This Saturday night at the Roseland Theater in downtown Portland, the Full Contact Fight Federation is back for Rumble at the Roseland 93. This card is about as nice as the weather we have been having here in Portland as of late. Not only is it action packed, featuring a whopping 18 fights, it is punctuated by one of the more talked about main events in the FCFF in sometime as Cris “Sunshine” Williams takes on Dylan “The Bull” Atkinson in a professional bout inside The Slammer. Never at a loss for words, Williams has again found a way to get under the skin of his opponent and it has made for some great meetings between the two at press conferences and you can expect more of the same even after the cage door closes. Beyond the main event, this card features a featherweight title fight as Isiaah Garza takes on a very experienced opponent in Dominick Abalos, the return of exciting prospect Keaneo Moyer, as well as the return of Gracie Barra Portland’s Johnny James. The fight card is listed below:
- Cris Williams vs. Dylan Atkinson – Featherweight
- Isiaah Garza vs. Dominick Abalos – Flyweight Title
- Dylan Grell vs. Gunnar Metzger – Featherweight
- Johnny James vs. Saul Gallegos Ruiz – Welterweight
- Angel Espino vs. Matthew Miranda – Lightweight
- Keaneo Moyer vs. Aaron Rodriguez – Flyweight
- Eduardo Torres vs. Ivo Wallace – Lightweight
- Brendon Dugan vs. Alex Castaneda – Flyweight
- Scott Baker vs. Mario Shonkwiler – Welterweight
- Micah Mitchell vs. James Rosenweig – Lightweight
- Jantz Bullock vs. Lucas Chesher – Welterweight
- Austin Brittle vs. Austin Spezia-Shwiff – Bantamweight
- Ross Johnsrud vs. Vance Barnett – Welterweight
- Ken Smith vs. Jorge Lopez Leon – Bantamweight
- Nathan Smith vs. Fernando Alvarado – Heavyweight
- Nicky Porter vs. Jay Jarmoluk – Welterweight
- Braydon Akeo vs. Richard Meadow – Featherweight
- Surya Shanmugam vs. CaySea McBride – Bantamweight
***Card Subject to Change***
Following a press conference at Bridge City Fight Shop in Tualatin last Sunday night, it was clear that not everyone was going to get along. Cris Williams and his opponent, Dylan Atkinson, jawed back and forth, Atkinson asking whether or not a parent should tell their child to look at Williams as a role model or not. Williams was willing to take the barbs and dish it right back at his opponent. This fight is more than just words, however; it represents a huge step up in competition for Williams, while it gives Atkinson another shot at knocking off a highly touted young fighter.
Williams has yet to face an opponent as experienced as Atkinson in his professional career. The ultra confident Williams will tell you he isn’t concerned with Atkinson and that he trains with some of the best fighters in the world at Gracie Barra Portland. While that is true, it would be a mistake to look past the wrestling and jiu jitsu skills of Atkinson going into this fight. Williams must use his size and speed advantages to either keep this fight standing or maintain top position on Atkinson.
Atkinson has no lack of confidence heading into this fight. He firmly believes his experience and technical skills on the mat will win out over Williams. All 4 of his professional victories have come by submission; unless Williams can draw him into a striking match, Atkinson will be looking to get this fight to the mat from the sound of the first bell. Atkinson needs to use combinations to set up takedowns against a fighter as athletic and quick as Williams. Should Atkinson get this fight to the ground, expect him to look for the finish. He won’t stall just to maintain position.
The anticipation is heavy in the fight community for this card. The lovers and haters of the brash “Sunshine” Williams have been vocal about their feelings while the supporters of “The Bull” Atkinson have showed a quiet confidence since the bout was signed. Who wins this one? Who knows!? But one thing is for sure, you’re missing out if you don’t head down to the Roseland Theater and check it out on Saturday night. Tickets are still available at thefcff.com.
