Dave Strasser's Freestyle Combat Challenge (FCC) will kick off the year 2008 with another show stacked with everything we love about the sport - tournament, title fight, super fight, and international talents.
To start off, FCC is hosting a four-man one-night tournament to crown a new champion at 145 lbs & under. One of the fighters confirmed for this tournament is Johnny Frachey (7-5) from the Brazilian Top Team (BTT) France. The fighter who nearly caused an upset over King of Pancrase Yoshiro Maeda earlier this year, is finally making a much anticipated US debut. Frachey is a disciple of UFC veteran Roan "Jucao" Carneiro. He has seven years of competitive experience in wrestling and a purple belt in jiu-jitsu with a grappling record of 25 wins and only five losses. In addition, as he demonstrated in the fight against Maeda, he is a sharp striker with an unorthodox style, which he acquired from Indonesian Kempo Pencak Sila and Muay Thai. Frachey is taking on Javi Vega (2-2) from Strasser's Freestyle Academy in the first round.
FCC founder Dave Strasser explained, "Ever since we formed the affiliation with Cobra-kai in Japan, everything got very active between FCC and Japan. Fighters like Daisuke '13' Hanazawa, Yusuke Kagiyama, and Yohei Tagami fought in the FCC shows, and then fighters from FCC, Brian Geraghty and Jameel Massouh fought in Japan last month and this month. This is the beginning of another friendly relationship with BTT France so expect to see exchanges between us and that means more international talents appearing in FCC shows this year. I believe that would bring up the quality of FCC shows and ultimately that would allow us to provide first-rate entertaining competitive fight sports shows to the fans." Two other fighters for this tournament will be announced later this week.
"What's exciting about this show is that the fans will get to see, besides the 145 lbs tournament, the semi-final bouts of the rookie tournament that is in progress" Strasser added. The semi-final bouts of the lightweight (155 lbs & under) rookie tournament that started in the FCC 31 show in November are going to be Marcus LeVesseur (3-1) vs. Matto Morin (4-2) and Nick Edwards (1-1) vs. John Chasse (4-1). LeVesseur is a former NCAA champion with a perfect college record of 155-0 who just made a pro MMA debut in May of this year. LeVesseur stormed through Mike Sanchez in the first round in November with a fast take down and knee strike to the head. His opponent Morin also finished Justin Shipman in the first round displaying solid jiu-jitsu skill so this is going to be a good test for a wrestler making a transition into MMA.
Nick Edwards who showed his unbendable heart in the first round is taking on John Chasser from Freestyle Academy. Chasser got edged out by a Muay Thai veteran James Cook in the first round but Cook broke his hands in this fight, which requires three months for a full recovery therefore Chasser advanced in the tournament. Chasser proved to everyone in the first round that he is not only incredibly tough but also a very well equipped all-round fighter. The winners of these two semi-finals will collide in FCC 33 in March and the winner will fight in Japan later in the year.
Finally, the iron man of MMA is making a comeback to the FCC show. The man with more than 80 fights under his belt, Adrian Serrano (52-27-4) is fighting in the super fight. Here is the man who has been fighting in pro MMA bouts since 1997 and faced many top fighters such as Wanderlei Silva, Ikuhisa Minowa, Dave Menne, Shonie Carter and Dave Strasser - truly one of the living legends in the sport. Strasser is excited about his return to the FCC show; "He is a fighter from that era where we all used to fight under 'anything goes' rules. Head butt to stomping to the face to everything. He is one of those great talents from Vale Tudo." His opponent will be announced in the days to come.
In the other super fight, Warren Kikaba (4-2) from Freestyle Academy will take on undefeated Norman Paraisy (4-0) from BTT France.
Strasser's Freestyle Combat Challenge 32
Saturday January 12th, 2008
At Marina Shores, Kenosha, Wisconsin
Doors Open - 7:00 pm
Fight Starts - 8:00 pm
Confirmed Cards (Subject to Change):
145 lbs & Under Title Bout - Tournament Final 5 min / 3R
The winner of first round A vs. The winner of first round B
Super Fight - 185 lbs & Under 5 min / 3R
Adrian Serrano (USA / Serrano Jiu-jitsu) vs. TBD
Super Fight - 185 lbs & Under 5 min / 3R
Warren Kikaba (U.S.A. / Freestyle Academy) vs. Norman Paraisy (France / Brazilian Top Team France)
Lightweight Rookie Tournament Semi-final 5 min / 3R
Marcus LeVesseur (U.S.A. / Minnesota Martial Arts Academy) vs. Matt Morin (U.S.A.)
Lightweight Rookie Tournament Semi-final 5 min / 3R
Nick Edwards (U.S.A.) vs. John Chasse (U.S.A. / Freestyle Academy)
145 lbs & Under Tournament First Round A - 5 min / 2R
Johnny Frachy (France / Brazilian Top Team France) vs. Javi Vega (U.S.A. / Freestyle Academy)
145 lbs & Under Tournament First Round B - 5 min / 2R
TBD vs. TBD
Lightweight Rookie Tournament Alternate Bout 5 min / 3R
TBD vs. TBD
Light-heavyweight Bout 5 min / 2R
Lucas Bowers (U.S.A. / Freestyle Academy) vs. TBD
For ticket and info please call FCC at (262) 605-8760.
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