Reformed Underground Fighter to Return to the Warm Embrace of Sanctioned MMA

Reformed underground fighter James Funaro, who made a name for himself as a top vale tudo competitor in the New York underground fight scene, will return to the warm embrace of sanctioned MMA this weekend at Asylum Fight League XX in Atlantic City. It's an unprecedented move. Usually, fighters who've crossed over to the dark side of unregulated matches are banned from amateur competition in New Jersey. But "after filing the proper post-UCL paperwork" and getting the necessary medical tests, it looks like the 175-pound Vamos BJJ/BoxFit rep will make the switch. Funaro, of course, is no stranger to bouts with actual rules. Prior to his career as a lawless gladiator fighting to the death, he saw combat at New Breed Fighters, Caged Fury in Ohio, and most recently at Philly Biker Brawl in Philadelphia. "Good for him," said the evil Brian Dennehy, who controls the underground fight circuit in New York. "He deserves to go legit. I wish him luck." Funaro is scheduled to face the experienced Anthony Cruz, and the AFL 20 card will also feature amateur mainstays Thiago Carfi, George Siderias and Cuba Gooding Jr.

Promoting Ain't Easy

Carl Mascarenhas, the man behind the ultra-popular amateur organization Asylum Fight League, suffered a stroke on Friday. It was caught early, so the 36-year-old Mascarenhas is doing okay and recuperating in a South Jersey hospital. As for the AFL event scheduled for this coming Saturday at the Raritan Center, according to administrative guru Mike Sachs, the show will go on. MMA Journalist wishes Mascarenhas a speedy recovery.

Asylum Fight League 12 to Feature 200+ Amateur Bouts

Asylum Fight League returns for their 12th installment tomorrow afternoon, this time at Club Abyss in Sayreville, New Jersey, and according to their website the card will be another 200+ bout epic. Hey, MMA Journalist digs amateur events and all, but these New Jersey shows tend to have as competitors everyone who's ever trained in MMA, and everyone who's ever thought about training in MMA - with the end result often leaving people in the venue on the verge of utter exhaustion and collapse (in fact, a referee actually passed out at one show back in 2007; the fighters in the cage at the time had to stop and revive him). Anyway, MMA Journalist will be there tomorrow to liveblog the event. For more info, go to the promotion's website at http://www.asylumfightleague.com .

Asylum Fight League Postscript

Good show. Louis Gaudinot looked fantastic nailing that spinning backfist KO, Adam Rosello and Kevin Horowitz waged an absolute war, and Edwin Uzquaino and George Siderius fought a very technical grappling chess match.

MMA Journalist to Liveblog 12/13 Asylum Fight League Show

MMA Journalist will be cageside for the Asylum Fight League amateur MMA show tomorrow night at the Raritan Center in Edison, New Jersey, and provided my Blackberry has a signal, I will liveblog the event. There should be two title fights and a card of 12-15 bouts. Woot-woot.