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HILITE - Building from the ground up


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It's 1998 and a young man is just leaving school and is about to start his career. But what if, instead of living in the real world and having to go to work because he didn't have any money he lived in the Cornellverse and had just inherited $500,000. And what if instead of spending that money wisely he decided to upsticks and move to America and start an MMA Promotion. I am that young man and this is my what if.......(screen goes swirly and fades to a shabby office in a porta cabin somewhere in Arizona. A stikingly handsome man (hey it's my diary after all) is finishing a conversation on the phone.

 

"........so Atteveld is willing to sign up, that's great we need a big name for our first show and I'm hoping he'll get the punters through the door. I'l fax the contract across right now. Yeah cheers, pleasure doing business with you."

 

This is the story of how a man with no background in MMA moved to America with nothing more than a dream of creating the worlds biggest promotion and the small matter of $500,000 in his pocket. How will this dream pan out, you'll have to read on.

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<p>HILITE 1: Genesis</p><p> </p><p>

HILITE are the latest promotion to look to cash in on the growing sport of Mixed Martial Arts. With GAMMA the top dog in America and the already established XCC focusing on the light divisions HILITE decide to concentrate on the Middleweight Divisions upwards. Operating out of Arizona the company's first priority is to sign up some fighters and start to establish their divisions. Luckily a recent change in the Athletic Commission rulings allow Tournaments to be run in regulated states and as such HILITE's first event will be an eight man tournament to crown the HITLITE Heavyweight Champion.</p><p> </p><p>

Featuring young up and coming wrestlers from all over the States and beyond HILITE management are hoping this first event will start them on the long road to fame and fortune.</p><p> </p><p>

The pairings for the first round of the tournament are:</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Fletcher Merman (7-2) v Chuck Dooley (3-0)</strong></p><p> </p><p>

Fletcher Merman is the second highest ranked fighter in the tournament and seeing as his opponent is the lowest ranked fighter many consider him to be favourite. However those who follow the Canadian MMA scene are tipping Dooley to win not only this fight but also the tournament.</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Harvey Loeb (6-3) v Gareth Grundy (6-3)</strong></p><p> </p><p>

Both fighters come into the tournament with records of 6-3. Grundy probably has the advantage but it would be surprised to see either of these fighters win the tournament.</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Julio Correa (6-0) v John Fitz Wallace (8-2)</strong></p><p> </p><p>

Julio Correa is the highest ranked fighter in the tournament and one of two imports. With a record of 6-0 he is a man to be feared. He’ll be favourite in his first round match against Wrestler John Fitzwallace.</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Wilson Franklyn (5-1) v Steve Mason (5-0)</strong></p><p> </p><p>

Steve Mason is one of the better known fighters in the tournament but he faces a tough opener against street fighter Wilson Franklyn. This one will be a stand up war and should be a great opener.</p><p> </p><p>

In addition to the tournament HILITE are featuring a Middleweight clash between respected veteran and feared BJJ practitioner Greg Atteveld (37-14) against Toby Sorkin (3-0). Whilst Sorkin in relatively new to MMA he has an impressive background in Judo and this, combined with his red hot promos has ensured he is already a name on the MMA scene. Dropping to Middleweight for this clash he will be hoping to solidify his status with a win over the respected veteran.</p><p> </p><p>

The contracts are all signed and the fights are all set. HILITES inaugral event is due to take place in Arizona on the last Saturday in February 1998.</p>

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<div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong><span style="font-size:24px;">HILITE 1: Genesis</span></strong></p></div><p></p><p> </p><p>

There is a feeling of excitment in the air at the Civic Centre in Snowflake, Arizona as the fighters prepare for HILITE 1: Genesis. Most of the 164 strong crowd are either MMA fans who are here to see legendary BJJ practitioner Greg Atteveld, or they are locals who have heard about MMA but never seen an event live. If crowds are going to increase and the promotion is going to thrive then it is vital that they go home happy.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>HILITE HEAVYWEIGHT TOURNAMENT: FIRST ROUND</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Wilson Franklyn v Steve Mason</strong></p></div><p></p><p> </p><p>

After feeling each other out for the first 30 seconds or so both fighters step up and go toe to toe. This proves a fatal error for Mason as Franklyn catches him with a big right knocking him out cold.</p><p> </p><p>

Result: Wilson Franklyn defeats Steve Mason by KO at 1:32 of round 1 in a good fight</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Julio Correa v John Fitzwallace</strong></p></div><p></p><p> </p><p>

Both fighters start aggressively but both are missing more than they are hitting. However it turns out that one decent punch is all that is needed for Correa as he lands a hard uppercut putting Fitzwallace down and out in the first.</p><p> </p><p>

Result: Julio Correa defeats John Fitzwallace by KO at 3:14 of round 1 in a decent fight</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Harvey Loeb v Gareth Grundy</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p>

Both fighters like to fight from on top and as such this becomes a battle of the takedown attempts. Grundy has the definite advantage here and scores a takedown in every round. He finally makes his dominance count when he gets behind Loeb and chokes him out in the 3rd.</p><p> </p><p>

Result Gareth Grundy defeats Harvey Loeb by submission at 4:12 of round 3 in a decent fight.</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Fletcher Merman v Chuck Dooley</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p>

The bookies make Merman the strong favourite here which just shows how much they know, Dooley gets an early takedown, advance to mount and then pounds on Merman until the ref steps in. Impressive performance by Dooley.</p><p> </p><p>

Result: Chuck Dooley defeats Fletcher Merman by TKO at 3:59 of the first round in a great fight.</p><p> </p><p>

There is a short intermission which gives the fighters a chance to prepare for the next round and the fans a chance to get some beers and peruse the merchadise stand.</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>HILITE HEAVYWEIGHT TOURNAMENT: SEMI-FINALS</strong></p></div><p></p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Julio Correa v Wilson Franklyn</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p>

As both fighters showed their power in their opening fights, no one expects this one to go the distance. However that’s exactly what it does with Correa snatching a victory despite a dominant last round from Franklyn. This could have gone either way and Franklyn will feel disappointed to be going home.</p><p> </p><p>

Result: Julio Correa defeats Wilson Franklyn by unanimous decision (29:28) in a poor fight.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Chuck Dooley v Gareth Grundy</strong></p></div><p></p><p> </p><p>

Dooley finished his opponent in the first while Grundy had to go a gruelling three rounds in his. Will this be the deciding factor here? The bookies certainly think so as they make Dooley strong favourite. They are right to do so as Dooley takes another quick win, this time stuffing his opponents takedown with a front facelock before pounding him out for another quick win.</p><p> </p><p>

Result: Chuck Dooley defeats Gareth Grundy by TKO at 2:34 of the first round in a decent fight.</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Special Attraction</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p>

As well as providing a big name for the crowd this fight allows Dooley and Correa a chance to recover. Correa in particular needs a rest after going three rounds with Franklyn.</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Gregg Atteveld v Toby Sorkin</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p>

Atteveld is a strong favourite with the bookies but that probably reflects the strong dislike that Sorkin engenders from most fans. He certainly won’t have won any of those fans over today as he beats Atteveld in a yawner of match. The fight never really got to go to the ground with both fighters showing great takedown defence. It descends into a dull fight up against the cage which Sorkin takes on points.</p><p> </p><p>

Result: Toby Sorkin defeats Greg Atteveld by unanimous decision (29:28) in an awful fight.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>HILITE HEAVYWEIGHT TOURNAMENT: FINAL</strong></p></div><p></p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Chuck Dooley v Julio Correa</strong></p></div><p></p><p> </p><p>

The two non Americans who entered the tournament end of facing off in the final. Whoever wins this it is a rude awakening for American MMA, or perhaps all the real US talents are off fighting in GAMMA. Dooley had the easier route to the final but Correa has hopefully had a chance to recover during Atteveld v Sorkin, in fact, if he is anything like the fans he probably managed to catch some sleep.</p><p> </p><p>

Correa puts in a spirited performance but in the end he can’t stop Dooley’s takedowns. He spends much of the fight fighting off his back and eventually his defences crack. Dooley takes it by 3rd round ground and pound.</p><p> </p><p>

Result: Chuck Dooley defeats Julio Correa by TKO at 3:51 of the third round in a decent fight.</p><p> </p><p>

Dooley celebrates and picks up fight of the night as well as the Heavyweight Championship. The stats from this event are as follows.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>

Attendance: 164 for a gate of $4,100</p><p> </p><p>

Critical Success: Decent </p><p>

Commercial Success: Decent</p><p> </p><p>

Fight of the Night: Dooley v Merman</p><p>

KO of the Night: Franklyn</p><p>

Submission of the Night: Gareth Grundy</p><p> </p><p>

Popularity Increase: 0.9% to 12.9%</p>

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<div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Post Event Analysis</strong></p></div><p></p><p> </p><p>

Well this is the first time I've tried to build a promotion from scratch so I have nothing to compare that to but I can't help but feel it would have been more of a success if it wasn't for the shocker of a co-main event. There isn't really any need to have it in there other than for the fact that I feel that it is fairer to give the winner of the second semi final at least a small rest before the final. I'll be booking another special attraction fight for HILITE 2 but it certainly won't feature either Sorkin or Atteveld.</p><p> </p><p>

Of the fighters on the card, obviously Dooley shone as the star and I get the feeling he will be a cornerstone of HILITE for as long as I can keep him around. Correa also impressed as I didn't expect him to reach the final. Sorkin hasn't done himself any favours despite the win and he'll need to improve in the future. At this point in time I would rather have exciting fighters than good ones.</p><p> </p><p>

Financially I lost $19,313 in January and $39,236 in February. While this included $21K of signing on fees I obviously can't afford to make this much of a loss for long. Hopefully attendences will start picking up, otherwise I'll have to look at reducing the number of fights on the card. I know I'm paying out more than I need to on fighters at the moment but I want to try and ensure that the early events build a legacy for the future. Whether that legacy is one of the promotion that became number 1 in the world or the one that shone brightly before disapearing into bankruptcy only time will tell.</p>

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<div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>HILITE announce HILITE 2: All Out Brawlfare</strong></p></div><p></p><p> </p><p>

Following on from HILITE 1: Geneises, HILITE are proud to annouce their next event HILITE 2: All Out Brawlfare. The event will take place on the last Saturday in April and will feature a tournament to crown the promotions first ever Light Heavyweight Title. In addition the promotion have announced a special co-main event featuring veteran heavyweights Barry Strachan and Stan Blackheath. Whilst both fighters are past their primes they bring name value to the event and their brawling style should make for an exciting fight.</p><p> </p><p>

The card for the event is as follows:</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Gustavo Spagnol (4-0) v Zane Wybock (4-1)</strong></p><p> </p><p>

The first of two Brazilians in the tournament Spagnol has a vicious ground and pound attack, however he’ll need to e careful about taking it to the ground against Jiu Jitsu practitioner Wybock.</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Marcos Maciel (5-0) v Terry Catt (5-0)</strong></p><p> </p><p>

Brazilian Maciel will face his fellow countryman Spagnol is the semi-finals if they both advance in what could be an interesting clash of styles. Maciel is a pure striker and is very highly rated by the Brazilian media. However he’ll need to show good takedown defence as well as striking offence if he is to advance past wrestler Terry Catt. </p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Jerry Bogdonovich (5-0) v Pete Shilton (6-2)</strong></p><p> </p><p>

Two brawlers face off in a match which could come down to who has the hardest chin. Shilton has more experience but given his style that probably just means he has been hit in the head more times.</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Rupert Dreck (4-0) v Jon Silvers (6-0)</strong></p><p> </p><p>

Dreck is a good wrestler who will cause Silvers serious issues if he gets in close. That’s a big if as Silver is a tall boxer who could cause Dreck problems.</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Barry Strachan (24-15) v Stan Blackheath (20-9)</strong></p><p> </p><p>

As previously announced the Co-Main event sees two old school brawlers face off against each other. Neither man really has the skills to compete in modern MMA but they have name value and their leave it all in the ring style will hopefully lead to a crowd pleaser.</p>

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<div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong><span style="font-size:18px;">HILITE 2: All Out Brawlfare</span></strong></p></div><p></p><p> </p><p>

HILITE's return to Snowflak Arizona where 175 people will witness the crowning of the first ever HILITE Light Heavyweight Champion. The slight increase in attendance means people must be coming back and a few are bringing their friends. HILITE management have again focussed on young up and coming fighters from around the US and have also brought in two young Brazilians. This time the brackets have been set to ensure at least one American makes it to the finals.</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>HILITE LIGHTHEAVYWEIGHT TOURNAMENT: FIRST ROUND</strong></p></div><p></p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Gustavo Spagnol v Zane Wybock</strong></p></div><p></p><p> </p><p>

After a tentative opening Spagnol makes his move and scoops Wybock up before slamming him to the ground. Wybock is stunned and Spagnol takes advantage by taking his back and pounding him out.</p><p> </p><p>

Result: Gustavo Spagnol defeats Zane Wybock by TKO at 4:09 of round 1 in a good match.</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Marcos Maciel v Terry Catt</strong></p></div><p></p><p> </p><p>

The first two rounds are fairly even with each fighter landing some decent strikes and getting one takedown apiece. Catt finally takes control in the 3rd when he gets an early takedown. He manages to advance to mount and the ref has to end it as Maciel eats some big shots.</p><p> </p><p>

Result: Terry Catt defeats Marcos Maciel by TKO at 3:17 of round 3 in a good match.</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Jerry Bogdonovich v Pete Shilton</strong></p></div><p></p><p> </p><p>

A horrible first round is soon forgotten as Bogdonovich opens up in the second, he lands several hard strikes and puts Shilton down. Shilton manages to survive although the commentators think that was a 10-8 round. Bogdonovich keeps up the pace in the 3rd and the ref soon steps in.</p><p> </p><p>

Result: Jerry Bogdonovich defeats Pete Shilton by TKO at 0:47 of round 3 in a decent match.</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Rupert Dreck v Jon Silvers</strong></p></div><p></p><p> </p><p>

Silvers shows great footwork too avoid all 6 of Dreck’s takedown defence and that, combined with some crisp punches is enough to give him the points victory.</p><p> </p><p>

Result: Jon Silvers defeats Rupert Dreck by unanimous decision (30:27) in an average match.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>HILITE LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT TOURNAMENT: SEMI FINALS</strong></p></div><p></p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Terry Catt v Gustavo Spagnol</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p>

Spagol gets a chance to avenge his countryman in this semi final match up. Both fighters have good ground and pound skills and this one could go to whoever gets the first takedown.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>

And it is Spagnol who manages to get the first successful takedown, it’s late on in the first round though and he doesn’t have much time. He lands several hard elbows and the ref steps in with 1 second to go. Catt is left wishing he could have held on a little longer.</p><p> </p><p>

Result: Gustavo Spagnol defeats Terry Catt by TKO at 4:59 of round 1 in a decent match.</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Jon Silvers v Jerry Bogdonovich</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p>

Two strikers face off in the semi final but this is still a real contrast of styles. Silvers has a 6 inch reach advantage and he'll want to use it to keep his opponent at range, while the stocky Bogdonovich has a definite power advantage and will want to slug it out on the inside. The winner here will be which ever fighter can impose his game plan on the other.</p><p> </p><p>

Silvers spends the first round back pedalling trying to jab and move, the second round shows why he was keen to keep Bogdonovich at a distance. The Jersey native gets in close and unloads a mighty right hand which has Silvers out cold before he hit’s the floor.</p><p> </p><p>

Result: Jerry Bogdonovich defeats Jon Silvers by KO at 0:56 of round 2 in a fantastic match</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Special Attraction</strong></p></div><p></p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Barry Strachan v Stan Blackheath</strong></p></div><p></p><p> </p><p>

Both semi-final winners finished their opponents pretty quickly but I'm sure they'll be grateful of the rest. The crowd are pumped for what should be a slugfest between two well known veterans.</p><p> </p><p>

The fight starts at a frenetic pace and Strachan eats some hard shots, he shakes them off and the fight continues. Blackheath clearly took the first round though. Both fighters tire as the fight wears on but Strachan is landing more shots. It goes to the judges score cards and they render their verdict in favour of Strachan, 2 rounds to 1.</p><p> </p><p>

Result: Barry Strachan defeats Stan Blackheath by unanimous decision (29:28) in an average match</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>HILITE LIGHTHEAVYWEIGHT TOURNAMENT: FINAL</strong></p></div><p></p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Jerry Bogdonovich v Gustavo Spagnol</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p>

Bogdonovich has shown great striking to get to the final but his takedown defence hasn’t really been tested. It certainly will be here as Spagol has taken down and beaten up both his opponents in the first round. The winner will be the first ever HILITE Light Heavyweight champion.</p><p> </p><p>

Bogdonovich decides the best defence is a good offence and Spagnol never gets the chance to go for a takedown as The Dockland Destroyer puts him down with a hard right before mounting him and beating him in the face until the ref steps in. Bogdonovich is the champion!</p><p> </p><p>

Result: Jerry Bogdonovich defeats Gustavo Spagnol by TKO at 1:03 of round 1 in a good match.</p><p> </p><p>

Attendance: 175 for $4,375</p><p>

Critical Rating: Great</p><p>

Commercial Rating: Decent</p><p>

Fight of the Night: Bogdonovich v Silvers</p><p>

KO of the Night: Bogdonovich</p><p> </p><p>

Popularity increase: 1.5% to 14.4%</p>

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<div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Post Event Analysis</strong></p></div><p></p><p> </p><p>

Well the second event went pretty well, the ratings were good, including one fight which scored a Fantastic rating. In addition the popularity gain of 1.5% is much better than last time out.</p><p> </p><p>

The special attraction worked out much better than last time out although it still wasn't the best of fights. It does have the added benefit of boosting Strachan and I'd like to think one of my younger fighters can make a name for themselves by beating him. Jerry Bogdonovich was the star of the show though and I'm delighted to have him as my champion.</p><p> </p><p>

Financially I'm still losing a lot of money. I lost $28,791 in March which was mostly down to hiring fighters for this tournament and a forthcoming Middleweight one. April saw me lose $43,648 which is the highest so far. I pulled in a bit more income but my fighter pay was $41,635 which more than offset it. I still have $365K left but I'll soon need to either start watching my costs or bringing in some more income soon.</p>

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<div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>HILITE Announce HILITE 3: The Contenders</strong></p></div><p></p><p> </p><p>

HILITE announce that their third event, HILITE 3: The Contenders, will be held on the last Saturday of June at the Civic Centre, Snowflake, Arizona.</p><p> </p><p>

In a depature from their two previous cards HILITE 3 will not feature a tournament format and will instead featur 6 stand alone fights. However HILITE managmeent insist the event still offers great value for money as it will feature, not one, but two number one contender bouts. The main event will see Norman Pike take on Russell McPhee to see who faces Chuck Dooley for the Heavyweight Title. The Co-main event sees Glenn Pimm take on Guillermo Morales to see who will be Jerry Bogdonivich's first challlenger for the Light Heavyweight crown.</p><p> </p><p>

The undercard will feature several debuting fighters as well as the return of Toby Sorkin. The line up in detail is:</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Sylvester Collins (3-0) v Bronson Berle (3-3) - Heavyweight</strong></p><p> </p><p>

Sylvester Collins is one of the biggest heavyweights around and HILITE have signed him to a 4 fight contract. The first of these fights takes place against Bronson Berle. Berle has an experience edge but he is definitely the underdog here. </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Toby Sorkin (4-0) v Titus Mostel (3-2) - Light Heavyweight</strong></p></div><p></p><p> </p><p>

Sorkin is fighting at his preferred weight of Light Heavyweight, add this to the fact that his opponent isn't anywhere near the same league as Greg Atteveld and as such Sorkin will be expected to put on a much more impressive showing than last time. Mostel will know this and will be hoping to catch Sorkin on the counter as he comes forwards.</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Sly Twinge (3-0) v Brady Crawford (6-5) - Heavyweight</strong></p></div><p></p><p> </p><p>

Another big Heavyweight Sly Twinge is incredibly strong but at 22 he hasn't developed his skills yet. His opponent is much more experienced but Twinge should still take this one.</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Alex Cole (7-0) v Drew Jenks (5-1) - Middleweight</strong></p></div><p></p><p> </p><p>

Wrestler vs Wrestler, with two evenly match fighters this one is a tough one to call. Whoever takes this one will be pushing a claim as one of the top Middleweights in HILITE and may well position themselves for a shot at the winner of the HILITE Middleweight tournament.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Glenn Pimm (30-11) v Guillermo Morales (7-0-1) - Light Heavyweight #1 Contender</strong></p></div><p></p><p> </p><p>

Glenn Pimm is a respected veteran with a good record and decent wrestling skills. Morales is a fearsome Cuban wrestler who is unbeaten in his first 8 fights. The winner here will take on Jerry Bogdonovich in the near future.</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Norman Pike (16-4) v Russell McPhee (16-6) - Heavyweight #1 Contender</strong></p></div><p></p><p> </p><p>

The main event is being billed as wrestler vs striker. However Pike is a genuine mixed martial artist as he also has decent boxing and has the potential to mix it up. McPhee is a striker, pure and simple and with his wider range of offence he should win this if he can keep it standing. However if he can't the fight will almost certainly goes Pike's way.</p>

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HILITE 3: The Contenders

 

HILITE 3 return to Snowflake, Arizona for their 3rd event. The idea of seeing two number 1 contender fights has clearly caught the imagine of the locals as the crowd of 230 is a big increase on previous events.

 

Sylvester Collins v Bronson Berle

 

Collins takes Berle down with ease but despite several attempts he can’t progress past half guard. This leads to three rounds of Collins beating on Berle without really doing any damage. A convincing if unspectacular victory for Collins.

 

Result: Sylvester Collins defeats Bronson Berle by unanimous decision (30:27) in a poor match

 

 

 

Toby Sorkin v Titus Mostel

 

Sorkin closes the distance quickly and ties Mostel up against the cage. He aggressively pursues the takedown and gets it on the fourth attempt, with just over a minute remaining in the first round he gets side control and then sinks in the armbar. That’s Sorkin’s second win in HILITE and he looked a lot better this time out than last time.

 

Result: Toby Sorkin defeats Titus Mostel by submission at 4:22 of round 1 in an average match

 

 

Sly Twinge v Brady Crawford

 

Twinge takes Crawford down from the clinch and punishes him with several hard shots on the ground. Crawford is hurt but manages to cover up and survives the round. Second round sees Crawford trying to keep his distance and avoid any more takedown defences, so Twinge knocks him down instead and finishes him off with some hard ground and pound.

 

Result: Sly Twinge defeats Brady Crawford by TKO at 4:31 of round 2 in a decent match.

 

Alex Cole v Drew Jenks

 

A very even fight sees both fighters being equally ineffectual. Jenks decides he can’t outwrestle Cole and tries to out strike him. However with 3 out of 25 strikes landing he appears to be pretty ineffective. Cole is equally bad landing 1 out of 8 takedowns. The fight ends up going to the judges and Cole picks up a split decision.

 

Result: Alex Cole defeats Drew Jenks by split decision (29:28, 29:28, 28:29) in poor match.

 

Glenn Pimm v Guillermo Morales

 

Morales gets a takedown early in the first, he goes for the submission but Pimm defends well and sweeps him. Pimm goes on the offensive looking for a submission of his own but Morales is equal to it. The back and forth action only ends when the bell goes for the end of the round. The second round sees Morales get the takedown again, this time he goes for the ground and pound and cuts Pimm. Pimm holds on and manages to last the round. Going into the third Pimm knows he is behind on points and pursues the takedown, he gets it on the second attempt and starts to unload. He rocks Morales, the ref gives him a chance to recover but Pimm is causing too much damage and the ref steps in.

 

Result: Glenn Pimm defeats Guillermo Morales by TKO at 2:54 of round 3 in a fantastic match.

 

Norman Pike v Russell McPhee

 

McPhee tries to keep Pike at range but a missed kick gives Pike the chance to get in close and drive him up against the cage, after a brief struggle he takes McPhee down and from there he makes short work of him finishing him with an armbar.

 

Result: Norman Pike defeats Russell McPhee by submission at 3:43 of round 1 in a good match.

 

Attendance: 230 for a gate of $5,750

Critical Rating: Good

Commercial Rating: Good

Fight of the Night: Glenn Pimm v Guillermo Morales

KO of the Night: Sly Twinge

Submission of the Night: Norman Pike

 

Popularity 1.6% increase to 16%

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Well that was another good event for me, another fantastic rated fight, a few decent debuts and two number 1 contenders resolved means I have plenty set up going forward. The popularity gains continue to pick up but I still need them to accelerate a little more.

 

Financially that was my most succesful event losing only $27,000. This was partly due to reduced fighter wages ($30K compared with $41K for HILITE 2 and $33.5K for HILITE 1) but was also due to the face I didn't sign anyone that month and as such didn't have to pay out any signing fees. I've got $330K in the bank so at this sort of rate I'm good for another 10 or 11 events before I run out of cash. Of course some fighters are going to want new contracts before then and I may be left with the prospect of having to let some of them go if the crowds don't start to grow.

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HILITE ANNOUNCE HILITE 4: FLASHPOINT

 

HILITE are pleased to announce HILITE 4: Flashpoint on the last Saturday of August. The event sees the return to the tournament format used at HILITE 1 and 2 and the evening will culminate with the crowning of the inaugral HILITE Middleweight Champion.

 

In addition to the tournament the card will see a special attraction co-main event with experienced Heavyweight Barry Strachan taking on the losing finalist of the HILITE Heavyweight Tournament Julio Correa. The card stacks up as follows.

 

Middleweight Tournament.

 

Bart Diggs (5-2) v Joey Valdez (4-0)

 

The first match sees Kickboxer vs. Boxer in what should prove to be an entertaining stand up battle. Diggs has the more varied stand up game and it may be this which allows him to progress

 

Dwayne Alleyne (4-0) v Ethan Sutton (5-0)

 

Two wrestlers face off in the next bout. Sutton is well rounded but lacks power while Alleyne has great physicals. This could go either way.

 

Chaz Babish (7-2) v Nick Detroit (4-0)

 

This fight sees the first real clash of styles of the tournament as wrestler Babish takes on kick boxer Nick Detroit. Babish is the more experienced of the two but Detroit will be keen to keep his undefeated record.

 

Isaiah Monroe (4-0) v Bernard Blue (7-2)

 

Two more wrestlers face off, Monroe is 4 inches taller than his opponent but Blue weighs about the same and this stocky frame, along with his experience edge may give him the advantage when it comes to getting the takedown. However Monroe is a powerful guy and HILITE management have great hopes for him.

 

Special Attraction - Co-Main Event

 

Barry Strachan (25-15) v Julio Correa (8-1)

 

Julio Correa made it all the way to the finals of the Heavyweight Title Tournament before losing out to Chuck Dooley, however at only 24 he has plenty of time to improve and work his way back into title contention. Barry Strachan on the other hand is 34 and time is definitley not on his side. Coming off of a win against fellow veteran Stan Blackheath this run could be his last chance at glory and a win here will go along way to earning a title shot against the winner of Dooley vs Pike. With two decent strikers this will hopefully be an entertaining stand up battle.

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HILITE 4: FLASHPOINT

 

217 people turn up to the Snowflake Civic Centre to see HILITE crown their first ever Middleweight Champion. This is the final tournament and once it is finished HILITE will have established their champions for all three of their weight divisions. In addition the fans will see a co-main event of Barry Strachan v Julio Correra.

 

HILITE MIDDLEWEIGHT TOURNAMENT: FIRST ROUND

 

Bart Diggs v Joey Valdez

 

Valdez shows good wrestling skills, clinching Diggs up against the cage and neutralising his kicks. He manages to keep Diggs there for the majority of the first round softening him up with punches and wearing him down. Dull but effective. The second round sees more action with Valdez dodging a wild kick and putting Diggs down with a series of rights before putting him out with the ground and pound.

 

Result: Joey Valdez defeats Bart Diggs by TKO at 2:47 of round 2 in a poor match.

 

 

Dwayne Alleyne v Ethan Sutton

 

Sutton seems keen to keep this one standing but he can’t manage it as Alleyne takes him down in the first two rounds. While he can’t put him away Alleyne does enough to comfortably take the first two rounds. He eases up in the 3rd seemingly happy to take it on points and conserve his energy for later rounds.

 

Result: Dwayne Alleyne defeats Ethan Sutton by unanimous decision (29:28) in a poor match.

 

Chaz Babish v Nick Detroit

 

Very little happens in the first round as both fighters seem content to wait for an opening. The pace picks up in the second with Babish pushing forward, Detroit fights well off the back foot until he gets caught with a big right. Babish dives on him, once this fight goes to ground there was only going to be one winner and Babish takes the win.

 

Result: Chaz Babish defeats Nick Detroit by TKO at 3:09 of round 2 in a good match.

 

Isaiah Monroe v Bernard Blue

 

Monroe shows that power, picking Blue up and slamming him down. He quickly takes Blue’s back and sinks in a choke. It’s all over.

 

Result: Isaiah Monroe defeats Bernard Blue by submission at 2:52 of round 1 in a great match.

 

HILITE MIDDLEWEIGHT TOURNAMENT: SEMI-FINAL

 

Dwayne Alleyne v Joey Valdez

 

Both these fighters need to pick up their game after dull first round victories. Hopefully the styles differences will make for a more entertaining bout.

 

Alleyne ducks under a series of jabs and takes Valdez down with ease. Valdez pulls guard but he can’t keep Alleyne there and soon gives up his back. Alleyne goes for the choke and it’s all over.

 

Result: Dwayne Alleyne defeats Joey Valdez by submission at 2:56 of round 1 in a great match.

 

Isaiah Monroe v Chaz Babish

 

The second semi final sees two wrestlers clash, they are pretty evenly match size wise and both looked good in their first round matches. The winner here will face Dwayne Alleyne in the final in a tournament that has been dominated by the ground guys.

 

Babish is looking to keep it standing, looking to catch Monroe with is big right. He is getting the better of the first round until Monroe catches him with what is fast becoming his trademark slam. It’s late on in the first though and despite eating some big shots Babish is able to hang on. Monroe comes out fast in the second and puts Babish down with a big punch. He jumps on him and quickly ends it.

 

Result: Isaiah Monroe defeats Chaz Babish by TKO at 0:51 of round 2 in a decent match.

 

Co-main event

 

Barry Strachan v Julio Correa - Heavyweight

 

Both fighters come out swinging and Correa comes out on top putting Strachan down. Strachan keeps his wits about him and pulls Correa into guard when he jumps on him. Correa is able to transition to side control and does some decent damage with knees to the body but he can’t finish it. The commentators think that was a 10:8 round though. Round 2 sees Strachan take some more hard shots, despite looking wobbly he stays on his feet and sucks up the punishment. Correa continues the assault in the 3rd and while he can’t put Strachan away there is no doubt over who won this one.

 

Result: Julio Correa defeats Barry Strachan by unanimous decision (30:26) in an average match.

 

HILITE MIDDLEWEIGHT TOURNAMENT: FINAL

 

Isaiah Monroe v Dwayne Alleyne

 

Both fighters come in at 6-0 and the betting line has both of them at -130. As such it appears that there are only two certainties here. One fighter will lose their undefeated streak and the other will walk away as the inaugural HILITE Middleweight Champion.

 

After a quick exchange of blows Monroe shoots in for the takedown, Alleyne tries to get the guillotine but can’t and settles for pulling guard. He manages to keep Monroe there. Good defence by Alleyne. Round 2 sees the roles reversed as Monroe tries to get the guillotine when Alleyne shoots in. Again it is unsuccessful but Monroe’s defence isn’t as good and he lets Alleyne gain side control. Alleyne lands some big knees to the body but loses control when he tries to pass too mount and both fighters end up on their feet. One round each.

 

Round 3 again sees Alleyne take Monroe down, this time he manages to take his back and lands some hard strikes before going for the choke. Monroe manages to fight him off but that round was definitely one for Alleyne.

 

Round 4 sees Monroe back in the driving seat as he gets the takedown this time, he manages to get side control and it’s his turn to punish Alleyne with some big knees. Having softened him up Monroe transitions to mount but the round ends before he can do any damage.

 

At 2 rounds each the 5th round will decide the fight and if the first 4 rounds are anything to go by the winner will be the man who gets the takedown. Both fighters are tired though and both are struggling. Alleyne finally gets the takedown late on and that might be enough to take the round.

 

Result: Dwayne Alleyne defeats Isaiah Monroe by unanimous decision (48-47) in a Good match

 

Attendance: 217 for a gate of $5,426

Critical Rating: Decent

Commercial Rating: Decent

Fight of the Night: Dwayne Alleyne v Joey Valdez

KO of the Night: Isaiah Monroe

Submission of the Night: Dwayne Alleyne

 

Popularity: +0.8% to 16.8%

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Well that was a reasonable event but not the best I've out on, still it achieved it's main objective which was to crown a Middleweight Champion and I'm happy with Dwayne Alleyne. He had a good night picking up not only the title but a Fight of the Night award and Submission of the Night. The fact that the final was so close also means that a rematch might be viable in the near future.

 

In the co-main event Julio Correra got back on track which is good news as he obviously has a much better future than Strachan.

 

The gate was a little down on the previous show but that it probably due to the nature of holding a tournament and the fact there is no announced main event. That will hopefully be the last tournament I hold (unless one of my champions get poached) so hopefully the attendance will climb next time out.

 

Financially I lost $38,318 in August which is the lowest of the 3 tournaments. It's more than I lost at HILITE 3 though but again that's down to the change in formats. Hopefully going forward I should see those losses come down to the late $20K's.

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HILITE ANNOUNCE HILITE 5: Devil’s Night

 

Taking place on Halloween HILITE 5: Devil’s Night sees Chuck Dooley (6-0) attempt to make the first defence of his HILITE Heavyweight Title. His challenger is fellow Canadian, Norman Pike (17-4). Pike has a massive experience advantage and is coming off a dominant victory against Russell McPhee but after taking the title at the Tournament back at HILITE 1 Dooley won’t want to fall at the first hurdle.

 

The Co-main event sees two legends square off in a retirement match as Geoff Cahill (47-23) takes on Greg Atteveld (37-15) in the Middleweight Division. Both fighters have let it be known that this will be their last ever contest and both will be hoping to go out with a bang.

 

The rest of the card is as follows:

 

Steve Mason (5-1) v Stan Blackheath (20-10) - Heavyweight

 

Mason lost his unbeaten streak in the first round of the Heavyweight Tournament to Wilson Franklyn. The 24 year old will be looking to prove that he learnt from that and that he can improve going forward. Blackheath is 37 so the prospects of him improving are remote. A loss to Barry Strachan hurt him badly and another loss here may, effectively, spell the end of his career.

 

Terry Catt (6-1) v Pete Shilton (6-3) - Light Heavyweight

 

Both these fighters competed in the Light Heavyweight Tournament. Whilst Shilton went out in the first round it was to eventual champion Jerry Bogdonovich so he’ll be looking to prove that was just luck of the draw. Catt impressed in the first round with a win over Marcos Maciel and he’ll be looking to prove that was no fluke.

 

Brady Crawford (6-6) v Wilson Franklyn (6-2) - Heavyweight

 

Crawford lost on his HILITE debut to Sly Twinge and he faces another tough challenge here against charismatic brawler Wilson Franklyn. HILITE management see Franklyn as a fighter who can draw a crowd if given the right opponents and this match has been booked to rehabilitate him after his loss to Julio Correa. A win won’t be enough for Franklyn here, he’ll need to put on a dominant performance if he wants to impress against a fighter with a poor record.

 

Rupert Dreck (4-1) v Marcos Maciel (5-1) - Light Heavyweight

 

Both these fighters need a win after exiting the Light Heavyweight Tournament in the first round. This bout sees Wrestler vs. Striker with the loser likely to be receiving their marching orders.

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HILITE 5: Devil’s Night

 

272 people give trick or treating a miss and instead decide to come to the Snowflake Civic Centre to watch Norman Pike clash with Chuck Dooley for the Heavyweight Title and also to give Greg Atteveld and Geoff Cahill the send off they deserve. First though, the undercard:

 

Rupert Dreck v Marcos Maciel

 

Maciel catches Dreck early and puts him down, before Dreck has a chance to recover Maciel is all over him and the ref has to jump in to stop Dreck getting seriously injured.

 

Result: Marcos Maciel defeats Rupert Dreck by TKO at 0:55 of round 1 in a good fight.

 

Wilson Franklyn v Brady Crawford

 

Franklyn comes forward looking to get the early KO but Crawford defends well and keeps his distance. He waits for an opening and shoots in for the takedown, big mistake, Franklyn sprawls well grabbing Crawford in a front face lock and unloading.

 

Result: Wilson Franklyn defeats Brady Crawford by TKO at 4:13 of round 1 in an average fight.

 

Terry Catt v Pete Shilton - Light Heavyweight

 

The first round sees both fighters land some decent strikes before Catt gets the takedown, he mounts Shilton but gets swept when he goes for an armbar. Shilton shows good takedown defence to keep the second round standing but Catt appears to be the superior striker as well. Third round is more even but Catt clearly took this fight over all.

 

Result: Terry Catt defeats Pete Shilton by unanimous decision (30:27, 30:27, 29:28) in an average fight.

 

Steve Mason v Stan Blackheath - Heavyweight

 

Both fighters come out very aggressively, however it is Mason who is landing the heavier shots. Blackheath eventually gets overwhelmed and falls to the ground. Mason follows up and it is all over.

 

Result: Steve Mason defeats Stan Blackheath by TKO at 2:13 of round 1 in a great fight.

 

Co-Main Event - Retirement Match

 

Geoff Cahill v Greg Atteveld - Middleweight

 

It is an emotional night for both these men as they step into the cage for the last time. Both fighters will want to go out on a high.

 

Atteveld weathers some early strikes from Cahill and manages to push him up against the cage and then take him down. Cahill uses all his experience to fend Atteveld off and manages to survive the round. Atteveld’s round.

 

Round 2 sees Cahill keep Atteveld on the back foot with some hard shots, Atteveld defends well but can’t get any offence of his own off. Cahill’s round.

 

Both fighters go into round 3 knowing they need to win one round to finish their careers with a victory. Cahill uses quick combinations to stop Atteveld finding his rhythm. He isn’t landing much but it is stopping Atteveld from attacking. The round comes to a close and a frustrated Atteveld must know he has lost this one.

 

Result: Geoff Cahill defeats Greg Atteveld by unanimous decision (29:28) in a poor match.

 

Main Event - HILITE Heavyweight Title

 

Norman Pike v Chuck Dooley

 

After a disappointing co-main event the crowd are hoping these guys deliver the goods. Dooley has a big size advantage and he’ll be looking to utilise it.

 

Pike closes the range quickly and manages to push Dooley up against the cage, he takes his back and is looking for a choke. Dooley defends it well but he can’t seem to shake Pike off. The ref eventually moves them back to the middle of the cage. Both fighters land some light strikes but they seem content to let the round draw to a close.

 

Round 2 sees Dooley shrug off Pike’s strikes and take him down, Dooley can’t advance past half guard but he stills does some damage with his strikes. He can’t afford to go all out though as Pike is aggressive off his back going for several submission attempts.

 

Round 3 sees both fighters make several unsuccessful takedown attempts before winding up in the clinch, Dooley shows great strength picking Pike up and slamming him down. That winds Pike allowing Dooley to advance to side control where he works over Pike’s body as the round ends.

 

Both fighters are starting to show signs of slowing down and this one could go to whoever has the best stamina, Dooley seems to be pushing the pace and he takes a 4th round which sees both fighters keeping it standing. Pike knows he needs a finish to win this one. He goes all out for the takedown and gets it early, he advances to side control and then manages to take Dooley’s back. Pike goes for the choke and Dooley is too tired to fight him off. Pike wins the title with just under one minute remaining.

 

Result: Norman Pike defeats Chuck Dooley by submission at 4:03 of round 5 in a good match to win the HILITE Heavyweight Title.

 

 

Attendance: 272 for a gate of $6,800

Critical Rating: Good

Commercial Rating: Good

 

Fight of the Night: Steve Mason v Stan Blackheath

KO of the Night: Wilson Franklyn

Submission of the Night: Norman Pike

 

Popularity: +1.6% to 18.4%

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272 people is the largest attendance HILITE have managed so far and the popularity increase of 1.6% was also good. I lost $28,743 which means the event was the second best event behind HILITE 3 in terms of losses. The difference made by the slightly higher wages I've paid out here. The most exciting outcome of the event though is that Norman Pike went to High Regional popularity. HILITE are well on their way to having their first star and it will be interesting to see what sort of attendance he pulls for his first defence.

 

The roster loses a few fighters as a result of this event, I'll be looking to replace themover the next couple of months. Whilst this means additional expense it will help keep things fresh. The guys who have left are:

 

Rupert Dreck - Dreck slipped to 4-2 with his 2nd loss in a row he is cut, at 24 he is stll young and may well fight for HILITE again once he picks up a bit more experience.

 

Greg Atteveld - Retiring with a record of 37-16, Atteveld leaves to concentrate on running his training camp, Team Desire.

 

Geoff Cahill - Finishing his career with a win and a record of 48-23 the 39 year old returns to his native Ontario to spend more time fishing.

 

Pete Shilton - Two loses in a row see Shilton get cut.

 

Stan Blackheath - Another fighter who sees himself cut after taking two losses. At 37 it is unlikely he'll be back.

 

Brady Crawford - With a record of 6-7 Crawford is definitely out of here. He really only lasted this long because I wanted to give Franklyn an easy win.

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HILITE Announce HILITE 6: New Years Revolution

 

HILITE are pleased to announce their sixth event, taking place on New Year’s Eve, HILITE 6: New Years Revolution offers fans in Snowflake, Arizona an alternative way to see the New Year in. Offering a total of 6 fights, the highlight of the card sees respected veteran and number one contender, Glenn Pimm (31-11) take on current Light Heavyweight Champion Jerry Bogdonovich (8-0). At 34 this may be Pimm’s last shot at glory so he'll be determined to go all out. Pimm is a wrestler who’ll need to take this one to the ground to win it. Bogdonovich at 29 is at the peak of his powers and will want to start building a legacy. He’ll be acutely aware that Dooley lost his title at his first defence and he’ll want to avoid the same fate. To do so he’ll need to keep it standing where his heavy hands will see him to victory.

 

The Co-main event sees a number one contenders bout between Callum Henson and Alex Cole. The winner here will be the first challenger for Dwayne Alleyne’s Middleweight title. Cole is 8-0 and while he beat Drew Jenks at HILITE 3 it was a poor match and he’ll want to put on a better performance here. This will be Henson’s debut match for HILITE but at 18-7 and on a winning streak there is no argument that he deserves to be considered a top contender. His kung fu skills should make for an interesting clash of styles with Cole.

 

The other matches on the card are:

 

Fletcher Merman (7-3) v Gareth Grundy (7-4) - Heavyweight

 

Both these fighters went out of the Heavyweight Title tournament to eventual winner Chuck Dooley, as such both fighters have a claim to being unlucky, after all who knows how far they could have gone if they hadn’t faced the champ. This is a chance for one of them to prove he is better than his performance suggested.

 

Gustavo Spagnol (6-1) v Jon Silvers (7-1) - Light Heavyweight

 

Spagnol made it all the way to the final of the Light Heavyweight Title tournament before losing to Bogdonovich, Silvers is another Bogdonovich victim. Both fighters will be looking at getting back to winning ways here.

 

John Fitzwallace (8-3) v Oliver Fiderer (4-0) - Heavyweight

 

Oliver Fiderer makes his HILTE debut against John Fitzwallace, Fiderer will be keen to make a goood first impression, while Fitzwallace, who is on a losing streak, will be desperate to make sure this isn’t his last match in HILITE.

 

Ramon da Silva Ramos (4-0) v Wederson de Oliveira (4-0) - Middleweight

 

Two young fighters from Brazil make their HILITE debuts. Both are 4-0 in their fledgling careers are a win here will help move their career to the next level.

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<div style="text-align:center;"><p><span style="font-size:18px;"><strong>HILITE 6: New Years Revolution</strong></span></p></div><p></p><p> </p><p>

278 people chose to not only miss out on friends and family ringing in the new year but also on a GAMMA PPV featuring Raul Hughes taking on Tank Manu'a. A big thank you to our dedicated fans. Without further ado, on with the show.</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Ramon Da Silva Ramos v Wederson De Oliveira - Middleweight</strong></p></div><p></p><p> </p><p>

Wederson takes the first round with a takedown around halfway through while Ramos takes the second, avoiding several takedown attempts and landing some good shots. It’s could be anyone’s fight coming into the 3rd. Both fighters come out aggressively and it is Ramos who gets the advantage with an enormous right hook that KO’s Wederson.</p><p> </p><p>

Result: Ramon da Silva Ramos defeats Wederson De Oliveira by KO at 3:49 of round 3 in a good match.</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Oliver Fiderer v John Fitzwallace - Heavyweight</strong></p></div><p></p><p> </p><p>

The fighters grapple their way through a poor first round with neither really gaining the advantage, Fiderer makes the break through in the second, landing the early takedown and working Fitzwallace over. Eventually Fitzwallace cracks and the ref has to stop it.</p><p> </p><p>

Result: Oliver Fiderer defeats John Fitzwallace by TKO at 4:03 of round 2 in a poor match.</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Gustavo Spagnol v Jon Silvers - Light Heavyweight</strong></p></div><p></p><p> </p><p>

Silvers has the height and reach advantage and uses it well in the first round, keeping Spagnol at range and landing several hard leg kicks. Spagnol recovers in the second landing an early takedown, he makes several attempts to get the submission but Silvers is equal to it. Spagnol gets the takedown again in the third and this time he goes for the TKO, he lands several hard shots and the ref is forced to step in.</p><p> </p><p>

Result: Gustavo Spagnol defeats Jon Silvers by TKO at 2:33 of round 3 in a good match.</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Fletcher Merman v Gareth Grundy - Heavyweight</strong></p></div><p></p><p> </p><p>

Despite both fighters being accomplished wrestlers the first two rounds see both fighters trying to win the fight standing up. Merman gets the better of these rounds and Grundy changes tactics in the 3rd, attempting and getting the takedown, he can’t finish Merman on the ground though and loses on points, if only he had gone for the takedown earlier.</p><p> </p><p>

Result: Fletcher Merman defeats Gareth Grundy by unanimous decision (30:27, 29:28, 29:28) in a decent match.</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Co-Main Event - Middleweight Number 1 Contender</strong></p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Callum Henson v Alex Cole - Middleweight</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p>

Henson will want to keep Cole at range to avoid the takedowns, however Cole has a 5 inch reach advantage which could make this tough.</p><p> </p><p>

Sure enough Cole catches Henson with a takedown in the first, he swiftly moves to side control and goes for the armbar. It’s all over.</p><p> </p><p>

Result: Alex Cole defeats Callum Henson by submission at 4:49 of round 1 in a good match.</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Main Event - HILITE Light Heavyweight Championship</strong></p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Glenn Pimm v Jerry Bogdonovich</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p>

Bogdonovich starts the fight using his jab well to keep Pimm at range, Pimm eventually closes the distance and goes for the takedown, Bogdonovich grabs a front face lock and starts to unload. The ref leaves it a second and then steps in.</p><p> </p><p>

Result: Jerry Bogdonovich defeats Glenn Pimm by TKO at 3:38 of round 1 to retain the Light Heavyweight Title in a decent match.</p><p> </p><p>

Attendance: 278 for a gate of $6,950</p><p>

Critical Rating: Decent</p><p>

Commercial Rating: Good</p><p>

Fight of the Night: Alex Cole v Callum Henson</p><p>

KO of the Night: Ramon da Silva Ramos</p><p>

Submission of the Night: Alex Cole</p><p> </p><p>

Popularity + 1.6% to 20%</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>

Nice picks BHK, one away from a perfect record.</p>

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Another event and another $28K loss, the losses seem to be pretty consistent at the moment and my popularity keeps edging up. However some of my fighters are going to start wanting new contracts soon and I'm expecting wage increases.

 

Year end awards are announced and HILITE claim two awards. Jerry Bogdonovich takes rise of the year, something which surely cements his status as an up and coming star. The second award is the less prestigious worst fight of the year. Congratulations Toby Sorkin and Greg Atteveld.

 

Finally HILITE aren't the smallest company in the world anymore. Sadly it isn't because we over took anyone but instead it is due to UCFF opening up. Whilst they don't look like direct competition due to the fact they are in Africa they run the same three weight classes as HILITE and will no doubt be snapping up a lot of the available fighters. At least those fighters will be getting experience.

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HILITE Announce - HILITE 7: St Valentines Day Massacre

 

HILITE return to the Snowflake Civic Centre offering an alternative Valentines Day featuring violence rather than love. The main event sees the much maligned Toby Sorkin (5-0) take on respected veteran Petey Barnum (22-13) for the right to be called the number 1 contender for the HILITE Light Heavyweight Title. Sorkin has a point prove after his awful bout against Greg Atteveld was declared the worst fight of the year for 1998. Or perhaps he doesn’t provided he keeps on winning I’m guessing he doesn’t care if the fans like him. Barnum is a boxer and is coming off a victory at a recent local show. He’ll need to keep this one standing to take victory here.

 

The Co-main event sees another up and comer taking on a veteran as Sylvester Collins (4-0) takes on Barry Strachan (25-16). Collins is a great physical specimen but still needs to develop his skills. Strachan is a brawler who has never been in great shape and who is going down hill as his career draws to a close. He still has name value though and the fans will be excited to watch this match.

 

The rest of the card is:

 

Guillermo Morales (7-1-1) v Zane Wybock (4-2) - Light Heavyweight

 

Morales was the loser in a fantastic match against Glenn Pimm in his HILITE debut, fantastic matches are all well and good but you also need wins and he’ll be hoping to pick one up against Zane Wybock. Wybock is fighting for his career though as a 2nd loss will likely see him cut.

 

Delroy Rhodes (6-0) v Chaz Babish (8-3) - Middleweight

 

Rhodes is undefeated Kick Boxer and he is making his HILITE debut against Chaz Babish. Babish looked good in the first round of the Middleweight Tournament against Nick Detroit before losing to Isaiah Monroe and he represents a step up in class for Rhodes.

 

Guy Broom (3-0) v Harvey Loeb (6-4) - Heavyweight

 

Guy Broom is a massive wrestler who has two wins on the independent circuit and makes his HILITE debut against Harvey Loeb. Loeb is on a losing streak and will leave HILITE if he can’t pick up a win here.

 

Joey Valdez (5-1) v Todd D’Abruzzo (6-1) - Middleweight

 

Two Boxers face off in a match that will surely be decided standing up. Both fighters have similar builds, similar skills and similar records so this one is too close to call.

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Toby Sorkin (5-0) take on Petey Barnum (22-13)

 

 

Sylvester Collins (4-0) takes on Barry Strachan (25-16).

 

Guillermo Morales (7-1-1) v Zane Wybock (4-2) - Light Heavyweight

 

 

Delroy Rhodes (6-0) v Chaz Babish (8-3) - Middleweight

 

Delroy is a can but he is a can that beats up other cans, so I think he should get the win here.

 

Guy Broom (3-0) v Harvey Loeb (6-4) - Heavyweight

 

Joey Valdez (5-1) v Todd D’Abruzzo (6-1) - Middleweight

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