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With UFC 127 in Sydney just around the corner, the spotlight is on Australia’s MMA fights to step up. We look at our MMA stars.
George Sotiropoulos
With a win over Denis Siver, George Sotiropoulos will equal the second longest undefeated run in UFC history of, eight. What the man we are dubbing “The Professional” will also do, according to President Dana White, is achieve contender status in a stacked lightweight division.
Despite his record George is a very grounded individual – if he takes the belt he will send the sport of Mixed Martial Arts here in Australia into the stratosphere.
Kyle Noke
Kyle Noke’s uncompromising style of fighting is proving a hit with fans.
The man from Dubbo racked up impressive wins over Rob Kimmons and Josh Bryant and will look to do the same against fellow Ultimate Fighter graduate Chris Camozzi.
Two more wins for “K.O” and I don’t think he would look out of place facing a top ten opponent.
Hector Lombard
Hector Lombard can lay claim to being the most dangerous middleweight outside of the UFC. With a win streak that now stands at 16 fights, Lombard hasn’t lost since November 2006.
Currently the middleweight champion in the Bellator Fighting Championship, last year he knocked out opponent Jay Silva in six seconds.
James Te Huna
Despite a career hampered by injury, James Te Huna’s exciting fighting style saw him elevated to the UFC last year. The light-heavyweight suffered a broken hand in his TKO win over Igor Pokrajac and complications saw him sidelined for 12 months.
Finally fighting fit he will face Alexander Gustaffson at UFC 127. Expect him to make a move to middleweight at some stage in the future.
Adrian Pang
A long time training partner of Kyle Noke, Brisbane-based Adrian Pang is the current lightweight champion of the Legend Fighting Championship.
A mainstay on the local MMA scene since 2001, I would love to see “The Hunter” tested on a larger promotion. Training out of the respected Integrated MMA gym, Pang is tough and skilled and I believe would be up to the job.
James Vainkolo
Even the diehard’s may struggle to recognise the name James Vainikolo, but mark my words they will. A product of the Elite Fight Gym, and trained by Tama Te Huna watch for the “Volcano” to explode in 2011. Some influential people are keeping a watchful eye on him and a recent move down to welterweight will prove a clever decision. He brings strength and explosiveness, much in the mould of stablemate James Te Huna.
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