Mixed martial arts: Andersons' clash main event

Brogan Anderson.
Brogan Anderson.
A mixed martial arts clash of the Andersons, a battle between two crowd-pleasing strikers and some promising kickboxing match-ups will be the features when Hammerhead Productions holds its fight night at the Caledonian Gymnasium tomorrow.

In the main event, Supremacy Fighting Championship New Zealand light heavyweight champion Brogan Anderson (Team Hammerhead) will fight at middleweight for the second time this year, against Whangarei's Ryan Anderson (Lions Den Ministries).

Brogan's three-fight win streak and nine-win, four-loss record compared to Ryan's one loss makes the bout look a bit one-sided.

But Ryan is a head coach, a first dan karate black belt and has represented South Africa at the karate world championships.

''I fancy my chances with my takedown defence, and if can keep the fight standing I think I have a good show,'' Ryan said.

Ryan (31) said despite Brogan's (25) seven round-one submission wins he doubted he had faced an unorthodox striker like him.

Hammerhead Promoter and coach Matt Toa said it was a busy time of the year for South Island promotions, so matching fighters was not easy, but he was confident of an exciting fight.

''Brogan has evolved into an all-round fighter, so he will definitely have a go at stand and trade, but if it goes to the ground he will have no problems,'' Toa said.

Toa wanted to keep Brogan active with a view to his fighting the winner of the SFC New Zealand middleweight champion bout between Dan Digby and Arthur Lasike at Auckland's Shuriken show in November.

He had checked Ryan's credentials with Shuriken promoter Jason Vorster who said ''he had the goods''.

The co-main event between MMA welterweights Craig Masina (Team Hammerhead) and Invercargill's Si'itia Leti (Ultimate MMA) promises to be a bruising clash.

Masina has three wins, two losses and one draw while Leti is three and three.

Toa said Masina (39) joined the club last year and while he was hanging up the gloves after this fight, nothing was certain in MMA.

''Craig is a real workhorse who works hard at training every day. When the young guys look over and see him pushing through the pain he inspires them.''

In total, there are eight clubs competing including two from Dunedin.

Dunedin lightweight Hamish Te Whata (Hooligan MMA) will take on Taylor Wetere (Lions Den Ministries).

Te Whata is unbeaten in his three fights and Wetere is on a three-win streak.

Toa said both men had a bright futures and good skill sets.

With four kickboxing fights on the card there is bound to be some sore limbs.

Robert Dean (Team Hammerhead) will have a crack at kickboxing for the first time since 2012 when he takes on talented Invercargill boxer Tom Heads (Ultimate MMA)Toa said Dean should have a kicking edge and while Heads was making his debut he had boxed about 40 times, including a few professional ones.

Team Hammerheads' Matt Eden will return to action after about a year out when he fights Wayne Knight (Kicksports Timaru), while Dan Worthington (six wins, three losses, one draw) takes on Victor Tawera (Academy of Combat).

The first of the 11 fights is scheduled to start at 6.30pm.

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