After a light weekend of action in MMA to close out the month of January, 2024’s second month in the sport begins on its second night. This time around, your passports will take you up north to Canada for the newest promotion to be streamed over UFC Fight Pass.
Friday night, Montreal is the host city for Samourai MMA‘s first event on the platform, Samourai MMA Chapter 9 and the Samourai MMA Chapter 9 main event. Live coverage kicks off beginning at 8 pm ET/ 5 pm PT and will feature a full 12-fight card, absent of any postponed tilts between now and then.
We’ve already had one planned title fight go by the boards in the run-up to this show. A scheduled super-welterweight championship bout between Jonathan Ramsay (5-0 MMA, 5-0 Samourai MMA) and Dejan Kajic (15-7-2 MMA, Samourai MMA promotional debut) was postponed after the former withdrew from the card.
Kajic will remain on Friday’s event, this time in a showcase bout vs. Marco Antonio Elpidio (17-8-2 MMA, 1-0 Samourai MMA.) He explained the cancellation in an interview with our Jeremy Brand late Monday on YouTube.
Lightweight Championship on the Line in Samourai MMA Chapter 9 Main Event Friday Night
Despite the initially-planned co-main event going by the boards, there’s still championship gold to be handed out in the Samourai MMA 9 main event. Supremacy at 155 lbs. is up for grabs this weekend. Robert Seres (8-4 MMA, 4-1 Samourai MMA) takes on Kyle Prepolec (17-8 MMA, Samourai MMA promotional debut,) an alum of both Bellator MMA and the UFC.
As this is a championship bout, the Samourai MMA Chapter 9 main event is an advertised maximum of five rounds at five minutes per round to close the show.
Samourai MMA Chapter 9 Main Event Fighter Comparison
Kyle Prepolec stands as the taller man at 5-foot-10, compared to the 5-foot-9 frame of champion Robert Seres. Prepolec owns a 70-inch reach, with no such information accessible online for Seres at press time.
Robert Seres Looking to Win Title in Front of Hometown Crowd
Robert Seres has posted a record of 4-1 in his last five fights. Back in August, he scored a first-round knockout in just 34 seconds against Xavier Nash (8-4 MMA, 0-1 Samourai MMA) during Samourai MMA 7 at a contracted catchweight of 160 lbs.
Much like his fight last summer, this main event will also take place in Quebec, but Seres will defend the title in his own backyard of Montreal. To a man, all of Seres’ family and friends will make the short trip to La Tohu in his hometown and watch their favorite son in action.
Seres has already won six times in Montreal in his professional MMA career dating back to his time in the late TKO MMA, but this is by far the biggest fight of his career.
Prepolec Ready to Play Role of Heel in Samourai MMA Chapter 9 Main Event
In the other corner, Kyle Prepolec has gone 2-3 in his last five fights. At present, the UFC alum is on a two-fight winning streak.
Last time out, he scored a first-round knockout (head kick followed by punches) against Josh Henry (11-7, 1 NC MMA) in PFC 16 back in April of 2023. Given that Kyle Prepolec is based out of Ontario, he’ll be receiving a chorus of boos when he walks out to the cage on Friday night.
Analysis, Film Study, and Prediction
The Samourai MMA Chapter 9 main event is a classic strength versus strength contest.
Robert Seres Can End a Fight in a Hurry
If you look at Robert Seres’ career statistics, you’ll see that some of his fights end almost as quickly as they begin. One need look no further than his last fight against Xavier Nash.
Right after the command to fight was given, Seres landed a crisp counter hook and then quickly moved in on Nash to unload a barrage of punches.
Nash quickly folded like a lawn chair caught in a tornado and the referee had no other choice but to stop the fight in 34 seconds. Robert Seres has one-punch power.
If that power is on display in the Samourai MMA Chapter 9 main event this Friday night, it’ll be another quick night at the office for him.
Prepolec’s Kicking Game Could Tell the Tale
In the other corner, just like Robert Seres is vicious with punches, Kyle Prepolec is equally as intense with his kicks. Just watch his fight against the aforementioned Marco Elpidio.
While the latter was dominant in the early going, Prepolec was able to turn the tide as round one progressed thanks to his counterstrikes. He landed a crisp kick to the head, knocking Elpidio out on contact.
Although Prepolec wanted to add punches to the head for good measure, the ref saw enough and ended the fight. If Kyle Prepolec lands just one kick right on the money, the Samourai MMA Chapter 9 main event will be a wrap.
Final Thoughts
For its first show on UFC Fight Pass, Samourai MMA looks to have a decent main event on paper. Then again, this is why the fights are held. Don’t forget to tune in.
Prediction: Kyle Prepolec by First-Round Knockout.
