Fireworks expected at FFC1's clash of the 'heels'

Senior Reporter

Friday 9 November 2012

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS: TO stand out in Scotland's busy amateur MMA scene, you have to offer something a little out of the ordinary.

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STEF LACH

Thankfully for the promoters behind First Fighting Championship's debut event on Saturday night, headliners Calum 'The Head' Hunter and Chris 'Bad Boy' Bungard know how to play the game.

The two will clash at FFC1 at Alona Hotel in Strathclyde Park, Motherwell, for the FFC amateur c-class welterweight title.

It will be the second time the two have fought, with the first encounter at SFC5 last year resulting in a draw.Hunter paints himself as the heel of Scottish MMA, displaying a penchant for the colour pink and recording wisecracking promotional clips poking light-hearted fun at future foes.Bungard, meanwhile, has been known to walk to the cage wearing a straitjacket and a Hannibal Lecter mask and has embraced the nickname 'Bad Boy'.Their first bout, while full of pre-fight antics, failed to produce a clear winner.But this time they are both promising fireworks.Hunter, just 19, stands at 6ft4in and believes he is an entirely different fighter since he last met Bungard.A fantastic submission victory over highly-rated Judo player Iain Feenan in September would appear to back that claim up.Hunter, who represents Glasgow's Gladiatorial Combat Fight Team, plays the role of MMA heel almost to perfection, refusing to answer questions without throwing in some pro wrestling-style wit.He said: "My game plan for Bungard is to stand-up and look pretty."And whether it be my right hook or my stunning good looks, I'll catch his eye and then he'll hit the canvas."I still think of myself as a wee boy but I'm a bigger wee boy than when I fought Chris last December."I was much smaller back then. My wrestling and jiu-jitsu has come on so much and my striking is through the roof compared to then."I'm looking to exploit Chris' weakness, which is on his feet."My training camp has been great as it always is. I'm in good shape and my strength, technique and cardio are all looking very good."So my message to Bungard is this. Come November 10, I'll be fine like wine and I'll be bringing the cham-pain."Undefeated Hunter's reach will be a major obstacle to Bungard's preferred fighting style, which is to get in close and pile pressure on his opponent on the ground.But the 23-year-old member of Coatbridge's Scottish Hit Squad does not expect to have too much trouble taking Hunter to the ground.Bungard said: "I fought Calum before so I know what to expect."I think this fight will be the exact same and it will go the full three rounds."It will be a war, I'm sure of that."I'm going to take him down and smash him in the face for three rounds."Bungard is coming off a three round battle with Steven McCreadie at Vision Fight Night last month.McCreadie's leg kicks and stubborn takedown defence helped him to a unanimous decision victory and left Bungard with an injured arm and broken nose – neither of which he expects to pose any problem this weekend."It was a tough fight against McCreadie," Bungard said. "I've had a few niggling injuries to get over but I'm fine and my fitness is very good."Also on the busy card at FFC1 is a pro bout between Edinburgh's Jonny Goodall and Kev Devine and a c-class clash between Sean McInally and Lukazs Szarafiniak.

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Fireworks expected at FFC1's clash of the 'heels'

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