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Fitial-Sosoli grudge match tonight
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Posted on Mar 29 2019
Kelvin Fitial, left, and faces Ben Sosoli during the weigh-in for Hex Fight Series 18 yesterday in Melbourne, Australia. (Contributed Photo)
The CNMI’s Kelvin “The Big Hit” Fitial and Australia’s Ben Sosoli will be on a mission when they collide in the main event of Hex Fight Series 18 tonight at the Melbourne Pavilion in Victoria.
Fitial is looking to prove that his win over the Land Down Under warrior in 2017 was no fluke, while Sosoli is eyeing revenge in their rematch. Fitial defeated the Australian via unanimous decision during their duel in Pacific Xtreme Combat 56 in Guam.
“This time I am not going to let the judges make the decision. This time someone is going to be knocked out,” the BJJ Athletics standout said during a fight preview shown at the event’s official Facebook page.
Fitial, who holds an 15-8-2 win-draw-loss record, hopes his new found quickness and meticulous training regimen with trainer Jerry Diaz plus the U.S. camp under Jackson Wink MMA Academy will earn him a convincing victory this time.
“The training at BJJ and Jackson Wink really helped me a lot. I am a different fighter now, I was not the same guy that he fought in 2017. There will be surprises on fight night,” said Fitial, who arrived in Australia last Tuesday and had light training sessions with Diaz.
A few hours after his last training yesterday, Fitial made it to the weigh-in and tipped the scale at 107.2 kilogram, nearly 13 kg lighter than the stocky Sosoli, who weighed 120.1 kg.
The Australian, in the same fight preview video, believed he will get Fitial in their second outing.
“I am looking to avenge my loss. I believe this fight is more on my favor because I have more fights than him after we met in 2017. Training went well and I worked on my quickness and power,” the 25-year-old said.
“I love to stand up and trade,” added Sosoli (6-2-0), who won his next three fights after bowing to Fitial and all were by TKO (punches).
The 35-year-old Fitial had only one bout after his victory over Sosoli with the former beating Japanese Peter Miyasaki (Guillotine Choke) in Rites of Passage 21: Throwdown in May 2017.
