Breaking News: Mainstream Media Suddenly Gives a Shit

Take a deep breath and look around. Notice the wealth of reporters, ringside at almost every event? The proliferation of MMA articles in national publications? The marriage of Sherdog and ESPN? Gone are the days when all the sport got from the press was a big plate of “human cockfighting” and a tall glass of “shut the hell up.” Mainstream media suddenly gives a shit.

At UFC 37 in Louisiana, Zuffa asked me to show a London Times correspondent the ropes. Like any good frontline soldier, I did – introducing him to fighters, commentators and fans so he could get quotes to flesh out his story, and helping his grasp the pugilistic nuances of what he was seeing in the cage. But that REMF visit was a rare thing. Human cockfighting. Shut the hell up.

The tide has turned, and while the ever-popular UFC has garnered all sorts of attention as MMA’s crown jewel, some of that love has finally trickled down to even the regional and local shows. Nowadays, producers from major news channels track me down through Myspace, while reporters stick cameras and microphones in my face and ask for my educated opinion. The sport has gotten shockingly huge and everyone wants to cover it.

And it’s about damn time.

Binky Jones - ROC Lightweight Champ

A Few Words on Ring of Combat 14

The Tournament of Champions – which began back in November and spanned the lightweight, middleweight and welterweight divisions – came to a conclusion this past Friday with three champs crowned. Each weight class of the tourney began with a pool of eight competitors (some of them local, some of them not so local), and though the NJSACB doesn’t allow fighters to compete more than once a night, it was akin to the elimination-style events that captured the imagination of MMA fans in days of yore. Tournaments make for a compelling storyline. Add to that equation the background of each fighter (i.e., who he is and what he’s gone through to get there), and you’ve really got something that reels you in.

There was none more compelling on Friday than the story of James “Binky” Jones. A Baltimore jiu-jitsu specialist, Binky’s been around for years, never more than a journeyman but someone you could always count on for a good scrap. In fact, when he was announced as one of the eight 155-pounders taking part in the opening round, a roster that included a Reality Fighting champ, a few grappling studs and a Team Quest representative, I rated his chances at “pretty damn slim.”

I’ll be darned if Binky didn’t rise to the occasion.

Putting on a jiu-jitsu clinic to dispatch two Midwesterners in the first two rounds, the only man standing between him and the belt was the toughest of the lightweight bunch: IFL veteran Ian Loveland. Binky popped Loveland’s elbow with an armbar three minutes and 17 seconds into the bout.

The video promos highlighted how hard he trained, how much he gives back to the community and what not, but the whole picture, the whole story encompasses a great deal more. Of all those who won at Ring of Combat 14, Binky’s story was the most compelling because of the legion of supporters in red T-shirts, the post-fight hugs and the grin of his proud coach. Ultimately, though, it all came down to this: the journeyman was now the champ.

MMA Market Analysis: New York & New Jersey

There was a time, not too long ago, when, if you wanted to see a local MMA show, you had to wait until Kipp Kollar’s Reality Fighting or Lou Neglia’s Ring of Combat rolled around – or if you were really lucky, you were in the loop on Dan Miragliatta’s BAMA FightNight (an underground show of sorts). There were even some odds and ends events, like the IFC’s only two Garden State ventures, or Brian Cimin’s Sportfighting, or the “Battle on Broadway” in NYC, or the MegaFights in Atlantic City (which featured Ken Shamrock and his Lions Den taking on a bunch of over-matched fighters). But take it from someone who went to them all: for the hungry fan, pickings were slim.

Nowadays, thanks to Generation TUF and an exponential increase in both interest and capital, those promotions that survived through the lean years are now feeding fighters into the UFC, while new organizations have sprouted up to claim their share of the market (and consumer dollars). Here’s a brief look at the current MMA landscape in New York and New Jersey:

• Ring of Combat (ROC) - when the State of New York clamped down on his Long Island “Vengeance at the Vanderbilt” events, Neglia began putting out ROC events, with the first one held at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut and all since in New Jersey. No other local promotion has seen more fighters get called up to the UFC – a testament both to its level of competition and the strength of its match-ups. With its ongoing grand prix-style Tournament of Champions, ROC is currently making the jump to pay-per-view.

• Reality Fighting (RF) - Kollar’s situation among the MMA promoters is unique in that he also runs the successful NAGA grappling tournaments, and, having mined the New England market with his Mass Destruction events, has recently sought to expand the RF brand to New Hampshire. Consequently, his hold on the Garden State has loosened, which has translated into fewer shows in New Jersey and fewer top-level match-ups. However, RF is still considered to be a favorite amongst fans and fighters.

• Extreme Challenge (EC) - In little more than a year, Ed Hsu (formerly the man behind Combat in the Cage) has gone from green newcomer to strong presence amongst those putting on shows – due in no small part to his absolute market dominance in the world of amateur mixed martial arts. No one even comes close to bringing in the same amount of fresh competitors (and fans), and this success has bled into his ever-improving pro shows. A recent partnership with Midwest promoting legend Monte Cox will no doubt provide an even bigger conduit between talent here and talent elsewhere.

• Cage Fury Fighting Championship (CFFC) - There was no learning curve for promoter Felix Martinez; his first CFFC show last year was solid, and they’ve been solid every time since. These events feature a wealth of top fighters from Maryland to New England (and all points in between). With former boxing champ Ray Mercer taking on Internet legend Kimbo Slice at their upcoming show, CFFC is poised to take their brand to the national (and possibly international) level.

• Underground Combat League (UCL) - the current climate in New York State is such that very few will risk putting on an MMA show for fear of incurring the athletic commission’s wrath. Enter: Peter Storm’s UCL, a promotion that exists under the radar (despite having managed to get an awful lot of mainstream press). Fans never know what they’ll get when they go to these events – maybe they’ll see two streetfighters brawling, an IFL veteran taking on some bouncer, or even a future UFC superstar – but the convenience of these events being in one of the Five Boroughs, as well as the NHB rules and the seediness of it being “underground”, have made the UCL into a strong brand.

• Others - At this point, it’s unclear if Cimins’ Sportfighting events will return (Cimins has his hands full running the Grapplers Quest tournaments). The World’s Best Fighter show is another big question mark, although it proved once again that the “USA versus international team” concept (done successfully many times by the Mixed Fighting Championship) works and works well. As for the Mixed Fighting Championship (MFC), it was absorbed into BodogFight, and they haven’t officially announced when they’ll return to New Jersey (note: the inside rumblings indicate a mid-summer show). In the realm of amateurs, New Breed has some catching up to do, but they’re trying with an upcoming show in Atlantic City next on their agenda. There are also a few other would-be promoters who will likely be casting their hats into the ring sometime soon.

What does all this mean? Currently, the market greatly favors the fighter, as the fighter is the ultimate ingredient promoters use to attract fans. Meanwhile, the recipe of a successful MMA event has remained constant: local fighters sell far more tickets than bigger-named non-local ones, and no brand is strong enough to overcome that (except for the UFC, and soon the IFL – but that’s another article). It is a great time to be fan of MMA, a great time to be a fighter, and, once they nail down their business model and carve out their niche in the market, a great time for promoters.

NY/NJ MMA rankings -April '07

Here are my latest NJ/NY MMA rankings, based on my observations of events from the last year. People who have fought in the UFC are ineligible to appear on this list (thereby excluding people like Matt Serra, Pete Sell, Luke Cummo, Frankie Edgar, Sherman Pendergarst, etc). Also, people under contract by the IFL are precluded (thereby excluding Dante Rivera, Andre Gusmao, Shane Ott, etc.). If I left someone out, forgive me. This area has traditionally been short on bigger guys, hence the few names in light-heavyweight and heavyweight classes.

Lightweight:

*Jim Miller –the best lightweight in New Jersey right now. CFFC champ with nonstop and relentless grappling and ever-improving striking. He went the distance with Frankie Edgar before Edgar graduated to the UFC. He and Deividas Taurosevicius are without question the best two in this weight class.

*Deividas Taurosevicius –the second-best lightweight in New Jersey right now. Another fantastic grappler with strong striking, he recently subbed some dude in an IFL prelim. He and Jim Miller would have little problem beating the rest of the 155-pounders in the Garden State.

*Tim Troxell –he went from amateur to pro without a hitch, and has been dominating opponents with an aggressive and solid jiu-jitsu game. I think he’s moving down to 145, though.

*Kevin Roddy –smooth submission grappler who’s dangerous both on top and from the guard. Not the best striker, but that’s not his bread and butter.

*James “Binky” Jones –seasoned veteran and slick grappler, Binky has really stepped up his performance lately. He’ll be taking on Team Quest’s Ian Loveland at the next Ring of Combat, having made it to the final round of the Tournament of Champions.

*Honorable mention: a) Al Buck –great striker who recently lost his CFFC lightweight belt to Jim Miller (although there’s no shame in that). b) Brian McLaughlin –good jiu-jitsu fighter and Sportfighting champ; is fighting Carmine Zocchi at 170 at the upcoming ROC show.

Welterweight:

*Tamdan McCrory –strong grappler and strong striker, who, despite not having a lot of experience, has been kicking more-experienced fighters’ asses. Currently a champ at CFFC.

*Chris Ligouri –even though he’s a UFC vet, that fight was years ago, so I’m throwing him back on the rankings. Chris is a great striker, but his wrestling and jiu-jitsu is even better. He’s been around a long, long time, and he’s definitely the best welterweight in New Jersey right now. He’s currently the Reality Fighting champ.

*Greg Soto –unstoppable takedowns mixed with ground-and-pounding fury. No one has been able to withstand Greg’s punishment so far. No one.

*Doug Gordon –athleticism plus an ever-improving sub-game. Gordon has fought at light-heavyweight and middleweight, and recently won at welterweight against a tough Tom Gallicchio.

*Phillipe Nover –well-rounded grappler and heavy-handed striker, he made it to the final round of the Ring of Combat Tournament of Champions by subbing Jay Coleman.

*Honorable mention: a) Tom Gallicchio –he’s coming off two sub losses, but Tom is a strong wrestler and ground-and-pounder. b) Jay Coleman –insanely heavy hands with a solid wrestling game; he has a knack for knocking out wrestlers. He’s taking the injured Nover’s place at the up-coming Ring of Combat show. c) Rich Ashkar –strong wrestler and submission fighter.

Middleweight:

*Marc Stevens –great wrestler and ground-and-pounder. He defeated Landon Showalter by ref stoppage at the last Ring of Combat to advance to the final round of the tournament.

*Dan Miller –probably the best middleweight in New Jersey right now, he’s used flawless grappling to earn (and keep) the CFFC belt. If Dante Rivera wasn’t an IFL fighter right now, a match-up between the two of them would be a must in determining who was king.

*Alexis Aquino –good boxing and great grappling, Aquino has cut a swath through the 185-pounders. If anyone has earned at shot at Dan Miller, it’s him – although I don’t see him winning that match-up. Still, he’s proven to be game as hell.

*Mike Massenzio –another great wrestler who’s insanely athletic. This Reality Fighting champ ain’t a finisher, but few have been able to stop him from grinding out the win.

*Lyman Good –a dangerous striker who fights at 175 (I’m not sure he could cut that extra five pounds and make welterweight), Lyman is the best MMA fighter TSK has competing right now. He took out Renzo black belt Julio Cruz at the World’s Best Fighter show – mostly because Cruz was foolish enough to want to duke it out with him. Lyman’s facing Ring of Combat champ James Gabert at the up-coming ROC show.

*Honorable mention: a) Jose Rodriguez –the perennial slugger and submission fighter, Jose has been around a long time. He just lost to Dan Miller at the last CFFC show, but he’s still tough as hell. b) Nissim Levy –good grappler and good boxer; his fight was a loss to Alexis Aquino, but a well-conditioned Levy can beat most of the middleweight out there

Light-Heavyweight:

*John Doyle –more heart than technique, John is a ground-and-pounder who simply outlasts everyone. He’s a Combat in the Cage/Extreme Challenge champ.

*Tim Boetsch –high-level wrestling mixed with an unabashed willingness to strike, Tim is a Reality Fighting champ and USKBA champ. His only two MMA fights were against a very-skilled Hazem Ibrahim, but Tim has established himself as one of the best light-heavyweights with those performances.

*Hazem Ibrahim –still a tough positional grappler and brawler, despite losing twice in a row to Tim Boetsch.

*Josh Rhodes –the best light-heavyweight in New Jersey, Josh has got knockout-power in his hands and enough wrestling skill to stay on his feet and use them. Currently the CFFC champ, he’s probably the only 205-pounder around who could take on the rest of the top guys in his weight class and beat them all.

*Honorable mention: Lamont Lister –scrappy fighter who’s happy throwing down, but can grapple if he needs to. He’s lost to Josh Rhodes, and lost as a heavyweight, but he’s still a bad dude.

Heavyweight:

*Jon Murphy –the best of the heavyweights, Jon has subbed a Renzo brown belt (Carlos Cline) and knocked out a UFC vet (Sherman Pendergarst). He’s dangerous, and can end a fight at any time.

*Honorable mention: a) Glen Sandull –former Reality Fighting champ who used to have a fearsome wrestling game, but hasn’t had time to train properly last I heard. b) Carlos Cline –he’s been around a while, but has never really been able to dominate as much as he should have; he was kicking Jon Murphy’s ass for two rounds before Jon tapped him out with a kneebar

Fighter X

For those of you who guessed that Fighter X is Laura D'Auguste, you are correct. Please bring your ticket stubs to the second window to claim your prize.


Laura should be meeting with Renzo Gracie personally any day now, and the two will discuss whether or not she'll be a good fit for the Gracie team.

A World-Class Fighter Without a Home

I got the call on Tuesday. Fighter X had been abruptly kicked off their fight team and out of their school – could I help find them a place to train?

“Of course,” I said. After all, I’ve known Fighter X for years, have been ringside for almost all their fights, and even consider them a friend. And it’s not unheard of for a fighter to switch up where they train once in a while. However, a couple things made this situation unique: Fighter X is one of the top MMA competitors in their weight class, and Fighter X might be competing at the Abu Dhabi World Championships in a few weeks.

To draw a comparison, it would be akin to the Mets suddenly finding out they were no longer welcome at Shea Stadium a few weeks before they were to face the Yankees in the World Series.

How this fighter ended up “homeless” is really only a small part of this tale, involving unsigned management contracts and growing pains. Suffice to say, there are two sides to every story, and I’d prefer to remain as ignorant as possible.

In considering options, Fighter X had expressed a willingness to check out the Rhino Fight Team, as well as a few other places. But is Rhino really a good fit for one of the best grapplers in the country? Though Rhino is a phenomenal school for MMA (just ask anyone impressed by Frankie Edgar’s UFC debut), I suggested Renzo Gracie’s academy in Manhattan as the best possible option.

“Call there,” I told Fighter X. “Call and tell them who you are, and tell them you need a new place to train.”

Fighter X liked that idea. And if Renzo was unwilling to accept Fighter X because of the conflict of having his own representatives already slated to compete at Abu Dhabi, Fighter X promised to respectfully bow out of the world-class grappling tournament.

Fighter X phoned the Manhattan academy, and was soon listening to the sales pitch delivered by someone named “Max”. Max informed Fighter X that new students start out in the blue belt program, and train with the gi – which is the cornerstone of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu – until they get their blue belt.

“What about no-gi training?” Fighter X asked, and explained that that’s where Fighter X’s interest resided. Fighter X was willing to learn gi grappling, but wanted to do both (the Abu Dhabi World Championship is a no-gi event).

“Do you have any experience with grappling without the gi?” Max asked.

“Well, I took second place at the Abu Dhabi US trials,” Fighter X replied.

I doubt Max understood (or believed) Fighter X. He scheduled a one-on-on assessment for Friday, though, when a black belt would roll with Fighter X to see what’s what.

I laughed when Fighter X relayed this to me. Could Fighter X submit a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt? Absolutely. Although I doubt Fighter X could take two steps into Renzo’s school without getting recognized. Still, the comedic value of an unwitting black belt being surprised at how skilled this jiu-jitsu newbie was… that would’ve been gold.

* * *

I called Nick Lembo of the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board and he was more than happy to help. Nick had actually arranged for Renzo to coach Fighter X at the US trials, when Fighter X’s own coach no-showed, so he would give the jiu-jitsu legend a call and a heads up.

As of this writing, that call hasn’t happened yet, and it’s up in the air if Fighter X is going to have to go to the Manhattan academy and get the kindergartner treatment – or even if Renzo’s will end up being Fighter X’s new home. But I’ll let you know how it all works out.

Team USA Dominates at “World’s Best Fighter”

*originally published in the Feb '07 issue of Full Contact Fighter*

It may have been chaotic behind the scenes, but at the February 3^rd “World’s Best Fighter” (WBF) event at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, the thrills in the ring more than made up for it. With matchmaker Ed Hsu’s card pitting some of New Jersey’s best against representatives from South Korea, China and Japan, the evening’s “Team USA versus Team Asia” motif steadily became “Team USA beating the crap out of Team Asia”. Yes folks, aside from two impressive knockouts in the San Da bouts, it was a veritable MMA trouncing. But a healthy dose of nationalist pride goes a long way, and whether the over 2,000 spectators were there to cheer on the local boys or root for the warriors from their homeland, the end result was the same for promoter Gianfranco Fiori’s fledgling fighting endeavor: crowd-pleasing action.

* * *

He took the bout on just one day’s notice, and as he was stepping into the ring against a complete unknown (most of Team Asia were, in fact, unknowns to those of us from this part of the globe), his Rhino Fight Team teammate and usual corner men were thousands of miles away in Las Vegas. But if any of this affected the 154-pound Kevin Roddy, he certainly didn’t let it show. No, he waged an absolute grappling war against the 154-pound Jong Man Kim – who proved to be the toughest Team Asia competitor – and for four minutes and 57 seconds, Roddy once more demonstrated the skills that make him one of the top lightweights in the Garden State.

With fantastic transitions and close submission attempts, Kim really took it to Roddy, first scoring with a takedown then hunting for heelhooks like crazy. But Roddy is 100% dangerous at all times, and in the final seconds of the first round, landed a picture-perfect armbar from the bottom for the tap out. In terms of back-and-forth action and competitiveness, this one was far and away the fight of the night. And as Roddy exited the ring, the text came in on his corner man’s cellphone: teammate Frankie Edgar, fighting simultaneously in his UFC debut, had kicked ass and won a unanimous decision (which the WBF ring announcer relayed to the audience). It was a good night for New Jersey.

The Team Asia beatdown continued when 169-pound Jersey Shore BJJ superstar Greg Soto took on Korean Top Team 169-pounder Hyun Kyu Lim. Lim came out with a flying knee meant to take his opponent’s head off. Soto had other ideas, though, and dumped Lim on his back, mounted, and rained down strikes until the clock struck “armbar o’clock”. The tap out came at :58 of the Round One. Soto has been unstoppable since he burst onto the scene as an amateur last year, and the rumor is he might represent Team USA in the future when the WBF visits Chinese soil.

Originally, the headlining bout featured the infamous Tank Abbott against Ji Hoon Kim, but (thankfully) scheduling snafus saw that match-up fall by the wayside. Instead, fight fans got an upgrade in talent in Miletich-trained UFC veteran Justin Eilers, who had no problem giving up eight pounds to his Korean opponent (Kim was 245 to Eilers 237). When these two big boys tied up, Eilers wasted no time blasting Kim with short punches and knees – one of which tagged Kim in the liver. Kim tapped out at 2:10 of the first round.

Rounding out the MMA rout was Jerry Jones-trained 188-pounder and Reality Fighting champ Mike Massenzio, who wielded far-superior wrestling to overcome Japanese 185-pound judoka Okuda Masakatsu. Like most of Massenzio’s past opponents, Masakatsu was on the bottom in no time, struggling against Massenzio’s constant pressure and ground-and-pound. Masakatsu did manage to score with an upkick and went for a number of submissions, but he was getting the worst of it, and other than a nice spinning backfist in Round Two, this one was all about the Team USA representative beating the stuffing out of the Team Asia representative. Massenzio garnered the well-deserved unanimous decision after three rounds elapsed.

* * *

In non-USA versus Asia action, 174-pound Team Tiger Schulmann stud Lyman Good took on Team Renzo 174-pounder Julio Cruz in what could’ve been a classic “striker against grappler” contest. But it wasn’t. No, this one was all about Good’s precision pugilism versus Cruz’s dogged clinchwork, with the TS-MMA representative peppering the Team Renzo fighter with leg kicks, hooks and crosses while Cruz tried to tie him up and dirty box. In Round Two Cruz continued to move forward, this time more willing to trade from the outside – and he paid for his folly with a face full of leather. Good rocked him good (ha-ha), and the referee stepped in at :29 into the round when Cruz covered up and turned away. Hopefully, Cruz (who is purportedly a beast on the ground) will realize he’ll never make Renzo’s IFL team if he tries to out-strike superior stand-up fighters.

A WBF North American Light-Heavweight MMA Championship belt was on the line on February 3^rd, and the men vying for it – Team Ronin 204-pounder Brendan Barrett and MFS/Daddis 206-pounder John Doyle – were known scrappers. Yes, this WBF bout had all the makings of a brawl, with Doyle working his wrestling and Barrett trying to land strikes from the outset. But the two tied up too close to the ropes, and after a split-second scramble, Doyle was suddenly tumbling out of the ring. The MFS/Daddis representative spent an awful long time on the floor, so it came as no surprise when the ringside physician called off the fight (rendering the bout a No Contest at 2:37 into the round). A bloodied Doyle was visibly dejected, but it was announced on the spot that these two would rematch at the next Combat in the Cage show.

Accompanying the card’s MMA bouts were three San Da fights (a kind of kickboxing with throws and takedowns), and this is where Team Asia shined. Team USA 129-pounder Lennox Chance was flashy, but his flashiness was no match for the 133-pound He Teng’s no-nonsense striking, as Teng sent Chance to the canvas three times before the referee called it off at 2:34 into the first round. The 152-pound David Cummings had speed, but the 157-pound Dai Shaung Hai had power – and with one looping right at 1:08 of Round One, Cummings was on the wrong end of a knockout. But the 181-pound Aaron Miesner saved the day with his Muay Thai skills (which seem to translate well to San Da). After three grueling rounds of clinchwork, the South Philly boy with a ton of heart earned the majority decision over a tough 179-pound Ao Hai Lin.

Capitol City Capitalizes on MMA: DC Legalizes the Sport

*originally published Jan '06 on fullcontactfighter.com*

(January 10^th, 2007) Slowly but surely, the sport is taking over the country. By a unanimous vote, the DC Boxing & Wrestling Commission last night legalized professional mixed martial arts in the Nation’s capitol – making Washington, DC the latest addition to the growing list of MMA-friendly locales.

“I think that there’s a huge wave on the horizon and DC has got to get near the crest of the wave and ride it on in,” said Commission Chairman Dr. Arnold McKnight. “Our citizenry is crying for the intensity that mixed martial arts brings.”

In adopting the Unified Rules of MMA (the same rules used by such states as New Jersey and Nevada), the DC Boxing & Wrestling Commission has opened the door for such big promotions as the UFC and ILF, as well as a plethora of smaller events, to come calling – and with a high-capacity venue like the MCI Center in the downtown area, this dense population hub is certainly a prime place for a visit.

Said McKnight: “I’m overwhelmed how [pro] wrestling can sell out at the MCI Center, or at least give us twelve- to seventeen-thousand [in attendance], then at a recent boxing show here in the District we got as few as a thousand people. And yet wrestling can sell out a venue! As you well know, wrestling is scripted. Mixed martial arts is not scripted, and I am sure it’s going to bring a fan base as large as wrestling.”

Just how soon can fans expect an event in Washington, DC? “We will have everything in place in six weeks,” said McKnight, who mentioned fledgling MMA promoter Omar Olumee as someone already planning to promote a show. What if someone wanted to put on a show sooner than that? “If a promoter said they wanted to put on a show two weeks or three weeks from now, we’d utilize the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board’s referees and judges to make sure the event was carried on in a professional way.”

As for the sport’s burgeoning amateur scene, the District of Columbia will follow the Garden State’s lead. “We’re going to meet with the head of the recreation department here in the Nation’s capitol,” said McKnight. “We want to start staging events here on an amateur level. I talked with [New Jersey Commissioner] Larry Hazzard about that and he thought it was a great idea.”

Atlantic City, Las Vegas, Miami, Los Angeles, and now Washington, DC – from the looks of it, mixed martial arts will definitely be coming to a city near you.

Cage Fury Fighting Championship: Throwdown at the Tropicana

*originally published Oct '06 on fullcontactfighter.com*

(October 6th, Atlantic City, New Jersey) The Cage Fury Fighting Championship (CFFC) is 2-0, and with promoter Felix Martinez and matchmaker Gary Moreno at the helm, they may just remain undefeated. Tonight, five championship belts were on the line, and the Tropicana Casino was awash with fight fans as a sold-out crowd cheered (and jeered). Knockouts, submissions, and back-and-forth battles - the action in the cage was equally as impressive, making the second CFFC event a success. Highlights of the night included:

• The memorial to fallen MMA warrior Shelby Walker, which played out in the form of a video tribute and the sounding of the 10-count on the cageside bell.
• Atlantic City MMA’s Anthony Morrison’s post-fight antics. After getting handled by Deividas Taurosevicius, Morrison came back into the cage to challenge Malachy Friedman (the other lightweight who lost that night). When he was heckled and booed, the miniature ‘Rampage’ went on a rant - then ran backstage to attack Friedman. Morrison now faces a 12-month suspension for his actions.
• Team Evolution’s Al Buck, who weathered Malachy Friedman’s submission hurricane to rain down some bout-ending punches of his own.
• Light-heavyweight champ Josh Rhodes’ fists of fury, which he unleashed on Lamont Lister (sending the challenger into a concussion-induced seizure that required him to be carried out on a stretcher). It was a scary moment, but Lister gave the crowd a thumbs-up on his way out of the cage.

Results:

Brian DeMuro (Balance-181lbs) vs. Doug Gordon (Rio JJ-183lbs)

Gordon via ref stop due to unanswered strikes at :51 of the third round.

Carlo Profico (TNT Martial Arts-157lbs) vs. Spencer Paige (CNY MMA-154lbs)

Paige via ref stop due to unanswered strikes at 2:11 of Round One.

Bill Bontcue (Team Balance-171lbs) vs. Jim Sweeney (Team PKA-168lbs)

Sweeney via armbar at :54 of the first round. *Sweeney was suspended for 60 days for failing to release the armbar.

Erik Uresk (United MMA-156lbs) vs. Steve Sorbello (freestyle-151lbs)

Uresk via unanimous decision.

Rich Ashkar (Team PKA-170lbs) vs. Ryan McCarthy (Rhino Fight Team-168lbs)

Ashkar via armbar 2:44 of Round One.

Anthony D’Angelo (United MMA-172lbs) vs. Josh Lydell (Team Invicta-169lbs)

D’Angelo via unanimous decision.

Alexis Aquino (TNT Martial Arts-185lbs) vs. Tim DeIturriaga (Advanced Fighting Systems-185lbs)

Aquino via guillotine at 2:11 of Round One.

Anthony Morrison (Atlantic City MMA-151lbs) vs. Deividas Taurosevicius (Panza/Gracie Barra-155lbs)

Taurosevicius via armbar at 2:09 of Round One.

CFFC Middleweight Championship

Dan Miller (Planet JJ-184lbs) vs. Lance Everson (Boneyard-185lbs)

Miller via rear choke at 2:26 of Round One - a dominant performance! Miller is the new CFFC Middleweight Champ.

CFFC Welterweight Championship

Carlos Nieves (Team Renzo/Almeida-170lbs) vs. Bobby Diaz (Boneyard-170lbs)

Nieves via ref stop due to unanswered strikes at 3:21 of Round One - a nonstop slugest. Nieves is the new CFFC Welterweight Champ.
CFFC Lightweight Championship

Al Buck (Team Evolution-153lbs) vs. Malachy Friedman (freestyle-152lbs)

Buck via ref stop due to unanswered strikes at 3:40 of Round One. Buck is the new CFFC Lightweight Champ.

CFFC Light-Heavyweight Championship

Josh Rhodes (freestyle-203lbs) vs. Lamont Lister (Balance-205)

Rhodes via KO at :51 of the first round. Rhodes retains his CFFC Light-Heavyweight belt.

NABC Welterweight Title

Mike Littlefield (Boneyard-169lbs) vs. Tamdan McCory (CNY MMA-168lbs)

McCory via ref stop due to unanswered strikes at 4:10 of the first round - an impressive performance by the relative newcomer. McCory is the new NABC Welterweight Champ.

An Afternoon with the Pitbulls

*originally published Aug '06 on fullcontactfighter.com*

(Tuesday, August 29th, New York City) Atop the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum, on a flight deck populated with decommissioned Cobra attack helicopters and dormant F-16s, Renzo Gracie smiles. In less than a month he’ll face fellow legend Pat Miletich in the ring, but for now it’s all about the International Fight League’s film crew getting video of him and his team, acting natural as they stroll around the aircraft carrier parked in the waters off Manhattan’s West Side. September 23rd will mark the fourth IFL event (the MMA promotion that pits team against team), and while Moline, Illinios isn’t all that close to the Big Apple, that’s where the New York-based Pitbulls will be squaring off against Miletich’s Silverbacks. It promises to be a night of hard-fought battles.

Between takes everyone halts and waits for the cameraman to give new instructions. In the meantime, the Pitbulls make jokes and laugh, and stand for pictures with curious tourists.

“I feel good,” says the upbeat and amiable Gracie when asked how his training is coming along.

Flanked by the likes of Marcio Feitosa, Fabio Leopoldo, Delson Heleno and Carlos Cline, the Brazilian has definitely filled his roster with tough guys. Yet one can’t help but stare at the latest addition to the team, the grappling behemoth Bryan Vetell. A former Greco-Roman champ, Vetell will be cutting weight from 290 pounds to get down to 265, and he’ll be taking on the very experienced striker Ben Rothwell. It’s a tall order for the big man. Will he be ready?

“This is my shot,” says Vetell, who’s training six days a week - working on his boxing, grappling and conditioning - in preparation for the man who scored a TKO win at the last IFL event. “This is my chance to do well at the echelon of competition I want to be at. I mean, every day I train with guys that are already at that level [at Renzo Gracie’s Academy], so it’s not like I won’t be going in there ready.”

Vetell’s thoughts on Rothwell? “He’s a very experienced guy, coming from an awesome team in the Midwest. I don’t know what I think other than for me it’ll be my wrestling and my ground game, and for him it’ll be his striking and his overhand right.”

They pause before an old A-12 Blackbird. They stand under the American flags flapping in the wind. They pretend to read up on the design specs of an F-8K Crusader, all while the cameras roll, capturing the Pitbulls in their natural habitat of New York City. On September 23rd, two IFL teams will clash with Gracie and some of his best fighters at the forefront. But for now, it’s all about the photo op.

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

Tangential MMA News: Ohio Lawyer Representing Fighter Earns Unanimous Decision

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

In this month’s Tangential MMA News, an Ohio defense attorney representing a mixed martial arts fighter opened up a can of whoopass on the prosecution. KOTC (King of the Courtroom) stud Aaron Conrad, a civil and criminal defense attorney from Lancaster, utilized some quick thinking and a Rule of Evidence haymaker that earned him and his client a unanimous decision at the Franklin County Municipal Court.

“My guy was charged with assault,” said Conrad, a Capital University law grad who once represented UFC fighter Wes Sims against the Nevada State Athletic Commission. “It stemmed from when he was leaving a nightclub. Another gentleman began berating my client, and as my client was a known fighter who fought on local shows, the gentleman wanted to make a name for himself by fighting my client.” What happened next? Two punches and it was over. “My client didn’t do too much damage – gave the guy a broken nose and a cracked orbital bone. People there said it was over pretty quick.”

Conrad’s client was charged with assault, and with no plea bargaining offer on the table, it was clear the prosecutor wanted to slug it out before a jury. “With my guy having no priors, what did we really have to lose? The burden was on the State to prove [his guilt].”

And like a UFC light-heavyweight title fight, it was on.

“At trial, [the] prosecutor attempts to question [the] alleged victim about fact that my client is an MMA fighter. I immediately object, ask to approach the bench, and tell the judge that my client’s occupation has no relevance to whether he assaulted the victim. [The] prosecutor becomes very vocal and laughs at my objection, stating that as an MMA fighter my client is more prone to violence and therefore testimony regarding my client’s occupation is definitely relevant. The judge looks at me and says, ‘Well, he has a point? How do you counter that argument, counsel?’ Without hesitation I look back at the judge and say, ‘Your honor, if I bring a client in tomorrow who is charged with reckless operation of a motor vehicle, are you going to agree to dismiss the charges if I show that the client is a NASCAR driver, because obviously as a NASCAR driver, my client could never be a reckless driver? And are you going to extend this logic to a physician who removes feeding tubes from someone in a permanently unconscious state... is that physician more prone to commit murder? I guarantee you the prosecutor can produce no evidence which supports his theory that an MMA fighter is more prone to violence, and therefore evidence that my client is an MMA fighter is not relevant and will serve only to unfairly prejudice the jury.’ The Judge agreed with me and instructed the prosecutor that he was not to ask questions about my client's occupation.”

It took the jury no more than 30 minutes to find the defendant not guilty.

Said Conrad: “There was no doubt in my mind that the judge was going to let the information that my client was a fighter in to evidence. He was leaning towards that. And I’m sure that if I’d have given the prosecution advance notice, he’d have come up with an argument as to why that information was relevant.” But, like an Abu Dhabi grappling champ getting a kickboxer down and hunting for submissions, it was all about strategy. “I assumed the issue might have come up during the trial. What I could have done was attacked it first hand [at the beginning of the proceedings – when motions are made to exclude potentially inappropriate and prejudicial evidence]. But my thoughts were I wasn’t going to give the prosecution advance notice.” Instead, with his objection in mind once the trial was underway, it was all about Conrad approaching the bench with a rock-solid argument that had the prosecutor off-balance and contemplating tapping out.

Ultimately, the judge could have over-ruled Conrad’s objection, and his client’s occupation would have then been ruled as relevant and admissible. “It’s really at the judge’s discretion. That’s what it came down to.” Thankfully, thanks to Conrad’s legal skills and strategy, things played out in his client’s favor.

Next month on Tangential MMA News: an MMA fighter does his taxes!