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#7: Hector Munoz (7-3-0)
Hector Munoz has the least amount of MMA experience, compared to the other fighters in the Shine Fights Lightweight Grand Prix. The biggest fight of Hector Munoz’s career occurred at an Ultimate Texas Showdown event, losing to WEC veteran Marcus Hicks. Hector Munoz has only had one of his ten MMA fights go to a decision, so he does have good finishing skills to enter the tournament with. It has also been over two years since Hector Munoz last had an MMA fight, so he does enter the fight with some cage rust to shake off.
#6: James Warfield (21-6-0)
James Warfield has spent the least amount of time competing in the top MMA promotions, but he has fought in Shine Fights before. James Warfield competed at Shine Fights II: ATT vs. The World, suffering a defeat to UFC veteran Yves Edwards by submission. James Warfield has primarily competed in the Madtown Throwdown promotion, where a quarter of his MMA fights occurred in. James Warfield will have the least amount of rest between MMA fights, as he last competed in July 31st of this year.
#5: Carlo Prater (24-7-1)
Carlo Prater enters the tournament already holding having fought fellow tournament participant Drew Fickett at a Rage On The River event. Carlo Prater has also competed in the World Extreme Cagefighting promotion, fighting Brock Larson and Carlos Condit. Carlo Prater hasn’t been very active in MMA competition in the last year, only fighting once in a one year period. Carlo Prater also holds a victory over the last WEC Welterweight Champion Carlos Condit, which occurred at a Fight World event.
#4: Richard Crunkilton (16-3-0)
Richard Crunkilton is another veteran of the World Extreme Cagefighting promotion, where he fought former UFC Lightweight Champion Rob McCullough. Richard Crunkilton has also fought once in the UFC, suffering a defeat to Hermes Franca at UFC 42 in April 2003. Richard Crunkilton hasn’t been very active in the last year, only fighting one time in a one year period, which was in the WEC. Richard Crunkilton is also one of the more experienced fighters in the tournament, having been competing in MMA for over a decade.
#3: Charles Bennett (23-17-2)
Charles Bennett has competed in just about every major MMA organization there has been like Elite XC, PRIDE and King Of The Cage. Charles Bennett also shares one major advantage in the tournament with Drew Fickett, which is that he is only one of two competitors who know who his opening round opponent is. Charles Bennett has also been in and out of MMA in recent years, spending most of that time dealing with various drug related issues. Charles Bennett also holds a victory over KJ Noons, who is the top contender to the Strikeforce Welterweight Title.
#2: Drew Fickett (37-13-0)
Drew Fickett has competed in more professional MMA fights than any other participant competing in the one night tournament. Drew Fickett has competed in the UFC, competing against such fighters as Nick Diaz, Josh Neer, Josh Koscheck, Josh Burkman, Kurt Pellegrino and Karo Parisyan. Drew Fickett most recently ended a five fight losing streak when he defeated Derrick Noble at a CFX MMA event. Drew Fickett has fought the majority of his professional MMA fights in the Rage In The Cage promotion, where twenty of his fifty MMA fights occurred at.
#1: Marcus Aurelio (20-8-0)
Marcus Aurelio has experience competing in both the UFC and PRIDE, including a victory in PRIDE over Takanori Gomi. In his last appearance in the UFC, Marcus Aurelio lost to Evan Dunham at UFC 102 in a lightweight division encounter. Marcus Aurelio is also one of the more well traveled MMA veterans, having fought in North America, Japan and Brazil. Marcus Aurelio is also one of the better ground fighters in the tournament, with the majority of his victories coming by submission.
You can contact David Tees at bigtees360@yahoo.com
