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We’re gearing up for another action-packed weekend of fighting, with Branson Price taking on Luke McMurtry here in Ohio (Akron, to be exact) in the Caged Thunder 22 MMA promotion series on Saturday, August 12.
Here’s a look at what each fighter brings to the table, as well as what some of the top betting sites have to say about their chances of winning big.
Who Ya Got? What the Experts Have to Say
This will be an excellent underground matchup between a pair of amateur fighters looking to firmly make the jump to the big leagues like UFC with the legitimacy that another big win could bring them.
It’s an amateur fight, sure, but these two fighters have shown a level of talent that is a cut above the rest, making their way to the main card. It’s always fun to see star athletes live before they really begin to make a name for themselves–who hasn’t met someone who’s bragged about seeing LeBron James play while he was in high school, or Joe Burrow taking snaps when he was still the unheralded backup for the Ohio State Buckeyes? That’s exactly the sort of change you’ll get when McMurtry and Price step into the cage match against one another this weekend. They’ll be teeing off with a featherweight title on the line, exactly the type of ammunition that could boost them into the ranks of UFC or a professional development league.
The beauty of amateur matches is that there’s a good degree of unpredictability afforded by the unheralded competitors. Price looks like he might be a slight favorite over McMurtry (he’s listed as the No. 1 amateur fighter in the state of Ohio…albeit at the Bantamweight category), while McMurtry clocks in at No. 2 in the Buckeye State at featherweight, but no one really knows what’s going to happen until they step in the cage together.
Throwing the rankings aside (it’s impossible to truly determine which fighter is better given the wide disparity in talent between amateur boxers), I’m inclined to give the advantage to McMurtry.
He’s got a better build than Price does, more used to fighting at Featherweight, and unless Price has suddenly taken to playing a weight class up (with training, nutrition, and bulking all going off without a hitch), he’s going to have some growing pains.
In a sport where a single mistake can quite literally mean life or death, I’m going with the proven commodity at featherweight. Give me McMurtry any day of the week, and twice on Sundays.
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When it comes to sizing up the opposing fighters, we’ll take a look at the prescribed underdog first: who doesn’t love a stunning upset victory?
All the Background You Need: Branson Price
Nicknamed “The One,” Branson Price has a proven track record as an amateur boxer (if such an oxymoron can even exist). He’s gone 5-0 in amateur matches throughout his career along with a no-contest, fighting out of The Buckeye State… Akron, to be exact.
That’s a pretty solid background for an amateur, but there’s just one problem. All of those fights have come at bantamweight, where fighters are limited to a maximum of 135 pounds during their weigh-ins ahead of each bout. This match is at flyweight, a class up, and ten pounds is a lot to gain and get used to fighting within a painfully short period of time.
He last fought on April 1 in Connecticut, so he’s had a little over four months to make the jump to flyweight… assuming he began preparing for the weight class and an upcoming bout the second he got done with the last fight, which is never a sure bet: even in the pros.
Standing 5-foot-7, Price is moderately lanky for his frame, so he could be able to find a happy medium if he isn’t used to relying on sheer size and power to win in the first place. Each of his five career wins has come via decision, so it seems like he’s more used to whittling away at his opponents instead of pouncing with a decisive blow.
At age 33, he’s starting to flirt with the back nine of his career, but his experience in the ring could go a very long way, especially in an amateur match. In a type of bout that can consist of unpolished and inexperienced fighters, having a healthy command of the usual tricks could help him stay in the match long enough to get comfortable at featherweight.
All the Background You Need: Luke McMurtry
McMurtry, on the other hand, turned 26 earlier this summer, so he’s got youth on his side. Even if he isn’t able to take down his elder opponent in this match, he still has plenty of time to establish himself as a pro and begin his climb into the upper echelons of the sport… a luxury that Price doesn’t necessarily have as he speeds towards age 35, and then 40.
To date, McMurtry has a perfect 4-0 record in amateur contests, so he’ll put that on the line when he steps into the ring against Price. He doesn’t have quite the proven track record that Price has (he doesn’t even have a nickname yet!) but he does have an excellent advantage when it comes to size standing a full head taller than Price at 6 feet tall. With that being said, there isn’t data on the reach for either fighter, so if Price has a long wingspan the length matchup could come out to a push.
Similarly, McMurtry’s comfort fighting at flyweight gives him a leg up in terms of preparation. He fought in Connecticut on the same night Price did, so there’s no discrepancy between the layoffs. With two wins in strikes, one via submission (his entry to the sport came through wrestling), and a decision win to his name, McMurtry is a well-rounded, big-bodied fighter whom Price could struggle to ward off if he’s used to keeping a healthy distance and trading jabs.
