Score Fighting Series 7 preview: Forrest Petz vs. Jordan Mein

By David McKinney
Scott Olmos-US PRESSWIRE

The Thanksgiving holiday means that it’s a slow weekend for MMA action here in the U.S., but Canada already had their Thanksgiving last month, and now we get to be thankful that our friends to the north will save us from a completely MMA-less weekend as Score Fighting Series 7 is set to go down this Friday night in Hamilton, Ontario.

Along with being broadcast on the Score network in Canada, AXS TV will also have full coverage of the event in the U.S.

What’s even better: a main event between two big-show veterans who never seem to be involved in boring fights. Seven-time UFC veteran Forrest Petz will take on current Strikeforce welterweight Jordan Mein in a welterweight bout at the Hamilton Place Theater as part of a six-fight main card.

A true journeyman in every sense of the word, Petz (25-9) has shown the ability to beat just about everybody on the regional scene, but he was just 2-5 in two separate stints inside the Octagon, with his most recent appearance taking place in 2010. But to his credit, Petz has returned to the regional scene and has racked up four straight wins, including three straight via TKO. As a matter of fact, he was involved in a sleeper fight of the year candidate in his last outing against Sergej Juskevic at SFS 4 in March. If you haven’t seen it, go watch it now.

As someone who has followed Petz’s career closely, it’s pretty evident that he has stayed around for two reasons. First, he has very good boxing skills. His boxing keeps him in every fight, and he also has a nice chin to go along with it. Any fighter planning to stand in the pocket with him usually changes that plan about two minutes into the fight. Second, he trains at Strong Style Fight Team in Northeast Ohio with some of the best young fighters in the sport, including Bellator‘s Brian Rogers and Jessica Eye, and UFC heavyweight Stipe Miocic. Having those young and hungry fighters surround him has kept “The Meat Cleaver” hungry as well and he doesn’t appear to be on a huge decline despite being 37.

Mein will be fighting in his native Canada and is technically on loan from Strikeforce for this fight, although he isn’t likely to fight for them again as they’ll close up shop after one final event in January. Despite being 14 years Petz’s junior, he has just one less fight and also holds a 2-1 record inside Strikeforce. A very well-rounded and rangy fighter, Mein has finished 20 of his 25 victories and is known as “Young Gun.”

A second generation fighter, Mein has followed the footsteps of his father Lee as one of the pioneers of Canadian MMA. This is certainly his biggest fight to date, and a win here could earn him a spot in the UFC.

Despite Mein likely being the favorite here, my pick is Petz via decision. It has all the makings of a wildly spectacular fight, so either set the DVR or get your popcorn ready on Friday night.

Also on this card will be Team Quest product Ryan Healy, the brother of Strikeforce contender Pat Healy, and Bellator veterans Will Romero and Tristan Johnson will square off in a rematch of a bout that Johnson won at SFS 1 last year.

To discuss this and other MMA topics, follow me on Twitter @MMAMcKinney.

Share On FacebookShare StumbleUpon

You May Also Like