Bellator 77, Season 7 Lightweight Tournament Quarter-Finals Live Results

 Posted by at 3:17 PM  Amateur Spotlight  1 Response »
Oct 192012
 

(Photo courtesy of Bellator Fighting Championships)

—MAIN CARD (on MTV2)—

Season 7 Lightweight Tournament Quarter-Final Fight
Rich Clementi vs. Alexander Sarnavskiy: Clementi via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28), Round 3, 5:00

Season 7 Lightweight Tournament Quarter-Final Fight
Dave Jansen vs. Magomed Saadulaev: Jansen via Submission (Guillotine Choke), Round 3, 0:41

Season 7 Lightweight Tournament Quarter-Final Fight
Marcin Held vs. Murad Machaev: Held via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28), Round 3, 5:00

Season 7 Lightweight Tournament Quarter-Final Fight
Ricardo Tirloni vs. Rene Nazare: Tirloni via Submission (D’Arce Choke), Round 2, 1:14 Continue reading »

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MMA Gospel to Cover Cut Throat: Supremacy Event in Hammond Indiana

 Posted by at 10:09 PM  Amateur Spotlight, MMA News  No Responses »
Nov 052010
 

(Photo courtesy of Cut Throat MMA)

Naperville, Illinois-based amateur promotion Cut Throat MMA is taking a big step forward Saturday, November 6 as it grows with its fighters from a local amateur organization into a small regional pro/am mixed martial arts promotion.  As has been a trend with Cut Throat, the majority of the fighters on the card have fought for the promotion before and are matched against fighters who have very similar records and skill levels. The only difference between the quality fan- and fighter-friendly events Cut Throat has held before and the fights on tomorrow’s Cut Throat: Supremacy at the Hammond Civic Center in Hammond, Indiana is that this time the wins and losses are for real. Four fighters will be making their professional debut and another five are stepping into the cage as professionals for only the second time. When it comes to finding out who the newest up-and-comers are, it doesn’t get much fresher than these warriors.  The card is equally balanced with six professional bouts and six amateur contests and, with an amateur title on the line, shows a dedication to showcasing all the fighters, not just the pros, that is refreshing to see in a promotion. Continue reading »

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US Amateur MMA Team Headlines November 19 Event in Italy

 Posted by at 10:27 PM  Amateur Spotlight, MMA News  No Responses »
Nov 012010
 

From first glance, MMA Sports Federation (MMASF) appears to be a typical run-of-the-mill, prospective local amateur MMA promotion.  But, with its latest endeavors, the promotion is clearly establishing itself as a noteworthy competitor rivaling its fellow amateur organizations.

MMASF is a Schaumburg, Illinois-based organization that has recruited amateur mixed martial artists to form Team USA and represent not only their local area, but in many instances, their country.  Using a national team competition format, MMASF  pits its fighters against those from even the furthest reaches of the globe. The organization recently hosted events featuring fight teams from Canada, Ireland, Poland, and Australia – also in the works is a January event accommodating Team Mexico, as well as the return of Team Australia in the spring. Continue reading »

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Amateur Spotlight Chicago: Supreme Promotions: Rumble at the Roundhouse II

 Posted by at 1:22 AM  Amateur Spotlight, MMA News  No Responses »
Sep 152010
 
Tommy Benson (left) squares off against Jerald Williams (right) at Rumble at the Roundhouse 2. (Photo courtesy of Mallory Mejia)

On the anniversary of our nation’s darkest hour, MMA Gospel was a guest of Jim Jackson and Nic Thompson at the historic Walter Payton’s Roundhouse in Aurora, IL.  This event, Rumble at the Roundhouse 2 (RRH2), was the third offering of the fledgling Chicago based Supreme Promotions.  It was a very solid showing, especially for a promotion with only a year of experience, and brought some very unique concepts to the table.  The venue (a micro brewery, restaurant, and bar built in an old high-end train station) was amazing.  After walking in through the micro-brewery to the upscale jazz bar, the fans enter an open courtyard where they either sit on the flat topped stone work, the well manicured grass, at the full service bar near the entrance, or, for VIP ticket holders, at one of several high chaired tables.  A full wait staff serves the fans, meaning they have no need to risk missing any of the action when it’s time for another beer.  Around the edge of the venue were the booths for Supreme’s multitude of local sponsors including a display with a BMW and three custom Harleys. In the center of the courtyard is a raised hexagonal gazebo where Supreme placed a six-sided cage. That’s where the fairy tale venue met reality.  The gazebo was small, which means the fighters had to compete in a tiny hexagonal cage that was 14 feet at the most.  Also, the gazebo floor was so high that when the fight hit the ground, fans were forced to stand in order to see even a glimpse of the action.  Supreme made sure that judges, camera men, and photographers were positioned behind the gazebo’s posts, keeping them out of the fans line of view, but the small size of the gazebo left the area looking a bit cluttered. There were also a few issues with the officials, record keeping, and matchmaking for the promotion.  MOMMIE  has the details.    Continue reading »

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Amateur MMA Spotlight Chicago: G2 Fight Nights

 Posted by at 3:36 PM  Amateur Spotlight  No Responses »
Aug 242010
 

Gino DiGiulio get his hand raised following a unanimous decision victory over Shane Camp at G2 Fight Night 3 (Photo: Mallory Mejia/MMA Gospel)

On Saturday, August 21, 2010 staff photographer Mallory Mejia and I attended G2 Fight Nights: “Fight Night 3” in Tinley Park Illinois.  G2 promoter Breea Gilbert provided a 12 fight card that was both efficiently run and well matched.  They provided the estimated 700 people in attendance a professional quality show with a party atmosphere, but the promotion wasn’t without its failings.  Gilbert Grappling (G2) provided the majority of the blue corner bracket, and that’s usually a big issue.  When the promoter’s own camp provides the majority of the fighters it’s hard to believe they’re impartial. However, G2 had the good sense to use an outside matchmaker to book their fights which allowed them to book their own fighters without being open to accusations of favoritism.  They also lack the validation of an outside sanctioning and officiating body and, though they went to great lengths to ensure that they provided impartial officiating for every bout, there were some judging mishaps which could have been avoided with the use of an outside sanctioning body. The show itself was a bit overdone, with money spent on dance platforms for go-go dancers, projection screens, and a film crew that had the sole purpose of feeding the fights directly to the projection screens. While the whole of the production was centered on bringing attention to the fighters (exactly how an amateur show should be focused) these elements could have been scaled down to provide funds that were lacking in more important areas.  G2 provided pre-recorded video interviews with each fighter at the weigh-ins that played on the large projection screens prior to the fighters walk out music hitting the speakers and ensured that ring girls, vendors, and other members of the production were ghosts during walk outs, interviews, and more importantly, fights.  I simply believe that they could have done just as well with half as many dancers and one projection screen.  We know that the fans had nothing but good things to say about G2, but what does MOMMIE have to say?

Continue reading »

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Quake In The Cage 2: Meet Vincent Duchetta

 Posted by at 4:52 PM  Amateur Spotlight, MMA News  1 Response »
Aug 182010
 

With Quake in the Cage 2 coming up on August 29 in Arcadia,California I figured it was time to learn more about the owners of the promotion. As it turned out the guys responsible for these shows are pioneers who were the first to bring live MMA shows to the San Gabriel Valley of Southern California. They even have an award winning documentary based on their early events. Their names are Vince Duchetta and his partner/professional cage fighter Daniel Hernandez of The Vault MMA in Monrovia California. Continue reading »

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First Ever Combat Fight League Packs Action and West Coast Jiu Jitsu Venue!

 Posted by at 4:03 PM  Amateur Spotlight, MMA News  No Responses »
Aug 092010
 

Photos by Todd Townsend of DeadlyFighter.com

On Friday August 6 The Combat Fight League brought an incredible 7 bout amateur event to West Coast Jiu Jitsu in Oxnard, California with “Ground Zero”, the debut event for the brand new Combat Fight League.  CFL founder Julius Mojica and West Coast Jiu Jitsu owner Brian Espinosa packed 400 MMA fans into Brian’s West Coast JJ center that is slated to host most of the CFL’s Ventura County events.  At about 3,000 square feet the venue was packed to standing room only with fans and MMA celebs alike who were clearly impressed with a 7 bout card that had many over heard saying “best event I have seen this year”. Continue reading »

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Savant Young Fight Academy and Proving Grounds 3: MMA Event August 14

 Posted by at 3:06 PM  Amateur Spotlight, MMA News  1 Response »
Aug 052010
 

Walking through the front door of the 7,000 square foot Fight Academy at 61 Valley Street in the tony, Mercedes filled neighborhood of South Pasadena, California I was immediately struck by two things; the cool urban feel of the graffiti art on the walls and the hip hop tracks playing in the background.  It was clear the Fight Academy was different from the standard Dojo or gym layout that many of us are familiar with. This was not the generic, white walled, mall location Karate Academy full of heavy bags. It is instead a large converted industrial warehouse with 20 foot ceilings and exposed beams. The cavernous space holds a regulation MMA cage, two boxing ring style practice areas, heavy bags, a massive mat area fills the center of the floor with the cardio equipment at the back.

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Amateur Spotlight Chicago: MMASF Team USA

 Posted by at 2:51 PM  Amateur Spotlight, MMA News  5 Responses »
Aug 042010
 

Team Australia's Joey Luciano lands a kick to the body of Team USA's Alex White. (Photo: Mallory Mejia)

On July 31, 2010, the Mixed Martial Arts Sport Federation in collaboration with Team Z Martial Arts came to Bridgeview, IL’s Toyota Center for the international amateur MMA competition Team USA vs. The World.  With such a prestigious sounding event on the pass for amateur fighters, MMA Gospel absolutely had to attend.  When I arrived, I found a very unusual animal indeed.  The production reminded me of a 1970’s boxing event, complete with shills in the crowd raising chants for the home team and an early focus on the accolades and achievements of promoter Rob Zbilski.  Each team was brought out one at a time to hear the presentation of their respective country’s national anthem, after which three separate martial arts masters took turns introducing the promoter before he made a short speech.  The overall production of the fights was nothing short of top class, but there were a few elephants in the living room that I feel must be addressed.   Continue reading »

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Amateur Spotlight Chicago: Cut Throat MMA

 Posted by at 4:05 PM  Amateur Spotlight, MMA News  6 Responses »
Jul 272010
 

Jeremy Hefner uses a front headlock to control Tim Savenok in an exciting three-round fight at Cut Throat MMA (Photo: Mallory Mejia)

On Friday, July 23 2010, staff photographer Mallory Mejia and I attended a local show put on by the Naperville, IL-based amateur promotion Cut Throat MMA for the first edition of MMA Gospel’s new “Amateur Spotlight” series.  Owned and produced by Mike Davis, the Cut Throat MMA production provides a professional atmosphere and efficiently run show that is well worth the time and money for both the fan and the fighter.  The initial response to Cut Throat with local training camps was a mixed bag with a handful complaining of mismatches and last minute fight switching and even accusations of billing pros as amateurs, but neither I nor the close to 1,000 spectators in attendance witnessed any evidence of this at the Holiday Inn Select in Naperville that Friday night.  In fact, the matches were remarkably well-balanced, especially for an amateur event where limited video and the great variances in the effectiveness of the innumerable camps’ training programs make it difficult for promoters to truly gauge where a fighter’s talent level really is.  Throughout the entire 12-fight card there were only two bouts where the promoter could come under scrutiny for questionable  fight booking.  It is important to note, however, that the fighters who were on the receiving end of those mismatches admitted that they not only were fully informed of their opponents’ skill levels and training, but had also been provided with video of prior fights.  Upon viewing the fights, it became evident that the responsibility of the mismatchings fell upon the shoulders of the fighter’s manager/coaches, not the promotion itself.  But we’ll discuss that later; for now, let’s take a look now at what MOMMIE has to say. Continue reading »

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Announcing the MMA Gospel Amateur Spotlight Series

 Posted by at 6:29 PM  Amateur Spotlight, MMA News  1 Response »
Jul 232010
 

The staff here at MMA Gospel noticed a disturbing trend in MMA media.  Amateur fighters, the fighters who need exposure the most, are the least covered athletes in MMA.  In fact, most sites tell their writers that amateurs are off limits and even when attending a pro/am event, they are only allowed to cover the professional fighters.  We decided to not only cover amateur events, but to dedicate an entire series to local shows and amateur fights.  I will personally be covering the Chicagoland area and possibly a few promotions in the southeast, starting with the Naperville, IL based Cutthroat MMA production.  The main goals of this series are to provide exposure for amateur fighters that may otherwise not garner any attention from larger organizations for several years of competition and, perhaps more importantly, provide amateur fighters with an easy resource to find out which small shows are the ones to fight for and which shows are the ones to avoid.  Continue reading »

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