Headhunters Fighting Championship – Howieson v Gokhan
Larbert, Scotland, plays host to Headhunters Fighting Championship on the 2nd of May. Darren Howieson goes up against Gokhan Gedik in what could be one of the biggest K1 kickboxing matches to hit Scotland and is sure to be one of the most exciting striking match ups in Scottish history.
Darren ‘Green Mango Killer’ Howieson (11W-0L) is a Scottish kickboxer fighting out of Headhunters in Scotland. He has ten finished by KO and only his most recent opponent Carlos Degraca has gone the distance with him. Degraca at the time was highly touted as the UK’s number one kickboxer at 85kg. With this victory Howieson has cemented his place as one of the best, if not the best kickboxer in the UK at 85kg.
Howieson by his own admission does not know much about his opponent, “I don’t know anything about my opponent other than his name and that he is from a famous gym. I don’t look into any of my opponents I don’t care who stands in front of me.”
With Headhunters FC taking place in Scotland Howieson is happy to be fighting on home soil, “It feels awesome to fight at home. The opportunities to fight at home are running out as I get bigger fights and attend bigger shows.”
Training for this fight Howieson kept things as they normally were, “Training was the same as usual I just do my own thing. I don’t tweak it any differently for any opponent.”
With last win against Degraca coming via points decision Howieson is sending a warning to Gedik, “Degraca was lucky to survive, it will be back to business as usual.”
With 10 KO’s to his name Howieson can mean only one thing.
David Howieson v Carlos Degraca
Gokhan Gedik (6W-1L) is a Dutch kickboxer of Turkish descent fighting out of Mikes Gym in the outskirts of Amsterdam.
If the name Gokhan Gedik rings a bell that’s because Gedik is the brother of current Glory Light Heavyweight Champion and former K1 World Grand Prix finalist Gokhan Saki. In short Saki is a kick boxing superstar. If Gedik fight’s anything like his brother expect fireworks. Saki fought and won in Dubai as recently as the 17th April this year.
Gedik acknowledges a hard training camp spent helping to prepare his brother for that fight, “It was hard, I spent my camp helping my brother Saki so you can imagine how that must be. But we Turks must stand up and help each other out.”
When asked what he know about his opponent Gedik was to the point, “he is tough, but I don’t give a shit. I didn’t come for him. I come to go after him.”
Gedik is expecting a good fight for the fans, “styles make fights, so if two guys give it their all, go after each other, don’t hide and go for the finish. That is the best for the audience.”
Gedik last fought on the 20th December last year taking home a decision victory against a tough Santino Verbeek.
Gedik fancies his chances against Howieson and was coy when asked how he could finish the fight, “I don’t know but I think I knock him out in the third round.”
Gedik defeating Aleksander Petrov in May last year.
Gedik is a fine boxer and will need to work hard to get inside the range of Howieson. Howieson is tough and know’s he is. His willingness to opt for a static physical boxing defence means he can be hit and could be susceptible to body shots. This type of defence can limit Howieson’s vision from tricky punches, it’s tiring and not easy to counter punch from. Howieson however minimises the risk of his opponent getting near him by using front kicks often but the opportunity for Gedik will still be there especially if he can avoid those front kicks. Gedik needs to be wary of the front kick feint from Howieson. If he reacts by moving to any side Howieson will counter with a hard roundhouse kick to his body.
Both these fighters will have done their homework and this one for sure will be an exciting fight whether it is finished early or goes the distance.
Will Gedik derail Howieson? Will it be business as usual for the Scottish striker? We’ll find out on the 2nd of May at Headhunters Fighing Championship.
