Total Warrior Combat returns with four pro title bouts in Michigan this weekend
Total Warrior Combat will host the first MMA event of 2022 in Michigan this weekend, as the 17-bout card features four pro title bouts. The event takes place at the Causeway Bay Hotel in Lansing.
In the main event, the heavyweight title will be on the line when Michigan’s Christos Piliafas welcomes Chris Hicks from Wisconsin. Piliafas is 46 years old, but “The Mad Greek” doesn’t lack for power – all eight of his wins are via stoppage, including multiple wins in under a minute. He’s ranked as the No. 3 pro heavyweight in Michigan according to Tapology. Hicks has wins in four of his last five outings, and “The Tree Hugger” has seven of his eight wins via submission. He’s ranked as the No. 5 pro heavyweight in Wisconsin.
The co-feature pits two veterans with more than 50 combined fights in a rematch when Michigan’s Dequan Townsend faces Kentucky’s Portland Pringle for the middleweight title. Nicknamed “The Tarantula”, Townsend had a four-fight stint in the UFC from 2019-20 and now returns to the regional scene for the first time since a 6-1 run that earned him his Octagon contract. A known finisher, he has 12 wins via knockout or TKO and five via submission. Pringle competes in MMA for the first time since losing to Townsend at a TWC event in 2018. In the meantime, he’s had multiple boxing bouts. Nine of his 11 wins are via stoppage, including five via KO/TKO.
Two rising stars will vie for the bantamweight title, as Mando Gutierrez faces Matthew Elliott at 135 pounds. The 24-year-old Gutierrez has just one blemish on his record, as he comes in with a 6-1 overall mark. “El Toro” is a rear naked choke specialist, as all six of his wins have come via submission including five via rear naked. Elliott also has three of his four wins via rear naked choke, and the other via heel hook. This will be his first bout since 2019, however, when he picked up his only career loss.
A grudge match is set to go down for the lightweight title, as Justin Jaynes faces Carl Deaton III. Originally from Michigan, the five-time UFC veteran Jaynes now lives in Las Vegas and trains at Xtreme Couture. He has 13 stoppages in his 16 career wins. Jaynes also trains in Las Vegas, and he comes in looking to rebound from a loss in his PFL debut in 2021. He has eight of his 15 wins via submission.
The TWC event also features some other notable names, including Team Alpha Male product and Michigan native Vince Murdock in his first bout after his appearance on The Ultimate Fighter. Top prospect Tyler Grimsley will look for his second win, and fast-rising star Adam Kehr looks for his third straight win. Check out the full card here.
