Joshua Culibao was in last weekend when he pulled off the upset. In ten fights, Emmett only hit one hundred significant strikes once when he fought Shane Burgos. And he only fought five rounds once before he was in the UFC. Kattar’s last three fights were five rounds, and he topped one hundred significant strikes in each of them.

Last week, Glover Teixeira was on his way to a 4-1 successful title defense with one minute left when I went into the hen house to count my chickens before they hatched. When I came back, Jiri Prochazka was getting his hand raised. WTF!? Thirty seconds, Glover. Thirty. Calvin Kattar via decision. On wax.

Winner: Calvin Kattar | Method: Decision

Donald Cerrone (-170) vs. Joe Lauzon (+140)

Cerrone: DK: $8.3k | J-Lau: DK: $7.9k

*This is a repost from a few weeks ago when this fight fell through the day of the fight.

 This is a fight straight out of 2012. We missed the boat on this fight by about a decade. Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone's riding a six-fight winless streak like a bucking Bronco and has managed to stay mounted well beyond the eight-second time limit. Four of his five losses in that span have come via TKO, and three of those were in the first round. Cerrone has always been plagued by slow starts. You have to bust out the jumper cables, roll him down hill, and hit the clutch to get Cerrone started. Homie adds forty-five minutes to your morning routine just so you can clock in on time.

I say that to say this: Donald Cerrone is a double O-G. He’s the Dan Marino/Charles Barkley of the sport, an all-time great fighter who never won the title. He could have navigated his way to multiple title shots over the years by handpicking opponents and turning down unfavorable matchups. But then he wouldn’t have been Cowboy. Unlike a lot of actual titleholders, Cerrone fights any and all challengers.

It hurts to say this, but Cerrone's like Jordan on the Wizards, Emmitt Smith on the Cardinals, Ken Griffey Jr. on the Reds; he isn't the same guy. There’s very little of the old Cowboy left. He’s always been a notoriously slow starter, but now he’s also begun to show diminished skills. His reactions have slowed in tandem with his hand speed, and he clearly can’t take the same punishment that he used to. Cerrone was rolled up and smoked by Alex Morono in his last outing. I don’t think Cerrone even landed a strike.

Joe Lauzon made his UFC debut in 2006 against Jens Pulver. Pulver was considered one of the best lightweights in the world at the time and was known for his battles against BJ Penn. Lauzon pulverized Pulver in under a minute, and it remains one of the biggest debuting upsets in history. Fast forward sixteen years later, and Lauzon will be making his twenty-eighth appearance in the Octagon.

Lauzon has always been a scrappy, aggressive fighter anywhere the fight goes. He has excellent grappling with heavy ground and pound, and on the feet, he throws caution to the wind and engages in wild firefights. He isn’t very technical and staunchly refuses to vacate the pocket. J-Lau camps out in the pocket, Bear Grills eating dung beetle dung to survive. Lauzon is most dangerous from the top position, where he specializes in delivering nasty elbows.

The question for both fighters is how much is left in the tank? Lauzon is coming in off a win but has lost three of his last four. I think Lauzon has a little more in the tank and takes a shot better than Cerrone does. Joe Lauzon via TKO, round two.

Winner: Joe Lauzon | Method: TKO Rd.2

Tim Means (+220) vs. Kevin Holland (-275)

Means: DK: $7.3k | Holland: DK: $8.9k

This matchup is brains over brawn. Tim Means is a twenty-five-fight UFC veteran with the skills to implement any game plan needed to defeat his enemy, and Kevin Holland is a tall, long, and athletic striker who proved to have KO power at a higher weight class. This fight will be a chess match and could turn into a trap fight for Holland if he’s not careful.

Kevin Holland needs no introduction, especially among Weekly Knockout constant readers. This guy will whoop your ass and narrate it like a 20/20 episode. He’ll make comic book “boom,” “bap,” “paow” sounds while serving you a six-piece combo, service with a smile. To his credit, in his most recent bout against Cowboy Oliveira, Holland slowed down on the gum bumping and appeared to be all business. The fight marked Holland’s debut in the welterweight division, and although Cowboy Oliveira tested him, Holland secured a second round TKO victory.

Holland has long, fast boxing and caused problems on the feet for every fighter he faced at middleweight. The downfall for Holland began when fighters learned he couldn’t defend a takedown. My neighbor’s Christmas lights have better takedown defense than Kevin Holland. Yes, they’re still up. Holland isn’t allowed to venture outside during the Santa Ana winds or he becomes a projectile and a danger to anyone around him.

Holland can stand and bang with anyone in the welterweight division, anyone. The only hole I see in his striking is that he doesn’t use his range well. He leaps into strikes and often crowds his punches and runs into takedowns. Tim Means is a veteran and strong in the clinch and can drag Holland to the mat. Holland will have to stay on the outside and keep Means at the end of his punches. Tim Means’ best weapon on the feet is his jab, and Holland will have to have a plan for it. Slip and counter over the top with right hands and check-hooks are a couple ways Holland can deal with the jab. And use his own jab in multiples.

Every week fight IQ comes into play in a number of matchups. We saw it from both fighters in the main event last week. Glover Teixeira committed unforced turnover after unforced turnover from the top position that eventually led to the MMA equivalent of a grounder down the first base line going between Bill Buckner’s legs. In the fifth round, Glover had Jiri hurt badly multiple times on the feet and elected to attempt a guillotine and multiple takedowns instead of finishing Jiri standing. I say that to say this; Tim Means’ fight IQ would be a Madden 98. The guy is a savvy vet who knows how to find ways to win fights even when he’s not the better fighter.

Tim Means has over forty professional fights to his name. He’s a high-volume striker, averaging close to five significant strikes landed per minute, who continually touches his opponents with peppering shots to break down their defenses. Means stashes takedowns in his back pocket just in case he finds himself at a disadvantage on the feet. His all-around game makes him a tough out for anyone in the division and a formidable gatekeeper.

Means put on jab MasterClasses in each of his two most recent bouts against Mike Perry and Nicolas Dalby. Means was Castor Troy with the jab; he took their faces… off. When you use the jab to set up your power shots, you don’t have to load up and can land at a higher rate. The big hole in Tim’s striking is his stance and posture. He hunches over, his head naturally leads his body and hangs perilously in the center and lower than his shoulders like a speed bag waiting to be blasted.

Means will be stepping in at my new favorite odds range, (+190). In forty-four career fights, Means has twenty-four finishes, including noineteen by TKO/KO, but his last three victories all came by decision. Holland finished eighteen of his twenty-two career dubs, including all of his previous three. If this fight ends before the allotted fifteen minutes, it’ll be Kevin Holland getting his hand raised. Tim Means’ path to victory will likely entail securing takedowns and grinding Holland to a decision. Kevin Holland via TKO, round three.

Winner: Holland | Method: TKO Rd.3

Joaquin Buckley (+170) vs. Albert Duraev (-220)

Buckley: DK: $7.6k | Duraev: DK: $8.6k

This is a Marvel action figure vs. an “ev.” The big question is, can Marvel action figures stop a takedown? Joaquin Buckley is a hero without a half shell. Buckley would be the first overall pick in an action figure draft held in your driveway between you and your neighborhood homies. Yes, I’d even take Joaquin Buckley over Snake Eyes and Wolverine.

You may remember Joaquin Buckley winning the 2020 Knockout Of The Year when he landed a jumping spinning back kick to Impa Kasanganay's face. Any fight featuring Joaquin Buckley is a certified banger. Buckley’s not the most technical striker, he tends to swing from the waist wide arcing punches, but he makes up for lack of technique with speed and pressure. Simply put, he’s a puncher, not a boxer.

Buckley is 4-2 in the UFC with three TKOs, but the two losses were also by TKO. He is the literal definition of kill or be killed. As a southpaw, his head is a high kick magnet for orthodox fighters. The good news for Buckley: Albert Duraev isn’t known for his head kicks. If Albert Duraev shows up with Homer Simpson fight IQ as he did in the first round of his debut, electing to stand and trade instead of wrestling, Buckley will eventually shut his lights off like an over due bill.

Albert Duraev’s major malfunction is that his striking is good, but he doesn’t realize it’s not great. His striking is just good enough to encourage him to keep standing and trading and looking for a sexy standing finish instead of using his strength. He has dominant wrestling. For those calling me a wild conspiracy theorist, I present noine wins via submission in fifteen career wins as collaborating data.

From the top position, Duraev is a monster with never-ending heavy ground and pound. In his debut against Roman Kopylov, Duraev finally got Kopylov to the mat in the second round and landed close to one thousand (unofficial stat) hammerfists from the mount before the round ended. Unfortunately, the takedown that led to that dominance was the only one Duraev scored in the entire fight. Duraev got dropped in the third round and completely gassed out with his hands on his knees like he just beat out an infield single in a beer league. And if Roman Kopylov can drop Albert Duraev, Joaquin Buckley can Ned Stark him.

At (+170), Buckley has a ton of value as a finisher if he can create long stretches on the feet. Buckley averages just under four significant strikes landed per minute and has never landed more than fifty significant strikes in a three-round fight. His value is strictly in a finish, but as a lower-tier Fantasy option has plenty of upside. In fact, I just decided I’m going to put on wax Joaquin Buckley via TKO, round two.

Winner: Joaquin Buckley  | Method: TKO Rd.2

Damir Ismagulov (-160) vs Guram Kutateladze (+130)

Ismagulov: DK: $8.4k | Kutateladze: DK: $7.8k

*BANGER OF THE NIGHT*

If you know, you know. These two guys are some of the biggest sleepers in the UFC. If name recognition wasn’t a factor, this fight could be a main event. Damir Ismagulov’s upside is championship contender, and Guram Kutateladze could give anyone in the top ten a run for their money. Guram made his debut in a cult classic matchup against Mateusz Gamrot (who’s fighting in next week’s main event) and beat Gamrot by decision. After the fight, Guram was humble and said he thought his opponent got robbed, and Guram didn’t think he should have gotten his hand raised. I thought Guram was higher than I was at the time. I’ve seen that fight three times, and Gamrot did not win that fight. The judges got it right.

Kutateladze is a Jiu-Jitsu world champion and world-class kickboxer. His overall game is a perfect sphere, as well-rounded as you can get. Although he only has one career submission, his guard is dangerous. He’ll tie you up in Boy Scout knots and use submission attempts as sweeps to end up on top or to stand up. On the feet, Guram has excellent kickboxing and a perpetual active cadence, bobbing and slipping and moving laterally from the outside. He’s like Tyrone Biggums, never stops moving and feinting and scratching. His round kicks are nasty and hurt people watching the fight.

Guram’s major malfunction is he doesn’t use his hands enough. He only landed thirty-seven significant strikes in his three-round debut and was taken down five times. But he was able to threaten from his back and stand up from each takedown. Damir Ismagulov has shown the ability to control fights from the top position, and Guram will have to make up for lost points with a higher volume on the feet.

Damir Ismagulov is 23-1 and riding an eighteen-fight winning streak. He debuted in 2018 and has gone 4-0 with notable wins over Joel Alvarez and Thiago Moises. His most recent win was a competitive fight against the explosive Raphael Alves.

Ismagulov is a sleeper on the feet. Everything he does is subtle without any wasted motion, from slipping and countering to his laser beam jab. His reactions to strikes are so well-honed that it’s almost like he knows what’s coming. Like someone’s tipping pitches to him. Like he’s playing Techmo Super Bowl and looking at your controller as you choose your play. He likes to sit on the jab and counter over the top with a quick 2-3 (cross-hook). Although he rarely throws kicks, his round kicks have no tells like Stevie Wonder playing poker. It’s textbook as if he’s kicking pads.

Overall, Ismagulov is one of the smartest fighters I’ve seen. He chooses his openings wisely and always fights to his strengths. He found himself in trouble late against Raphael Alves and had to hold on and survive to win a decision, so he’s not perfect. But he’s one of the best fighters most people haven’t heard of.

This fight is a banger. Damir’s experience has him as the early (-165) favorite, making Kutateladze a live dog with the pace to wear down Damir over fifteen minutes. Ismagulov has twelve career TKO/KO’s and one submission. Guram is 12-2 with seven TKO/KO’s and one submission. Complete toss-up. I think top control may be the deciding factor. Damir Ismagulov via decision.

Winner: Damir Ismagulov | Method: Decision

Julian Marquez (+155) vs Gregory Rodrigues (-190)

Marquez: DK: $7.7k | Rodigues: DK: $8.5k

Brazilian Deebo is back like he never left with DJ Pooh’s bike. And so is “The Cuban Missile Crisis” Julian Marquez. Marquez is best known for shooting a Steph Curry half-court shot at Miley Cyrus on Valentine's Day and sinking it in a post-fight interview with Joe Rogan. This is another USDA Certified Banger. And if you don’t know, now you know.

Julian Marquez looks like he wears a banana hammock while in line at the buffet on a Carnival Cruise. But don’t let that fool you; this guy is a real savage. Sometimes. Sometimes Marquez looks like a straight killer, and sometimes he looks uninterested for half of the fight. But Marquez is always dangerous until the final bell.

Marquez has aggressive kickboxing with heavy power in his right hand and rear-leg kicks. He thrives in firefights and needs to clock in OT minutes inside the pocket to be effective. Protect Ya Neck, Deebo. Marquez hunts for standing guillotines from the clinch relentlessly, and they can be just as effective as traditional takedowns when getting the fight to the mat. To defend the standing guillotine, you have to turn and go to your back to escape, allowing your opponent to gain top position.

Gregory Rodrigues is a huge power puncher with unreal Jiu-Jitsu. Rodrigues has the power to KO anyone in the division, and his Jiu-Jitsu is as good as anyone’s in the middleweight top ten. What makes Rodrigues’s Jiu-Jitsu special is his transitions. He has clever back-takes and passes into the mount. It’s like he feints one way and then goes the other. In his last bout he rolled from the back mount into a kneebar attempt. And on top of all his grappling, he can knock you the f*** out. Choose Your Own Adventure.

I can’t imagine this one going the distance, but then again, Glover vs. Jiri was twenty-six seconds away from going the distance. No one saw that coming. Deebo is the early (-200) favorite, and Julian Marquez will provide for another lower-tier roster option with a high upside and multiple paths to a finish. But Julian Marquez ain’t Craig Jones. Gregory Rodrigues via TKO, round two.

Winner: Gregory Rodrigues | Method: TKO Rd.2

Prelims

Highlighted Matchup

Roman Dolidze (+195) vs Kyle Daukaus (-260)

Dolidze: DK: $k | Daukaus: DK: $k

Kyle is one-half of the Daukaus brothers. Not quite the new Diaz brothers, the Daukaus brothers have made some waves in their brief UFC careers. Kyle’s brother Chris went 4-0 and landed two main event-headlining gigs. Even though Chris got a lot of shine early, Kyle is the better all-around fighter of the brothers with a better career upside.

Kyle is a well-rounded fighter, who in just five UFC bouts, has proven he can stand and grapple with the elite in the division. He mixes effortless, smooth striking from the southpaw stance with high-level Jiu-Jitsu and ground and pound. Kyle went three hard rounds against Brendan Allen in his debut, and that fight featured high-level scrambles and submission attempts/escapes from both fighters.

On the feet, Kyle’s left hand is dangerous, and he’s creative setting it up. He often likes to use it as a same-side combination behind a left kick. It’s a sneaky way to land the power cross by bringing the opponent’s hands down to defend the kick. Daukaus has an excellent feel for the pocket and remains just outside his opponent’s reach.

Daukaus should have the advantage wherever the fight takes place. Dolidze has shown a strong desire to control fights in the clinch against the cage and from the top position without offering much in the way of offense. Daukaus should look to keep it standing while looking for openings to score his own takedowns.

I had high hopes for Roman Dolidze before his UFC debut. But so far, it seems as if he’s just a physically fit weighted blanket. He has power on the feet but only throws a single strike at a time and never really commits to his striking. Dolidze is a world-class wrestler/grappler, and his stand-up is usually just a formality before clinching and holding against the cage. And clinching and holding against the cage. And clinching and… you get it. Dolidze has dial-up hand speed and the line is always busy. There’s also a glitch in Roman’s striking; whenever he switches to the southpaw stance, he will almost exclusively throw naked left round kicks to the body.

The only pick here is Kyle Daukaus. If Dolidze finds a way to win, it’ll be from accumulated top control. Daukaus can finish Dolidze on the feet or the mat, and I don’t think Dolidze can finish Daukaus. Kyle Daukaus via rear-naked choke, round three.

Winner: Kyle Daukaus | Method: Rear-Naked Choke Rd.3

Twenty-Twen-Twen Sleepers

Twenty-Ten-Twen Sleepe

Last week, I went 1-2, hitting a homer on Joshua Culibao but losing on a walk-off grand salami to a Jiri Prochazka submission with twenty-six seconds left in the fight. Of course, as a budget gambler, I only dropped a Hamilton on each and basically came out even.

Lauzon (+140): Donald Cerrone stated eating at a roach coach and subsequently catching the BG's (bubble guts aka the bubblies) as the reason for dropping out of the fight at the literal last minute the first time around. I think it's because he caught wind that I dropped an Andy Jack on Joe Lauzon. I'll be doing it again. This is a what's-left-in-the-tank matchup, and I think Lauzon might have just a little more.

Tim Means (+220): Means is a veteran-veteran with well-rounded skills who can adapt to the opponent's weaknesses. He also has a very effective jab that could cause problems for a guy like Kevin Holland, who leaps into the pocket to close distance. I see Means trying to clinch, push Holland against the cage, and grinding on him for fifteen minutes.

Joaquin Buckley (+170): If Albert Duraev comes out with the High Pitch Erik fight IQ and doesn't immediately try to get the fight to the mat, Buckley has a very good chance of landing a bomb. Buckley's power will translate for the full fifteen minutes even when he's gassed. This is 50/50 on the feet but 80/20 on the mat in favor of Duraev.

Pick 'Em

Adrian Yanez (-330) vs. Tony Kelley (+250)

Winner: Adrian Yanez

 Method: TKO Rd.2

Jasmine Jasudavicius (-250) vs. Natalia Da Silva (+200)

Winner: Jasmine Jasudavicius

 Method: Decision

Court McGee (-120) vs. Jeremiah Wells (+100)

    Winner: Court McGee

 Method: Decision

Ricardo Ramos (-325) vs. Danny Chavez (+250)

    Winner: Ricardo Ramos

 Method: Decision

Maria Oliveira (+210) vs. Gloria De Paula (-275)

    Winner: Gloria De Paula

 Method: Decision

Eddie Wineland (+375) vs. Cody Stamann (-525)

    Winner: Cody Stamann

 Method: TKO Rd.2

Phil Hawes (-265) vs. Deron Winn (+210)

    Winner: Phil Hawes

 Method: Decision

Thanks for reading LineStar Weekly Knockout! We'll be back next Thursday with another one. Until then, good luck and support your local MMA Gym.

About Me

My name is Chris Guy, and I’m an avid combat sports enthusiast and practitioner. I’ve been a fan of MMA since the early 2000s when Limewire was still around, and I downloaded Bas Rutten’s Big Book of Combat. In 2004, I started training Muay Thai at City Boxing in San Diego, CA. I competed as an amateur for many years, and I've also dabbled in Jiu-Jitsu. I follow many different disciplines, such as Combat Ji-Jitsu, Muay Thai, Glory Kickboxing, Boxing, and MMA.

I’m equally as enthusiastic about the craft of writing, and in addition to writing about combat sports, I also write short fiction and music. I hope to bring unique prose to sports writing, and along the way, encourage people to not only become Martial Arts fans but to also become Martial Artists themselves.

In the future, you may see me refer to the Thunderdome; it's an ode to the old Mad Max movie and refers to the world-class training facility I built in my one-car garage. It's complete with throw dummies, wrestling mats, heavy bags, and six months' worth of Chef Boyardee cans from when I thought the world was going to end back in March. I hope you enjoy my work, and if you don’t, the Thunderdome has an open door policy.

Check out my Podcast The Whiskey (S)ick Podcast on Apple and Spotify. Parental Advisory Warning