Three of Portland’s most promising young fighters will be stepping into the cage each of the next three weekends. Journey Newson, Thomas Patrick, and Cris “Sunshine” Williams all have a lot on the line in their upcoming bouts. As these young fighters are ready for war, spectators will be able to watch things unfold week to week. Let’s take a closer look at the upcoming matchups.
Saturday February 17th –
First up is Impact Jiu Jitsu’s Journey Newson. Newson has been on quite the tear lately having won three fights in row by stoppage. In addition to that, he secured the CageSport Bantamweight Title in his last outing. Newson has a lot on the line in this fight as he is set to make his promotional debut for Combat Games MMA (COGA). COGA is a new stage for him, and it will certainly mean more eyes on the young Oregonian. At 6-1, he is likely two or three wins away from a call up to a top organization, so there is a lot on the line with each fight. On Saturday, he will be facing another fast-rising prospect in Tycen Lynn. Lynn is a Seattle based fighter who is also coming into this matchup with three straight victories. As the two prospects collide, this fight will certainly carry a lot of weight moving forward for the young pros.
Saturday February 24th –
A week later, one of Gracie Barra Portland’s young fighters looks to secure his first professional win as Thomas Patrick takes on Jake Sebastian at Dominate FC 40. Patrick made his professional debut last year in a violent back and forth affair. After coming up short, he has regrouped and is back to try and claim his first pro victory. With a strong jiu jitsu and wrestling game, Patrick has the skills to dominate this fight from bell to bell. His opponent, Jake Sebastian, is a relative unknown. After a three-fight amateur career, Sebastian is turning pro. While he will not have as much experience to lean on, he will have the advantage of Patrick not knowing as much about his MMA background. Patrick is hungry for victory; his very well-rounded fight game combined with an extensive amateur background should help him secure the win.
Friday March 2nd –
Last up is Cris “Sunshine” Williams. Williams will be making his second appearance in the Bellator MMA cage at Bellator 195. After a quick win in his Bellator debut this past December, Williams is back in the cage just three months later. Bellator has a budding star in the uber charismatic Williams, and they know it. A win for him is a win for Bellator who will likely look to bring along the young fighter slowly. If he can build his resume in the same way his teammate Brent Primus did, he could put himself into title contention by 2020. His matchup at Bellator 195 is a favorable one as he takes on Daniel “Lil Scarey” Carey. Carey has good power in his hands, but is far too susceptible to takedowns and has poor head movement. The athleticism of Williams is likely to overwhelm Carey. Expect to see “Sunshine” get his hand raised in this one.
How to watch!
COGA 60 – Tulalip, WA – Tulalip Resort Casino – Watch online at Combatgamesmma.com
Dominate FC 40 – Olympia, WA – Nisqually Youth & Event Center – Tickets available at Squareup.com
Bellator 195 – Thackerville, OK – WinStar World Casino Resort – Watch online at Bellator.com
