This Friday night on Showtime is ShoXC 4, which will feature Julie Kedzie vs. Tonya Evinger. The bout will take place at the legendary Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, NJ.
Julie Kedzie
is an great striker, wrestler, and submission artist from Jackson’s MMA camp in New Mexico. She has plied her craft in Bodog Fight, Hook n Shoot, and EliteXC, and now has an opportunity to show her skills in EliteXC Presents ShoXC: Elite Challenger Series. It has a catchy ring to it, right?
Ms. Kedzie showed impressive stand-up and clinch skills in her bout with Julia Berezekova, while weathering an early barrage, then taking the fight to the mat, and eventually winning in a second round TKO / referee stoppage. For those who didn’t
see it, Berezekova was basically on her back in Kedzie’s triangle choke eating punch after punch with only one arm to defend herself. It did not look comfortable. The referee mercifully stopped the bout.
I think that Julie will want to utilize a different strategy in this bout with Tonya Evinger. Kedzie will again be the shorter fighter at 5′ 5″, as she was against Berezekova, however I believe that she will want to take the fight to the mat earlier. Once there, Kedzie will likely land ground and pound strikes, while
keeping an eye open for any submission opportunities.
Tonya Evinger
Tonya Evinger is another well rounded fighter, with a background in wrestling as well as kick-boxing. She has shown an interest in striking first, as evidenced in her bout with Ginelle Marquez-Lee, the taller Evinger started by throwing punches,then transitioned to a trip takedown, where she controlled the fight with strikes
from the guard. Ms. Evinger eventually won the bout in the third round with a rear naked choke, showing her submissions skills after softening up her opponent with strikes.
I believe that Evinger will want to use a similar formula for her fight against Kedzie, start off with the strikes, take it to the ground and look for a submission while landing strikes from the guard. Evinger will again be the taller fighter at 5′ 7″, and she will certainly want to use her reach advantage to land early strikes. Her long limbs also lend themselves to the submission game, and she will try those skills as well.
Prediction On The Female Fight
I honestly respect both of these ladies skills, training, and more importantly, heart. This fight will come down to who truly wants it more, as both combatants know this opportunity to shine on Showtime could lead to bigger bouts and better offers. Expect this fight to start off with fireworks, with both women looking to
land early bombs to set up their ground games. I think that Kedzie’s skills and heart win her this fight in a second round submission, probably an armbar. Kedzie has the eye of the tiger (insert 80s falsetto voice), her star is on the rise, and I
believe that one way or another she will win the bout.