HFC 2 “It’s On”

HFC 2 “It’s On”

By Ray Flores

This Saturday, local fight fans will be treated to a terrific night of mma as Hoosier Fight Club presents HFC 2 “It’s On” at the Venue at Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana. The main event features UFC vet Pete Spratt (18-15) taking on UFC and IFL vet Keith Wisnewski (24-12) in a welterweight showdown. The co-main event is highlighted by UFC vet Derrick Noble (24-12-1) squaring off with WEC vet Joe Benoit (10-2) of Gilbert Grappling. Both fights will no doubt produce fireworks. Also, John Kolosci (12-6) looks to avenge a loss he had earlier in his career as he takes on the always dangerous Bill “Truth” Hill (15-21). The undercard is stacked full of young talent as lightweight prospect Rocky France and featherweight standout Bobby Reardanz will both be competing in separate fights.

The main event between Keith Wisnewski and Pete Spratt is a huge fight for both. Both Spratt and Wisnewski are looking to get back to the big stage of either the UFC or Strikeforce and a win here certainly gets them closer towards reaching that goal. Keith Wisnewski is coming off a two round destruction of Tristan Yunker this past August whereas Spratt defeated Nathan Gunn in October at MFC 22. Keith Wisnewski out of Duneland Vale Tudo has been fighting since 1998. He has been around for quite some time. Wisnewski has battled tough competition having fought Shinya Aoki, current UFC welterweight Rory Markham, Jorge Masvidal, and Nick Thompson. He also holds wins over Jorge Santiago, Derrick Noble who will be in the co-main event, and Carlo Prater.  At only 28-years of age, Keith Wisnewski has accomplished a great deal in his career, and he still has a lot left.  He trains with some very talented fighters at Duneland Vale Tudo including Josh Shockley, Darren Elkins, WEC bantamweight Eddie Wineland, and Bryan Fielder. Over the past couple of years, Wisnewski has fought sporadically but is determined to get back to the big stage.

Pete Spratt has fought the top of the food chain when it comes to welterweights. He has battled the likes of Georges St. Pierre, Chris Lytle, Josh Koscheck, Carlos Newton and even holds a win over Robbie Lawler. He doesn’t shy away from anyone and always brings his best. Pete Spratt is a crafty veteran who has knockout power in both hands. At any moment, Spratt can end the fight with one punch.  Being 38-years of age, Spratt knows every fight from here on out is the biggest of his career. Spratt will no doubt pull out all the stops come this Saturday.

Wisnewski and Spratt will be a compelling matchup. Spratt has tremendous power and can hit you from a variety of angles. Wisnewski can stand and bang but also can submit you on the ground as half of his wins have come by submission. Spratt has shown a propensity to get caught on the ground. Expect to see a good toe to toe battle in the early stages of the fight, and then Wisnewski will get the fight to the ground and submit Spratt in the third.

The co-main event is a welterweight special attraction between UFC vet Derrick Noble colliding with WEC vet Joe Benoit. Noble knows what it is like to travel the world and fight some top competition. His lone UFC appearance came at UFC 59 when he lost to Thiago Alves by KO. Joe Benoit on the other hand is a young and hungry welterweight who is waiting for his big moment to shine.

Derrick Noble has fought all over the world against some terrific opponents including Eddie Alvarez, the aforementioned Thiago Alves twice, Josh Neer, and Jorge Santiago. He is coming off a unanimous decision win against Shonie Carter in September. Noble trains out of the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy home to current UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar and former UFC Lightweight Champion Sean Sherk. He trains with some good company. Recently, he fought in Canada for the MFC organization.  Noble is one of only a handful of fighters who can say he beat Thiago Alves.

Joe Benoit is 10 and 2 coming off a win over Josh Rines by 1^st round TKO at HFC 1. The Gilbert Grappling product has been on a tear as of late winning five of his last six fights. Benoit is someone who does not like to leave it in the judges’ hands with only one of his fights going the distance. He’s beaten some tough opponents including Billy Stamp, Brett Mehrhoff, and Juan Magana.

This fight is going to be explosive. Derrick Noble knows he is only a win or two away from getting back to the big stage. He has had a long road to get to the point he is at currently. Noble is a 9-year veteran who has been in every position imaginable. Nothing is really going to surprise him. He’s going to come in great shape and look to go to work as he has done in the past.

 Joe Benoit has fought in the WEC in Las Vegas, but he really hasn’t gotten his shot. He has been racking up wins all over the Midwest, and to a point has been avoided.  Benoit realizes this fight against Noble is the biggest of his career. A win over Derrick Noble can quite possibly propel him to Strikeforce or the UFC.  

This fight is a tossup. Benoit is going to come out and try to set the pace early. Expect him to be in Derrick Noble’s face throughout the entire fight. Derrick Noble is a big welterweight. He’s going to try to use his size and experience to his advantage. Going into deep waters is something Noble is very familiar with. How will Benoit react if he gets into a bad position? How is Noble going to react to Benoit’s pressure? A lot is on the line in this co-main event.
Another featured fight includes TUF and Strikeforce vet John Kolosci battling veteran Bill Hill in a rematch of their 2007 fight. Hill won the fight via 1^st round TKO in what was a controversial stoppage. This is a big fight for both. Kolosci has won 4 of his last 5. Recently, he lost a unanimous decision to Shamar Bailey at Strikeforce in November. Bill Hill has lost 4 of his last and 5 and is coming off a unanimous decision loss   at the hands of Ryan Sturdy at XFO in August.              

John Kolosci is looking to gain some retribution against Hill after losing to him several years ago. The 35-year old also is the matchmaker for HFC, so Kolosci will be doing double duty come Saturday night.  John is a 6-year veteran and has taken on the likes of Mac Danzig, Matt Arroyo, and Shamar Bailey. He is no stranger to wars as seven of his fights have gone to the decision. Kolosci trains at both Gilbert Grappling under the tutelage of Dan and Joey Gilbert and also at LA Boxing. John is always in an entertaining affair and you can bet he has redemption on his mind against Bill Hill. Kolosci knows how important of a fight this is for him. Every win he gets means he gets even that much closer to getting back to fighting in the UFC or Strikeforce. John quit his job of being a computer tech a little over a year ago and is devoted towards reaching the upper echelon of the welterweight division.

Bill Hill is a 7-year veteran who has fought in four separate weight classes ranging from 170 to heavyweight. He is very tough and no matter what weight he fights at always brings his best.  Bill Hill is no stranger to tough competition as he has gone against the likes of Stephan Bonnar, Jeremy Horn, Terry Martin, and Eric Schafer.  Hill knows another win over Kolosci can catapult him to bigger paydays in the very near future.

Also on the undercard will be lightweight standout Rocky France. France whose professional record stands at 1-2 is a lot better than his record indicates. The MMA Minded product has been involved in some wars very early in his young career having taken John Kolosci to the distance and going head to head with UFC vet Jason Gilliam at AFA 1 down in Ft. Wayne this past June. Many consider the France/Gilliam to be a candidate for fight of the year regarding local fights. France is coming off an impressive TKO win over Norm Alexander in September at AFA 2. France who recently dropped to 155 pounds is a very exciting fighter who is going to bring constant pressure. He has terrific wrestling coupled with some brutal ground and pound. France has good striking and a solid chin. France is someone to keep your eye on in 2010.

Another fighter to watch come Saturday is Bobby Reardanz (1-1). Reardanz is coming off a split decision loss at the hands of Guillermo Serment at the Total Fight Challenge in November. Bobby is a very talented young featherweight prospect. His Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is tremendous. He is currently a brown belt in BJJ and is the BJJ instructor at David and Goliath. Reardanz is constantly working from his guard. You can take him down, and he’s so cool and composed. He is constantly setting up submission after submission setting trap after trap. His guard game is almost Miguel Torres esque in terms of how active and slick he is. He’s a technician when it comes to the ground.

At HFC 2 this Sat, Reardanz goes one on one with Mike Pickett. This is a good fight for Reardanz as Pickett is a tough veteran with over 50 fights to his credit. Pickett likes to stand and bang and doesn’t get caught too much on the ground. We’ll be able to see how far Reardanz has come when he battles Mike Pickett. You read it here; Bobby Reardanz will be fighting at the next level.

From top to bottom, this is a fantastic card. A quick suggestion DVR UFC 108 and head out to the Venue at Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana for HFC 2 “It’s On.” You’ll get to see the future stars of mma, and also fighters who are going to get back to the big stage following their respective fight.

By Ray Flores