What a way to kick start the year, and we expect nothing short of Knock Out infested Muay Thai as the Middle weights (up to 75kg) will look to wreck anyone who stands between each other for this brutal of all pay days. VUW (Victoria University Muay Thai) front runner Rua Druce looks the slightly edged favourite at the moment, with most of the line up to be confirmed.

Takarangi being a true hybrid and man of the evolving combat sport has thrown into the mix three MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) bouts. The main attraction will be the lanky middleweight Ryan Hekata, who made an absolute mess of his last opponents face with savage elbow-paddle fist combo’s on the Hextreme Carnage in the Cage (CiC 1) promo. Training out of the impressive MMA camp of the Octagon Combat Centre (OCC) in Wellington, we expect a similar demolition job from him, again. Marcelo Mercot of Blenheim will be up against it, as Ryan looks to go 2-O in his MMA career.

Coming back to the 8-man show down, thus far “Damage” Druce alongside Simon Carpenhurst, Ivan Stevenson, Brandon Swain and Shay Wheeler have been confirmed. All these men are legit Knock Out artists and will want to deposit there opponents on the canvas, in the quickest and sharpest possible way. Druce with his experience, having given ROGUE P4P fighter Richie Nola a run for his money at the 2006 Auckland V Wellington clash has the complete game. Carpenhurst his close running mate, will be the next possible candidate in a Hillary Clinton V Barrack Obama re-run, except it will be Nelson and not New Hampshire.

It never ceases to amaze ROGUE on how the T-Rex of the NZ fight scene Hiriwa Te Irangi prepares to jump back into the ring. This time his opponent, who was the comeback material for Jason Suttie just weeks ago, will be none other than Charles “Jake the muss” Smiler from the Maori Muay Thai gym. The WMC (World Muay Thai Council) Pro Heavy weight title, to be contested under Full Thai rules over five rounds, where each will be three minutes in duration.

You can’t really see Smiler beating T-Man, but the issue of fitness could be a factor. Te Rangi, who hasn’t had the best of runs in the recent and not so recent past, has come off a domino chain of losses in both Stand up and MMA. The last two being to Jay Hepi and ROGUE P4P MMA MVP Kaota Puna- Smiler too on the other hand has lost pretty much every fight he has been in to our memory. This goes back to the Balmoral promo back in June 2006, where he lost on points to Vini Mahoni.

If Smiler does win this title, it will no doubt galvanise Andrew Peck, who is ranked the No.1 WMC NZ Heavy Weight. Peck smashed his way past Smiler the last time they met on the debut of Dixon McIver’s KO series last April. This would further mean an interest of sorts for this title, and finally a pro title will mean something in an otherwise forgotten and often vacated silver ware.

Whichever way and whoever wins the title, it will bring into play a raft of potential challenges and title defences all around the country- all year long. As the Heavy weight scene looks to re-ignite itself, promoter Takarangi has pulled out a master stroke to generate what can be best described as “what-if” scenario’s which has been lacking for a while.

What’s more with three under card bouts, the main event and the 8 man elimination it is more than just a night of wrecking. Reminds you of walking into a car wreckers paying a 2$ entry fee and walking away with a 451 cubic inch block, for something next to nothing. This one will be a sell out, so get your tickets early or else be disappointed. More details to be announced as the final line ups are confirmed, and ROGUE alongside Maori Television will be there to cover this spectacular show! 

The Fight Card to date:

8 man eliminator 75 Kg Max Middle Weight

Josh Kilkelly             71kg    6fights    Tu-Moana Thai boxing Nelson

Ivan Stevenson        74kg    3fights    Maori Muay Thai, Wellington

Brendon Swain         72kg    3fights    Scorpions, Christchurch

Simon Capnerhurst   69kg    10fights    Tu-Moana
Thai boxing Nelson

Shay Wheeler        69kg    4fights    Octagon Combat Centre

Rua Druce            75kg    7fights    VUW, Wellington

Other names to be confirmed….

MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) Bouts 5x3mins

Dave McCrae,Blenhiem       vs    Richard Green Nelson

Marcelo Bercot,Blehiem       vs    Ryan Haketa, Octogan Combat Centre

Josh Nahi, Motueka            vs    Karac Blake, Motueka

Under card Bouts Kickboxing

Nik Gray 93kg 2fights            vs    Mark Cockburn 90kg 3fights
Tu-Moana Thaiboxing Nelson        Christchurch

Richard Szabo 63kg 6fights    vs    William Rewi 61kg 6fights
Blenhiem Kickboxing                     Wairoa Thaiboxing

Main Fight WMC NZ Pro Super Heavyweight Title 5x3min rounds Full Thai Rules

Hiriwa Te Rangi            vs    Charlie Smiler
Invercargill                Wellington Maori Muay Thai