Joel Antik Presents TOP RANK - The LIGHTWEIGHT Edition

Hello ladies and gentlemen, welcome to another installment of TOP RANK! Hope all of you guys enjoyed the featherweights the first time around. And I also hope I didn't upset anyone! Truly, it's not my intention. Anywho, with the tournament already running ahead in full steam, it's time to get some hype in this mix. The heavyweights have been battling it out in all regions throughout the amateur circuit in AFC's first tournament to prove who's the best in each region, with the light heavyweights following suit in the next upcoming days. As I've stated, I would start out with the little guys! Since I feel like we're, I mean, they're always overlooked or under the radar. They aren't as appreciated as the big guys ya know? No one ever puts them on notice. Well you get what I mean, lets get started shall we? Starting at #5 we have.....

#5 Titus Combs (5-0)

Oh, Titus Combs, or more affectionately known as 'T-Daddy' to the fight fans has been tearing through the amateur circuit as of late. He's actually coming off a very very recent submission victory via RNC at AFC Fight Night 1 against Mr. Hank Butterscotch. (What a name right? Hank... butterscotch? It's like a fat kid at a candy store) T-Daddy made his debut at AFCs inaugural event in Russia, defeating hometown favorite Gavril Bobrov via a dominant decision. He's been known as the Russian killer, the Russian kryptonite. Some might even say the guy gets off on beating up Russian folks, but don't let the Russian mob know. He's successfully beat Oriel Shulkovskii twice via two very one sided decision, why they'd bother to match them up twice, the world may never know. Maybe the guy upstairs wants Oriel Shulkovskii to get his ass handed to him. However, he was pushed by Petrov Zhelobovskaia in his third fight at AFC England 1. It was still a pretty one sided fight, but it was the first time seeing Combs lose a round against an opponent. He'll absolutely be tested in the upcoming lightweight tourney, and that's without a doubt. He lacks the ability to finish, which is probably the main reason why I didn't put him higher. He's a solid grappler and also a solid stand up guy. Very well rounded guy honestly. Not much holes to his game, but not too strong in any one skill, from what I can tell at least. T-Daddy stands at #5!

#4 Gustavo Chang (5-0)

Señor they call him. The very normal Asian LW fighter raised and molded within the confines of Hispanic culture. Gustavo Chang has definitely developed the fighting spirit they all possess. Señor has proven to be a very talented boxer with some unexpected power to boot. No one expects a little Asian guy to knock guys out, but that's what Chang did right from the start. Ask Weit Ring, the opponent for Changs debut at AFC 1.. the amateur event that started it all. Chang beat the guy into oblivion. It was so one-sided, and it just looked like he enjoyed every second of it. Señor has definitely been a fair opponent in terms of who he's dishing his beatdowns towards. His second fight he'd knock out fellow Asian fighter Roka Shibasaki in the third round, absolutely brutal. And he'd finish Russian Oriel Shulkovskii via TKO in the second using his two rock hard fists. Something Titus Combs couldn't do twice against the same opponent. However, his finishing ways have slowed down recently. His past two fights ended in one-sided decisions, and you can definitely tell that Señor has been frustrated with himself. A very humble individual and a fighter for the fans, by the fans. I'd put him up a little higher, but he hasn't been getting any action recently. The next time we see him might be at the LW tourney. Many say he hasn't been really tested yet, and that he's a one trick pony. Perhaps that's true. All we've seen so far is his prowess in boxing, and maybe his ability to sprawl. Aside from that, we haven't really been able to gauge his skillset. With that, Mr. Gustavo Chang is at #4.

#3 Frank MacDonald (5-0)

There's no hiding it, I am a fan of Frankie Mac, even though he probably doesn't like that I call him that. The Chosen One. Frank MacDonald has been an absolute monster. He debuted against Masaie Saito, where he basically showed off his wrestling repertoire. It was an absolute clinic from when the bell rang to when the referee stopped the fight. He took the arm of Saito and never let it go, gaining an armbar victory in round 2. All his fights have been one-sided beatdowns, but that's his style! A gruesome grind it out, in your face, I'm going to take the fight where I want it, beat you down all night style. I mean, Frankie Mac might not finish his fights, but I'll tell ya, his opponents probably wish that deep down the ref would just stop it, or that their corner would throw in the towel. Frank's a very solid wrestler, and he's always looking for that takedown. Once he gets you there, which is what's going to happen when he wants you down, he's going to beat you into submission or beat you until you make a mistake and actually get a submission. He's just coming off a fresh armbar win over Hayden Lowe in last nights event. By golly, it was in true MacDonald fashion. Can't hate the guy, a true professional. He may really be the Chosen One. His future is bright and I can't wait until this guy goes pro. Frankie Mac, it was a tough decision, but please, I'm a fan. Truly. #3.

#2 Angelo Mendoza (6-0)

The other half of the Mendoza duo. WW standout Cannon Mendoza's younger brother. When we talk about mixed martial arts Angelo Mendoza is truly a practitioner of it. Well rounded? That's what he is. Striking? Solid boxer. Jujitsu? Very technical, very smooth. Wrestling? Not too bad. This guy has got it all and I'm sure his brother is proud. Angelo came onto the amateur circuit turning heads and opening eyes. The fans were gifted three straight finishes in his first three fights. Second round TKO against Roka Shibasaki, where he came out of the fight unscathed. Mixed it up in his second fight, finishing it via guillotine against one of the amateur legends Hubert Finley, showing off the submission chops. Then the highlight that really got my attention, a spinning backfist that came out of nowhere that connected onto Oriel Shulkovskii's face, which forced the ref to immediately stop the fight. It's the stuff true greats are made of. This one's got it. Mendoza hasn't gotten a finish since his first three fights, but he's still out dominating whoever the AFC matchmakers are giving him. Maybe it's something in the Mendoza gene pool, cause these two brothers are out for blood. They're out to fight, they're out to show the world what they're all about. (Maybe their smoking habits too, but that's just an allegation made by various fans in the 209 community). His brother had lost a close decision against Kirill Shikov, and that leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I don't want to jinx it for the younger Mendoza brother, but he's a thoroughbred for sure. Just everything about Angelo, he screams Cannon Mendoza lite. And that's a compliment. Some have told me that I made a mistake doing the FW rankings by basing it off record, so I decided to listen to the readers. Which is why why I will leave Angelo at #2.

#1 Tom Tortilla (5-0)

Nacho. Nacho... Nacho? A crispy snack. No wait, this isn't a food review. Tom Tortilla. A fighter with a name that drives the masses to Taco Bell. Anywho, Tom Tortilla, or Nacho as the fans call him is an absolute stud. To me, and maybe everybody, he's definitely the top pick at LW in terms of how amateur prospects go. Why do you ask? Well, if you're truly a fan of Nacho, or even if you're not, as a fan of MMA, watch his fights. Is there really any other reason as to why he ISN'T the top dog? Okay, I'm going to pretend you're either brain dead, or you're one of those guys that think MMA is like the ending of gay pornography. Everyone, I mean EVERYONE, each and every single opponent that the AFC has placed in front of Nacho has been knocked down to the mat in cold blooded fashion. You guys think fellow LW fighter Gustavo Chang has power? Well Tom Tortilla is on steroids then. He hits with fire, each and every single punch. His opponents KNOW it too. I'm sure whoever gets signed to fight Nacho has to be thinking in their heads... awwww shit. And that's correct damn it! You don't want to eat this guys fists, he CAN and WILL put you down, whether you like it or not. Ask Masaie Saito, or Weit Ring, or Anthony Osborne, or Erik Owings, or Rosario Barcelos. Liver punch, gut punch, left hook, right hook, straights, jabs, this guy will mess you up. His record shows and he's a warrior. This guy packs heat like something I've never seen. I honestly haven't seen his other skills but for some reason I just don't care. Watching him is like doing a line of coke (not that I've ever done it). It gets me pumped. You can always expect a show from Nacho. The potential for a finish... it's always there, and I'm all in for the show he's going to put on in the upcoming tournament. Mr. Tom Tortilla, you are #1. Keep trucking.

On the bubble: Bilbov Baggins (5-1), Kieran Palmer (5-2-1), Akihiro Kobayashi (4-0), Arthur Walker (4-0)

And there we have it folks. My LW rankings. Let me hear your thoughts on whether or not y'all agree with me. Thanks again, and this is TOP RANK by Joel Antik!