HILITE: The Dawn of the New Millennium

Lt. Lucrativo · December 31, 2010

Reading through a bunch of the excellent WMMA 3 dynasties going on in the forum has motivated me to take a shot at my own.

I recently picked back up with my first WMMA 3 save, a game I started to build up the default HILITE promotion, and I really like how things are shaping up two years in. I've got an interesting roster spread across five divisions with a bunch of quality fights on the horizon, and the company is entering what looks to be a pivotal year where it will either start to emerge as a true competitor to GAMMA or have to take a step back and rebuild as larger companies start to poach its top fighters. HILITE begins 2000 as a mid-level regional company with 60.0% popularity in the United States and around $300,000 in the bank, down from $500,000 at its founding. And its matchmaker, user character AJ Avatar, happens to be an absolute MMA genius thanks to the Lucky Dip feature--he's currently working with a 10/10/9/10 in terms of user skills.

Since the diary is going to start out at the dawn of the new millennium, two years into a game in progress, and features a company not yet active in the default data, the first few posts will be concerned with providing background information about HILITE and its roster. Comments, questions, suggestions, thoughts and predictions (when we get to the actual events) will all be very much appreciated.

Lt. Lucrativo · December 31, 2010

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HILITE No Holds Barred Cagefighting

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<div style="text-align:center;"><div style="text-align:center;">CEO: Matt Tripp

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<div style="text-align:center;"><div style="text-align:center;">Matchmaker: AJ Avatar</div>

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Divisions: 5</div>

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<div style="text-align:center;"><div style="text-align:center;">Lightweight (146-155lbs)</div>

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<div style="text-align:center;"><div style="text-align:center;">Welterweight (156-170lbs)</div>

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<div style="text-align:center;"><div style="text-align:center;">Middleweight (171-185lbs)</div>

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<div style="text-align:center;"><div style="text-align:center;">Light Heavyweight (186-205lbs)</div>

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<div style="text-align:center;"><div style="text-align:center;">Heavyweight (206-265lbs)</div>

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Fight Format:</div>

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<div style="text-align:center;"><div style="text-align:center;">All fights held in a cage</div>

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<div style="text-align:center;"><div style="text-align:center;">Non-title fights consist of 3 10-minute rounds</div>

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<div style="text-align:center;"><div style="text-align:center;">Title fights consist of 5 10-minute rounds</div>

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<div style="text-align:center;"><div style="text-align:center;">3 judges score each fight using the 10-point must system</div>

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<div style="text-align:center;"><div style="text-align:center;">Referee may separate inactive fighters</div>

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<div style="text-align:center;"><div style="text-align:center;">Strikes to a downed opponent are legal—including elbows, knees, stomps and kicks</div>

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Brief History and Outlook:</div>

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Created as the brainchild of outspoken business mogul and former boxing promoter Matt Tripp in 1998, HILITE No Holds Barred Cagefighting has grown by leaps and bounds over its first two years of existence. Partnering with unknown California attorney AJ Avatar to launch the fledgling organization, Tripp maintained that the relatively obscure sport of Mixed Martial Arts was ready to take North America by storm at the turn of the millennium. The rapid growth of both HILITE and its larger American competitor GAMMA, as well as the 1999 launch of a major promotion in Mexico, seem to have proven Tripp’s contention prophetic.

Originally consisting of only three weight classes and promoting fights between obscure regional competitors from its base in Phoenix, Arizona, HILITE has expanded rapidly and has attracted the attention of fight fans across the country. Despite its lack of national television or pay per view distribution, the company has proven remarkably adept at marketing its brand and its fighters through Internet and video distribution and has, in fact, created several young stars who rival the best known fighters in GAMMA in terms of national popularity. This, in turn, has caught the eyes of fighters from all around the world, and 1999 saw an influx of high caliber international competitors into HILITE which cemented the company’s reputation as an attractive destination for top fighters and a rising power in the World of Mixed Martial Arts.

2000 is likely to prove a critical year for the development of HILITE. Ironically, the company’s ability to build its young fighters into stars may prove to be as much a curse as it is a blessing, as speculation abounds that HILITE will struggle to retain its biggest names as their contracts begin to come due. Several fighters currently under contract with HILITE would be very attractive signings for the much larger Las Vegas-based GAMMA organization, which can’t relish the thought of having a major competitor growing in its own backyard. Lacking GAMMA’s financial muscle and without the revenue stream provided by pay per view distribution of its events, HILITE can ill afford to engage in bidding wars with its rival promotion, particularly given the fact that GAMMA’s much larger market share and existing distribution deals make it a naturally more attractive option for any high-level fighter. HILITE management is known to be actively seeking a pay per view partner, but if this quest continues to be unsuccessful and the company begins to lose its top names to GAMMA, the danger exists that HILITE will come to be thought of as a minor league promotion—a stigma that, once acquired, may be difficult to break free from. Whether HILITE will be able to establish itself on an equal, or relatively equal, footing with its larger competitor or whether it will begin to fade as a major player in American MMA is likely to be one of the most intriguing stories in worldwide combat sports in the new millennium.

Lt. Lucrativo · December 31, 2010

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Fighter Rankings

Heavyweight Division

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<div style="text-align:center;"><div style="text-align:center;">Champion: Christopher Sharp</div>

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1. Terron Cabal (15-0, #3 HW, #23 PFP)

Highly regarded Frenchman Terron Cabal was a major signing for HILITE in 1999. His clinical boxing and hugely powerful fists make him one of the most feared fighters in any weight class in the world. Coming off an impressive knockout of Marvin Stevens at HILITE 28, Cabal looks likely to be the first challenger for Christopher Sharp’s Heavyweight title in 2000—a fight that would be one of the most anticipated heavyweight battles in the short history of American MMA.

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2. Christopher Sharp (38-12, #4 HW, #24 PFP)

Christopher Sharp has rebuilt a career that many had previously considered to be a disappointment in HILITE by simply bulldozing his way through every opponent put in front of him en route to the Heavyweight title. No one has yet survived a single round in the HILITE cage with Sharp, who is staking a strong case as the most dominant heavyweight wrestler in the world. A future fight with Terron Cabal would draw a lot of interest and no doubt do big business for HILITE, but sources within the company have indicated that CEO Matt Tripp may want to keep that matchup in his back pocket for use in future negotiations with television and pay-per-view providers.

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3. Rav Kapur (9-0, #11 HW)

Massive heavyweight Rav Kapur is one of the most physically intimidating men on the face of the planet—and he has the tremendous power and skill to go with his appearance. The elite English kickboxer has yet to debut for HILITE, but he’s already considered one of the top contenders in the company. His signing in late 1999 was yet another indication that HILITE is a company on the rise and has become a destination for elite international fighters looking to break into the massive American market. Kapur’s first HILITE opponent has yet to be named, but many have speculated that Gareth Grundy’s impressive TKO victory over Damien Jones at HILITE 27 could put him in line for that honor.

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4. Wilson Franklyn (10-2, #16 HW)

Former street fighter Wilson Franklyn is not a man you’d want to come across in a dark alley. Critics insist that he lacks skill or technique and has nothing but punching power in his arsenal, but when you hit as hard as Franklyn does, all it takes is one shot to turn out the lights on even the most granite-chinned opponent. Still, Franklyn will tell anyone who’ll listen that he’s a student of the fight game, and he’s made it his mission to show that he’s more than just a street brawler. Coming off of three consecutive knockout victories in 1999, Franklyn has to be considered one of the fastest rising heavyweights in the world, and he’s put himself in position to prove his detractors wrong once and for all.

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5. Sly Twinge (8-1)

The big man from Colorado is a dangerous heavyweight contender whose physical strength and dominating wrestling make him a difficult man to match up against. He was on quite a roll, rising as high as number 10 in the world heavyweight rankings, until running up against Christopher Sharp at HILITE 25. He did provide the champion his stiffest challenge to date in HILITE, surviving for a full six minutes, but he was ultimately just another victim of Sharp’s physical dominance. Twinge will now be looking to rebound from his first professional defeat and put himself back in title contention. Time appears to be on his side—at just 24 years of age, the Bully Boy likely has his best form still ahead of him.

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6. Sam Hoynes (4-0)

Many would argue that with only four fights under his belt, the big Texan Sam Hoynes is a bit overrated at this point in his career. Still, what little we’ve seen from Hoynes has been undeniably impressive. A naturally powerful wrestler, he appears to have the ability to assert his will against most other heavyweights. His striking game remains a work in progress, but reports from the Bear Pit, the highly regarded camp at which he trains, indicate that his development in that area has been rapid. It’s not clear what’s ahead for Hoynes in 2000. HILITE management seems to feel that he’s a future star, which suggests that they may want to protect his undefeated record over the near term.

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7. Lefter Oktay (14-2)

Highly regarded Turkish heavyweight Lefter Oktay came to HILITE from Germany in 1999, making his American debut with a first round submission victory over Collins Lundie at HILITE 26. His well-rounded skillset makes him an extremely dangerous opponent—his striking, wrestling and ground game are all top quality. With a strong reputation behind him, Oktay may be only one or two more victories away from title contention early in his HILITE career, but some have worried that his relatively small size—he prefers to fight at around 230 pounds—means that he will struggle to deal with the much larger heavyweights at the top of the HILITE rankings.

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8. Kerlon Guerra de Bastos (9-2)

Kerlon Guerra de Bastos’ American debut at HILITE 27 did not go as planned, as he found himself on the wrong end of a first round stoppage against Wilson Franklyn. Still, the big Brazilian remains a credible heavyweight threat. His strength and punching power are top-notch, and his grappling and ground games are respectable although still developing. Perhaps the major stumbling block for Guerra de Bastos will be the transition from fighting in a ring in his native Brazil to fighting in a cage in America. If he can clear that mental hurdle, he’s likely to be able to build a strong career for himself in the States.

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9. Gareth Grundy (9-5)

Gareth Grundy appears to have found something of a niche for himself as HILITE’s heavyweight gatekeeper. He’s gone 3-2 in his young HILITE career, but has proven himself to be a very difficult man to beat—having taken even top heavyweight contender Terron Cabal to a 30-minute decision at HILITE 23. He rebounded from that loss with an impressive destruction of former contender Damien Jones in November, and now his name has surfaced as a potential opponent for heavily-hyped newcomer Rav Kapur at some point in early 2000.

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10. Giovanni de Matos (5-0)

Young Brazilian Giovanni de Matos is a man to keep an eye on in the HILITE heavyweight division. He looked fairly impressive against two lower-level opponents in 1999 and could get a shot to move up the rankings in the new year. If he does establish himself as a bona fide contender, it will likely be thanks to his educated feet as his kickboxing skills appear to be high caliber. It remains to be seen, however, how he will fare against an opponent with top quality wrestling skills.

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11. Sylvester Collins (7-1)

Hulking Canadian Sylvester Collins, although undeniably talented, has been frustratingly inconsistent over his four-fight HILITE career. He absolutely dominated Gareth Grundy in his debut at HILITE 2, but followed that performance with a disappointing decision loss to Collins Lundie at HILITE 8, showing up completely unmotivated and unprepared to fight. He rebounded by destroying an overmatched Stan Blackheath late in 1998, but then took a full year off to deal with “personal issues.” He returned at HILITE 29, but looked awful in grinding out a decision win against heavyweight bottom-feeder Bronson Berle in one of the worst fights of the year. If Collins were ever to get motivated and put things together, he could be a force to be reckoned with. It’s unclear whether that will ever happen, however, or how long HILITE management will be willing to baby him along in hopes that he’ll eventually snap into form and fulfill his massive potential.

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12. Steve Mason (9-3)

Kick boxing specialist Steve Mason appeared to be a world beater early in his HILITE career as he won his first three fights in spectacular fashion en route to becoming the first ever HILITE Heavyweight Champion. His incredible head kick knockout of Norman Pike to win the title at HILITE 8 propelled him all the way to number 13 in the national heavyweight rankings and is widely considered to be the fight that put HILITE on the map as a company. Then he ran into the freight train known as Christopher Sharp and found himself on the wrong end of a humiliating defeat at HILITE 12 from which he has never recovered. Mason did finally end a three-fight losing streak at HILITE 26 with an uninspiring decision victory over veteran Frank Analysis, but he still appears to be a long way off his early form. He’ll likely continue to be given every chance to turn his career around in HILITE, as he was such an integral figure in the company’s first year of existence, but if he doesn’t start to show signs of life fairly soon all bets will be off in regards to his future prospects.

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13. Joaquin Pereira (3-0)

Another young up-and-comer from Brazil, Joaquin Pereira looks like he could be a big star down the road. A scary looking dude, Pereira is a kickboxer by trade who looks to have the power and striking skill to compete at a high level. HILITE management may try to bring him along slowly and build up his record a bit before they throw him in against some more challenging opponents.<div style="text-align:center;">http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee209/Lucrativo/HILITE/OliverFiderer.gif

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14. Oliver Fiderer (5-1)

A big grappler from Utah, Oliver Fiderer is a legit tough guy who brings solid wrestling skills with him into the cage. He’s been successful against smaller fighters that he can bully around and overpower, but he lacks elite finishing skills and struggled severely against Sam Hoynes, the only man he’s faced who has been able to match up with him physically. He’s still developing as a fighter, though, so his best may yet be ahead of him.

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15. Christopher Drew (6-0)

Perhaps the leading English heavyweight prospect, Christopher Drew built up a solid reputation at local shows in and around his hometown of Wigan before migrating across the Atlantic to fight for HILITE. A violent striker, Drew is a serious threat on his feet, and he knows how to finish fights via ground-and-pound as well. He’s probably another guy that HILITE would prefer to bring along slowly. If he continues to develop and refine his skills, though, the sky is the limit for the mohawked madman from Wigan.

BYU 14 · January 1, 2011

Nice start, I really like the background write ups on each fighter.

Collins Lundie really beat The Big Show? Ugh!

Lt. Lucrativo · January 1, 2011

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="BYU 14" data-cite="BYU 14" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="30047" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Nice start, I really like the background write ups on each fighter. Collins Lundie really beat The Big Show? Ugh!</div></blockquote> Thanks! Glad you're reading. And yeah, I was not best pleased with Sylvester Collins' performance against Lundie--he just stood around and let Lundie punch him for 30 minutes and never made any effort to try to win the fight. Lundie's still on the roster, though. He's got a couple of HILITE wins and may be a guy who hangs around near the bottom of our heavy- or light heavyweight division for a good long time. Maybe I can get him a couple more wins and let the Big Show have another shot at him down the road.

Lt. Lucrativo · January 1, 2011

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Fighter Rankings

Light Heavyweight Division

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Champion: Toby Sorkin</div>

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1. Toby Sorkin (8-0, #10 LHW)

HILITE’s biggest breakout star, Toby Sorkin is a man MMA fans love to hate. He’s known as much for his colorful persona outside of the cage as he is for his world class skills inside it. But his big mouth shouldn’t distract opponents from the fact that he’s the total package as a fighter, possessing dominating wrestling, dangerous striking, and elite ground skills. Sorkin won the Light Heavyweight title at HILITE 20 and, although he has yet to defend it, he’s taken every available opportunity to call out his number one contender, William Harrison. That fight, between two of the most well-known and respected young stars in MMA, would certainly be a huge event for HILITE. But speculation abounds that the company’s management is hesitant to hold the fight without having secured a deal to distribute the event on television or pay-per-view and that, as with the potential Sharp-Cabal fight, they may be hoping to use the match as another bargaining chip in future negotiations for such a distribution deal. In any case, it’s clear that HILITE management is treating Sorkin, undoubtedly the company’s best known fighter in America, with kid gloves. If HILITE can’t offer him national television exposure at his next contract negotiations, it seems highly unlikely that he would be interested in continuing to fight for the promotion.

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2. William Harrison (8-0, #11 LHW)

If Sorkin is HILITE’s brightest young star, William Harrison is not far behind. Sorkin’s polar opposite outside of the cage, the soft-spoken and businesslike Harrison is nonetheless a dominating competitor within. Known for his incredible fitness, versatile fighting skills, and supreme mental toughness, the former military man is regarded nationally as one of the fastest rising stars in professional combat sports. Although he’s made his desire to fight Sorkin clear, to this point Harrison has declined to engage the champion in a war of words, preferring to continue his training as far from the public spotlight as is possible. If he’s heard any of the taunts and gibes that Sorkin has been directing at him, he’s given no indication of it publicly. And in any case, it’s highly unlikely that such mind games would affect a man with the willpower of Harrison.

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3. Guillermo Morales (11-1-1, #21 LHW)

Compact and incredibly strong, Cuban grappler Guillermo Morales was the first HILITE Light Heavyweight champion, winning the title at HILITE 9 in 1998. He dropped the belt at his first defense, being forced to submit by current champion Toby Sorkin in a competitive and entertaining fight at HILITE 20, but he has since rebounded with an impressive knockout of veteran Nestor Morozov last August. The dominant ground-and-pound specialist clearly wants a shot to avenge his only career loss against Sorkin, and is probably not far off from a rematch.

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4. Nilton Fantoni (8-0)

Another fast-rising young light heavyweight, Brazilian Nilton Fantoni is a Jiu Jitsu specialist who presents a dangerous submission threat from any position on the ground. While he lacks the dominating power of a Sorkin or a Morales, Fantoni is one of the more technically accomplished wrestlers currently fighting at light heavyweight, and his striking game, while not overpowering, is crisp and continues to develop. Fantoni is one of several young HILITE light heavyweights who appear ready to make a move in 2000.

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5. Gustavo Spagnol (7-0)

Gustavo Spagnol is yet another undefeated young light heavyweight prospect from Brazil. Where his countryman Fantoni favors smooth submissions, however, Spagnol relies on his deadly powerful striking from on top to finish opponents unfortunate enough to go to the ground with him—he has made himself one of the most feared ground and pound specialists fighting anywhere in the world. His takedowns and ground striking are so dominant, however, that we’ve seen very little in the way of standup game from Spagnol. As he progresses in his career and begins to fight higher quality opposition, it will be interesting to see what he brings to the table in that area.

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6. Emil Karlsson (5-0)

Violent Norwegian Emil Karlsson is undoubtedly one of the most frightening men walking the face of the planet—he appears to take great pleasure in causing pain to another human being. Massively powerful and physically dominant, Karlsson has walked through lower-level competition early in his HILITE career. Critics have suggested that he lacks skill or technique and that he may be exposed against a higher level of competition, where his brute force may not be enough to guarantee victory. While that remains to be seen, one thing is for sure: the man known as The Midnight Killer is a terrifying sight for any opponent to see standing on the other side of the cage.

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7. Jericho Stewart (6-1)

Big punching Puerto Rican Jericho Stewart comes from a boxing background, and it’s evident when you see him fight. His punching is crisp and powerful, presenting a real threat to any opponent. Stewart doesn’t have much to offer on the ground, although his striking does retain its power, but he also has developed some stingy takedown defense that allows him to keep most fights standing. He may be vulnerable to capable wrestlers, as was evident in his disappointing loss to Nestor Morozov at HILITE 21, but at only 24 years of age he still has plenty of time to refine his all around game. Stewart would be an intriguing matchup for any of the several young wrestling and ground specialists featured in the HILITE light heavyweight division.

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8. Rafael van der Moot (9-1)

As a young man, Rafael van der Moot built a fearsome reputation for himself as a kickboxer across Europe. His striking game is truly world class—both crisp and immensely powerful—but frighteningly for his opponents, van der Moot’s time at Euro Team Thunder has allowed him to quickly develop a solid wrestling and ground game as well. Joining HILITE in mid-1999, van der Moot has already notched two knockout victories over less than elite opposition, but his vaunted striking has appeared more methodical than dominating. Whether he’s struggling to live up to his massive potential or is just feeling his way through an adjustment period has yet to be determined, but it’s likely that HILITE management will want to put him in with some higher caliber competition in the fairly near future.

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9. Rupert Dreck (7-1)

The man who calls himself The Green Machine, Rupert Dreck is a uniquely charismatic individual who certainly has the personality to be a star of the future. He brings solid and still developing wrestling skills with him into the cage, preferring to take his opponents down and control them on the ground, where he can threaten them with both striking and submissions. He may struggle against quality strikers who can avoid his takedowns, however—his one defeat has been at the hands of Jericho Stewart in his HILITE debut. After this disappointing start, though, Dreck has rebounded well, easily finishing Jerry Bogdonovich and Russell McPhee in 1999, and he will no doubt be looking to make himself a factor in the Light Heavyweight title hunt in the new millennium.

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10. Khru Duangjan (13-3)

At 29 years of age, Thai striker Khru Duangjan can be considered a veteran in the HILITE light heavyweight division. Having struggled against much larger competition in the prestigious ALPHA-1 heavyweight division, Duangjan made the decision to drop down to a more natural weight of 205 pounds when he joined HILITE in 1999. He made a strong first impression at HILITE 25, using crisp and devastatingly powerful punching to dispose of veteran Ernie Bruns in just over three minutes. A striker of Duangjan’s caliber has to be considered a serious threat to any 205-lber in the world. The Bringer of Pain is a strong candidate to move up the HILITE rankings in 2000.

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11. Jasper Osmond (15-11)

Yet to debut for HILITE, Jasper Osmond is a well-traveled veteran who showed that he still has gas left in the tank with a short but impressive run in Mexico in 1999. Primarily a wrestler, Osmond seems to lack the pedigree of his much younger competition—but his veteran craftiness and wile may help make up for his athletic shortcomings. Probably making a final push for MMA relevance in his home country, Osmond will be out to prove that he still has something to offer the sport.

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12. Toby Dingleberry (4-1)

Heavy hitting Florida native Toby Dingleberry is not the most refined of fighters, but he packs a powerful punch and he’s not afraid to swing for the fences. A very difficult man to get off his feet, Dingleberry’s had success against lower-level grapplers early in his career, but he may have problems with anyone who’s able to take advantage of his sometimes ragged striking technique. Still, he has plenty of time to improve—and who wouldn’t get behind a man with the name Dingleberry? No nickname needed here.

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13. Jerry Bogdonovich (8-3)

The Dockland Destroyer Jerry Bogdonovich got his HILITE career off to a fast start, finishing his first two opponents in style en route to a listing as the 24th-ranked light heavyweight in the world and a shot at the first ever HILITE Light Heavyweight title. Unfortunately for him, he was soundly beaten by Guillermo Morales at HILITE 9, a result which set off a disappointing three-fight losing skid. He finally turned his luck around at HILITE 27, scoring a less than impressive victory over bottom of the barrel Barrett Fforde. Bogdonovich has been training at the highly regarded Evolution MMA camp and claims that he’ll be a new man in 2000. He’ll have to be if he’s going to make his way back up the light heavyweight rankings, as the division has only gotten stronger and deeper since he was last a contender.

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14. Trevor Murray (22-13)

Trevor Murray is a veteran wrestler and legit tough guy with 35 professional fights under his belt. He’s capable of neutralizing most opponents with his grappling, but he lacks top quality finishing skills. Many observers claim that his best days are behind him and that the massive influx of younger fighters into MMA has left him in the dust. Convincing losses to Guillermo Morales and William Harrison in the past two years have not done much to quiet those critics. Still, the Drill Sergeant remains a stern test for most opponents and a man who is not to be taken lightly. Whether he has enough left to make a run up the light heavyweight rankings, however, remains to be seen.

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15. Gekko Goto (8-3)

One of the first Japanese fighters to make his way to HILITE, Gekko Goto is a strong wrestler who, so far in his career, appears to be a step off from the elite. Goto was released after amassing a 1-2 record while fighting for ALPHA-1 and decided to make his way to the United States to attempt to restart his career. He got off to a strong start in HILITE, easily defeating two lower level opponents before falling to Emil Karlsson in August of 2009. A powerful wrestler who’s comfortable on the ground and possesses an adequate, although far from outstanding, striking game, Goto has the all around skills to be a difficult opponent for any light heavyweight. He’s the sort of fighter who may find himself serving as a gatekeeper to the upper echelons of the light heavyweight division for an extended period of time in HILITE.

Lt. Lucrativo · January 2, 2011

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Fighter Rankings

Middleweight Division

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Champion: Dwayne Alleyne</div>

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1. Thais Antonio Taffarel (21-2, #7 MW)

One of several major international signings for HILITE in 1999, Brazilian Thais Antonio Taffarel possesses elite Muay Thai skills of a sort that have rarely been seen in North America. His vicious elbows and knees from the clinch were on full display at HILITE 28 as he had little trouble knocking out an overmatched Keith Plaice. A fascinating addition to a middleweight division whose major players are largely wrestlers or ground specialists, Taffarel, who brings a massive reputation with him to the United States, cannot be far from a shot at the HILITE Middleweight title.

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2. Dwayne Alleyne (8-0, #11, MW)

The first and only HILITE Middleweight champion, wrestler Dwayne Alleyne has not yet broken out as a nationally known star in America as so many young HILITE light heavyweights have—but he’s not far off. Not flashy but extremely solid, Alleyne has finished off all challengers in his short HILITE career—his first round stoppage of Isaiah Monroe at HILITE 23 was particularly impressive. A phenomenal athlete and technically outstanding wrestler at only 24 years of age, Alleyne continues to grow as a fighter and appears poised to be one of the top competitors in the world at 185 pounds for years to come. He’s set to defend his title against top contender Ethan Sutton at some point early in 2000.

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3. Ethan Sutton (9-0, #12 MW)

Canadian grappler Ethan Sutton was listed as Blurcat’s Rookie of the Year for 1997, and his career has only continued to blossom from that point. Undoubtedly impressed with his domination of the Canadian independent scene, HILITE snapped Sutton up late in 1998. He has continued his winning ways in the States, handily disposing of his first three challengers en route to being named the number one contender for the HILITE Middleweight title in late 1999. Sutton has displayed an enviable versatility in his young HILITE career—having finished Bernard Blue by ground strikes, Drew Jenks by submission, and Carl Ratcliffe by a scorching knockout punch, Sutton has proven himself to be extremely dangerous in all phases of the fight game.

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4. Esteban Vega (8-0, #23 MW)

One of several promising young Mexican contenders to make his way north to HILITE, Esteban Vega is a complete fighter who has so far shown few flaws in his all-around game. Although he did appear a bit sluggish in his first two HILITE fights—both decision wins—Vega appeared to have rounded into form at HILITE 26, where he needed only two minutes to dispose of kickboxer Bart Diggs. On the back of that impressive performance, Vega has risen to become the 23rd ranked middleweight in the world and has put himself in line for some much higher profile fights over the coming months in HILITE.

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5. Julio Gutierrez (8-0, #25 MW)

Another highly regarded young Mexican, Julio Gutierrez is known for his crisp boxing and dangerous high kicks, but he has also put a great deal of energy into training in Jiu Jitsu. Like his countryman Vega, Gutierrez has appeared solid but not dominant in his first two HILITE contests, taking a unanimous decision victory over Chaz Babish and finishing Juro Fukazawa by arm triangle. Only 20 years old, Gutierrez is certainly still developing as a fighter. It’s not clear whether HILITE management, who have publicly expressed a desire to cultivate the massive Mexican-American market in the American Southwest by building and promoting Mexican stars, will want to continue to bring Gutierrez along slowly or if they will be looking to throw him into some tougher fights in the near future.

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6. Isaiah Monroe (8-1)

The most popular middleweight in HILITE, Isaiah Monroe is a dominating wrestler known for his fearsome takedowns, brutal ground and pound and powerful boxing. One of the first fighters signed by HILITE, Monroe simply bulldozed his way through every opponent over his first 18 months with the company. Somewhat surprisingly, though, he was handled fairly easily by champion Dwayne Alleyne at HILITE 23. Since that setback, Monroe has rebounded with a TKO victory over one-time contender Carl Ratcliffe at HILITE 27, but he did not appear to be at his best for that fight. Monroe certainly possesses the athletic talent and fighting skill to be one of the best middleweights in the world, but after his last two performances doubters have begun to creep out of the woodwork and questions about his mental toughness and preparation have surfaced. Monroe still has a tremendous number of fans, however, and as one of HILITE’s premier fighters he’ll certainly be given every opportunity to reassert his dominance and quiet his critics as the new year begins.

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7. Gavin Marshall (5-0)

22-year-old California native Gavin Marshall is an outstanding middleweight prospect whom HILITE management is clearly extremely high on. A fine wrestler known for his violent ground and pound, Marshall also brings heavy hands and rapidly developing boxing skills with him into the cage. Having recently announced his association with the noted Halvorsen’s fight team, Marshall is universally regarded as a fighter on the rise. He has yet to be tested in three fights in HILITE, and it’s possible that matchmaker AJ Avatar will want to build even greater momentum behind him before testing him against a truly high caliber opponent. In any case, Gavin Marshall is a name to remember in the middleweight division going forward.

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8. Edgar van den Hoogenband (6-1)

A brilliant kickboxer, Dutchman Edgar van den Hoogenband may possess the deadliest feet in all of MMA. His clinical punches and vicious kicks have already claimed several victims in both Europe and America. His all around game is still developing, however, and he may struggle against high-level wrestlers who are able to get their hands on him. Still, he is an extremely dangerous challenge for any middleweight in the world, and any opponent foolish enough to stand and strike with van den Hoogenband is likely to find himself in for an early bedtime.

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9. Moe Muschin (8-0)

Following in the footsteps of Ethan Sutton, Moe Muschin is a wrestler who has been dominating competition on the Canadian independent scene for the last two years. A strong grappler, Muschin appears to have the ability to take down most opponents and finish fights on the ground. Yet to debut in HILITE, Muschin is not known in the United States, and it remains to be seen whether HILITE management will want to try and build him up a bit or whether he’ll be thrown into the mix near the top of the middleweight division straightaway.

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10. Ramon da Silva Ramos (4-0)

Another HILITE newcomer, Ramon da Silva Ramos comes to America from Brazil, where, although he was an extremely highly regarded prospect, he struggled to find willing opponents. A violent striker, da Silva Ramos does not yet have the same reputation as his countryman Thais Antonio Taffarel, but he may not be far off in terms of skill. His brutal head kicks are said to be a sight to behold. It’s not yet clear precisely how he’ll fit into in HILITE’s middleweight division or when he’ll debut, but it is apparent that HILITE management are excited about his potential and will be pulling for him to get off to a strong start with the company.

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11. Marcelo Oberto (24-16)

A veteran of some 40 professional fights, Argentinean Marcelo Oberto may not be the most talented fighter in the world, but he is among the toughest. Boasting an iron jaw and a powerful left hand, Oberto is essentially a brawler who likes to swing for the fences and hope for the best. He was brought into HILITE specifically to face Thais Antonio Taffarel in his debut fight, and survived over 11 minutes with the heavily favored Brazilian. After completing that thankless task, it remains to be seen how he’ll be treated by HILITE management. It’s unlikely that he’s a man they have big plans for, although they have indicated that he’ll be given at least one more fight for the company, so he’ll likely have to earn any success he gets the hard way.

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12. Juro Fukazawa (12-6)

Japanese kickboxer Juro Fukazawa had a disappointing debut at HILITE 24, being forced to submit to a Julio Gutierrez arm triangle. Renowned for his athleticism and stamina, Fukazawa possesses crisp, technical striking, but lacks fight-ending power in his fists. He appeared to be a step or two below elite level when we last saw him in August, but whether his debut performance was reflective of his actual ability or whether he merely needs to acclimate to fighting in an unfamiliar location is a question that will have to be answered over his next few fights.

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13. Chaz Babish (7-3)

Like Juro Fukazawa, Chaz Babish has had only one fight in his short HILITE career, and like Fukazawa, that fight was a disappointing loss to Julio Gutierrez. Unlike Fukazawa, however, Babish is a wrestler by trade and likes to use his grappling to neutralize opponents. Although he is effective at controlling people against the cage and on the ground, he lacks top flight finishing skills. He does, however, possess an underrated standup game, making him a complete fighter and a difficult opponent for most middleweights. A fighter with the potential to have a solid career, Babish is likely to be given a realistic opportunity to make a name for himself in HILITE.

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14. Tony Legg (3-1)

Chicago’s Tony Legg has not been terrifically impressive thus far in his young HILITE career, but he has the potential to be a real contender at 185 pounds. A highly successful amateur wrestler, Legg possesses great power and explosive takedowns that are equal to the best in the business. Several flaws in his game have, however, come to light over his first few fights. He has not shown himself to have much in the way of finishing ability, even when he has control over an opponent, and tends to let his competition hang around. Worryingly, he has also appeared to gas out early in several fights, leading to questions about his fight preparation and desire to excel. If he puts things together and maximizes his potential, Legg could be a star. Only time will tell, however, if he has such greatness within him.

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15. Bernard Blue (9-4)

A talented all-rounder, Bernard Blue has had an inconsistent start to his HILITE career, alternating wins and losses over his first four fights. Coming from a wrestling background, Blue has added a solid boxing game to his repertoire, making him a multi-faceted threat in the cage. He has gained respect for showing a lot of heart in his fights and always seems to be willing to engage in a battle. In his most recent knockout loss to Carl Ratcliffe, however, his eagerness to engage a Muay Thai specialist in a striking war was probably a tactical mistake—although it did lead to an entertaining fight for the fans. With his growing reputation as a fun fighter to watch, Blue is likely to be a guy who sticks around for an extended period in HILITE, but whether he’ll be able to string some wins together and move up the rankings will probably depend on his ability to fight more strategically in the future.

Lt. Lucrativo · January 3, 2011

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Fighter Rankings

Welterweight Division

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Champion: Zachary Gilbert</div>

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1. Charles Stiles (17-2, #5 WW)

Another high profile Brazilian addition to HILITE, Charles Stiles is a silky smooth Jiu Jitsu artist who specializes in taking people down and tapping them out. Despite being a more natural lightweight, he prefers to fight as a small welterweight and, although his size and strength disadvantage against most opponents makes him vulnerable to being bullied around, he has a knack for catching larger opponents in submission holds from a variety of positions, often when they’re least expecting it. Making his U.S. debut in August of 1999, Stiles has already fought twice for HILITE, unsurprisingly earning two submission victories. With a strong reputation and rising popularity in the U.S., Stiles is likely to be given an opportunity at the HILITE Welterweight title in the relatively near future.

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2. Zachary Gilbert (16-6, #15 WW)

Canadian wrestler Zachary Gilbert is a veteran mixed martial artist who has really made a name for himself in his first 18 months in HILITE. Considered by most observers to be little more than a journeyman who lacked elite finishing skill, Gilbert has opened eyes by dominating every opponent put in front of him en route to becoming the first and only HILITE Welterweight champion. Known as a strong grappler, Gilbert has demonstrated unexpected submission skills in the HILITE cage, having forced his last three opponents to tap out. Critics contend that the HILITE welterweight division is fairly weak and that Gilbert has yet to face truly high level opposition in his run with the company, but the influx of new talent into HILITE combined with a number of young stars rising up the rankings will certainly ensure that Gilbert will have every opportunity to prove himself against top competition as time goes on.

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3. Datuk Ong Ka Ting (7-0, #22 WW)

Malaysian Jiu Jitsu ace Datuk Ong Ka Ting is one of the fastest rising young welterweights in the world. Being unable to secure any fights in his homeland, Datuk made the trip to America in 1999, where he has been impressive in his first two HILITE fights. Boasting violent takedowns, suffocating ground control and well-developed submissions, the youngster from Kuala Lumpur is a handful for any fighter to deal with at 170 pounds. And in a division with relatively few established stars, Datuk may well have an opportunity at title contention sooner rather than later.

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4. Augustin Gonzales (12-3)

One of a string of Mexican prospects starting to make waves in HILITE, Augustin Gonzales made a strong impression at his HILITE debut in March of 1999 by defeating his heavily hyped countryman Diego Artera in under two minutes. He won twice more in 1999 and is now poised near the top of the HILITE welterweight rankings and not far from title contention. A strong wrestler capable of inflicting a good deal of punishment on the ground, Gonzales has won all three of his HILITE fights by TKO and will no doubt be looking to continue his winning ways all the way to the title in the new millennium.

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5. Louis de la Torre (10-0, #25 WW)

Another young Mexican phenomenon, Louis de la Torre is a man many observers have tabbed as a superstar in the making. Nominally a ground and pound specialist, de la Torre has been heavily focused on training his boxing skills over the last 12 months and has developed a truly threatening striking game as well. He fought twice for HILITE in 1999, earning two impressive TKO victories over mid-level competition, and he may now be looking to take his career to the next level. De la Torre is clearly a fighter that HILITE management has high hopes for as they seek to attract Mexican fight fans—his blend of skill and charisma make him a marketer’s dream.

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6. Evan Gardner (5-0)

A youngster who just made his HILITE debut last month, Evan Gardner appears to have all the potential in the world. An outstanding wrestler, Gardner is known for his ability to take people down and dominate them on the ground. He did just that to Ray Eton at HILITE 29, finishing the fight in a little over two minutes and making an excellent first impression on HILITE fans. A good looking and charismatic kid, Gardner is a guy that many see as a future centerpiece of HILITE’s 170-pound division—but with the division as wide open as it is, Gardner may be asked to step up sooner than expected.

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7. Lloyd McAllister (14-5)

A veteran of 19 professional fights at a young age, kickboxer Lloyd McAllister has proven himself to be a dangerous, although inconsistent, knockout artist in his first four HILITE fights—having turned out the lights on Ray Eton with a punch at HILITE 9 and on Nik Minear with a head kick at HILITE 20. He’s fared less well against tougher competition, however, having been beaten convincingly by both Zachary Gilbert and Datuk Ong Ka Ting. With little to offer on the ground, McAllister is likely to find himself in serious trouble against wrestlers with strong takedowns. His striking will always present a threat, but if he’s going to remain competitive at a high level in the new millennium McAllister will need to do some work on his all-around game.

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8. Diego Artera (5-1)

Brutally powerful Mexican kickboxer Diego Artera came into HILITE with a great deal of hype towards the end of 1998. He suffered a surprising defeat in his second fight with the company at HILITE 18, where he was manhandled on the ground by Augustin Gonzales, but rebounded to make quick work of Bruno Epps at HILITE 26 last October. Artera’s clinical boxing and massively powerful fists make him a significant threat to any 170-pounder in the world. He’s also worked to develop a strong sprawl that enables him to keep most fights right where he wants them—standing up. But his performance against Gonzales exposed a major weakness that will have to be addressed if Artera hopes to become a dominant mixed martial artist.

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9. Filip Hristov (5-0)

World class Bulgarian judo expert Filip Hristov has not had much experience in an MMA environment, but when he has stepped into the cage he’s looked unbeatable. An absolute master of leverage and technique, Hristov possesses dominant grappling skills and irresistible takedowns. And once he has opponents on the ground, their chances of escaping his control are virtually nonexistent. He’s fought only once for HILITE and has not yet been tested against top competition, but it’s clear that management want him back in the cage as soon as possible. It will be fascinating to see how his career as a mixed martial artist develops, particularly how he will fare if and when he’s asked to contend with an elite striker.

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10. Callum Henson (20-10)

Callum Henson was one of the first welterweights signed by HILITE and was expected to be one of the centerpieces of the company’s 170-pound division. Since taking a decision victory in his debut, however, Henson has lost three of his last four and has consequently fallen back to the middle of the pack. A talented striker with particularly dangerous kicks, Henson appears to have the standup skills to threaten most opponents, but he’s struggled to finish fights over the recent past and has paid the price, suffering several come-from-behind defeats. He’s been involved in some extremely exciting contests, though, and his fan-friendly, action-packed style likely means that he’ll continue to get fights even if he’s no longer considered a top contender.

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11. Nik Minear (12-4)

Grappler Nik Minear is one of many Canadians looking to make a name for himself in the United States with HILITE. A strong wrestler with outstanding takedowns, Minear is known for his ability to muscle opponents around the cage and control them on the ground. His HILITE career has gotten off to a bit of a rocky start, though, as Minear has lost two of his first three fights with the company. His two losses have come against solid competition—Charles Stiles and Lloyd McAllister—so he hasn’t fallen completely out of the rankings, but if he’s ever going to be a factor in the HILITE welterweight division he’ll need to prove that he has what it takes to compete with higher level talent.

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12. Van Jolson (9-0)

HILITE management scouted and signed several prominent fighters from the Canadian independent scene at the end of 1999; undefeated kickboxing prospect Van Jolson being one of them. Jolson appears to possess a dangerous striking game—he’s ended his last eight fights with his fists. Whether he’ll have what it takes to succeed against stiffer competition south of the border remains to be seen, but HILITE management is clearly hopeful that at least some of its new welterweight signings will step up and become players at 170 pounds.

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13. Deacon Stawford (12-4)

Another newcomer from the Great White North, Deacon Stawford is a wrestler who likes to suffocate opponents with his grappling and pummel them with strikes on the ground. He appears to be somewhat limited athletically, but he’s spent the last two years finishing people so quickly that it’s hard to tell exactly what he brings to the table in that area. Stawford will have to prove that he’s able to match up physically with HILITE welterweights—as he’s not the most charismatic or marketable of HILITE’s new fighters, he’s probably not a guy that the company is going to spend a lot of resources trying to build up.

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14. Chad Zoff (4-0)

Yet another Canadian youngster, all-rounder Chad Zoff may be the most talented of HILITE’s new welterweight prospects, but he’s also the least experienced. Versatility is the name of the game for Zoff—he claims to have trained for every aspect of mixed martial arts. A good athlete with intriguing charisma, Zoff has a real shot at becoming a star down the road. Look for him to debut early in the new year.

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15. Joe Hinchcliffe (21-15)

Hometown hero Joe Hinchcliffe is a veteran mixed martial artist who’s had mixed success throughout his career. A solid striker, Hinchcliffe presents a definite threat to most welterweights while on his feet. He has never developed much of a ground game, however, and so has always struggled against wrestlers with the ability to take fights to the ground. Having lost his last two fights, against Zachary Gilbert and Augustin Gonzales, Hinchcliffe is in danger of becoming a non-factor in the HILITE welterweight title mix, but he still commands some fan support in HILITE’s Arizona base and so is likely to be given a legitimate chance to turn his career around and make one more run at relevance with the company.

Lt. Lucrativo · January 8, 2011

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Fighter Rankings

Lightweight Division

Champion: N/A

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1. Jake Keane (25-4, #3 LW, #13 PFP)

One of the most highly respected lightweight fighters in the world, Jake Keane is nonetheless not particularly well known by casual fight fans. He made the jump to HILITE in 1999 from BCF in England, having dominated that company’s lightweight division for several years and feeling that he had exhausted every potential money fight available to him in his homeland. Well-versed in every aspect of mixed martial arts, Keane is a true all-rounder in every sense of the word—showing absolutely no weaknesses in his game. Making his U.S. debut at HILITE 29 with a solid, if unspectacular, decision victory over Davi Carlos Ramos, Keane is almost certain to be high on the list of contenders when HILITE finally introduces a lightweight title, plans for which have doubtless been underway for some time.

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2. Atep (11-0, #4 LW, #17 PFP)

One of the most exciting and charismatic fighters in the world, Indonesian superstar Atep is undoubtedly one of HILITE’s most valuable commodities. Finding himself out of a job when leading Asian promotion KDM-FC collapsed late in 1998, Atep is thought by many to have been the impetus for the creation of HILITE’s lightweight division—he was the first lightweight signed by the American promotion. An awesomely skilled and viciously powerful striker, Atep holds the distinction of being the only man to stop the previously unstoppable Sukarno, having ended his 24-fight reign of terror with a debilitating knockout punch in August of 1998. (Sukarno has not been seen since.) Atep has fought only once in HILITE, making short work of respected veteran Taufik Wijaya at HILITE 15, but it’s clear that the company has plans to throw the full force of its marketing department behind him going forward. With several intriguing matchups available in HILITE, 2000 should be an exciting year for the youngster from Java.

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3. Kenji Akita (12-1, #5 FW)

Another of several fighters imported from the defunct KDM-FC, Japanese wrestling standout Kenji Akita stepped up from featherweight to lightweight on joining HILITE. He’s fought only once at his new weight, but showed no ill effects from the move at HILITE 22—where he made short work of another converted featherweight in Arturo Diaz. Known for his flamboyant personality, Akita is something of a divisive figure in his home country. His impressive skills, however, are beyond debate—he’s a dominating wrestler with the ability to take any opponent to the ground and keep him there. With his blend of talent and charisma, Akita is a competitor that many expect to be a major player in the HILITE lightweight division for years to come.

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4. Branco (18-6, #10 LW)

An exciting lightweight kickboxer from Brazil, Branco is known for regularly making use of unorthodox, flashy striking in his fights. His crazy style sometimes distracts from the fact that he’s actually highly skilled and extremely dangerous both at a distance and in close from the clinch. A former champion in South America’s largest promotion, Branco came north to HILITE in 1999. He’s fought twice in the U.S., earning a first round TKO over Taizoh Chung Man at HILITE 23 and knocking out Bhumibol Ektawatkul at HILITE 27 to cement his status as one of the best 155-pound fighters in the world and a force to be reckoned with in the HILITE lightweight division. He’s certain to be in contention when a lightweight title comes into play.

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5. Toson Ono (18-9, #15 LW)

A Jiu Jitsu expert, Toson Ono won two fights by submission in 1999—tapping out both Taufik Wijaya and Coltrane Aaronson and sneakily proving himself to be a dangerous threat at 155 pounds. He’s started to make a name for himself quickly in HILITE—both of his appearances with the company have earned him submission of the night honors, and his defeat of Aaronson was named fight of the night at HILITE 28. Ono’s striking game isn’t much to get excited about, but he has strong takedowns, good ground control, and extremely dangerous submissions. Whether that will be enough to keep him near the top of the HILITE rankings remains to be seen, but he certainly has the skills to beat just about anyone on any given day.

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6. Davi Carlos Ramos (34-9, #23 LW)

Davi Carlos Ramos is a well-traveled veteran striker who, like several other notable additions to the HILITE lightweight division, has moved up from his former fighting weight of 145 pounds for his first run in the United States. Extremely tough and virtually impossible to stop, Ramos is a stiff test for any lightweight fighter. His attacking skills are solid, although perhaps a step below the elite, but his usual tactic of wearing opponents down and looking to finish late in the fight has been highly successful for years. It worked like a charm in Ramos’ HILITE debut, a third round knockout of Greg Chiang at HILITE 24. He got out-pointed, however, by Jake Keane at HILITE 29 and will now have to look to rebound in the new year.

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7. Coltrane Aaronson (9-1)

Smooth striking Coltrane Aaronson is a fighter who shot up the lightweight rankings in 1998 and 1999—rising as high as 14th in the world prior to his defeat last month at the hands of Toson Ono. His clinical boxing skill and dangerous kicks make him a serious stand-up threat at 155 pounds, but he is let down somewhat by wrestling and ground games that are serviceable at best. It was this lack of all-around skill that cost him against the wrestler and submission specialist Ono. Still, Aaronson is only 24 years old and is probably the most popular fighter in HILITE’s lightweight division—he has plenty of room to grow as a fighter and will undoubtedly be given every opportunity to have a long and successful HILITE career.

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8. Bhumibol Ektawatkul (12-3)

Thai submission fighter Bhumibol Ektawatkul boasts perhaps the most difficult name to spell in all of MMA—but he also brings solid wrestling skills, strong takedowns, and a dangerous ground game with him into the cage. Ektawatkul really began to make a name for himself in Asia in 1998, earning a 4-0 record for the year and vaulting into the international lightweight top 20, but like many others he found himself adrift late in the year after the collapse of KDM-FC. His strong reputation earned him a contract with HILITE, where he made an impressive debut in February of 1999—easily finishing Helvecio Babenco in a little over three minutes. Unfortunately, however, Ektawatkul’s momentum came to a halt at HILITE 27, where he suffered a knockout defeat to noted Brazilian striker Branco. Where his career will go from here remains to be seen. He’s unlikely to ever be a real crowd favorite and is not a fighter that HILITE is likely to push heavily, but he undoubtedly has enough skill to be a long-term factor with the company. He’s clearly earned several more HILITE fights, and looks like the sort of man who could find a role as a gatekeeper to the elite level of the lightweight division for an extended period.

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9. Carl Chenoweth (5-0)

The leading American-born prospect in a division largely dominated by international stars, Carl Chenoweth is a strong striker and a difficult man for his opponents to hit back. At only 22 years of age, Chenoweth lacks experience—but he has a world of potential. He fought twice for HILITE in 1999, earning a TKO victory over Raymond Austin at HILITE 16 and knocking out Helvecio Babenco at HILITE 20 with a brutal right hand. Chenoweth has made it his mission to develop a well-rounded skill set as he seeks to move up into the crowded upper echelons of the division. To that end, he has associated himself with the Pittsburgh Steel camp and is hard at work training his wrestling and ground games. HILITE management seems to feel that Chenoweth could be a big player down the road, but may want to groom him for a while longer before throwing him in with the division’s elite.

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10. Frankie Geddon (9-0)

Undefeated Mexican prospect Frankie Geddon built up a decent reputation in his home country before joining HILITE in 1999. He has fought only once in the U.S., knocking out Solomon Salas in a short but sweet striking war at HILITE 18. A good boxer, Geddon has yet to show much in the way of all around skills—but then he hasn’t needed to up to this point in his career. Known for his straight ahead style and for showing a lot of heart in his fights, Geddon is a guy who could easily develop quite a following in America. But if he’s going to threaten the top of HILITE’s lightweight division, he’ll need to be ready to step up his game in 2000.

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11. Ralph Concannon (6-0)

Tennessee’s Ralph Concannon is a young ground specialist looking to make a name for himself in the HILITE lightweight division. A solid wrestler with good takedowns and strong ground control, Concannon has the shown the ability to take opponents down and finish them. His HILITE career is off to a strong start—he earned two submission victories against lower-level competition in 1999—and he is starting to gather a bit of a following among American fight fans. As one of only a few American hopefuls in HILITE’s newest weight class, Concannon may be considered a somewhat precious commodity by management and a man they’d like to continue to build up. At some point, however, he’ll need to prove himself against a higher level of competition. Whether he’ll be given that opportunity in the coming year, however, remains to be seen.

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12. Greg Chiang (16-5, #25 FW)

Greg Chiang is a dominating lightweight wrestler who loves to take opponents down and pound them out on the ground. His HILITE debut was less than auspicious—he suffered a third round knockout to Davi Carlos Ramos at HILITE 24—but the fight was competitive and Chiang looked good enough that he may still be a contender if he can rebound and string together a couple of wins. He’s not been very active over the past two years, having only fought twice, but now that he’s contracted to a stable company he may be ready to pick up the pace in the new year.

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13. Arturo Diaz (11-2)

Smooth boxer Arturo Diaz piled up an impressive string of wins at 145 pounds on the Mexican independent scene before bulking up to fight at 155 for HILITE. He was manhandled by Kenji Akita in his U.S. debut, but rebounded to knock out Solomon Salas in just two minutes at HILITE 25. Diaz brings a solid technical striking game into the cage but hasn’t yet shown himself to have much in the way of wrestling or ground game. Critics have maintained that he also lacks elite punching power, although his performance against Salas may have changed some tunes in that regard. The fact that Diaz was immediately thrown in with Kenji Akita suggests that he’s probably not a guy that HILITE management is looking to groom—but he’ll certainly be back in 2000 and will have a shot at making a good career for himself in the United States.

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14. Tim Oldacres (5-0)

A solid prospect from England, Tim Oldacres is a youngster who looks to have a real shot at making a name for himself in the States. He comes from a striking background, and his punching has looked impressive thus far in his short career—he’s finished his last four fights with his fists. Oldacres has fought only once for HILITE, stopping Raymond Austin in a bit over two minutes, and so will likely be scheduled again early in the new year. With plenty of intriguing fights available at the top of the division, HILITE management may have the luxury of bringing Oldacres along slowly if they so desire. It will be interesting to see what they choose to do with him going forward into the new millennium.

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15. Raymond Austin (6-2)

Raymond Austin is a young American wrestler who has had an inconsistent start to his HILITE career. He’s lost to Carl Chenoweth and Tim Oldacres, two of the more highly touted prospects under contract to HILITE, but has defeated two lower level fighters in Avery Gleason and Solomon Salas. He hasn’t shown himself to be terrifically skilled in any aspect of his game, but his guts and will to win to have carried him to victory over fighters at around the same level of talent. Austin doesn’t look like a fighter who’s likely to ever crack the level of the elite, but he’s done enough to earn himself a place in HILITE and has enough credibility to present a legitimate test for many fighters at 155 pounds.

Lt. Lucrativo · January 8, 2011

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HILITE Announces First Fights of 2000

The fastest growing company in mixed martial arts is looking to start the new year off with a bang as HILITE No Holds Barred Cagefighting has announced the full card for HILITE 30, its first event of 2000. The show is scheduled to feature eight fights and will be headlined by a clash of undefeated fighters in the Middleweight Division as champion Dwayne Alleyne will put his title on the line against top contender Ethan Sutton. Light heavyweight contenders Rupert Dreck and Khru Duangjan will do battle in the co-main event with the winner likely announcing himself as a major threat to Toby Sorkin’s Light Heavyweight Title. HILITE 30 will also feature top prospects in action as heavyweight Giovanni de Matos takes on veteran Stan Blackheath and lightweight Carl Chenoweth squares off against Arturo Diaz. The full lineup is featured below:

LHW: Rupert Dreck vs. Khru Duangjan

HW: Giovanni de Matos vs. Stan Blackheath

WW: Deacon Stawford vs. Van Jolson

LW: Carl Chenoweth vs. Arturo Diaz

LHW: Brody Howles vs. Gekko Goto

MW: Chaz Babish vs. Tony Legg

WW: Bruno Epps vs. Delroy Rhodes

HILITE has also announced that Augustin Gonzales and Datuk Ong Ka Ting will headline HILITE 31 in February, and that the winner of that fight will challenge Zachary Gilbert for the Welterweight Title at a later date. Additionally, English heavyweight phenom Rav Kapur will make his much anticipated United States debut at the show, although his opponent has yet to be confirmed.

BYU 14 · January 8, 2011

Some interesting matchups here, i think you crown a new MW Champion.

LHW: Rupert Dreck vs. Khru Duangjan

HW: Giovanni de Matos vs. Stan Blackheath

WW: Deacon Stawford vs. Van Jolson

LW: Carl Chenoweth vs. Arturo Diaz

LHW: Brody Howles vs. Gekko Goto

MW: Chaz Babish vs. Tony Legg

WW: Bruno Epps vs. Delroy Rhodes

Just Jack · January 8, 2011

Great write ups so far. Will be reading.

Lt. Lucrativo · January 9, 2011

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Preview

HILITE 30: Alleyne vs. Sutton

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee209/Lucrativo/HILITE/no_title.gif

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee209/Lucrativo/HILITE/DwayneAlleyne.gif VS. http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee209/Lucrativo/HILITE/EthanSutton.gif

Two of the hottest young middleweights in the world collide here with the title on the line, and somebody’s undefeated record will go out the window. With both men coming from a wrestling background, this fight may come down to who is the better grappler. On the other hand, if neither man is able to assert physical dominance over the other, the fighter with the more effective striking will obviously have the advantage. If Alleyne fights like he did in his last fight against Isaiah Monroe, there might not be a middleweight anywhere in the world who can contend with him—his wrestling was that powerful. Sutton, though, has already shown the ability to win fights in a variety of ways in his young HILITE career. If he can stand up to Alleyne physically, that versatility may give him an edge. In any case, whoever wins will cement his status as the best young middleweight fighting anywhere in the world.

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee209/Lucrativo/HILITE/RupertDreck.gif VS. http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee209/Lucrativo/HILITE/KhruDuangjan.gif

Rupert Dreck (7-1) vs. Khru Duangjan (13-3)

Rupert Dreck and Khru Duangjan are two light heavyweights looking to move into title contention early in their HILITE careers. They’re polar opposites in terms of fighting styles—meaning that this fight sets up as a classic wrestler vs. striker MMA battle. Duangjan is one of the most dangerous punchers on the face of the planet. Dreck, who struggled against striker Jericho Stewart, will not want to stand and trade with him for long. Duangjan, on the other hand, will want nothing to do with Dreck on the ground. This fight will probably come down to Dreck’s takedowns against Duangjan’s takedown defense with whichever fighter can impose his style on the other emerging victorious.

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee209/Lucrativo/HILITE/GiovannideMatos.gif VS. http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee209/Lucrativo/HILITE/StanBlackheath.gif

Giovanni de Matos (5-0) vs. Stan Blackheath (21-12)

Giovanni de Matos is a highly regarded heavyweight prospect while Stan Blackheath is a well-traveled veteran. Both men are known as strikers, so this fight is likely to turn into a stand-up war. Blackheath is known as a free-swinging brawler while de Matos is a smooth kickboxer with dangerous head kicks. If de Matos is going to be any kind of player in the HILITE heavyweight division, Blackheath is a guy he needs to beat—but we haven’t yet seen how the Brazilian youngster will respond to being pressured and hit and Blackheath is certain to want to test his chin. Blackheath, who’s coming off a strong win against John Fitzwallace, has indicated that he’s thinking hard about retirement, so HILITE management will probably be pulling even harder for de Matos to take the win.

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee209/Lucrativo/HILITE/DeaconStawford.gif VS. http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee209/Lucrativo/HILITE/VanJolson.gif

Deacon Stawford (12-4) vs. Van Jolson (9-0)

Both Deacon Stawford and Van Jolson have spent the last two years beating down local fighters on the Canadian independent scene, but only one of these Canadian newcomers will be able to get his HILITE career off on the right foot. Jolson will need to keep on his horse, stay out of Stawford’s grasp, and hope to wear out his opponent with his striking. If Stawford gets in close, he may be able to control the fight with his wrestling. Questions abound about both fighters—it will be interesting to see who will raise his game in the biggest fight either man has seen.

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee209/Lucrativo/HILITE/CarlChenoweth.gif VS. http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee209/Lucrativo/HILITE/ArturoDiaz.gif

Carl Chenoweth (5-0) vs. Arturo Diaz (11-2)

Lightweight prospect Carl Chenoweth will look to keep his momentum going against smooth-striking Arturo Diaz. Chenoweth is known for his striking defense, but Diaz is the best puncher he’s faced to this point by a wide margin. A convincing win for Chenoweth would be a big step forward for HILITE’s top American lightweight.

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee209/Lucrativo/HILITE/BrodyHowles.gif VS. http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee209/Lucrativo/HILITE/GekkoGoto.gif

Brody Howles (3-2) vs. Gekko Goto (8-3)

Both Brody Howles and Gekko Goto are coming off of losses and looking to rebound, and both are wrestling specialists who are comfortable on the ground. Neither man can afford another setback if he hopes to remain relevant in the HILITE light heavyweight division. These two look fairly even on paper—this fight may come down to who wants it more.

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee209/Lucrativo/HILITE/ChazBabish.gif VS. http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee209/Lucrativo/HILITE/TonyLegg.gif

Chaz Babish (7-3) vs. Tony Legg (3-1)

Chaz Babish and Tony Legg are both fringe contenders in the HILITE middleweight division. Legg may be the more athletically gifted of the two wrestlers, but his mental toughness is questionable. Babish is more than good enough to steamroll him if his head is not in the game.

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee209/Lucrativo/HILITE/BrunoEpps.gif VS. http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee209/Lucrativo/HILITE/DelroyRhodes.gif

Bruno Epps (8-7) vs. Delroy Rhodes (6-3)

Bruno Epps and Delroy Rhodes both came into HILITE with a fair amount of hype, and both have so far been nothing but disappointing. With the loser likely to find himself in the unemployment line, both fighters will be feeling the pressure coming into this contest.

Prediction Key:

Dwayne Alleyne vs. Ethan Sutton

Rupert Dreck vs. Khru Duangjan

Giovanni de Matos vs. Stan Blackheath

Deacon Stawford vs. Van Jolson

Carl Chenoweth vs. Arturo Diaz

Brody Howles vs. Gekko Goto

Chaz Babish vs. Tony Legg

Bruno Epps vs. Delroy Rhodes

Lt. Lucrativo · January 9, 2011

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HILITE 30: Alleyne vs. Sutton

War of Words

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Dwayne Alleyne: Sutton’s a tough guy. I expect a hard fight, but I’ll be ready. I feel good and I have the right gameplan. I don’t think he’ll be able to stop my takedowns, so I’m just going to come out and do what I always do—take him down and finish him off.

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee209/Lucrativo/HILITE/EthanSutton.gif

Ethan Sutton: I’ve spent years working to get to where I am now. Nothing’s going to stand in my way. This is my destiny! Dwayne Alleyne, you better get ready because the title is coming home with me. There’s nothing you can do to stop it.

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee209/Lucrativo/HILITE/RupertDreck.gif

Rupert Dreck: Whoo! The Green Machine is fired up and ready to roll, brother! Kool Dang John, I may not be able to pronounce your name, brother, but I am going to take you down and choke you out. When I’m done with you, you’ll be seeing green, baby. Whoo! It’s on!

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee209/Lucrativo/HILITE/KhruDuangjan.gif

Khru Duangjan (through translator): I look forward to this fight very much. I fear nothing from him. He cannot take me down. He cannot survive when I hit him. I will win by knockout.

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee209/Lucrativo/HILITE/StanBlackheath.gif

Stan Blackheath: He’s a tough kid, but he doesn’t have anything I haven’t seen before. I’ve watched all his fights, and he’s never been hit before. I can tell you that’s going to change, cause I’m bringing the lumber. This is going to be my last fight, and I’m planning to go out with a bang. Sorry kid, I’ve got nothing to lose.

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee209/Lucrativo/HILITE/DelroyRhodes.gif

Delroy Rhodes: I’m embarrassed about how I fought last year. I haven’t done anything close to what I’m capable of. That ain’t going to happen again, cause from now on you’re going to see the real Delroy Rhodes. Bruno Epps, you’re going down. It’s nothing personal, you’re just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

BYU 14 · January 9, 2011

Like it, I can almost hear Dreck channel Ric Flair in his promo

WCW Mark · January 16, 2011

I'm interested to see how this goes, I'm only just starting 1999 in the only game I've played in WMMA 3 so it's interesting to see how people develop. As for predictions:

Dwayne Alleyne vs. Ethan Sutton - Unless Sutton has improved greatly since the game started I think Alleyne will take this one comfortably.

Rupert Dreck vs. Khru Duangjan - Duangjan's weakness is his takedown defence and I think Dreck will capatalise on it

Giovanni de Matos vs. Stan Blackheath - Blackheath has got to be close to retirement and de Matos might just be the man to hand him his bus pass

Deacon Stawford vs. Van Jolson - They both look terrible in the starting database but as Jolson is younger I'm going to assume he has improved more

Carl Chenoweth vs. Arturo Diaz - Diaz doesn't even have a nickname, you can't win in MMA without one of those

Brody Howles vs. Gekko Goto - I'm gonna go for Goto, just a hunch really

Chaz Babish vs. Tony Legg - Babish looks like he might come to the ring to James Brown's Living in America and as both Apolo Creed and Shane Moslely found out that's a bad idea.

Bruno Epps vs. Delroy Rhodes - Rhodes has done the business for me so I'm going to go with him here

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