HSS 7: Worth The Watch?

HSS Series 7: The Redemption arrives carrying a simple promise: fix what didn’t work before and give fans something worth sitting through from start to finish. On paper, the card leans heavily on rematches, bad blood, and crossover fighters, which makes it easy to question whether this is sport or spectacle. The real answer probably sits somewhere in the middle.

The main event between Rudy “Golden Boy” and Paris Pernandes exists because their first meeting disappointed almost everyone. The fight dragged, clinches killed the tempo, and the online drama lasted longer than the exchanges inside the ring. This time the rules switch to kickboxing. That change alone forces both men into uncomfortable territory. Rudy has real combat experience and tends to work physically on the inside, but kickboxing punishes sloppy entries and exposes defensive gaps. Paris, on the other hand, steps into a rule set that demands more than social media confidence. If he prepared properly, he could surprise people. If not, fans may get another messy contest. The intrigue here isn’t legacy; it’s whether they can deliver a cleaner fight than the first one.

The co-main narrative revolves around KKAhje versus Brian Lawitan. KKAhje enters with pressure after consecutive losses to Paris, Randy Pangalila, and Aziz Calim. Fighters in that position usually swing between desperation and urgency, which can produce entertaining rounds but risky decisions. Brian crosses over from kickboxing into boxing, a transition that looks easy until smaller gloves and tighter punch exchanges start landing. KKAhje needs stability. Brian needs adaptation. Whoever solves their problem first likely walks away with the win.

Yahya versus KK Ungke might be the fight fans end up talking about afterward. The tension between them goes back years, starting from public callouts in Solo. Ungke arrives after a loss to Putra Abdullah in BYON Combat, which adds a redemption angle that doesn’t feel manufactured. When fighters genuinely want to fight each other, the energy changes. Expect aggression early and very little feeling-out process. Technical perfection may not happen, but intensity probably will.

One of the more interesting late changes involves Mars De Volta facing Aser Kewas after Pangeran failed medical clearance. Volta represents the disciplined amateur boxing approach, built on structure and rhythm. Aser brings professional experience and a reputation shaped by backstage conflicts and hard rounds. Amateur versus pro is always unpredictable. Volta may carry cleaner fundamentals, but Aser understands pacing and ring control at a different level. Stylistically, this could turn into one of the few fights on the card where tactics matter more than hype.

Edy Boxing versus Calisrox fills the influencer slot. These matches exist to bring new audiences into the sport, and they rarely pretend to be anything else. Expect big swings, adrenaline, and a crowd reacting to personality as much as performance. It may not satisfy purists, but it plays a role in keeping the event commercially alive.

Beyond individual fights, HSS 7 tries to balance several identities at once. There are redemption arcs for fighters looking to rebuild momentum. There are experiments with rules and style clashes meant to keep things fresh. And there is entertainment value designed for viewers who might not follow combat sports every week. That combination can work if the pacing holds and the main event delivers action instead of theatrics.

So, is HSS 7 worth the watch? If you expect elite technical mastery across the board, you might walk away frustrated. If you want unpredictable fights, emotional rivalries, and a glimpse into how Indonesia’s crossover combat scene keeps evolving, this card offers plenty to discuss. The real test will come when the bell rings and the talking stops.