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The highly anticipated debut on the Titan Fighting Championships on the CBS Sports Network is upon us this Friday Night. The event will be headlined by a pair of UFC veterans as Jorge Gurgel returns to the cage against Mike Ricci. Also, Matthew Riddle returns to the cage against Michael Kuiper and two other UFC veterans will step into the cage as well.
Kicking off the action is a bantamweight division attraction as Kevin “The Hard Hitting Hillbilly†Croom (13-4-0) competes against Bryan Goldsby (17-15-0). Croom will enter the fight riding an eight fight winning streak, with seven of those wins coming in the opening round. Goldsby will enter the fight riding a four fight winning streak, but he has not competed in just about a year. Croom is quickly rising to become one of the biggest prospects in MMA and he will show why when he defeats Goldsby in his national TV debut.
A pair of featherweights will collide next as Kurt Holobaugh (9-2-0) is in action against Eric “The Machine†Marriott (22-7-0). Holobaugh will be competing for the first time since his UFC release, which came after a loss to Stephen Thompson at UFC 159. Marriott is returning to Titan FC after a two year absence, winning two of four fights in between appearances. Holobaugh was good enough to get into the UFC once and he will be good enough to returns when he defeats Marriott.
Flyweight division action will be happening next as Pedro “The Rock†Nobre (15-1-2-1NC) does battle against Bill Friday (4-2-0). Nobre has been undefeated since his UFC release, which came after a no contest against Yuri Alcantara at UFC On FX VII. Friday will enter the fight riding a three fight winning streak, with two wins coming in the Driller Promotions company. This fight is a huge mismatch and it will be Nobre dominating Friday to win his second straight encounter.
Another featherweight division bout is next as Anthony “Sharkbait†Gutierrez (4-0-0) battles Charlie DuBray (12-8-0). Gutierrez is returning to the cage after a two plus year break from competition, but he has spent his entire career in the Titan FC promotion. DuBray will enter the fight riding a two fight winning streak and he is a veteran of the Disorderly Conduct MMA promotion. Gutierrez has been inactive for a while now and that is going to hurt him as DuBray wins his third straight bout.
Up next is a welterweight division attraction as Michael “Judo†Kuiper (12-3-0) takes on Matthew “Deep Waters†Riddle (7-3-0-2NC). Kuiper will be fighting for the first time since his UFC release, which came after a loss to Brad Scott at UFC Fight Night 30. Riddle will also be competing for the first time since his UFC release, which came after a pair of failed drug tests. Riddle is as boring as they come in the cage, but he will still outwrestle Kuiper enough to get the decision.
Headlining this card is a lightweight division fight as Jorge “JG†Gurgel (14-9-0) faces Mike “The Martian†Ricci (8-4-0). Gurgel has only won one of his last five fights, with that lone win coming over Billy Vaughan at Strikeforce: Feijao vs. Henderson. Ricci is going to be fighting for the first time since his UFC release, which came after a loss to Myles Jury at UFC 165. Gurgel has not been much of a threat in the last few years and Ricci will do enough to get past him to secure a victory.
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