On Top “New Territory” – Fight Talk Scotland Preview

One of Scotland’s top MMA Promotions makes it’s long awaited return on June 6^th, presenting “On Top: New Territory” at the Fife Ice Arena.

It’s great to see On Top back and their card as ever is a mix of top Scottish and International Professional fighters, coupled with an Amateur undercard featuring some of Scotland’s top Amateur prospects, with the card as a whole featuring fighters from all corners of Scotland.

For all the information on On Top including ticket info, be sure to like their Facebook page by clicking HERE

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Here is the Fight Talk Scotland preview of the card, with a look at all the professional bouts on the card and the top Amateur bouts aswell; there is a full card at the bottom of the article.

Main Event for the On Top Professional Featherweight Title

Graham “Afterburner” Turner (Higher Level/DNFT) (24-9) v Suleiman Bouhata (Fight Move AC France) (9-6)

The main event of On Top features a fight that really encapsulates everything the promotion is about, pitting a top Scottish Professional against a high level foreign opponent. Graham Turner needs no introduction to any fan of Scottish MMA, but here it is anyway; Scotland’s most experienced Pro Fighter, a very high level striker, a Cage Warriors veteran and undoubtedly Scotland’s best fighter not yet signed with the UFC. Frenchman Bouhata himself is a Cage Warriors veteran – indeed these two have met once before, at Cage Warriors 69, with Turner emerging victorious via TKO – Body shot @ 1:08 of Round 3. Bouhata is hungry for revenge, and Turner, coming off an upset loss at a recent Rage in The Cage event, will not want to lose twice in a row and will be desperate to get his record back on track as he chases that UFC call up! Both men are high level, both men are hungry and it’s for the On Top Featherweight title – this is not one to miss!

Co Main Event

Chris Bungard (SHS) (4-1) v Matti Laurenson (Independant) (2-0) – LW Pro

In arguably the most anticipated fight on the card, two top Scottish Professional Lightweight prospects will enter the On Top Cage, and the momentum both take in the cage will be very different, just adding to the intrigue. Bungard, who started his career with 4 wins, has just experienced his first loss to Kieran Malone at FFC. Laurenson is coming off a devastating KO just 9 seconds into the 2^nd round of his fight with Patrick Turner at SFC 9, a KO virtually guaranteed to be talked about in the discussion for KO of the year. Bungard will be itching to get back in the win column and Laurenson won’t want to give up his “0” without a fight. Another layer to this fight is that Bungard’s last loss came by being outgrappled – Laurenson does not hide the fact he wants to stand with all his opponents;  indeed Laurenson stylistically is about as different as possible to Bungard’s last opponent, so it will be interesting to see how Bungard adapts. Having seen Laurenson’s take down defence in his last fight, we could well be in for a stand up clash here and that is a mouth watering prospect for the Scottish MMA fans in attendance!

Brad Conway (Independent) (5-9) v Mikey McMullen (Team Punisher) (0-0) @ LHW Pro

It’s always rare to see a fight between Light Heavyweights and above in Scotland, never mind Professionals! We don’t know much about short notice replacement Conway, but with McMullen winning his last C Class fight by KO in just 36 seconds, it is not a push to say that we can probably expect the big boys to throw heavy hands until one of them drops – which is always amazing to see! 

Stewart Graham (Higher Level/DNFT) (0-0) v Enzo Parente (Forza MMA) (1-5) @ MW Pro

There is a lot of buzz on the Scottish scene about the professional debut of Higher Level’s Stewart Graham; known as a devastating striker, holding titles in the sport of Muay Thai and a very impressive record, he will be looking to exhibit those skills in the MMA environment against veteran of the scene Enzo Parente, who is coming off of a loss to Craig Robertson at The Art of Combat. If Parente can get it to the ground, it will be interesting, but if this one stays on the feet, the crowd could be in for quite something and the fight could be in for a quick finish – our advice here would be not to blink!

Craig “Mop” McIntosh (Higher Level/DNFT) v Niall Smith (Heat MMA Belfast) @ FW Pro

Rounding out the professional fights is a sleeper of a clash between Mcintosh and Smith. Again, great to see On Top flying in appropriate opposition for top Scottish fighters. Both guys are 2-1 and both guys are well rounded; anyone who has seen Mop fight or followed his career will remember his famous head kick win in the SFC cage and Mop won his last fight with a choke that can only be described as insane; Smith has one win by TKO and one win by Submission in his pro career, and has never been stopped, again highlighting that wherever this fight goes, both lads will be comfortable. Given the skillsets of the two fighters involved here, whether on the feet or on the floor, this one should be entertaining and is a definite contender for the coveted Fight Talk Scotland Fight of the Night award!

Amateur Card

Stevie McIntosh (Higher Level/DNFT) v Simon Kelly (Forza MMA) @ 74kg C Class

In the pick of the amateur bouts, two of the more highly regarded C Class fighters in Scotland will take to the cage in what will be a rematch, the first fight having gone the way of McIntosh by decision. We have spoken to both fighters and both assure us their camp is their best yet and though both lads stopped short of predicting a win, both exuded a confidence in their skills which showed how well prepared they are. Stevie is on fire right now, having recently defeated the previously undefeated Steven Kelly with a 2^nd Round RNC at The Art of Combat and recently earning his BJJ Blue Belt. His momentum and skillset for an Amateur is right up there and Kelly will have his work cut out in this one, but he feels he is up to the challenge and takes a good skillset of his own to the table making this a very intriguing C Class fight!

Ross Houston (Misfits) v John Ross (Forza MMA) @ 82kg C Class

Returning from a break, Ross Houston, now allied with the impressive Misfits team, is never a fighter to miss. His striking, specifically his boxing, is arguably the best in the Scottish Amateur scene. Holding wins at Amateur over some guys who are getting wins at Pro, it won’t be long until Ross makes the move to Pro but before that he takes on John Ross of Forza MMA. Not much is known of John, but if he can’t take Ross down, he’s in for a long (short) night. Even if John can get the takedown, Ross is no slouch on the ground (the writer of this article can attest to that!). Ross is a top prospect in Scotland and as well as being one to watch for the future, this fight is one to make sure you watch on June 6^th!

Ryan Lafferty (Higher Level/DNFT) v Joshua Koukpaki (Headhunters) @ LW C Class

This one is a fascinating bout between two lightweight prospects. Lafferty competed at a SMMART tournament two years ago and was clearly even then one to watch and it will be great to see him in a C Class bout get to put it all together. Joshua, only a teenager, is a very keen grappler and recently medalled at NAGA, and has been known to give good adult blue belts a torrid time on the mats. If this one goes to the ground, Joshua could be good for the upset win against the overall more skilled and experienced in MMA Lafferty. Whoever wins this one will be an instant force in the Lightweight Amateur rankings and you may well remember seeing these guys first fights in a few years time when they are much higher up Scottish cards!

Lee Johnstone (Higher Level/DNFT) v Michal Vojtanic (Impetus MMA) – WW C Class

Much like teammate Lafferty, Johnstone first came on our radar when he competed in a SMMART tournament and looked in a different league to all the other competitors. Well rounded, a physical specimen and training out of a gym like Higher Level, Lee is certainly one to watch in Scotland. We know little of his opponent Vojtanic, but he had best be skilled and prepared everywhere, as we know Johnstone will be!

Dawid Kostecki (Immortals) v Jack Demarco (Forza MMA) – LW C Class

In a bout that pits two veterans of the Amateur Scene against other, grappler Kostecki will take on striker DeMarco. These guys are two of the most experienced amateur fighters in Scotland, with at least one of them seeming to be on most cards that come out. They always put on a good show though and tend to be involved in exciting fights, so what’s not to like!?

Full Card

Pro Card

Graham Turner (Higher Level/DNFT) v Suleiman Bouhata (Fight Move AC France) @ FW Pro

Chris Bungard (SHS) (4-1) v Matti Laurenson (Independent) (2-0) – LW Pro

Brad Conway (Independent) (5-9) v Mikey McMullen (Team Punisher) (0-0) @ LHW Pro

Stewart Graham (Higher Level/DNFT) (0-0) v Enzo Parente (Forza MMA) (1-5) @ MW Pro

Craig McIntosh (Higher Level/DNFT) (2-1) v Niall Smith (2-1) (Heat MMA Belfast) @ FW Pro

Amateur Card

Lee Johnstone (Higher Level/DNFT) v Michal Vojtanic (Impetus MMA) – WW C Class

Sean McInally (D-Unit/DNFT) v James Pattie (Results Gym Forfar) – 80kg C Class

Andrew Wilkie (TEI MMA) v Ross Cleave (Underdog) – BW C Class

Ross Houston (Misfits) v John Ross (Forza MMA) @ 82kg C Class

Dawid Kostecki (Immortals) v Jack Demarco (Forza MMA) – LW C Class

Stuart Carroll (Shooters) v Jason Baird (Team Extreme) @ LW C Class

Ryan Lafferty (Higher Level/DNFT) v Joshua Koukpaki (Headhunters) @ LW C Class

Scott McLellan (SMAC) v Connor Hepburn (Rick Youngs) @ 76kg C Class

Stevie Mcintosh (Higher Level/DNFT) v Simon Kelly (Forza MMA) @ 74kg C Class

Fight Talk Scotland