Cage Fury: A Stellar Debut

*originally published Jun '06 on fullcontactfighter.com*

(June 30th, Atlantic City, New Jersey) Camera crews, projection screens, solid matchmaking, a very smooth production - you’d never guess this was the Cage Fury Fighting Championship’s debut show. But it was, and with a nearly-full Ballroom at Boardwalk Hall, it was a great one. Highlights of the night included:

• Atlantic City MMA’s Anthony Morrison, who displayed quite a bit of power in dispatching Will Loushin in just under a minute.
• TNT Martial Arts’ Josh Rhodes, who withstood a hell of a beating to beatdown Wayne Cole.
• Local star Carmelo Marrero, who put a game Petrus Walker on his back and pounded open a cut for the win.

Results:

John Swangler (Hamilton Martial Arts-188lbs) vs. Brian DeMuro (Balance-181lbs)

DeMuro via armbar at 2:49 of Round One.

Jason Pitman (Team Vendetta-173lbs) vs. Bill Bontcue (Balance-170lbs)

Bontcue via guillotine at :39 of the second round.

Joe Veres (Jorge Gurgel-156lbs) vs. Dwayne Shelton (Team Prodigy-155lbs)

Veres via unanimous decision.

Brian Vanes (Balance-154lbs) vs. Malachy Friedman (freestyle-156lbs)

Friedman via guillotine at :22 of Round Two.

Dave Perez (Jersey Shore BJJ-185lbs) vs. Dan Miller (Planet JJ-185lbs)

Miller via TKO - Perez could not answer the bell for the second round.

Rich Ashkar (Team PKA-171lbs) vs. Frank Lowers (Team Vendetta-166lbs)

Ashkar via rear choke 1:02 of the first round.

Anthony Morrison (Atlantic City MMA-156lbs) vs. Will Loushin (FAMA-155lbs)

Morrison via ref stop due to unanswered strikes at :59 of the first round - another impressive win from the powerful Morrison.

Alexis Aquino (TNT Martial Arts-185lbs) vs. Josh Roseanne (Dynamic Martial Arts-185lbs)

Aquino via KO at 1:58 of the first round.

Al Buck (Team Evolution-154lbs) vs. Mike Schneck (Xtreme Fitness-153lbs)

Buck via unanimous decision.

Nick Cottone (Balance-136lbs) vs. Matt McKabe (Jorge Gurgel-133lbs)

Cottone via ref stop due to unanswered strikes at 4:53 of the first round. Cottone is now the Cage Fury Fighting Championship Featherweight Champ.

Doug Gordon (Rio JJ-185lbs) vs. Marcus Davis (Team Irish-182lbs)

Davis via unanimous decision.

Josh Rhodes (TNT Martial Arts-201lbs) vs. Wayne Cole (Team Cole-205lbs)

Rhodes via ref stop due to unanswered strikes at 4:28 of the first round - a good, back-and-forth battle. Rhodes is now the Cage Fury Fighting Championship Light-Heavyweight Champ.

Carmelo Marrero (freestyle-227lbs) vs. Petrus Walker (ATT-257lbs)

Marrero via doc stop due to a cut at 2:41 of the third round. Marrero is now the Cage Fury Fighting Championship Heavyweight Champ