Shark Fights 14: "Horwich vs. Villefort" Picks And Predictions

What’s more important: being big enough to be on Pay-Per-View, or signing a television deal? Answer: it really doesn’t matter, Shark Fights has now done both. We’re now only a few days away from Shark Fights 14, which sees the promotion make its televised debut on HDNet. In the main event, Matt Horwich and Danillo Villefort take center stage. The co-main event will also be an interesting match-up, as Tara LaRosa fights Carina Damm. As is customary, here is my official “picks and predictions” post (covering who I think will win and why), now featuring Shark Fights 14.

Matt Horwich vs. Danillo Villefort: Matt Horwich is one tough veteran, but he’s also all over the place when it comes to his recent fights. He submitted Thales Leites and TKO’d Jake Rosholt, both of which were big wins for him. But he’s also lost three recently, and going back a little further, Horwich was on a three-fight losing streak back in 2008/2009. Villefort, meanwhile, has won his last three fights, has only ever lost three times, and (T)KO’d two of those three most-recent opponents. I think Horwich won’t go down without a fight, but I do think he’ll go down. Danillo Villefort wins by Unanimous Decision.

Tara LaRosa vs. Carina Damm: Both women have been up-and-down in their most-recent fights: Damm has lost two straight while LaRosa’s last two fights have been a win over Takayo Hashi and a loss to former Strikeforce Women’s Championship contender Roxanne Modafferi. However, two things in particular lead me to believe that LaRosa has Damm’s number: Damm has been submitted three times, and LaRosa has ten wins by submission. With that in mind, I think LaRosa will win by submission in Round 2.

Lucas Lopes vs. Mikel Bronzoulis: Unfortunately, aside from the main event and co-main events I’ve got relatively little to go on. This fight and the other two main card fights feature people I’ve simply never heard of, and as such, it’s difficult to comment on who I think will win. But here’s what I’ll do: I’ll take a close look at everyone’s records, and then make an educated guest. After all, isn’t that what any predictions post is to begin with? So, after looking at both men’s records, my gut tells me that Bronzoulis wins by TKO in Round 1.

Alex Cisne vs. Eric Davila: This is another “veteran vs. prospect” match-up, one that seems tailor-made for the prospect (Cisne) to win. Cisne is coming off of a big first-round TKO in his last fight, but Davila is also very tough. It would seem, though, that Davila struggles against submissions. So I’m going to call for a second-round submission win for Alex Cisne after what will probably be a pretty fun first round.

Sean Shakour vs. Joseph Sandoval: It’s prospect vs. prospect, and someone’s undefeated streak is going to get broken. Sandoval has two wins by (T)KO and two wins by decision, Shakour has two wins by (T)KO and one win by decision. So this should be a pretty wild brawl, it may even steal the show. I’m going to go ahead and side with Sandoval, since he’s got more fights in general and in Shark Fights in particular. Sandoval will win a tough but Unanimous Decision.

And that’s what I think, fans and friends. But what about you? Who do you see winning, and why, at Shark Fights 14?