(Shooto Switzerland – the country’s only professional MMA promotion)
Although it’s been a year since their last outing, which featured the likes of Daniel Weichel, Ivan Mussardo and recent UFC signee Pascal Krauss, Shooto Switzerland don’t look like they’ve been out of the game with a card that brings in big names, both new and familiar.
At the top of the card there is a bout between Brazilian all-rounder Claudemir “Tico” Souza (4-1) and Belgian M-1 veteran Kriss Larcin (3-1). Souza has dangerous strikes and submissions, honed in his native land, whilst Larsin’s victories all come by way of TKO. The power of both men is a threat in all ranges and it makes for an exciting battle to head up the fight card.
Frota Team’s Patrick Decaro will bring his grappling acumen to the MMA arena once again and look to extend his 1-0 record when he faces Mike Wiatko. Decaro is recognised as one of the best grapplers in the country, taking gold in the ADCC Switzerland event at u88kg as well as gaining honours with and without the gi when competing at NAGA in the USA. Belgium’s Wiatko has gone unbeaten in five mixed martial arts contests, looking to take his name further afield with a victory in Zurich.
Ivan Musardo (15-5) is another highly regarded Swiss grappler, but “The Terrible” has proved that his game transfers to MMA with thirteen of his fifteen wins coming via submission, and only one going past the first round. Only dropping decisions to Maciej Gorski and Daniel Weichel in the past three years, Musardo is quietly proving himself to be a force on the European scene but Northern Ireland’s Michael Reid is looking to be the spanner in the works. The Northern Irishman is up against it, but won’t be making the trip to be a sacrificial lamb; he’ll come out swinging and look to finish his foe before getting dragged to the mat.
Not every fighter is keen to take the chance when big opportunities arise, but that cannot be said of Rouven Kurath, who steps up to face highly-ranked European featherweight Alan Omer. Kurath has a patchy record of 4-3, but all of his wins have been finishes and he’ll be looking to make a name for himself this weekend, and a win could springboard him into the consciousness of Euro MMA fans and promoters. Twenty-one year old Omer is Germany’s number-one for a reason, however, and fourteen wins from seventeen outings suggests he is more than competent. Omer dropped a close decision to Mark Adams at BAMMA in May and he’ll be looking to rebound from the loss in an emphatic manner, teeing himself up for the catchweight bout with Jason Young at Cagewarriors: Young Guns.
At this stage Omer doesn’t want a setback so he’ll be going all out to finish Kurath early and stay injury-free ahead of the epic matchup in London.
The final A Class Shooto bout features Gregor Herb, Germany’s top groundfighter. Herb has fought in some of Europe’s most prestigious events, including the M-1 Challenge and WFC, compiling a 6-3 record along the way, with five of those wins ending via submission and the other by TKO. Herb has dropped back-to-back fights for the first time in his career and this leaves Lee “The Dragon” McKibbin in a precarious situation; he has to face the hungriest Gregor Herb yet, one that will not be content to lose another fight. McKibbin’s resume has three wins and five losses, but he rides a two-fight win streak, in stark contrast to that of his opponent. His confidence is high and, along with fellow Northern Ireland native Michael Reid, they’ll be coming to try and spoil the party for the mainlanders.
The B-Class and C-Class card is a strong one with many interesting battles lined up, so a great night of fights is guaranteed at the Volkhaus in Zurich, the only place to catch professional mixed martial arts in the country.
Fight Card
A Class
Claudemir “Tico” Souza (BRA) vs Kriss Larcin (BEL)
Patrick DeCaro (CH) vs Mike Wiatko (BEL)
Ivan Musardo (CH) vs Michael Reid (NI)
Alan omer (DE) vs Rouven Kurath (CH)
Gregor Herb (DE) vs lee McKibbin (NI)
B Class
Geraldo Huvet (CH) vs Alessandro Plog (DE)
Volkan Oezdemir (CH) vs Martin Vath (GER)
Gregor Weibel (CH) vs Raphael Campagna (BEL)
C Class
Mehmet Demirci (CH) vs Aladin Ganguin (CH)
Mark Curry (NI) vs Gaetano Pirrello (BEL)
Jorge Moreira (CH) vs Yves Marthaler (CH)
Patrick Drees (CH) vs Daniel Abraham (CH)
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