TKO 32: Ultimatum Preview

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Jose Landi-Jons possesses a decorated MMA record of 23-13-0. “Pele”, a Muay Thai and BJJ specialist, is best known for his Vale Tudo days. Fighting in Brazil, Pele amassed an impressive record of 15-3. His three losses came to former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell, Eric Smith and Johil de Oliveira. Pele holds victories over notable names such as Pat Miletich, Matt Hughes, and Rodney Faverus.

Pele appeared in Japan with PRIDE Championship Fighting twice dropping bouts to Carlos Newton and Daijiro Matsui. Since 2000, Pele has gone 8-9 but he always comes to fight. Pele has been in the ring with the likes of Thales Leites, Travis Lutter, Renato Sobral, and Lee Murray though in a losing effort.

Pele’s opponent, Brian Gassaway, is a very talented striker who sports a MMA record of 27-17-2 (1 NC). Gassaway, a native of Chicago, Illinois, is currently riding a two-fight winning streak with victories over Cedric Marks and Levi Avera. Gassaway appeared in the UFC once losing decisively to Diego Sanchez.

Gassaway has been in the cage with the likes of John Alessio, Donnie Liles, Nick Thompson, Yuki Kondo, Ikuhisa Minowa, and Vernon White though in a losing effort.

Jesse Bongfeldt is currently one of the hottest prospects coming out of the great white north. Bongfeldt possesses a MMA record of 14-3-0. Standing 5’11 and weighing 170 lbs, Bongfeldt spends his time training at the Canadian Martial Arts Centre with the likes of Dan Chambers, Jason Day, Justin Tavernini, and Jordan Mein.

Bongfeldt’s big break came March 2007 at TKO MMA Tourney 2007. Bongfeldt showed some serious skill losing to UFC veteran Jonathan “The Road Warrior” Goulet. Since the bout with Goulet, Bongfeldt has gone 3-0 scoring victories over Sean Huffman, Sean Pierson, and Chris Clements.

T.J. Grant, much like Bongfeldt, is one of the best welterweights in Canada. Grant, a member of Fit Plus, sports a mixed martial arts record of 9-1. Grant holds victories over the likes of Eric Beaulieu, Daniel Grandmaison, Rob Wynne, and Kevin Manderson.

Grant made his TKO Championship Fighting debut in September at TKO 30: Apocalypse submitting top contender Stephane “Sensi” Dube. Since then, Grant has fought only once, submitting Stephane Lamarche at KOTC: Avalanche.

Yannick Galipeau (1-0) made his MMA debut in December at TKO 31: Young Guns defeating Josh Bitner by TKO at 43 seconds of the first round. Galipeau is a very talented striker and an eight time Kyokushin karate champion.

Derek Gauthier possesses an unblemished MMA record of 2-0. Gauthier made his MMA debut at Xtreme MMA defeating Joesph Paquet by KO. Two months later, Gauthier was back in Xtreme MMA and this time he secured a quick TKO over Kris Parti. This bout is being billed as, “who will be the next Georges St. Pierre?”

Jordan Mein, a native of Lethbridge, Alberta, possesses a MMA record of 7-4. Mein trains with TKO welterweight champion Jesse “Water” Bongfeldt at the Canadian Martial Arts Centre. Mein is currently riding a five-fight winning streak with victories over the likes of Garret Vernoy, Adam Thomas, Chris Ade, Kevin Manderson, and Dave Pariseau. Mein has dropped fights to Rory MacDonald, Tim Jenson, Kevin Manderson, and Gavin Hesson.

Samuel Guillet, a native of Montreal, Quebec, possesses a MMA record of 5-4. All of Guillet’s bouts have come with TKO Championship Fighting and he currently holds victories over Tyler Jackson, Peter Franchi, Jimmy Tat, and Yves Lemelin. Guillet, a member of BTT Canada, has dropped bouts to UFC veterans Luke Caudillo and Mark Hominick along with Jay Estrada and Francois Flibotte.

Stephane “Simba” Vigneault sports a decorated MMA record of 9-5. Vigneault, a member of Tristar Vale Tudo, holds victories over the likes of Stephane Laliberte, Troy Quesnelle, Greg Compton, and Phillipe Lagace. Vigneault recently made his return to the TKO cage for the first time in over a year against featherweight contender Ben Greer. Vigneault fell victim to Greer’s submissions at 1:26 of round 2. Vigneault is a very experienced veteran who has been in the cage with the likes of Mark Hominick, Damacio Page, and Ben Greer though in a losing effort.

Daniel Ferguson, 5’7, 145 lbs, possesses a MMA record of 4-1. Ferguson made his MMA debut in 2007 and over the span of ‘07he was able to secure stoppage victories over Cody Shipp, Sabah Fadai, Jay Percival, and Josh Kyrejto. Judging by Ferguson’s record, he is very capable fighting both on his feet and the canvas. Ferguson’s sole loss came to Brandon Carlick at KOTC: Megiddo.

Justin Tavernini, a member of the Canadian Martial Arts Centre, possesses a MMA record of 10-7. Tavernini, a native of Lethbridge, Alberta, is currently riding a seven-fight winning streak with victories over the likes of Syd Barnier, Eric Leclerc, Mathieu Boncoeur, and Paul Edejer. Eight of Tavernini’s ten wins have come by way of submission.

Guillaume Lamarche, a native of Drummondville, Quebec, possesses a MMA record of 2-1. Lamarche made his TKO debut at TKO 29: Repercussion losing to Adrian Wooley by TKO. Since the loss, Lamarche has scored a submission victory over Stephane Bernadel. Lamarche is taking this fight on short notice replacing Damacio Page who got the call to fight in the WEC a few weeks ago.

Adrian Wooley burst onto the TKO scene in March 2007 defeating Sonny Leong at TKO MMA Tourney 2007. Since his debut, Wooley has put on a display of excellent wrestling and devastating ground and pound stopping Guillaume Lamarche and Adam Kastner.

Syd Barnier is a versatile kickboxer who possesses a mixed martial arts record of 1-1. Barnier, one of the division’s brightest prospects, made his TKO debut in June 2006 defeating Eric Leclerc at TKO 29: Repercussion. Three months later, Barnier suffered his first professional loss as he fell victim to the ground game of Justin Tavernini at TKO 30: Apocalypse. The loss came with some controversy as the referee called a halt to the action without Barnier tapping or verbally submitting.

The outcome of this bout will have heavy implications as the winner will receive a shot at the newly instated TKO bantamweight title against the winner of Tavernini vs. Lamarche.

Mark Fraser possesses a MMA record of 1-3-1. Fraser was originally scheduled to face Eric Leclerc at TKO 31: Young Guns but the fight was scrapped at the last minute when the Quebec Athletic Commission noticed an abnormality with Fraser’s Catscan. He has since been cleared and is eager to step into the cage for the first time since 2000.

Fraser’s opponent, Johan Croes, has yet to make his professional MMA debut. Croes will be bringing an amateur record of 8-2 into the TKO cage.

Tyler Jackson, standing 5’7 and weighing 155 lbs, possesses a MMA record of 8-4-1. Nicknames “TNT”, Jackson currently trains with the Revolution Fight Team in Langley, British Columbia. Jackson holds victories over Bobby Merrill, Victory Hernandez, Gord Cummings, and Donald Ouimet. Jackson has dropped bouts to Sam Stout, Samuel Guillet, and Martin Grandmont.

Jeff Harrison is a talented kickboxer who holds a MMA record of 1-0. Harrison made his MMA debut October 2007 defeating Peter McGrath at ECC 6: Hometown Heroes.

Also on the card is Tim Wadsworth vs. Brad Duguay, Scott Wright vs. Ben Gallant and Vladimir Victor vs. Christopher Hulme. TKO 32: Ultimatum is set to take place tonight at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec. The weigh-ins took place yesterday and all fighters made weight.

* Photos property of TKO Championship Fighting