My take on fixing the "Star Wars" Sequel Trilogy (Part 2)
Part 1 is HERE, if you're curious. This is the first half of my reimagining of Episode VIII. I wanted to fit it all in one post, but it got a little long. I promise: I'll post the second half as soon as it's finished. FAIR WARNING: Full disclosure: I'm one of the Star Wars fans who liked The Last Jedi. In fact, I'd go so far as to call it my favorite movie in the Sequel Trilogy. No, I don't think it was perfect. No, I don't think you're a bad person if you didn't like it. But as I said in my last post, I firmly believe that the single biggest problem with the Sequel Trilogy is that it felt more like an extended tribute to the Original Trilogy than a meaningful continuation of its story; I also happen to believe that The Last Jedi was the major exception to that rule. Love it or hate it, it's hard to deny that The Last Jedi charted its own course, and it was anything but a safe slice of fanservice. It developed the central characters of the Original Trilogy in bold ways, it went out of its way to shake up the classic Star Wars formula, it explored an array of ambitious themes, and it actively avoided following the same plot structure as the Original Trilogy. It's also easily the most visually unique entry in the Sequel Trilogy, with multiple striking set-pieces that look absolutely nothing like anything in the Original Trilogy. The desolate island planet of Ahch-To, the swanky resort/casino of Canto Bight, and the red deserts and crystal caverns of Crait were nothing if not original. I'm not here to argue with people who disliked The Last Jedi; I think we're all pretty sick of arguing about that film by now. But I will tell you up-front: of my three reimaginings of the Sequel Trilogy, this one will be the least changed from the source material. Consider yourself forewarned. The story so far: Thirty years after the death of Emperor Palpatine, an uneasy peace reigns over the galaxy. The New Republic, a democratic regime founded by the heroes of the victorious Rebel Alliance, rules over most of the galaxy from the capital world of Coruscant, its mighty space fleet patrolling the spaceways from the Core Worlds to the Outer Rim. But in the wake of the mysterious disappearance of the legendary Jedi Knight known as Luke Skywalker, the future of the galaxy appears uncertain. Despite the New Republic's best intentions, most of the galaxy's wealth is concentrated in the hands of an elite group of traders and industrialists who profited from the rebuilding of the Core Worlds after the devastation of the Galactic Civil War. Since those dark days, divisions between rich and poor have left the vast majority of the galaxy's population living in squalor, leading to simmering tensions in even the most civilized worlds. On most habitable worlds, the New Republic keeps order with the aid of well-armed Planetary Security forces, who often use brutal methods to quell unrest and root out suspected radical groups. Amid this world of tension, an underground society known only as "The Resistance" claims to champion the ideals of Luke Skywalker, who once stood as a beacon of hope against the forces of tyranny and injustice. Some view the Resistance as dangerous radicals, but others see them as idealistic crusaders keeping the values of the old Rebel Alliance alive. Visually, this era of Star Wars is inspired less by pulp science-fiction of the '30s and '40s (Buck Rogers, Flash Gordon, John Carter of Mars, Lensmen, etc.) and more by cyberpunk fiction of the '80s and '90s (Neuromancer, Snow Crash, Blade Runner, Ghost in the Shell, etc.). The Resistance aren't an upstanding crew of gallant freedom fighters—they're a morally ambiguous band of tattooed street punks who can usually be found hanging out in seedy night clubs at the heart of densely populated cities. "Planetary Security" aren't styled after goose-stepping Nazi Stormtroopers or SS Officers, but after modern-day American SWAT teams or riot cops. Rey didn't grow up on a Tatooine-esque desert planet covered in scrapyards, she grew up in the shantytowns of a sprawling planet-sized city. If you need a visual reference: think this, or this, or this. Anyway... In the Unknown Regions, the splintered remnants of the fallen Galactic Empire fight a long guerrilla war in the darkness of space, regularly launching surprise attacks on unprepared worlds in the Outer Rim as they spin plans to return the Empire to its former glory. Of the dozens of terrorist groups who continue to champion the Imperial cause, among the most merciless is "The First Order", an elusive band of fanatics led by the masked warrior Kylo Ren and his mysterious mentor known only as "The Oracle". Not too long ago, Kylo Ren and his companions (known as "The Knights of Ren") embarked on a mission to the desolate backwater planet of Eravana, looking for an aging old hermit called Lor San Tekka. As it turned out, San Tekka was a former member of the Jedi Order who was among the last people ever to see Luke Skywalker alive—and he possessed valuable information that held the key to revealing his old friend's whereabouts. In a brutal raid, Ren and his companions murdered San Tekka, took the encrypted map that he kept concealed in his necklace, and killed all witnesses in the nearby village that San Tekka guarded in his twilight years. But in the aftermath of the raid, one of Ren's loyal Stormtroopers—designated "FN-2187", but nicknamed "Finn"—suffered a crisis of conscience, and resolved to leave the First Order to defect to the New Republic. Believing that he could buy a new life with information on Luke Skywalker, he stole San Tekka's map and fled to the nearest inhabited world: a densely populated planet called Jakku covered by sprawling cities. Much to his dismay, Finn soon learned that it wouldn't be so easy to outrun his past. Not long after he arrived on Jakku, he found himself fighting for his life when the local Planetary Security force recognized him as a member of an Imperial loyalist group and tried to kill him on the spot. Soon after that, he learned that many of the New Republic's power-brokers were perfectly content to let Luke Skywalker stay in exile, viewing him as a dangerous revolutionary who would provoke unrest among the common people. While on the run from Planetary Security, Finn crossed paths with Rey, an orphaned young woman who was abandoned by her parents in the city's squalid shantytowns when she was just a girl. With the help of Rey and her trusty droid companion BB-8 (whom she built from spare parts), Finn sought out the local Resistance chapter in a seedy nightclub, knowing that they didn't share the New Republic's feelings on Luke Skywalker. Upon realizing that Lor San Tekka's map really did lead straight to Skywalker, the Resistance pledged their help in decoding the map, and offered to give Finn and Rey safe passage to their safehouse on the planet Takodana. After the Resistance made a call to a certain space pilot loyal to their cause, roguish Resistance agent Poe Dameron pledged to accompany Finn and Rey on their journey. With both Kylo Ren and Planetary Security hot on their trail, Finn, Rey, and Poe made a mad dash to Jakku's local spaceport, determined to make their rendezvous with the Resistance's pilot. Much to their surprise, they discovered that the pilot was none other than Han Solo, who had gone underground and joined the Resistance along with his faithful co-pilot Chewbacca. During the journey to Takodana, Han revealed that Kylo Ren was actually his son Ben Solo, a former pupil of Luke Skywalker who turned against him and destroyed his academy. While Han didn't know Luke's whereabouts, he also revealed that Luke vanished shortly after Ben's betrayal—possibly because he felt responsible for it. On Takodana, where the trio met Han's estranged wife Leia Organa—who had also gone underground and joined the Resistance—the Resistance set about decoding the map. Before they could, though, the Resistance's safehouse fell under an orbital strike from Kylo Ren, who had managed to track them to Takodana. Entering the safehouse with his Stormtroopers, Kylo took the encrypted map and captured Rey, then departed for his hidden fortress on the planet Ilum. Determined to reclaim the map and rescue Rey, Han took Finn, Poe, and Chewbacca to Ilum in the Falcon, secretly planning to confront his son and convince him to return to his family. After being interrogated by the First Order for information on Luke Skywalker, Rey miraculously managed to escape from her cell in Kylo's fortress by taking advantage of her latent sensitivity to the Force. Later, as Han entered the fortress with his companions in tow, he called out to his son by name after recognizing him from a distance—but Finn and Poe were forced to watch helplessly as a visibly conflicted Kylo ignited his lightsaber and stabbed his father through the chest, killing him. While making her way through the fortress in search of a way out, Rey accidentally stumbled upon Kylo's personal quarters, where he kept a shrine dedicated to his grandfather Anakin Skywalker, the man once known as "Darth Vader". Among the relics in the shrine was the distinctive black helmet that Anakin wore after his turn to the Dark Side, but also the lightsaber that he wielded as a Jedi—which was inherited by Luke Skywalker. Desperate for a weapon to defend herself, Rey took the lightsaber and instinctively ignited it when Kylo cornered her outside the fortress. In a fierce lightsaber duel, Rey surprisingly managed to hold her own against Kylo, and narrowly managed to escape with her life when Finn and Poe spotted her and picked her up in the Falcon. Rey, Finn, and Poe returned to Takodana with the map in hand, and finally managed to decode it, revealing that Luke Skywalker was on the distant ocean-covered planet of Ahch-To. But Leia, who had sensed Rey's budding sensitivity to the Force, urged Rey to make the journey to Ahch-To without her companions, hoping that Luke could teach her the ways of the Jedi and help her master her new abilities. Heeding Leia's advice, Leia boarded the Falcon with Chewbacca and R2-D2 as her co-pilots, and set course for Ahch-To. After a long flight over Ahch-To's endless seas, she landed on a strangely familiar island, which she seemed to remember from her dreams. On the island, a mysterious figure in a hooded robe stood before a lonely stone temple, seemingly waiting for her. When she held out Anakin Skywalker's lightsaber to the mysterious figure, he removed his hood—revealing the face of Luke Skywalker. And now, our story continues... STAR WARS: EPISODE VIII — THE LAST JEDI (Part 1) A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away... (cue the fanfare) At the center of the New Republic, legendary freedom fighter Leia Organa returns to the capital world of Coruscant. Accompanied by her two newest companions, Leia prepares to call the galaxy to arms as a new war looms on the horizon. Meanwhile, Kylo Ren—the man once known as Ben Solo—gathers the forces of the sinister First Order for a desperate attack on the heart of the Republic, determined to strike back against the forces of the Resistance who once defied him. In the dark days to come, only the last of the Jedi can restore hope to the galaxy in the face of tyranny. After ten years in exile, Luke Skywalker must confront his destiny... After a long journey through space, a starship drops out of hyperspace in the orbit of a planet at the heart of the Galactic Core. At the bridge of the starship, Leia Organa looks down upon the surface of Coruscant—the world where her father once trained as a Jedi, and where her mother once represented her people as a member of the Galactic Senate. Nearby, Poe Dameron and Finn look down at the capital of the New Republic as their loyal companion BB-8 excitedly chirps and beeps. Finn, who was born on a backwater planet on the Outer Rim, is visibly awestruck at the sight of the planet. Poe, a hard-bitten member of the Resistance with no love for the New Republic, looks down on it with disdain. "This is it?" Finn asks. "Yeah, this is it," Poe says cynically. "The bright center of the universe..." Leia breathes deeply as her starship descends, preparing to dock at the spaceport. "A long time ago, I swore I'd never come back to this cess-pit," she says. "I hate to break a promise. But if we're gonna bring down the First Order, we're gonna need help.Something's coming—and I've got a bad feeling about it." In the darkened halls of his starship, Kylo Ren confers with his companions—the seven masked warriors known as "The Knights of Ren"—as he prepares for a meeting with his mentor "The Oracle". For the first time, we hear Kylo address the seven warriors by name, and it immediately becomes clear that Kylo (once called "Ben Solo") isn't the only one of them who cast aside his birth name. His companions (in no particular order) call themselves "Tarmin Ren", "Mokkar Ren", "Kadori Ren", "Shakar Ren", "Darro Ren", "Yandoss Ren", and "Vorjall Ren". As soon as we learn this, it becomes instantly clear that the surname "Ren" holds some personal significance for Kylo and his seven companions, and that each of them chose to take it. But what does it mean? "There are hard days coming," Kylo tells his companions. "The Force is strong with me, but I am no immortal. If I don't survive the battle to come, you must keep our crusade alive. Long ago, we swore an oath to each other. We swore that this war would only the beginning. Soon, we will embark on the final path toward ultimate power. But until then, you must stay on Ilum and await my return. Stay, train, and remember our oath." As the Knights of Ren bid farewell to Kylo and board a shuttle bound for their fortress on the planet Ilum, Kylo steps into the personal chambers of the Oracle. The Oracle's skin is deathly pale, his limbs are long and distorted, half of his face is covered in a horrific burn, and electrical wires extend under his skin like nerves. Upon seeing him in person, we see that he's strapped to a reclining chair and attached to a life-support machine, and is seemingly too frail and injured to stand. When he speaks, his voice warbles and reverberates with electronic sounds. A holographic monitor above his head displays his heartbeats and brainwaves, and seven armed warriors dressed in identical red armor—his Praetorian Guard—surround him at all times. "My worthy disciple..." the Oracle breathes. "It's coming, Oracle," Kylo says. "The day that you foresaw. The death of the New Republic draws near." "And yet, my visions tell of something else," the Oracle says. "Skywalker lives. The seed of the Jedi Order lives. As long as it does, hope lives in the galaxy." "It won't matter," Kylo says. "I'll burn down everything he built. If Skywalker would return, let him rule over dust and ash." "You forget, boy... I know of what you seek. You and your companions. This war is only the beginning. And when the day comes to seek out the ultimate power, you will not find it without me." "I've forgotten nothing, Oracle," Kylo says, bowing. "And I promise you this: when that day comes, the New Republic will not stand in our way." On the planet Ahch-To, we rejoin Rey. On a barren rock at the center of an endless ocean, she approaches Luke Skywalker and presents him with his father's lightsaber—the noble weapon entrusted to him by his mentor Obi-Wan Kenobi, which was seemingly lost forever on Cloud City. Luke steps forward and accepts the lightsaber, clasping it in his metallic hand. For a moment, he seems overcome by memories of his past. But as soon as that moment passes, he nonchalantly tosses the weapon over his shoulder, then walks away without a word. Perplexed, Rey tries to follow him, even as she gradually realizes that the legendary "Sky-Walker" has been changed profoundly by his time in isolation. A far cry from the dashing, handsome war hero worshipped by the Resistance, Luke's hair and beard have grown long, his face is wind-burned, and he dresses in weather-beaten robes. At the top of a hill, she sees a simple hut built of mossy stones, where Luke has apparently lived for 10 long years without a soul for company. As he trudges up to the top of the hill, walks into his hut, and slams the door in her face, he never once glances back at his old lightsaber. Undaunted, Rey follows him into his hut, with Chewbacca following close behind. Luke does his best to blow them off, but Rey persists, following him around the rugged island as he goes about his daily chores. After telling Luke about her recent experiences, Rey insists that she won't leave until Luke trains her in the ways of the Force. Although Luke is devastated to learn of the death of his old friend Han Solo, he stubbornly refuses to train Rey. Having clearly become bitter and jaded in his old age, Luke insists that his training couldn't do Rey any good. "Something inside me has always been there," Rey says. "And now it's awake. And I'm afraid. I don't know what it is, or what to do with it. And I need help!" "You need a teacher. I can't teach you," Luke says. "I will never train another generation of Jedi. I came to this island to die. It's time for the Jedi to end." Rey is utterly shocked to hear Luke so callously reject the Jedi, but she still can't bring herself to abandon her mission. When night falls, she goes to sleep outside Luke's hut, planning to ask him again in the morning. Later that night, Luke creeps into the Millennium Falcon while Rey sleeps, and he finds himself overcome by his old memories as he walks through the familiar hallways of the spaceship that once took him on a fateful journey to the Death Star. While on his way out, he unexpectedly bumps into his trusty old droid R2-D2, who is ecstatic to see his master again after ten long years. Artoo pleads with Luke to leave his self-imposed exile and return to the Republic, but Luke still refuses—until Artoo tugs at his heartstrings by playing the holographic message from Princess Leia that once spurred him to leave Tatooine to fulfill his destiny. As Luke hears the familiar words "Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi—you're my only hope!", he realizes that he can't deny who he truly is. He promises Rey that he will begin training her at dawn, but tells her that he will only give her three lessons on the Force. Back on his starship, Kylo Ren strides from the Oracle's chamber and walks into another room. The room is empty—but when he presses a button on the wall, the lights dim, and the room is filled with a massive hologram. Kylo suddenly finds himself at the center of a massive auditorium filled with shadowed figures, all of them dressed in the traditional colors of the old Galactic Empire. Some of them dress in blood-red armor, others in crisp black naval uniforms, others in white robes; in one corner of the auditorium, we see a group of men in grey chainmail with faces covered in black tattoos. "Who summons us?" one man calls out in a mocking voice. "Another pretender to the Imperial throne?" Kylo steps into the light. "I am Kylo Ren—master of the Knights of Ren, and Supreme Commandant ofthe First Order!" he responds. "I am no pretender, and I have come to claim no throne. Only my destiny." Cruel laughter fills the room. "And what of you?" Kylo asks. "Make yourselves known." One by one, the leaders of the various assembled groups step out of the shadows and announce themselves. "The Commander ofthe Crimson Legionstands present!" "The Admiral ofthe Black Fleetstands present!" "The Sovereign ofthe Dark Chosenstands present!" "The Lord ofthe True Sithstands present!" In our last adventure, it was well-established that the First Order are just one of many terrorist organizations formed from the splintered remnants of the fallen Empire, and they've been fighting a protracted guerrilla war against the New Republic while hiding in the Unknown Regions. Now, for the first time, we get a real idea of just how many Imperial loyalists groups are really hiding out on the fringes of the Galaxy. And for the first time in a long while, the leaders of the most powerful groups have come together to discuss an alliance. Some of them are partisan soldiers, others are Dark Side cultists, others command pirate space fleets, and some are adept warriors who practice the secret martial disciplines once wielded by Palpatine's elite Royal Guard. They all have their own private missions and agendas, but they all share a common dream: the eradication of the New Republic, and the rebirth of the Galactic Empire. "The New Republic has spread like a cancer. It is a parasite, corrupting the heart of a galaxy that was once great," Kylo says. "On Coruscant, where the Imperial Palace once stood, the bureaucrats of the Senate rule over a kingdom of beggars and thieves, bowing to the whims of the weak and the cowardly! But I know the same sacred truth that Palpatine knew: the Galaxy belongs only to the strong!" A murmur of approval echoes through the room—but one of Kylo's invited guests remains skeptical. "And you mean to challenge them, do you? Shall the fleet of the New Republic bow to a half-grown boy?" As an answer, Kylo pulls a familiar object from the folds of his cloak and holds it up to the light. His guests gasp in shock as they get a good look at it. It's Darth Vader's helmet! "They will bow to the heir of Darth Vader!" he calls, his voice echoing through the chamber. "Who are you, Ren?" the skeptical guest asks. "Who are you, truly?" A sly smile crosses Kylo's lips. "Once, my name wasBen Solo," he says. "My father was a lowborn smuggler. My mother, raised by the Queen of Alderaan, was the daughter of a Jedi Knight. His name wasAnakin Skywalker—but you knew him by another name." Kylo ignites his lightsaber as he holds Vader's helmet aloft. "I fight in the name of my grandfather, who once led the Empire to victory. I remember those who came before me. And when the time comes, I ask only that youtake what is yours." After a long silence, someone finally speaks. "What do you propose?" he asks. Once again, Kylo smiles. "Stay vigilant for word from Coruscant," he says. On Coruscant, Leia disembarks from her starship with Finn, Poe, and BB-8 in tow, and she's promptly greeted by mobs of spectators—some of whom clearly adore her, and some of whom apparently despise her. Since she went underground and joined the Resistance years earlier, Leia hasn't been seen in public in a long time, much less on the capital planet of the New Republic. A short distance away, Leia's destination looms above the crowds. It's the Galactic Senate Chamber—the building where Palpatine declared himself Emperor over half a century ago. She doesn't say a word, but the implication is clear: Leia has come to address the Senate on the threat of the First Order. Just like her mother, who once appeared before the Senate to call for aid on behalf of her people, Leia plans to call for aid against those who would keep Palpatine's dream alive. Inside the Senate Chamber, a massive multi-species delegation of planetary representatives has gathered to hear Leia's testimony. Before she approaches the platform at the center of the chamber, she orders Poe and Finn to wait on the sidelines for her. "It's been seven years since your last public appearance," one Senator says, as Leia takes the stand. "What urgent matter begs the attention of a princess?" Derisive laughter echoes through the chamber, but Leia stays passive. "I was a princess once," Leia says pensively. "I was a rebel. A diplomat. A smuggler's lover. It never really mattered to me. At heart, I've only ever been a soldier." "Once, perhaps," the Senator fires back. "This is peacetime, Your Highness. Have you forgotten that?" "I don't forget many things," Leia says. "Can you say the same?" A murmur of unrest echoes through the chamber. The Senator, unamused, proceeds forward. "Speak your piece, Your Highness," he says coldly. "You have the floor." True to his word, Luke gives Rey her first lesson in the Force in the early morning hours, encouraging her to reach out with her feelings while meditating at the top of a mountain. As Rey feels herself mentally connecting with the life around her, Luke tells her that the Force pervades all things, and all things achieve balance through the Force. Life and Death, Light and Darkness, Birth and Decay, and all of the forces that shape the universe itself. Rey realizes that she feels that same Force within herself. While the Force once gave the Jedi great power, Luke believes that the Jedi were undone by their arrogance when they convinced themselves that the Force belonged to them. As he tells Rey: even if the Jedi die out, the Force can never truly fade away—and the people of the Galaxy don't need the Jedi to teach them how to connect with the Force. "And this is the lesson," Luke says. "The Force does not belong to the Jedi. To say that if the Jedi die the Light dies is vanity. Can you feel that?" But Rey's lesson suddenly takes a dark turn when Rey senses something truly powerful and truly evil: a dark cavern beneath Luke's island temple, where the Dark Side of the Force gathers and festers. Something in the cavern calls out to her, promising to answer every question that she's asked herself since she was young. Despite Luke's warnings, Rey finds herself drawn to the darkness, forcing Luke to cut her lesson short. Visibly disturbed, Luke realizes that Rey's connection to the Force might be stronger than he realized—and she might be more susceptible to the allure of the Dark Side than he feared. "That place was trying to show me something," Rey says. "It offered you something you needed," Luke says. "And you didn't even try to stop yourself! I've seen this raw strength only once before, in Ben Solo. It didn't scare me enough then. It does now." As Luke strides away, Rey contemplates the unsteady ground beneath her feet, wondering what the cave was trying to show her. "I think my report speaks for itself," Leia says, at the conclusion of a short speech before the Senate. "Yes, quite..." the Senator says. "A terrorist base on Ilum? A fanatic with a lightsaber?" "A fanatic with a lightsaber and an army," Leia corrects him. "Kylo Ren is more than a terrorist. He has ambition. He has charisma. And he has power. Power like I haven't felt in years. Not since..." Leia's voice falters as she remembers her first encounter with her father as an adult. She doesn't finish her sentence, but her thoughts are clear: "Not since I stared Darth Vader in the face." "By all means, Your Highness..." the Senator says, rolling his eyes. "Indulge us with your murmurings about ripples in the Force!" Mocking laughter echoes through the chamber. It's immediately clear that few of the Senators take the Force seriously, dismissing it as an ignorant superstition. For the first time since she arrived on Coruscant, Leia raises her voice. Anger flashes in her eyes as she silences the laughter with a single word. "QUIET!" she yells. "Don't you ever forget: I fought on the frontlines with the Rebel Alliance! I gave everything I had to their cause, and I nearly died for it! I haven't forgotten what I fought against. Thirty years ago, I learned the true meaning of evil, and I stared it down and held my ground. The Dark Side isn't a fairy tale. Believe in it, or don't. It'll rip your heart out just the same." Sufficiently goaded, the Senator rises to his feet. "You would dare befoul this chamber with your superstitious clamor?" he fires back. "And shall we be lectured on evil by the daughter of Darth Vader?" All around the chamber, Senators audibly gasp. Leia stares down her adversary from across the length of the room, and his lips curl into an arrogant sneer. He has mentioned her greatest shame—the one that she could never overcome. "We haven't forgotten the past," the Senator says. "We remember what happened when the Jedi were allowed free reign. We remember what happened when the people of the Galaxy vainly put their faith in the Force. And we remember the Jedi who sat at the Emperor's right hand. Rest assured: the past will not repeat itself. If the Jedi would die, then let them die." Leia's lips tremble as she struggles to speak. "The Jedi aren't dead," she says. "There's one left. And he won't stay gone forever." "Luke Skywalker..." the Senator says derisively. "You say that you've foreseen a dark future for this Republic. So tell us, Your Highness: when that future comes, will one old man be enough to save us?" Leia takes a deep breath. "For all our sakes, I hope so." Kylo Ren's starship drops out of hyperspace, accompanied by dozens of First Order ships. As the fleet courses through the darkness of space, we see that they're flying in formation around a strange-looking starcraft that doesn't look quite like anything we've seen before. Its body is elongated, it's covered with transparent viewing windows, and glowing orbs endlessly spin around its midsection, pulsing and crackling with powerful energy. At the bridge of his flagship, Kylo sits behind a control panel. In the viewing window, a planet comes into view. It's Coruscant. Kylo Ren and the First Order have come to the capital of the New Republic. "Remember the plan," Kylo says to his officers. "And ready theStar Hammer. We've only got one shot at this!" In a pristine Planetary Security station at the heart of Coruscant—similar to the one we saw on Jakku—uniformed officers monitor a series of holographic computer banks, which display Coruscant's defense grid of armed orbital satellites. Suddenly, one by one, the computer monitors begin flashing bright red. "Something's not right..." a Planetary Security officer says, suddenly worried. "We're losing contact with our orbital defense grid!" As his starship enters Coruscant's orbit, Kylo keys a command into a computer panel. Back in the Planetary Security station on the surface of the planet, a look of abject horror crosses one officer's face. "No..." he breathes. "That's not possible!" "What's going on?" his commander asks. "It's our defense grid... We can't get a signal through, but our satellites are still moving on their own! They're turning—and they're aiming at the surface of the planet!" In an instant, the commander realizes what's happening: someone has hacked Coruscant's defense grid, and they're attacking the planet with its own defenses! The commander begins barking orders to his subordinants. "Send a message to every security station on the planet: the capital is under attack!" he yells. In the Senate Chamber, Leia and the Senator stare each other down. But before either of them can say another word, the building shakes, and the ground rumbles. Outside, a massive barrage of laser-fire rains down from the sky as the hacked satellites fire at the surface of Coruscant. Within moments, the center of the city is in flames. Buildings buckle and collapse, and the screams and cries of dying civilians echo through the streets. Inside the Senate Chamber, a Planetary Security squad rushes inside and orders the assembled Senators to evacuate. As the terrified politicians prepare to follow the Planetary Security officers to the nearest spaceport, one of the officers points to Leia. "You! Come with us, Your Highness. We have orders to evacuate you separately!" Leia gestures to Finn and Poe, who look around in terror and confusion as Coruscant collapses around them. "I'm not leaving alone," Leia says. "They're coming with me!" Together, Leia and her companions make a mad dash to the spaceport as chaos erupts all around them. In the skies above Coruscant, the First Order's warships come into view as they unleash a hellish artillery barrage on the buildings below. After a long run to the spaceport, the Planetary Security officers direct Leia to her ride off of Coruscant. To her surprise, it's not a civilian transport—it's the Comet Chaser, a warship in the New Republic space fleet. "You've been designated a critical asset by New Republic High Command!" the officer says. "You have intelligence on the First Order. That means we want you by our side." They board the Comet Chaser. Evading enemy fire, the warship takes off into the sky to join the unfolding space battle. But the worst is yet to come... In Coruscant's orbit, Kylo's elongated spacecraft—the mighty Star Hammer—charges its central reactor, and the glowing orbs spinning around its midsection begin to speed up. On the bridge of his starship, Kylo lays his hands on his control panel and begins making a complex gesture with his hands. The spinning orbs around the Star Hammer's midsection begin to speed up—and somewhere in the distance, a massive object approaches Coruscant... Back in the Planetary Security station on Coruscant's surface, one of the monitoring computers goes haywire. Heads turn as it begins beeping a shrill warning siren. "Something's coming..." one of the officers says. "Gravity fluctuations are off the chart! Whatever it is, it's big!" When he realizes what he's looking at, the commanding officer's mouth hangs open in shock. "No..." In the orbit of Coruscant, we zoom in on the Star Hammer as it shoots a burst of iridescent blue energy into the distance and hits Coruscant's moon. Finally, we realize what the Star Hammer is doing: it's an advanced superweapon that controls gravity, and it's caught Coruscant's moon in a powerful tractor beam. Now, as the First Order rains destruction down on the the New Republic's capital, it's preparing to hurl the moon at the surface of Coruscant, forcing the two celestial bodies into a massive collision that will wipe out all life on the planet. As the moon moves inexorably toward the surface of Coruscant, hundreds of civilian transports take off, desperately attempting to flee to freedom. On the surface of Coruscant, all Hell breaks loose as the moon comes into view, looming large over the seas of panicking civilians on the ground. Earthquakes tear through the surface of the planet, the ground splits open, and buildings collapse by the dozens. The Republic space fleet can repel an enemy space fleet, but they can't fight the raw power of gravity. Somewhere in the distance, Republic starships attempt to fight their way through the First Order's battle lines to take a shot at the Star Hammer and stop the moon—but it's already too late. As the Comet Chaser carries them into space, Finn and Poe can only watch in awe and horror as the moon slams into Coruscant, obliterating the New Republic's capital within moments. Far away, on another starship, a man dressed in Imperial colors watches the destruction of Coruscant unfold on a holographic viewscreen. As we soon see, it's the same man who skeptically dismissed Kylo at his gathering. Suddenly, Kylo's face appears in his viewscreen as he sends him a transmission from Coruscant. He leans in close, staring coldly. "Do I have your attentionnow?" Kylo asks. TL;DR: My version of The Last Jedi begins with Kylo Ren and the First Order forming a massive alliance of terrorist groups who continue to champion the cause of the Galactic Empire. While Rey trains with Luke on Ahch-To, Finn and Poe accompany Leia to the New Republic capital of Coruscant, where Leia attempts to warn the Galactic Senate of the threat of the First Order. Despite her best efforts, Leia's warnings are ignored by the Senate, who dismiss her visions of the rebirth of the Dark Side as superstitious prattle. In the middle of Leia's speech before the Senate, the First Order launches a shocking attack on the capital, using an experimental weapon known as "The Star Hammer" (which controls gravity) to hurl Coruscant's moon at the surface of the planet, wiping out most life on Coruscant. Amid the chaos, Leia narrowly manages to escape in a New Republic warship with Finn and Poe—but the First Order's attack turns out to be the first step in a coordinated assault, signaling Imperial loyalists all across the Galaxy to emerge from the shadows and attack the Republic. Additionally: the Knights of Ren have names, and it's established that they all use the surname "Ren"—hinting that the name holds some personal significance for them. And in a conversation between Kylo Ren and his mysterious mentor "The Oracle", it's hinted that Kylo's war with the New Republic is just the first step in a quest for ultimate power.
Application: Casino Heist crew member.(If I had a GTA Online Criminal Vitae, this would be it)
Names: T2t0Molf (PSN) 2T0MOLF (R* Social Club) Age/playtime: 3 months online Born/Joined: Sep 29 2019 Rank: 101 Self summary Competent driver, pilot and gunman who won't run headfirst into a hail of bullets. Work experience: Contact Missions Heists
The Fleeca Job
Prison Break
Humane Raid
Series A Funding
The Pacific Standard Job
Lowriders
Community Outreach
Slow and Low
Funeral Party
Lowrider Envy
Point and Shoot
Desperate Times Call For...
Peace Offerings
Diamond Casino & Resort
Loose Cheng
House Keeping
Strong Arm Tactics
Play to Win
Bad Beat
Cashing Out
Doomsday
The Bogdan Problem
"Professional" References: Agatha Baker - "I've never met this criminal in my life" Tao Cheng's Translator Tao Cheng - "Tony mah muthafucka" Lester Crest - "All he had to do was ride the damn bike" Paige Harris Assistant - "He's addicted to sugar" Vincent - "It was a pleasure working with that fine gentleman. I look forward to doing it again" Simeon Yetarian - "He's like a son to me, a psychotic black son" Agent 14 Gerald - "He's kept his mouth shut so far" Tony Prince - "I have no idea what he does down there" English Dave - "E's a proper nutter my son" Mladen Solomun - "I didn't know they partied like this in LS" Carmine Conte - "He got us a car we didn't even ask for" Matteo Milleri - "I saw Dixon on his computer screen :(" Ron Jakowski - "His flying could use some work" Trevor Phillips - " THAT AIRSTRIP BELONGS TO TREVOR PHILLIPS ENTERPRISE!!! STOP STEALING OUR AIRCRAFT!! " Martin Madrazo - "So very rude" Thornton Duggan - "He's been looking at me strangely" Character References: Diamond Casino valet - "He hasn't killed me yet so that's cool" Tom Connors - "Doesn't order enough champagne" Lamar Davis - "He's shorter than I expected" Bunker staff - "I don't think he likes the Liveries" MC Business staff - "We have no supplies!!!" Nightclub staff - "He just dances and sits in his office all day" Lazlow - "He gave me a loud flashing roof over my head" Casino staff - "He keeps mumbling something about robbing us when he isn't counting to four by the lucky wheel" Associates: Securoserv - "He only ever does two jobs" LJT - "All he had to do was drive the damn trash truck" Merryweather - "Why are we his associates, he keeps killing us and stealing our shit! Mendoza's been fuckin hit so many times" Vagos - Pendejo Ballas - Busta' The Lost MC - "Ok zoomer" Families - "This foo' yells GROVE STREET IS KING! err-time he drive through forum drive. The Grove is Ballas country" Available for upcoming Casino heist. Edit: Formatting is hard
[Spoilers] A multitude of theories from the FBI Files' hints (with pictures)
General Information
Some of these theories were not completely my original ideas, I'll give credit to the people who helped me formulate them.
Are we not getting a Christmas heist from Vlad? Things are kinda dicey right now, and Bain wouldn't be able to tell us what to do.
It can be certain that the gang is going back to DC, because Locke told us to go to the safehouse. etc
The Japanese email address sent to the Commissioner probably links to Kento, somehow.
Annuit Coeptis, the subject line of the email, is Latin. Google Translate turns it into "Signals Enterprise," but the Wikipedia page translates it to "[he] favors our undertaking" (or commencement). The Google translation is pretty useless, but the information from Wikipedia is very important. Shortly after the birth of America as a sovereign nation, Sam Adams ordered the creation of a national seal; this is where the pyramid and Annuit Coeptis (from the $1 bill) come from.
In relation to the last point, the Declaration of Independence (steal it? pls no ovk) had a number of grievances against England and King George III. The one that we are concerned with is: "He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people." The email from the FBI files reads, "He has plundered your seas, ravaged your coasts, burnt your towns, and destroyed the lives of your people." Big thanks to nopefruit for this information!
The "your" is most certainly relating to Bain and the Payday gang, and is followed by the message, "Mr. Garrett, what is stopping your nemesis worth to you?" This supports the idea of a third-party organization being involved in the attempts to destroy the Payday gang.
Bain is most certainly not dead, whoever was raiding his hideout was trying to capture him, because they must know he has information about the "holy grail." The police might have Bain in custody (probably in a hospital, Bain wouldn't go down without a fight), or a third-party organization seeking the downfall of the Payday gang has him. Ring any bells?
Hospital. No Mercy. No one knows what Bain looks like, so they have to do DNA samples to find "Patient X." This would most likely occur if Bain was taken by the police, because police are humane and put people in hospitals once they're severely wounded. (Bain's going to be injured for sure) Created with inspiration from MaxShouldier 's post about a "hospital."
Third-party organization wants the Payday gang out of town. I'll get to who this might be later in the post, but remember what Locke said in Heat Street? "Someone is out to get the Payday gang!" Locke knows more than we think he does about this whole scenario, he'll most likely become our (temporary?) new Bain.
Bain said as one of his very last transmissions, "Go to Brooklyn, Locke knows a guy." This could possibly allude to the Continental helping the gang out. Thanks to _FreeFaller , as well as lots of other pieces of information about the Dentist.
Interesting quote from the FBI Files heist description of Alaskan Deal: "After the Alaska event, rumors abound in the underworld of betrayal, but I haven’t been able to confirm anything."
Bain has blonde hair by the way. You can see the back of his head in the helicopter when the door opens for the CEO to get in.
VERY INTERESTING QUOTE from FBI Files heist description of Diamond Heist: "The fact that they took the bait on this is perfectly in line with how we will eventually to stop them. The timing of this hit is a bit odd, though. There’s something “off” about the Garnet Group in all of this, but I just can’t put my finger on it yet." - Garnet is FOR SURE part of the plot to destroy the Payday gang.
The Cuneiform writing from the FBI Files email reads, "From the hill to the path of the river, to the crossing of the honored dead at rest, you will find a place of reckoning." This could allude to many things, but the most possible relation I see is (Capitol) hill, the Potomac river, and Arlington National Cemetery (dead). Thanks to TheFlaredBaron for solving the Cuneiform puzzle, it has really narrowed down the theories!
On the map, black denotes to things alluded to from the Cuneiform translation, blue denotes possible heist locations (where the gang will find a place of reckoning), and red denotes a previous theory I had that is not very plausible anymore. My map derived from StealArty 's map of Washington D.C., showing the close relation of the Arlington National Cemetery, Capitol Hill, and the Potomac River.
There is no FBI Files heist description for the Reservoir Dogs Heist, but I'll update this with any interesting notes I find from it once/if it is added.
From the way the Commissioner is treating the emails (labeling them as spam), the likelihood that the police are behind the capture/murder of Bain becomes less likely. If the police had him, the Commissioner would know, unless the police also know we are inside the FBI Files.
Theory 1: The Dentist's Revenge
So, this all goes back to the Golden Grin Casino. The Dentist wanted us to steal the special loot, which was almost worthless to us, but seemingly very valuable to him. The loot had the symbol of the Illuminati on it, which is also found on the American $1 bill.
Bain might have realized what exactly the Dentist's loot was (holy grail?) and began making plants to steal it back, but the Dentist realized what was going on and sent his guys to deal with Bain.
The Dentist is known to have very extensive connections, which means he could have the means to take down the Payday gang.
Taken from the FBI Files heist description of Golden Grin Casino: "But, given all of this, the owners are being very cagey about what they Payday gang took. “They ripped the heart outta this place,” an employee was quoted as saying.
In the trailer for The Diamond, start at the 2:35 mark. The image you'll see will be The Diamond, with a reflection of Dallas in it, reaching for it. Soon after, a dark figure appears behind Dallas, and two ovals that appear to be eyes begin to glow. These ovals are an aqua color, and make the dark figure bear an obvious resemblance of The Dentist. The next image you will see shows someone (probably the dark figure) then proceeds to fire a silenced gun, and blood is spattered over The Diamond, obscuring any further reflections. Thanks to thejojobuitenzorg for pointing this information out.
This alludes to The Dentist doing anything to gain power and to get what he wants (if this is the case, it's really neat that a trailer from December 2014 leads up to what must be the finale of Payday 2)
Locke says that Bain had people he thought he could trust turn on him. Bain trusted the contacts, and the contacts trusted Bain. The Dentist (or some other contact, perhaps) betrayed this trust by selling Bain out.
Theory 2: The Yakuza
We didn't do Heat Street and Green Bridge for nothing. Where's Kento?
Kento could be in Mercy Hospital, just putting it out there.
The Japanese email address could allude to the Yakuza or Kento.
In the two jobs from the Search for Kento, we essentially kidnap two people. Matt (currently residing on Jacket's couch in the Safe House) hasn't told us anything. Kazuo (idk where he is) hasn't told us anything either.
This is taken from the Payday Wikia. Matt was sent as an informant by an unknown organization that wants to destroy the Payday gang. Who he was trying to inform, we can't know for certain. Locke tipped the gang off, letting us know someone was out to get us. Locke therefore could be a double agent within the unknown organization, which explains how he knew someone was out to get us during Heat Street and how he knew he had to get us out of DC.
Kento is perhaps behind the efforts to undermine the Payday gang.
If you can't tell, this is my least confident theory. Don't leave now though! Next theory is really good, I promise!
Theory 3: Garnet Group
During the Reservoir Dogs Heist, Bain says that there are "strange blockers" in the network he is hacking. (rip net neutrality?)
My speculation is that these blockers somehow traced Bain's location, which then notified the Garnet Group (or someone else) where Bain was. They then sent a task force to most likely kidnap (or maybe kill, who knows) Bain.
Supporting information that the Garnet Group is behind the email sent to the Commissioner: the sender asked him how much he was willing to pay/give for the destruction of the Payday gang. The Garnet Group is obviously very financially stable, so they could pay a lot to the Commissioner as a form of revenge after the Diamond Heist at their skyscraper.
The Garnet Group could be after Bain after he threw their CEO out of a helicopter.
Locke said he had to get us out of DC, and the only way he could do that was through Alaskan Deal. Locke therefore knew something was up, and he has been trying to help out Bain through this fiasco. The next heist, the Diamond Heist, directed by Bain, attacks the "financial backing" of Locke. If Bain knew that Locke was still on our side and was just getting us out of DC, why would we attack the Garnet Group?
There must have been another target. Perhaps the Garnet Group was secretly searching for the holy grail as well, and Bain wanted to take out their finances before they could do anything. This would also explain why Bain had us attack the Garnet Group (out of all the jewelry stores) a second time - to steal more of their wealth.
Hanging garden @ of yesterday (the email sender's address) could relate to the shrubbery around Garnet Group's skyscraper. Of yesterday could relate to a revenge plot because the Diamond Heist occurred in the past.
Theory 4: Hector's Revival This is just a theory to lighten the mood after I'm talking about everything else falling apart. Basically, one of the Payday gang's contracts is selling them out. We'll even include the dead ones, in case they tried to pull a fast one on the gang after they "died." This theory isn't necessary limited to Hector, it could be any other enemy of the Payday gang. Possible suspects: Hector (miraculously revived), Dmitri Volkov (Vlad's rival), the Mendozas, Professor Rossy (the scientist who created the engine in Big Oil), the Cobra gang (traded the meth with them, almost everyone steals it back), Murkywater, Grigori Beria (the Commissar, revived), Akan, the Overkill Motorcycle Club, Ernesto Sosa (revived), whoever tried to kidnap Charon, Garnet Group. Also, can we talk about where Ilija the Sniper went? He's an FBI informant for sure. One, final thought. Holy grail? WE SHALL RETAKE JERUSALEM! So that we might find the holy grail! DEUS VULT! tl;dr - Bain's in trouble. Locke is good. The Dentist or other contacts could be bad. Yakuza is mysterious. Garnet Group is fishy. Stuff from 2014 is starting to make sense. The Dentist is probably part of the Illuminati. And (probably) No Mercy - coming soon to a Payday 2 near you!
Mukul Pahuja overcomes adversity to win WSOP trophy
The World Series of Poker Circuit Main Event at Palm Beach Kennel Club in Florida brought together many of the players who were hungry for land-based competition. They've got plenty of choices if they go over the Internet with the tournaments running live at Unibet poker keeping them at the edge of their seats. There are plenty of advantages associated to online gambling, but there are many who think that only a live poker game can capture the very essence of this beautiful sport. Among those who participate in this tournament that made a deep run it is worth mentioning Jonathan Hilton, Maurice Hawkins, Russ Head and Tony Ruberto. The last was actually the most successful of all of them as he finished in the 10th Pl., even though this was not enough for him to make the final table. In the WSOP tournaments the final table consists of nine players, so he finished just short of that. At the same time, Juan Mendoza and Weinman were battling at the bottom of this list and decided not to take any chances with their tiny stacks. $5000 was the difference between the player who finish in the eighth place and the one who came in the night, so it was worth fighting for. At the same time, players who had more chips in front of them tried to make the most of this advantage and improve their chances of winning the tournament. Mukul Pahuja was among them and he pushed short stackers into a corner, by forcing them to react to his aggressive place all the time. Eventually, he went all in with a pair of jacks against Dalton Mills and he got lucky because he managed to beat a pair of Kings when a fortunate jack appeared on the flop. From this point onward he only went upward and kept playing aggressive poker to consolidate his stack. As the field was limited to just three players, they chose to discuss the terms of a deal but no agreement was reached so competition resumes promptly. Two players from Florida were well positioned to win it and eventually they managed to send Eric Bunch to the rail in the third-place. Adam Levy, Tristan Wade, and Daniel Weinman were regarded as the main favorites to win the tournament but they were eliminated one by one, with at them being the last to be sent home. Mukul Pahuja emerge victorious and for his performance he won almost $200,000, while the next players collected the amounts listed below: 1 Mukul Pahuja Coconut Creek, FL $193,0952 Adam Levy Coral Springs, FL $119,4343 Eric Bunch Skiatook, OK $87,3344 Dalton Mills Jacksonville, FL $64,8065 Joshua Lowing Pensacola, FL $48,7616 Staffan Lind Vero Beach, FL $37,1947 Tristan Wade Boynton Beach, FL $28,7628 Daniel Weinman Atlanta, GA $22,5469 Juan Mendoza Wilmington, NC $17,912 from via Casinoreviews
[FIGHT PREVIEWS] Anselmo Moreno vs Javier Nicolas Chacon, Merlito Sabillo vs Francisco Rodriguez Jr, Odlanier Solis vs Tony Thompson, Juan Carlos Reveco vs Manuel Vides + more
Friday March 21
From Villa La Ñata Sporting Club, Benavídez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Juan Carlos Reveco 32(17)-1 vs Manuel Vides 15(9)-2
12 rounds WBA World flyweight title Let’s try to make some sense of this. Juan Carlos Reveco is the WBA world flyweight titlist. He won the title on the interim basis (he won 3 interim title fights before the WBA made up their mind and made him the champion.) But he’s not the flyweight champion of the world, nor is he even the WBA flyweight champion! Really! Juan Francisco Estrada is the WBA super world champion (more prestigious because of the super) and was last seen against Milan Melindo in Macao. And since we’re on the subject, THE flyweight champion of the world is Akira Yaegashi. The flyweight division is packed right now. Reveco has Roman Gonzalez on his heels looking to get his title and if it’s not Gonzalez it could be any of the other 6 elite flyweights. Vides shouldn’t be too big of a challenge for Reveco. Vides has never stepped below what I call regional level and this will be the lowest weight he’s ever fought at.
Friday March 21
From Fil Oil Flying V, San Juan Arena, San Juan City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Michael Farenas 37(29)-4-4 vs Hector Velazquez 56(38)-20-3
12 rounds super featherweight division Farenas may not have the prettiest record, but his grit and heart make him an exciting fighter to watch as well as a tough out. Farenas is a 29 year old southpaw out of the Philippines. He cuts easily and while I wouldn’t call him a dirty fighter, I think he’s a dirty fighter. Farenas took Takashi Uchiyama (the super featherweight champion of the world) to a draw and gave Yuriorkis Gamboa a few scares (including hurting him several times).His only loss in the past 4 years was to Gamboa. Farenas will give any super featherweight trouble. He’s a pesky fighter who does what he has to do to win. From Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, Cabazon, California
Vanes Martirosyan 33(21)-1-1 vs Mario Alberto Lozano 28(22)-4
10 rounds light middleweight division I’ve been critical of Martirosyan in the past. I find him to be a one plan only fighter. The good thing for him is that plan certainly works out more often than not. His record proves that. Lozano has fought at welterweight for most of his career. He’s come up short against all of the experienced fighters he’s faced and is the perfect fight for Martirosyan to get started with new promoter Gary Shaw.
Anthony Peterson 32(21)-1 vs Marcos Leonardo Jimenez 20(13)-4
10 rounds
junior welterweight division
Anthony is the younger brother of IBF light welterweight champion Lamont. He was a fast-rising prospect at one point in his career and had one of those gut-check type fights back in 2010 against Brandon Rios. Rios was too much for him and only a DQ saved Peterson from the beating he was getting against Rios. He took a couple years off after that and has been on the comeback trail since. Jimenez is a good opponent, but if Peterson still has some of the skills we saw earlier in his career, he can easily win this one.
Saturday March 22
From Arena Monterrey, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
Merlito Sabillo 23(12)-0-1 vs Francisco Rodriguez Jr 13(9)-2
12 rounds
WBO minimumweight title
Filipino Merlito Sabillo won the WBO strap on the interim basis a year ago and was upgraded to full in the summer of 2013. Sabillo is looking to make his case as one of the elite minimumweights out there. Takayama and Budler remain as the top dogs at minimumweight, but a win for Sabillo, with his himpressive record, will make a potential showdown with either of the 2 very interesting. Rodriguez Jr is inexperienced, but no joke. The only problem I have with him is he’s moving down from flyweight to minimumweight (that’s 7 pounds difference) which I think is a little dangerous.
Jorge Paez Jr 37(22)-4-1 vs Vivian Harris 31(19)-9-2
10 rounds
welterweight division
This was a terrible fight when it was going to be Erik Morales vs Paez Jr. Now it will be Harris vs Paez Jr. Still terrible! Paez Jr is coming off a very nice stoppage over Ivan Hernandez and I don’t think Harris really stands a chance. From Arena Roberto Duran, Panama City, Panama
Anselmo Moreno 34(12)-2-1 vs Javier Nicolas Chacon 19(4)-1
12 rounds
WBA super world bantamweight title
You are probably saying to yourself, what the hell, I thought Moreno recently lost to Abner Mares, where did he heist a title from? Let alone a WBA super world title? (This means he’s unified at least 2 titles in a weight class.) Here’s the story. Moreno moved up to super bantamweight to face Mares and never vacated the bantamweight title. So when Moreno got whooped, he came back to bantamweight where his belt was waiting for him. As for this fight, Chacon is an Argentine who I can’t signal the upset alarm. He’s only fought 2 10 round fights. One was a split decision win, the other he got knocked out. He’s faced only local competition and none were better than ‘good on the domestic level.’ Moreno is many classes above him and should have no problem. Hopefully, Moreno stops messing around and goes after Yamanaka or Solis after. From Auditorio Juan Pachín Vicéns, Ponce, Puerto Rico
Jose Pedraza 15(10)-0 vs Alberto Garza 26(21)-6-1
12 rounds
super featherweight division
Pedraza is a very nice prospect and this is a quiet step-up for him. He’s a Puerto Rican kid who puts his punches together nicely and I can see him winning a world title some day. From Coliseo Roger L. Mendoza, Caguas, Puerto Rico
Jorge Melendez 27(26)-3-1 vs Richard Gutierrez 27(17)-12-1
10 rounds
light middleweight division
This card will be on UniMas and this is a good enough main event. Melendez is either gonna knock his man out or Gutierrez will land a lucky punch and knock him out. Gutierrez has most losses than wins in the past several years.
Felix Verdejo 10(7)-0 vs Juan Santiago 14(8)-11-1
6 rounds
lightweight division
Yes, settle down. Verdejo is back. He’s fighting in Puerto Rico and the atmosphere should be amazing. Verdejo should put on a show like he always does. Hopefully it lasts more than 1 round. From Istanbul, Turkey
Odlanier Solis 20(13)-1 vs Tony Thompson 38(26)-4
12 rounds
heavyweight division
This is an okay match-up, but in the Klitschko-era not really. Neither guy at this point in their career will give Wladimir much trouble. Solis had the chance to be the first Cuban heavyweight champion when he faced big brother Vitali, but was foiled when Vitali hit him with a right hook that made Solis stumble and suffer a knee injury. Thompson is coming off an uninspiring loss after facing perhaps the best heavyweight in the world not named Klitschko. Thompson was a nice story after upsetting and then reaffirming his victory over David Price, but Pulev gave him a healthy dose of reality. This is an interesting fight. I don’t know that solid can stop Thompson and I don’t know that Thompson can outbox Solis. I’m going to take Solis given his amateur pedigree.
[WEEKEND RECAP] Odlanier Solis vs Tony Thompson, Juan Carlos Reveco vs Manuel Vides, Merlito Sabillo vs Francisco Rodriguez, Vanes Martirosyan vs Mario Alberto Lozano, + more
Friday March 21
From Villa La Ñata Sporting Club, Benavídez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Juan Carlos Reveco retained his WBA world flyweight title knocking out Manuel Vides in 2
From Fil Oil Flying V, San Juan Arena, San Juan City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Michael Farenas stopped Hector Velazquez in 2 rounds
From Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, Cabazon, California
Vanes Martirosyan won a unanimous decision over Mario Alberto Lozano
Martirosyan won by shut-out against the perfect opponent. Martirosyan is an aggressive counter-puncher who likes to throw at the same time. Lozano was all too willing and paid for it in the second round. An overhand right counter that Vanes had landed many times before that dropped Lozano. Martirosyan tried to finish the show, but what Lozano lacked in skill he made up for in heart. An easy victory for Martirosyan, but I’ll still bet against him against any top junior middleweight.
Anthony Peterson won a unanimous decision over Marcos Leonardo Jimenez
Saturday March 22
From Arena Monterrey, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
Francisco Rodriguez Jr won the WBO minimumweight title from Merlito Sabillo by TKO10
Here’s one thing you gotta know if you don’t follow the lower weight classes: you get old a lot faster. One day you’re Floyd Mayweather, the next you’re James Toney. I don’t know what it is, I’ve got theories, but that’s for another time. Sabillo didn’t come in as the number one minimumweight in the world, but Rodriguez appeared to be an easy enough fight for him. The 10 year age difference may have played a vital role. Francisco knocked Sabillo down twice early and in the 10th round a barrage of body punches set up Sabillo. Rodriguez bullied him into the corner and would unload. At one point, Francisco caught Sabillo with a devastating left hook that I thought was surely going to drop him. The referee jumped in to save what brain cells were left in Sabillo’s head and Rodriguez pulls off one of the bigger upsets of the year.
Vivian Harris won a majority decision over Jorge Paez Jr
I suppose you only need a pulse to be granted a license to fight in Mexico. Criticisms aside, Vivian Harris is on a 3 fight win streak with 2 of the wins coming against guys that aren’t that bad. Harris may or may not have been knocked out or stopped 7 times in his career… and he may be a year younger than Floyd Mayweather… so before you go all moral on him for continuing to stack his paper, remember that he’s got a case. He’s still got some skill left. I thought Paez would have destroyed Erik Morales… maybe Morales would have destroyed him… I wonder, who would you rather have still keep fighting? Harris or Morales? From Coliseo Roger L. Mendoza, Caguas, Puerto Rico
Felix Verdejo stopped Juan Santiago in 3 rounds
It’s fights like there where you gotta ask yourself, is this just a perfectly chosen opponent or is this the next coming of Jesus? Give all the credit in the world to Santiago. First, he’s getting whooped by a quicker, slicker, more skilled guy. Then to make matters worse, Verdejo lands a punch that makes Ricky Hatton flinch. Santiago finds it in himself to get up from it. He walks to the corner, clearly unsure about whether or not he did his homework that day, before the referee stops it. Here you go, a sensational right hand leads the way for another Verdejo victory. From Auditorio Juan Pachin Vicens, Ponce, Puerto Rico
Jose Pedraza won a unanimous decision over Alberto Garza
Pedraza adds win number 16 and has put the the super featherweight division on notice. That was his first 12 round fight and I’m guessing he’s 2 fights away from fighting for a real world title. The super featherweight division is packed and he’ll have no problem finding a challenging fight. From Arena Roberto Duran, Panama City, Panama
Anselmo Moreno retained his WBA super world bantamweight division by unanimous decision over Juavier Nicolas Chacon
Moreno coasted to an easy victory. He built up a lead early by knocking Chacon down a couple of times early and out-boxed him the rest of the way. From Atatürk Spor Salonu, Tekirdag, Turkey
Tony Thompson won a split decision over Odlanier Solis
Thompson did just enough to edge out Solis in this cheeseburger classic. Either guy could have gotten the fight, but Thompson edged out on the close cards by getting the final 2 rounds. There’s not much to say about this one. Solis has suffered a big set-back and I’m sure he is considering a rematch (which I advise against) while Thompson is probably talking to his manager about fighting the winner of Klitschko-Leapai.
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