Man, this is a big battle. Charlie Clips vs. Loaded Lux is massive, but so is Pat vs. Hollow in a totally different way. To many, myself included, this is Canada’s best against America’s best. Pat holds his position pretty comfortably, and even if Hollow isn’t the top Yank in your book, he can reasonably claim to have beaten most other contenders.
This battle will go down in London on a brand new league called Battle of the Brave. This huge battle/new league formula understandably raises some eyebrows thanks to the mountain of issues with "Ether" and "Total Slaughter," but I’m going to limit my conjecture and mostly stick to the match-up itself.
Aside from the league, the setting may play some part here. People are quick to point out how few of Pat's battles have been outside of Canada, but this is Hollow’s first time overseas. Given how receptive U.K. crowds generally are and that this is neutral ground, there’s no real reason that the effect should be significant.
Realistically speaking, there’s no one left for Hollow to battle in the States besides Mook. Does that mean he’s settling for Pat? Of course not, because there’s a lot more to this opportunity for him. Beating Pat Stay is an entirely distinct task from beating Charlie Clips or Loaded Lux. It’s not necessarily easier or harder, but different skill sets will have to be emphasized and deemphasized. Facing Pat gives him a chance to prove himself in ways most other top tier dudes fail to consider.
No content, no matter how strong, is ever guaranteed to hold up after Pat starts roasting you just for being yourself. His cruel brand of humor is probably the most dangerous part of his style, and Hollow would be smart to attempt to outdo it. He’s no stranger to that approach, being from the Grind Time era and recently cutting his comedy teeth in an Adult Swim segment, but it’s gone mostly unnoticed (or unappreciated) in his more recent battles.
Those are more “street” battles though, and the U.K. crowd’s palate has been historically far more open to a less serious approach. Still, given that BOTB rep H's has said he's trying to bring out a more urban demographic, the crowd could be a change from what we're used to seeing at Don't Flop events.
In terms of angle-inducing material, the scales are tipped far in Hollow’s favor. Shit, Pat himself used the fact that he was battling Hollow as a stand-alone punchline versus Illmaculate. And although it doesn't seem to bother him too much, Pat did just lose his KOTD title to a guy the consensus had Hollow beating six years ago.
But Pat has carved out a nice spot for himself as well, and his jokes and character breakdowns have proven to be too much for plenty of huge names. He’s always managed to seem slick and relaxed but also ready to spaz at any moment and the pacing of his rounds is typically masterful.
Pat obviously respects the hell out of Hollow. Almost everyone does. Hopefully, that respect will be able to coexist with the antagonism that has made many of Pat’s battles so great. Ideally, he’ll joke Hollow to death in the first (as he does with most every opponent), and then find something new and meaningful to talk about for the rest of the battle. That last bit is the hard part, and this is undoubtedly Pat’s toughest match yet for that reason.
The more you scrutinize this match-up, the more Pat and Hollow resemble one another. They’ve both won the vast majority of their battles, and they’re both known for deconstructing and generally roasting their opponents. The differences are in the details, where Pat is usually more irreverent and Hollow more thoughtful. Even there, they’ve both proven that they can quickly dip in and out of those styles.
Although the nuances of Pat’s style might have a slight edge with the U.K. crowd, I just can’t see Hollow being outclassed. It will be close, but I think Hollow’s versatility will get him past the first round to a 2-1 win.
Thoughts? Predictions? Let us know in the comments below.
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