Fight Hard: Karcher vs Dowdy - Event Preview

Next Friday's Fight Hard will be the promotion's fifth event of the year, with one more scheduled in December, surpassing last year's total of four events.

It has been a comeback year for the Lake St. Louis-based fight promotion, who premiered three episodes of a TV show on ABC 30, and increased the number of events from four to six.

It is just under two years removed from Fight Hard's last Pro/AM, but the promotion continues to bring quality amateur fights, thanks in part to matchmaker Kain Royer. Royer has built the November's card around Pedigo Submission Fighting's Brandon Karcher and Jordan Dowdy from CMMA.

Karcher (7-2) has some serious ground skills - he's submitted five of his nine opponents. Training along-side jiu-jitsu phenom Andrew Wiltse, there's probably not much he hasn't seen on the ground. He'll need every bit skill he can muster when he steps into the cage opposite of Dowdy.

"Brandon is a tough opponent and possesses a strong BJJ game," Dowdy said. "I have nothing but respect for him and look forward to the challenge he brings. However, respectfully, I feel I still hold an advantage in every category of this match-up. I am constantly training and my development lately has really accelerated. I have been fine tuning and adding things in all the various disciplines under the instruction of great coaches available to me."

Dowdy (6-1) started off his career winning his first two. A heart-breaking loss to Bo Kunz in October 2012 signaled something wasn't right physically. Dowdy would take over a year off to rebuild and get things right both mentally and physically, and would come back strong winning four in a row, all by submission, and all in the first round.

"It always comes down to who creates or wins the biggest moment first to secure the win," Dowdy said. "As a martial artist you have to respect that. I definitely respect the fact that Brandon has the skill to win that moment in our match up. This will be a fun one, and a great test."

The two match-up well and should nullify each other on the ground, but look for Dowdy to have the edge when it comes to the stand-up.

In a competitive bantamweight clash Cristian Santana, who has become a bit of a fan favorite at Fight Hard, will take on Jordan Collins.

With respects to Coty Shannon, Santana is the owner of quite possibly the best submission the area when he submitted Joe Roye via gogoplata in December of 2013. Over the course of his young career, Santana has posted an impressive 8-2 record with only losses coming to Montuelle Prater and the red-hot Matthew Nall, both by way of decision.

In a division chalked full of talent with the likes of Erion Zekthi and Charles Johnson, Santana is right in the mix, and a win over Collins could earn him a shot at Zekthi's belt.

Collins last saw action against Zekthi and has wins over Ken Porter and Mark Chappell. Surprisingly enough, Collins has in the past competed at welterweight and has faced off against Karcher.

It's been over two years since local fans have had a chance to watch James Mottershead fight. The rowdy and outspoken lightweight has spent most of his time on the regional circuits in Illinois and Indiana but he returns to action at Fight Hard when he takes on Levi Rose. Rose has shared the ring with a who's who of local talent including Damian Newman, Erion Zekthi, and Sheldon Smith. Rose hits hard but Mottershead has proven he can take a punch, this fight comes down to a battle of wills.


Full fight card (Card subject to change)

Brandon Karcher vs Jordan Dowdy - Main Event
Jordan Collins vs Cristian Santana
James Mottershead vs Levi Rose
Marcus Brownlee vs Shaun Scott

Justin Maramba vs Cody Weder
Mark Chappell vs Trevon Crawford
Yola Love vs Montrel James
Jordan Brackins vs Mike Offer
Dustin Tucker vs Joshua Speaks
Shawn Boone vs Ace Anderson

Fight Hard: Karcher vs Dowdy
The Family Arena, St. Charles, MO
Friday, November 21st

Photo courtesy of Sara Levin Photography