Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Combat in the Cage: Amateurs Do the Darnedest Things

*originally published in the May '06 issue of Full Contact Fighter*

Some of them clearly know what they’re doing. Some of them leave you scratching your head, wondering what on Earth they were thinking. On May 6th, in the gym of the Eastern Regional High School in Voorhees, New Jersey, Ed Hsu’s Combat in the Cage brought together almost a score of amateur mixed martial artists – some of whom knew what they were doing. The others? Well… I guess it’s all just part of the learning process. Thankfully, however, they had a USKBA-sanctioned event such as this to iron out their kinks.

Take Chris Dietzel, for example. It took until 1:21 of the second round for the Yamasaki Jiu-Jitsu 157-pounder to submit Pittsburgh Submission Fighters Club-representative Nick Eiben with an armbar, but Dietzel knew what he was doing when he controlled Eiben throughout.

And the Jersey Shore BJJ boys, Tinh Tupy and Greg Soto, knew what they were doing, too. When the 138-pound Tupy took on the 137-pound David Poniatowski, Tupy used his wrestling to keep his opponent down, soccer kick him in the ribs (which made the crowd gasp, but is legal under USKBA rules), and do more than enough to merit the unanimous decision. The 172-pound Soto looked even better, tapping out 184-pound Joe Diamond’s Mixed Martial Arts-representative Carl D’Alessandro at 2:21 of the first round with an armbar.

But then there are those who are clearly new to the game. Aikido of New York 190-pounder Heath Macaluso deserves a ton of credit for stepping into the cage for a second time, but avoiding the TNT Martial Arts 194-pounder Alexis Aquino’s punches by ducking his head and clinch, that was a recipe for disaster. Or a tap out via guillotine at 1:15 of the first round. And Kevin Lenau seems like he’d bang if given the chance. Yet Phil Ferraro, a 156-pound fighter from Eclectic Martial Arts, didn’t give the 159-pound Okinawan Kenpo Karate representative that chance. He took him down almost at will, and eventually submitted him with a keylock at 1:01 of the first round.

Some knew what they were doing. Some are still learning. That’s just how it goes at an amateur show.

* * *

With the ghost of a loss to Dave Tirelli hanging over him, Tom DeBlass steps into the cage. Of course, things have changed since his first and only fight three years ago. Though he’d trained just three months with the Tong Dragon school before facing Tirelli, he is now a purple belt under Ricardo Almeida, and part of a tight team of strong MMA competitors. Consequently, he can punch, he can grapple, and he’s well-conditioned – undeniably, ten-times the fighter he was back then. But is it enough to put that ghost to rest?

At 1:17 of the second round this question is answered with a toehold and a tap out. After meeting a wild-punching Aikido of New York 192-pounder Richard Dunn head-on, tying him up and taking things to the ground, it was all about the 195-pound DeBlass utilizing his grappling advantage to wear his opponent out. Anyone who’s ever watched a handful of fights could’ve foreseen the inevitable outcome. “I feel I’m pretty good on my feet, but as soon as I got in there I went to what I knew I’d be better at. And that’s being on the ground. I didn’t take any chances.” But really, this wasn’t about beating Dunn. This was about something more. Something to do with that loss three years ago, and being on a winning MMA team.

“There was pressure,” DeBlass admits. “My first fight I had only trained for three months with a team that really wasn’t a fighting team, and now I train with one of the best teams in the world.” He pauses, then continues. “All my teammates are winning, and they’re great fighters, and everyone always makes jokes like, ‘When are you getting in the ring? When are you getting in the ring?’ There was pressure.”

For now, DeBlass looks to concentrate on improving his jiu-jitsu, and helping prepare his teammates for their upcoming fights. It’s up in the air when he’ll return to the cage. Yet if even if he doesn’t return, at the very least he stepped up and faced that ghost, and for the time being relieved whatever pressure he’s felt to fight.

* * *

Amateurs do the darnedest things. Take Rich Collazo Jr. for example. The Joe Diamond’s MMA 157-pounder put on an awesome display of standup in his bout against Eclectic Martial Arts 162-pounder Nick Taylor, and the two were so thrilled to be in the cage, they could not stop giving each other ‘high-fives’ and hugs of appreciation throughout the fight. “I enjoyed it,” he says of the bout that ended with him getting the unanimous decision. “My first fight, and I had fun, you know what I mean? I just can’t wait to get in the ring and do more fights.”

‘Dirty Dave’ Trapanese seemed to have fun as well. Sprawling-and-brawling Red Dragon Dojo 168-pounder Mike Buzzone en route to a unanimous decision, the Jersey Shore BJJ 173-pound fighter was all smiles long after his fight was over. When asked how he got the nickname ‘Dirty Dave’, his smile never wavered. “The name kind of just stuck with me. Sometimes before I go to jiu-jitsu I don’t brush my teeth, so I kind of stink. That’s why they call me ‘Dirty Dave’.”

Excellent answer.

However, the ‘Darnedest Thing’ award should certainly go to Ryan Wadsworth (and his cornerman). Wadsworth, a Joe Diamond’s MMA 210-pounder, was dominated by Berks County BJJ 205-pounder Derek Hopkins, with Hopkins getting the win via armbar at 2:32 of the first round. Why, then, whould Wadsworth’s corner keep shouting at the 210-pounder, screaming ‘He’s got nothing! He’s got nothing!’ And why would Wadsworth get worked into a frenzy by this, and exchange words with Hopkins when the two were outside the cage? Did he think he had a better chance against Hopkins – a man on his way to becoming a decent pro fighter – without the gloves, shin and instep pads, and the referee there to step in? Thankfully, Wadsworth was escorted out before anyone was killed.

And I guess that’s why they’re amateurs.

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