UPDATE: Please note that Bao Quach has replaced Wilson Reis.
Lately it feels like there is quality mixed martial arts action available around the clock and EliteXC has been a big part of that.
Tomorrow night is no different.
EliteXC will stage its latest ShoXC Challenger event on Saturday, April 5, on the Showtime premium cable channel at 11:30 p.m. ET from the Table Mountain Casino in Friant, Calif.
It's the fifth show in 29 days for Pro Elite, which is the parent company of EliteXC. For a little refresher: March 8 (London, Cage Rage), March 15 (Honolulu, Icon Sport), March 21 (Santa Ynez., Calif. ShoXC), and March 29 (San Jose, Calif., Strikeforce) have all been successful quality events for EliteXC Live Events President, Gary Shaw, and Pro Elite.
Here's a quote from Shaw himself:
"There are a lot of willing fighters out there, but it takes excellent matchmaking to make the best fights happen, and we have an outstanding, hard-working fight team that continually puts together the kinds of fights that always offer a bit of everything to those in attendance and watching on Showtime."
It looks like the Pro Elite team has put together another solid show for us this weekend. Read a little bit about the featured bouts of the evening and get some predictions after the jump.
Jared Hamman (9-0) vs. Poai Suganuma (8-1) -- (205-pound main event)
Hamman is one hell of a prospect for EliteXC. No fighter has even been able to take him past the second round. In his nine career wins, seven of them have been by technical knockout and two via submission.
In his last two fights Hamman has scored huge victories over two quality opponents. In July of last year at an IFC show he knocked out a very tough and experienced Travis Wiuff (49-11), and in October slapped a rear naked choke on the then undefeated and Tito Ortiz-trained Aaron Rosa.
He has stepped up the competition level in his last two fights and continues that trend against the 26-year-old Hawaiian, Poai Suganuma.
Suganuma's lone loss is from a cut he sustained at a Pancrase show back in 2006. Since then he's reeled off three straight wins against some less than stellar competition.
He has shown he has a nice all around game with three technical knockouts and three submissions to his credit; however, none of those fights have been against the caliber of a fighter like Hamman. This fight is a big step up for Suganuma and a real opportunity to prove he can beat a quality opponent.
I think Hamman will continue his undefeated streak in this fight. He's clearly fought the tougher fights out of the two and still has yet to be truly tested.
Prediction: Hamman wins this one in the second round with a technical knockout of some sort.
Joe Camacho (10-11-3) vs. Fabricio Camoes (7-4) -- (160-pound limit)
Camacho is a King of the Cage veteran and while his record doesn't say much, he is actually a solid fighter. Some of his losses are to guys like Joe Stevenson (twice), Roger Huerta and Wander Braga, which is nothing to be ashamed of.
Camoes has won four fights in a row and three of those via submission. He has looked sharp as of late and will look to extend that good fortune in what will be his EliteXC debut.
Camoes is a naturally bigger guy and is fighting with more confidence right now. I think his size advantage will allow him to wear down Camacho and pull off a sub sometime in this fight.
Prediction: Camoes round two submission (rear naked choke)
Matt Lucas (9-0) vs. Giva Santana (10-0) -- (185-pound limit)
The battle of the unbeatens showcases two fighters who have both fought for EliteXC before and have earned there way on to the main card of a Showtime telecast.
Santana is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu submission expert and Lucas can beat you with his hands and his submissions. This fight could be the show stealer.
Prediction: Santana via split decision
Also on the main card will be Wilson Reis (3-0) of Philadelphia vs. Doug Evans (5-2) of Anchorage, Alaska, at 140 pounds, as well as talented Shayna "The Queen Of Spades'' Baszler of Sioux Falls, S.D., taking on Japan's Keiko Tamai (16-14) at 140 pounds.
The main card fights will all be three five-minute rounds.
These rest of the under card, which will be three three-minute rounds, include:
Melanie LaCroix (1-0) vs. KC Noland (1-2) at 140 pounds
Jaime Iracheta (debut) vs. Brent Cooper (1-0) at 185 pounds
Telly Sanders (debut) vs. Roberto Vargas (1-0) at 165 pounds
Yasser Pezzat (debut) vs. Luke Riddering (debut) at 265 pounds
Carl Saumantafa (2-0) vs. Amadeo Viola (0-1) at 265 pounds
Yoko Takahashi (13-9) vs. an opponent to be announced at 150 pounds
It should be entertaining MMA action once again. Check it out if you have the time.
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