Two former UTMA champions are stepping into another mutual bout, only this time – in a new weight category. In the UTMA 20 ring in Vilnius, “Sparta” club fighter Raimondas Krilavičius (4-1, UTMA) and “Titanas” representative Mantvydas Perednis (5-5, UTMA) will face each other.
This will be a fight in the under 75 kg weight category, scheduled for three rounds.
Tickets for the UTMA 20 tournament, which will take place on October 24 at the Vilnius Arena, are distributed by bilietai.lt, and you can purchase the PPV broadcast on UTMA.lt.
“A crazy fight awaits – they are both the kind of fighters who never give up, always move forward, and want to brawl and fight. An even bigger battle awaits than the one we saw in the five-round fight, because both are coming into the rematch with even bigger goals: one – to prove that he won rightfully, and the other – that he didn’t deserve to lose,” said UTMA head Viktoras Gecas.
Both of these fighters have been the 77 kg UTMA kickboxing champions. However, this category was eliminated after the restructuring of the organization’s sports structure.
M. Perednis became the very first champion of this category, defeating Dovydas Rimkus in the UTMA 15 tournament after a tough five-round fight.
M. Perednis had to defend his belt already at the UTMA 17 tournament, where he faced R. Krilavičius.
It was during the meeting of these two athletes that the last UTMA 77 kg kickboxing champion was determined. After another five-round war, the “Sparta” club representative claimed the champion’s belt.
“There is no big difference between the 77 and 75 kg weight categories. The main difference is that the 77 kg weight category was eliminated because we have significantly higher competition in the 75 kg weight category. Krilavičius still has a lot to prove even outside of the upcoming fight – many opponents, many unsettled scores. I think that although this fight will not be for the championship belt, it will be an important fight for this category, as one of them will start getting closer to a championship fight already in the 75 kg category,” stated V. Gecas.
After the 77 kg weight category was eliminated, R. Krilavičius chose the 75 kg category and to fight in it when he signed a long-term contract with the UTMA organization in the summer.
R. Krilavičius has not appeared in the ring since the UTMA 17 tournament, while M. Perednis made an appearance quite recently – receiving a late-notice challenge, he replaced one of the fighters in the quarterfinal of the 81 kg eight-man tournament, but ultimately suffered a technical knockout defeat against Tomas Banskis.
“Mantvydas is an absolute warrior, he agrees to anything. He has saved us more than once by accepting all offers. This is a chance for him – he can now defeat Krilavičius in a rematch fight in enemy territory,” said V. Gecas.
By the way, for both fighters, this will be a great opportunity to enter the UTMA 75 kg category rankings or improve their positions in it – in case of a victory, M. Perednis can rise to third place, and R. Krilavičius can immediately jump to the 4th position.
Tickets for the UTMA 20 tournament, which will take place on October 24 at the Vilnius Arena, are distributed by bilietai.lt, and you can purchase the PPV broadcast on UTMA.lt.
