Just like last week, this final weekend in the month of July has a packed slate of combat sports. Unlike last week, however, the schedule is spread out over the course of three days instead of a marathon window on Saturday. This week’s schedule begins on Thursday with a day-night doubleheader.
After Cage Warriors 175 ends, the action shifts back over to the United States, specifically The Music City of Nashville, TN. Country music takes a backseat to karate fighting for one night only when Municipal Auditorium plays host to Karate Combat 48.
Live coverage begins at 6:30 pm ET/ 3:30 pm PT with the countdown show before the card itself begins at 7 pm ET/ 4 pm PT. A full night of karate contests and submission-only grappling will take place, streaming live and free on YouTube and UFC Fight Pass.
Rematch Focus of Karate Combat 48 Main Event
Highlighting the night’s activities is a rematch for the Karate Combat Heavyweight Championship in the Karate Combat 48 main event. Incumbent titleholder and UFC alumnus Sam Alvey (36-18-2, 2 NC combat sports, 2-0, 1 NC Karate Combat) meets up with challenger Antonio Arroyo (12-6, 1 NC combat sports, 2-0, 1 NC Karate Combat), himself a former UFC competitor, again.
Initially, these two men battled in the Karate Combat pit this past March for Alvey’s belt in Karate Combat: Kickback II from Playa del Carmen in Cancun before the match was halted midway through the second round of action. An inadvertent clash of heads meant that Alvey couldn’t proceed in the match.
As with all Karate Combat championship affairs, this main event is an advertised maximum of five rounds at three minutes per round to close out the program.
KC is the top striking league and the hottest new league in Combat Sports coming to Nashville! SAM ALVEY, local native, and ANTONIO ARROYO rematch in the KC pit. Who will reign as the Heavyweight Champ? find out here at the Municipal Auditorium 7/25/24 at 6PM! pic.twitter.com/O6vS0W79pG
— Municipal Auditorium (@NMAuditorium) July 15, 2024
Karate Combat 48 Main Event Fighter Comparison
Heading into the Karate Combat 48 main event on Thursday night, challenger Antonio Arroyo is the taller contender at 6-foot-3, compared to Sam Alvey’s 6-foot-2 frame. Alvey owns a two-inch reach advantage (75 1/2 inches to 73 1/2 inches over Arroyo, however.
As of press time, no betting odds have been released for Thursday’s card. If you plan on betting on this or any other fight happening this weekend in combat sports, please wager responsibly.
Sam Alvey with Critical “Home Game” in Karate Combat 48 Main Event
Sam Alvey enters the headliner on Thursday having posted a mark of 3-1 with one no-contest in his last five fights across both Karate Combat and MMA. Currently, he’s on a four-fight unbeaten streak. Before the no-contest in March, he scored a unanimous decision victory over the now-retired Ross Levine (5-1 Karate Combat) last December.
Although “Smilin'” Sam Alvey was born in Wisconsin, he now makes his living in the Nashville area, specifically Mt. Juliet, where he’s an instructor at Checkmat BJJ. Thus, it stands to reason that he’ll have a partisan crowd urging him on this Thursday evening.
Anytime a fighter is able to fight close to home, it’s a boost for the competitor and his camp. It’s an even bigger boost when the fight in question has championship stakes, like it does here in the Karate Combat 48 main event. Will he make the hometown crowd happy?
Arroyo Hoping for Clean Win Thursday
In the other corner, Antonio Arroyo has posted a 3-1 record with one no-contest in his last five fights. At present, he’s on a three-fight unbeaten run.
Prior to the no-contest earlier this year, he bested Reynaldo Acevedo (11-6 combat sports, 0-1 Karate Combat) by way of second-round knockout back in September of last year. Recently, he was interviewed on Abbey Wagoner’s YouTube channel. He wants a definitive result in the rematch.
“The frustration, the feeling of something incomplete, it just drives me nuts, the anxiety behind it,” Arroyo said of the no-contest. “So, I’ve been just waiting and waiting, trying to get ready, trying to improve, because I know he’s going to be ready. I know he will be better than the last time.”
How will the rematch go? Only time will tell.
Analysis, Film Study, and Prediction
We’ve got another one of those toss-ups in the Karate Combat 48 main event. Both champion and challenger can win inside the distance.
Alvey Can Get the Job Done Quickly
Sam Alvey has the proclivity to finish his assignments in a hurry. One need look no further than his Karate Combat debut versus Adam Ramos.
Upon absorbing a kick to the calf in round one, Alvey stalked Ramos, biding his time before exchanging shots with him. A punch to the head sit Ramos down. with Alvey landing a short burst of ground and pound shots to end the fight.
All it takes for Sam Alvey to defend the title is one shot to the head landing right on the button. If he lands a clean punch to the head, this one will be over in expedient fashion.
Watch for Arroyo’s Knees
In the other corner, Antonio Arroyo can write a finish to this tale if he scores a tremendous knee shot, like he did against Reynaldo Acevedo. Late in the second round of the fight, Arroyo threw feints to keep Acevedo honest before zeroing on Acevedo’s body.
One knee shot later, he was down on-contact on the pit floor. Antonio Arroyo’s key in the Karate Combat 48 main event is simple: Beat Sam Alvey to the first big strike. He just may end the fight with a knee to the body.
Final Thoughts
Get your popcorn ready for the Karate Combat 48 main event on Thursday night. This is going to be a fun scrap.
Prediction: Sam Alvey by First-Round Knockout.
