Isaac Greeley dishes on coaching life, MMA lifestyle
On the fifth episode of 247 Fighting Championships’ Pittsburgh Combat Sports Podcast, host Hunter Homistek speaks with legendary local coach and gym owner Isaac Greeley. They dig into Greeley’s transition from standout collegiate wrestler to owner/instructor at the Mat Factory Wrestling Club and much, much more. Enjoy the show.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Ethan Goss Reveals Singular Goal in MMA Career … and Shows Off Pet Raccoon
On the fourth episode of 247 Fighting Championships’ Pittsburgh Combat Sports Podcast, host Hunter Homistek speaks with longtime local legend Ethan Goss. They dig into their shared central-PA roots and discuss Middleswarth potato chips, pet raccoons, and much more. Enjoy the show.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Cody Law’s INCREDIBLE Mental Growth … Plus Whiskey and Guitar
On the third episode of 247 Fighting Championships’ Pittsburgh Combat Sports Podcast, host Hunter Homistek speaks with red-hot undefeated Bellator prospect Cody Law. An NCAA National Champion wrestler, Law burst onto the MMA scene and quickly found himself under the national spotlight at Bellator.
The transition wasn’t quite as smooth as Law made it look, though. Throughout the podcast, Law describes his “anti-clutch” gene and details the work he’s put in at The Mat Factory and American Top Team to get to where he is –– and where he’s going.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Chris Dempsey Explains Incredible Influence of Carlton Haselrig, Discusses Return to MMA
On the second episode of 247 Fighting Championships’ Pittsburgh Combat Sports Podcast, host Hunter Homistek speaks with former UFC/Bellator middleweight Chris Dempsey. Fighting out of the esteemed Mat Factory Wrestling Club, Dempsey recently took a hiatus from the sport of MMA –– but he’s back and ready to throw down Aug. 21 at Flood City Fight Night in Johnstown, Pa.
Dempsey explains why he’s returning to the sport after a four-year layoff and why this particular fight means so much to him. Spoiler alert: Legendary Pennsylvania athlete Cartlon Haselright has a whole lot to do with it. You don’t want to miss this episode.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Sitting cageside at Brawl in the Burgh 8 Saturday evening, I watched Missouri’s Marco Hutch perform the unthinkable:
He punched undefeated Mat Factory Wrestling Club standout Jacob Lowry in the face – hard – then he mounted him.
Then he took his back.
… then he flattened him out.
The crowd fell silent. The energy inside the Monroeville Convention Center evaporated. The cheers turned to panic and uhh, holy crap, I just hope this crowd doesn’t riot.
On the heels of back-to-back losses for the home team to kick off the pro card, this was not how things were supposed to go down.
Through six amateur bouts as well as his pro debut back at Brawl in the Burgh 7, Lowry was practically untouchable. A dominant grappler with a killer instinct, Lowry marks one of the hottest prospects in the region, and for good reason.
And now Hutch was having his way with him in front of the near-sellout hometown crowd.
“I knew I needed to get away, but at the same time I knew it was better to get through that round and kind of pick it up the second round, recover a little bit, get myself back together and keep going,” Lowry said backstage after the fight.
That’s one way to put it.
Another way – and sorry, Jake, but I like this better – came from a fan just a few feet behind me:
“Get up and whoop his ass, Jake!”
After fending off multiple submission attempts and clearing the cobwebs from that early Hutch right, Lowry did just that.
Little by little, he took control of the bout, and by the midway point of the second round, it was pretty clear where this was headed. In fact, it was right about the time this elbow landed that the crowd realized their boy was back – and in total control (volume up if you wanna puke):
From there, Lowry continued to do Lowry stuff, grinding Hutch into the mat and eventually finding the finish via third-round submission.
A gutsy win like that had to feel good, right?
Ehh…
“He wants to win everywhere. He wants to dominate every second,” Lowry’s coach and Mat Factory owner Isaac Greeley said after the fight. “He’s actually not happy right now, but I don’t think he realizes just how gutsy that win was yet. That was real-deal, UFC-level stuff that he just showed.”
Any silver lining in that, Mr. Lowry?
• Lowry saved the day a bit for the Pittsburgh crowd with his comeback submission win, but it was still a rough go for the Steel City boys Saturday evening.
The Academy’s Justin Patton and Jake Schilling both lost via quick submission to kick off the pro card, and “The Prince of Pittsburgh” Cole Macek got wiped out by DeWitt Dixon with just seconds left in Round 1. That’s the sport and that’s the game though.
One thing’s for sure: Pittsburgh doesn’t turn its back on its own. After the losses, I heard plenty of encouragement from the crowd, which is always awesome to take in.
• While Schilling was noticeably upset after his defeat, you gotta tip your hat to his opponent, Shawn Tarlton. Making his professional MMA debut, the Michigan-based fighter locked up a gogoplata just moments into the fight and worked to cinch it tighter and tighter before eventually securing the tap.
Hilariously, Tarlton talked me through the finish backstage:
• Not to beat a dead horse here, but ya just gotta give credit where it’s due. Patton’s opponent, Shawn Suser, hit a gorgeous armbar early in their bout, and Dixon was just a wrecking machine against Macek.
“That dude is strong,” Macek was saying of Dixon on his way out of the cage.
Even Hutch looked genuinely phenomenal early against Lowry, putting him in dangerous position after dangerous position.
It’s never a cakewalk inside the cage, and Brawl in the Burgh 8 proved that point repeatedly Saturday night.
• Shoutout to the best post-fight speech of the night from Dixon, too. The dude is hilarious, and he cut a post-fight promo that had me genuinely cracking up.
Asked what was next for him in his career, Dixon fired back with a classic.
“Man, I just … Anybody know where they sell crab legs? I just want some crab legs. That’s what’s next.”
View this post on Instagram
• There’s no Fight of the Night award, but if there was, you’d have a tough time convincing me not to give it to Gabriela Valdes and Syd Ross for their amateur women’s bantamweight title fight.
After spending the majority of Round 1 off her back absorbing punishment from Ross, Valdes found her groove in Round 2 and carried that momentum into Round 3, largely piecing up her opponent on the feet. She showcased some crisp striking and a pace that will undoubtedly make her a can’t-miss attraction for many fights to come.
Valdes took home the 247 FC gold for her efforts, but Ross showcased her grit and aggression that makes her a fan favorite every time out.
• It wasn’t all bad for the local fighters Saturday night, of course. The Mat Factory’s Ferdaws Nayimi opened the show with a dominant performance against Clinton Ewing, then Indio Dojo’s Taylor Cahill kept the momentum rolling with a third-round arm-triangle choke against Brandin Harrington.
The Academy’s Chase Boyde took the baton from there and sprinted away with it, submitting Brogan Endres via rear-naked choke in Round 2. It was an emotional win for Boyde and a step back in the right direction after dropping his previous two contests.
• Big win for sportsmanship at Brawl in the Burgh 8.
Jacob Lowry and Marco Hutch embrace after their main-event showdown at 247 Fighting Championships’ Brawl in the Burgh 8 at the Monroeville Convention Center. – PHOTO CREDIT: Chris Bermudo / 247 Fighting Championships
Macek and Dixon talked plenty of trash leading into their bout, and even though things didn’t go his way, Macek made a point to properly congratulate Dixon, hashing out any bad blood that may have existed.
Ditto for every bout on the card. Time after time, a common theme emerged: Respect.
You love to see it.
• How good is Cam Allgeier?
No, that’s not a rhetorical question. Just how good is this kid? I’m not sure we know the answer just yet. The young, undefeated bantamweight climbed to a perfect 6-0 in his amateur career with a first-round triangle choke of Asher Frederick Saturday evening, silencing some doubters who questioned his ability to finish fights after three straight decision wins.
It’s only up from here for him, and count me among those excited to see what’s next.
Adam Milstead Praises Local MMA, Talks Injuries, Grind to the Top
On the inaugural episode of 247 Fighting Championships’ Pittsburgh Combat Sports Podcast, host Hunter Homistek speaks with former UFC heavyweight/light heavyweight Adam Milstead. A veteran of the Pittsburgh MMA scene, Milstead breaks down his rise to the big show –– and all the bumps and bruises that came with it.
Milstead also discusses exactly what makes local MMA so special and makes his pick for the best trash talker in Pittsburgh MMA history.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Dubbed the “Pittsburgh Combat Sports Podcast,” this show will be hosted by local MMA expert, fan, and reporter Hunter Homistek.
Featuring some of Western PA’s most notable figures — past, present, and future — the Pittsburgh Combat Sports Podcast aims to highlight the local scene and bring attention to the many incredible athletes, gyms, trainers, and businessmen and women working tirelessly to establish Pittsburgh as a combat sports hub.
There might be some laughs and wild behind-the-scenes stories along the way too.
Adam retired from MMA following a first-round defeat against Mike Rodriguez at UFC on Fox: Lee vs. Iaquinta 2 in 2018. Before that, Adam was one of the region’s top prospects, racking up seven straight finishes in and around Western PA to earn a call up to the big stage.
In his UFC debut, Adam kept rolling, finishing Chris de la Rocha via second-round TKO.
Now, Adam is kicked back and ready to reflect on everything that led him where he is today. He breaks it all down, detailing every step of the journey with Hunter for Episode 1 of the Pittsburgh Combat Sports Podcast.
Enjoy the show:
PS: If you liked what Hunter and Adam had to say about the local MMA scene and you want to check out a live show for yourself, here’s your chance.
Brawl in the Burgh 8 goes down LIVE Saturday, Aug. 7, at the Monroeville Convention Center, featuring three amateur title fights and the return of one of the area’s hottest up-and-coming pros, Jacob Lowry. You don’t want to miss this one.
Are you sick of having nothing to do on the weekends? Well, Brawl In The Burgh 6 starts at 1pm and is the first of two events that gets the day started with a BANG! Followed by Brawl In The Burgh 7 starting at 7pm, capping off a fun-filled day of MMA. With things finally getting back to normal and events being held again, the Monroeville Convention Center is the only place in Pittsburgh you should be tomorrow! I can’t predict what will happen this Saturday, but I guarantee you 247FC’s 2021 debut is going to be absolutely breath taking.
Now let’s take a deeper dive into the later of the two events, Brawl In The Burgh 7. An event that hosts eight action packed fights, 16 fighters ready to make the crowd roar, and a night full of mixed martial arts madness.
Brawl In The Burgh 7 is a fight card structured to make Pittsburgh go wild. Headlined by undefeated pro fighter Ethan Hayes and Fury Fight Team representative John Ramirez. Hayes is clearing a path of bodies straight to greatness, reeling off three consecutive first round submission victories. It’s all about “Tap, Snap, or Nap” for the All American MMA product. Hayes said when stepping into the 247 cage on Saturday, “it is simply kill or be killed”.
In the other corner, Ramirez has just nine fights and has already stood across the cage from some of the top competitors in the world. The experienced he gained against competition like top ranked UFC Featherweight Sodiq Yusuff and former Bellator vet Eric Wisely, is just one of the many factors to watch going into this highly anticipated main event. He also feels, he has nothing to lose taking the fight on short notice. Ramirez’s shared his final thoughts before fight night with me saying, “The weight cut is going good. When I get out there, you’re going to see a different animal. I am going to go out there and take care of business. That’s what I do”.
In the co-main event of Brawl In The Burgh 7, it’s the fans who win! As Jacob Lowry is defending home turf against Tony “Tiger” Charles. This is a fight that sees both competitors not only making their pro debut, but also making their 247FC debut. Lowry is one of five fighters on Brawl In The Burgh 7 carrying the torch into battle for The Mat Factory Wrestling Club. He finished his amateur career in dominant fashion going 6-0, picking up three finishes in the process. Lowry is leaving the amateur rankings as the #1 Light Heavyweight in Pennsylvania and Ohio. Paving a road to the top, Lowry intends on proving why he was placed in the co-main event.
Across the cage is an animal from San Jose, CA and he goes by the nickname “Tiger”. Tony Charles is a fighters’ fighter to the core. Sharpening his game at the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) under well-known coaches Javier Mendez and “Crazy” Bob Cook. The same coaches that helped legendary fighters like Daniel Cormier, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Luke Rockhold achieve UFC gold. Well aware he’s marching into enemy territory Saturday night, in the words of the “Tiger” himself he said, “I am coming to spoil the party”.
In war, many believe the king is the most important piece to victory. But it is the gladiators that carve the path of history on the battlefield. On Saturday, Chaka Worthy and Mike Johnson will be gladiators once again and the 247 cage will be their Colosseum”.
Chaka Worthy has followed in the footsteps of his older brother, UFC Lightweight Khama Worthy. Training with some of the best fighters in the world at The Academy Pittsburgh, Worthy is ready to become the lion that hunts its prey. A hurricane that destroys everything in its path. After a controversial split decision loss in his last fight, Chaka is aiming to take the judges out of the equation this time around. Worthy had one to thing to say about fight night, “I’ma be on my dawg s***”. If that’s any indication to how things will playout during the fight, we are in for an absolute war on Saturday.
On the other side of the battleground, Mike Johnson is a seasoned warrior out of Stars & Strikes MMA and is as eager as ever to put on a show in Pittsburgh. Traveling from Michigan and bringing the heart of Detroit with him, Johnson has zero plans of returning home with a loss. In combat sports a champion is not defined by the triumphs, they are defined in defeat. How they respond when they feel at the lowest of lows. Johnson is determined to prove that how he responds to adversity and overcomes obstacles, is exactly what will make him a champion one day. In regard to his fight this Saturday against Chaka Worthy, Johnson said, “The only thing I will promise, is it’s going to be a non-stop and fast paced kind of fight. I will look for the finish”.
These next two gentleman are anything but gentle. 16 fights between the two, and only once has it ever reached the judges’ scorecards. At Brawl In The Burgh 7, when Marcus “Lights Out” Williamson and Damon “RosKo” Morosko enter the cage a presence will be felt. A Classic battle of two fighters that will stalk one another until the final bell. Bringing devastating power and a boxing background, Williamson’s last time in the cage resulted in his opponent tapping out to strikes in the second round. Heading into Saturday on a two-fight win streak, “Lights Out” prefers to paint his art in the form of violence.
Morosko makes the walk Saturday after delivering a VICIOUS 29 second knockout in his last fight. Although it has been over two years since “RosKo” competed, there are no worries in the mind of the Ground Zero MMA warrior. As the old saying goes, “Iron sharpens iron”. Never coming off as “cocky”, Morosko believes it is his dedication during his time away that will allow for another highlight reel knockout this Saturday.
In a battle of heavyweights, The Mat Factory continues to provide lethal weapons for Brawl In The Burgh 7. As “The Incredible” Cody Gamble makes his return to the 247 cage after an extremely questionable split decision loss, to face off against debuting fighter Tim McFarland. Gamble enters just the third fight of his career as the largest favorite on the card. When Gamble steps into the 247 cage he has one thing on his mind, bad intentions. With his confidence soaring and the odds in his favor Gamble said, “I’m just looking forward to putting on a show for the fans. I’m coming GUNS BLAZING”.
Training out of Monroe Jiu-Jitsu, Tim McFarland is banking on his tricky ground game to make his opponent uncomfortable anytime the fight hits the mat. Saying McFarland is a big underdog is an understatement, but he believes it will just make the victory taste that much sweeter. Always confident in his Jiu-Jitsu, the debuting McFarland is looking to make a name of his own of Gamble by making him tap out.
In this matchup we see a Mat Factory fighter in “Game” Jermaine Moye making his debut. Against a worthy foe from Delaware Terrell Brittingham. Training independently Brittingham is crossing enemy lines to cancel Moye’s coming out party. For Moye conditioning is a lifestyle, and he will apply pressure from the opening bell. “Game” Jermaine plans to throw bombs on fight night and test the threshold of his power. Moye’s last comment before Brawl In The Burgh 7 was, “I will win in devastating fashion. I will secure the last name MOYE in Pittsburgh history. You better not blink; this will be a knockout that’s never forgotten”.
But across from him is a man that has no plans to quit. Brittingham is walking into battle for the fourth time and will try to take his debuting opponent to places he’s never been before. Trying to bounce back after a tough loss, Brittingham is going out there to show Pittsburgh he will not stop until he is the last man standing.
The opening fight of Brawl In The Burgh 7 will have every fan in attendance on their feet! Two heavyweights prepared and ready to see who’s chin can handle the most damage. Getting in a fight is like throwing fire, while you stand in the flames. Luckily for us, diving into the “flames” is exactly what Justin “Blacc Mutant” Pippens and fellow PA native training out of The Shop David Krouse intend to do. Pippens intentions heading into his second fight are simple, continue to swing home runs when inside the 247 cage. Somehow Pippens last opponent endured brutal shots, and the fight ultimately went to decision. A decision that ended up being a SPLIT DRAW. The “Blacc Mutant” is aiming to make a statement and prove a point that he won the last fight, and he will be a problem moving forward. Pippens said one last thing before Saturday, “Expect the unexpected”.
But David Krouse believes he has all the answers to minimize the insane power his opponent has. Krouse has been grinding at The Shop and wants to forge his own route to the top. Normally, you would worry about a guy with no experience fighting a guy that’s went the full distance of a fight before. But with Krouse training at The Shop with tons of up and coming talent, it would be a foolish move to underestimate him.
Saturday May 22nd!!!!!! Fights start at 7pm @ Monroeville Convention Center. Buy your ticket HERE
Main Event
(3-0) Ethan Hayes vs (4-5) John Ramirez* (150lbs)
Co-Main Event
(0-0) Jacob Lowry vs (0-0) Tony Charles*(185lbs)
(3-3) Chaka Worthy vs (4-5) Mike Johnson*(140lbs)
(4-7) Marcus Williamson vs (2-2) Damon Morosko (170lbs)
(1-1) Cody Gamble vs (0-0) Tim McFarland (250lbs)
(0-0) Jermaine Moye vs (1-2) Terrell Brittingham (200lbs)
(0-0-1) Justin Pippens (250lbs) vs (0-0) David Krouse (240lbs)
[* Pro Fights]
With an MMA double-header Saturday upon us, the earlier of the two events, Brawl In The Burgh 6, is STACKED from top to bottom. And, every single fighter plans to make a statement by bringing a “fan-friendly” style to the cage. This will be a card Pittsburgh never forgets!
The only thing I can guarantee you. An Ethan Goss fight brings you’re a** off the seat. It’s going to be fireworks!– Ethan Goss
Speaking to the two fighters involved in the main event of Brawl In The Burgh 6, Ethan Goss and Matt Gaffney, both competitors feel they have put in the work to steal the show on May 22nd. Although, Goss is training out of Gorilla House Gym in Altoona and fighting out of Petersburg, PA, he is coming into the headlining bout as the clear hometown favorite. Having competed on three prior 247 cards he’s became a familiar face to the local MMA fans. We all know every time Goss steps in the cage it’s a must-see fight.
I’m ready to put on a Fight of the Night type performance for Pittsburgh– Matt Gaffney
However in the other corner, 247FC newcomer Matt Gaffney understands the magnitude of this main event and has given tons of praise to 247 for the opportunity. Traveling into hostile territory from Wisconsin, Gaffney feels his preparation at Stronghold Jiu Jitsu & Damage Inc Fight Club has him ready to showcase his skills for the Pittsburgh fans.
Trenton Zdarko is one of many Mat Factory Wrestling Club fighters featured on Saturday’s cards. He had an impactful amateur career picking up five wins and just two losses, one of which came too undefeated Bellator prospect Dalton Rosta. In addition to the success he found at the amateur level, Zdarko opened his professional career with a first-round submission in 2019. Since, he has only fought one other time, where he dropped a submission loss at Brawl In The Burgh 2. Looking to get back on track, Zdarko feels the Mat Factory has him prepared to take home the win by any means necessary.
Ken Hunt is fighting out of Detroit, Michigan and trains at Stars & Strikes MMA. He is making his debut with 247. Hunt has experienced both wins and losses as a pro, but his plans are . For Hunt, he believes the win will be captured by applying that experience in his fight on May 22nd.
How he clears that distance to get takedowns is very dangerous and I’m going to show him how dangerous it is– Justin Patton
Training out of The Academy of Pittsburgh, under UFC fighter Khama Worthy Justin Patton’s confidence is at an all-time high. After an inconsistent start to his amateur career (starting off 2-3), Patton has really came into his own as of late. He enters this contest riding a three-fight win streak and back-to-back finishes. For Patton though, this is all about putting the finishing touches on his amateur career. Becoming a champion is the last thing he has to do before moving to the next level.
It’s going to be a dynamic fight. I promise that– Cameron Allgeier
Cameron Allgeier trains out of Gorilla House Gym in Altoona, PA. Cam has started his career on fire, picking up four consecutive wins. With his latest being on UFC Fight Pass for the CFFC. The young PA prospect is humble but confident heading into his first title fight. When asked about his own transition to a professional career, Allgeier was clear that there’s no rush. Lastly, He wants fans to know his game is always evolving and he will bring all aspects of MMA to Brawl In The Burgh 6.
I’m ready. By any means, I’m coming with that FIRE– Edwin Vera
Training out of the Mat Factory Wrestling Club in Altoona, PA. Edwin Vera is entering the fight undefeated and plans on leaving that way too. Also, Vera is a three-fight veteran of the 247 cage. Comfortable in his home turf, he’s ready to make a statement for all the fans. Vera is confident in his team and believes this is the best camp of his career so far.
Juan Avila is making the trip to Pittsburgh for Brawl In The Burgh 6 all the way from Lake County, IL. Training at Wrecking Ball MMA, Avila is poised and ready to take the zero off of Vera’s record. Although, Avila has a record with three wins and three losses, he should not be taken lightly. He is currently the #7 ranked amateur featherweight in the state of Illinois. Furthermore, he’s coming into this bout with double the number of fights as his opponent Vera.
Jarrion “Boi Bandido” Manning trains out of Indio Dojo in Pittsburgh, PA. Manning is making his debut for 247FC at Brawl In The Burgh 6. But he isn’t a stranger to competing. He picked up a win at the Rio de Janeiro Regional event in January 2020. Manning is hoping to make it a short night for his counterpart on Saturday.
Expect VIOLENT striking-Mike Kocjancic
Mike “Kojo” Kocjancic is fighting out of Kane, PA and trains at the Titan Wrestling Club. Kocjancic is extremely prideful of what his hometown Kane means to him. One of the things that really stood out about the Titan Wrestling representative is his willingness to work with the youth classes at the Wrestling Club. But regarding his debut, Kocjancic is promising violence from the opening bell.
I honestly plan on destroying this kid. Don’t mean to sound cocky at all. But I want to make him quit in the first round. He’s not on my level– Mante’ Barnes
Mante’ Barnes is eager to make his MMA debut. He has been sharpening his skills in Altoona, PA at the Gorilla House Gym. Barnes comes from a wrestling foundation and is looking to make his opponent quit by imposing his grinder mentality. Although, he is very confident in his preparation for his debut. Barnes wanted to be clear that it’s simply about levels and there’s no disrespect.
Steven Lakes is fighting out of Lockport, NY. The gym he calls home is Enoch Fighting Faith. Lakes is making his return to the 247 cage. The first time the New York native introduced himself to Pittsburgh MMA was in his debut last November. Where he got the best of Kailan Foster and brought a big win back to home to The Empire State.
The opportunity to pursue a mixed martial arts career has been the focal point of every decision I have made in my life. I am unbelievably focused-Taylor Cahill
Taylor Cahill is fighting out of Somerset County, PA and trains at Indio Dojo & The Shop. Cahill is dedicated to making a career out of fighting in MMA. Although, it’s on the wrestling mat where he found his competitive nature. Cahill is a former NCAA wrestler for Buffalo, Bloomsburg, and Clarion Universities. He is excited and prepared for his debut. But something he is looking forward to even more is supporting his older brother, Tanner Cahill, in his fight at the next 247FC card.
Gabriel Tellez is making the trip from Illinois alongside the other Wrecking Ball MMA representative on Brawl In The Burgh 6 Juan Avila. Although, unlike Avila, who has six fights under his belt already, Tellez is making his MMA debut on Saturday. He is an unknown name heading into his first fight like most debut fighters. But with the experienced talent he has around him at Wrecking Ball MMA he believes he’ll be leaving the steel city with some well earned attention.
Joshua Olsen makes the walk for the first time on Saturday night. Fighting out of McKeesport, PA and training out of PKKG & Stout MMA in Pittsburgh. Olsen is surrounded with the pieces at PKKG & Stout he needs to succeed. The same pieces that he believes will allow him to make that crowd roar in support of the hometown fighter on Saturday night.
I can’t wait to put on a show for the fans. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy– Julian Reza
Julian “Juju” Reza is fighting out of Danbury, CT and is one of the six fighters making their MMA debut at Brawl In The Burgh 6. Reza trains under highly respected UFC LHW title challenger Glover Teixeira at Teixeira MMA & Fitness. The amateur prospect knows he’s coming into hostile territory fighting against a Pennsylvania native. But this is the type of situation Reza thrives in. His plan is to come into PA as the enemy, but to leave a fan-favorite that we’ll never forget.
The first 247FC card of 2021 will be one you DON’T want to miss! The fights start at 1:00 pm @ the Monroeville Convention Center. Buy your tickets HERE
It was just 6 months ago when Patton vs Allgeier was supposed to take place. The battle tested Justin Patton and the undefeated Cameron Allgeier were scheduled to collide in the 247 cage in November 2020. Ironically, both Patton and Allgeier ended up contracting Covid-19, forcing the fight to be canceled. But in a rare occurrence for amateur fights that fall apart, 247FC Owner & President Ryan Middleton said, “This was a fight worth rebooking. This is a fight that HAD to take place.”
Thanks to 247FC that’s exactly what we get at Brawl in the Burgh 6 on May 22nd. As Patton and Allgeier have been rescheduled to square off in one of two featured amateur title fights for the 247FC Amateur Bantamweight Championship. Despite this being the first title opportunity for both competitors, neither have admitted to feeling any type of pressure and remain confident in their preparation leading up to May 22nd.
Patton (5-3) is coming into the bout, after nearly two years without a fight, riding a three-fight winning streak. But it’s the time he spent out of competition that has his confidence at an all-time high. Training out of Pittsburgh’s The Academy of Martial Arts and Fitness, Patton believes the high-level coaches and training partners he has will be one of the many factors in his favor heading into this title fight.
When asked about other advantages he believes he may have Patton said, “He’s a tough kid. He knows what he wants to do, he wants to come forward. He wants to take you down, take you into deep waters. But how he clears that distance to get takedowns is very dangerous and I’m going to show him. I’m going to show him how dangerous it is.”
With Patton’s confidence skyrocketing, he sees many avenues to victory in this matchup. In regard to watching tape on his opponent Patton said this as his biggest takeaway, “If he doesn’t get that takedown, he gets very desperate.”
Allgeier (4-0, #3 Amateur Bantamweight in PA Rankings) training out of Gorilla House MMA in Altoona has been wrestling since 6th grade and he has imposed his grinding mentality on all four of his opponents thus far. But he wants fans to know that he is growing as a fighter every single day and is comfortable wherever the fight takes place. Talking about the “striker vs wrestler” aspect of this fight Allgeier said, “It’s not UFC 1 anymore. It’s not striker verse grappler. Patton may prefer striking, but I think he’s a brown belt or purple in BJJ. He’s tough on the ground and in my last fight I dropped my opponent on the feet. It’s going to be a dynamic fight, I promise that.”
A question both fighters were asked about was concerning Patton’s inactivity over the past two years. Allgeier gave some praise to his opponent saying, “I see him post 20 stories a day. He’s in the gym. The time off shouldn’t be an issue for him. I’m expecting the best Patton anybody has ever seen. He has the Bellator and UFC fighters in his gym. It’s not like he’s going to go out there and be out of his element.”
Patton wanted to address his inactivity by saying, “It’s not an issue. Our sparring is hard. Ask anyone in Pittsburgh. You come to The Academy we’re fighting. If we’re sparring, we’re fighting. So, it is what it is.”
This is a collision course where one fighter, Patton, believes he is ready to turn professional and this fight is his opportunity to make a statement. However, Patton’s opponent has motivation outside of turning pro heading into this fight. Allgeier believes that they are attempting to use him as a steppingstone to boost Patton’s career. He had this to say when commenting, “That’s the feel I get fighting Patton. He tried to turn pro three or four times. It fell through. Now he has to get one, an amateur fight, because he’s been out for so long. So, I feel like it’s that type of thing where I’m going to be used as the steppingstone to boost up the hometown guy. But I’m going to go in there and keep that from happening.”
While discussing his opponent further Patton highlighted The Mat Factory, where both competitors train on Sunday’s, as a secret weapon saying, “What I’ve seen from me and him on Sunday’s? I’ll keep that a secret for the fight. I seen what I needed.”
Both fighters have done a great job at rounding out their skillsets. But it’s no secret Allgeier is the stronger wrestler and Patton is the more seasoned striker. The question that can’t be answered until fight night is how the contrasting styles will play out in the cage and what factors will impact the fight. Commenting on how he believes the fight will play out Allgeier said, “At the end of the day we’re going to be good at whatever we’re good at. So, he can go practice whatever he practices, and I’ll practice what I practice. This is going to be about who imposes their will on who.”
This is a fight you DO NOT want to miss at Brawl in the Burgh 6! Get your tickets here!
This could have been the last time… Photo credit to Ed Thompson
After a really tough 7 months of not having any shows or planning any shows, it is amazing to be preparing for two shows in the next 2 weeks! 7 months of being out of business after having a show cancelled on the day of the show was terrible. But we are back and we are back stronger than ever!
We are so excited to announce that, as of today, we have 11 fights signed for November 25th and the full 12 maximum signed for November 28th. 23 signed fights and another possibly on the way!
There is only one flaw in Hannah Summers’ game plan against Sydney Ross.
But, it’s a big one.
Both John de Jesus and Jamey Simmons feel that they are ready to take the next step in their professional mixed martial arts careers. The only problem is, each would have to go through the other to take that step.
Simmons and de Jesus are set to square off in Brawl in the Burgh 3’s main event on March 14. And, while both featherweights recognize that the 247 title is on the line, neither is prepared to let their dream of making it to a national stage take a hit—particularly given how confident they are in their own abilities heading into the match.
Simmons (6-2 as a professional) comes into the championship fight with a strong wrestling background. The 145-pound fighter out of Milwaukee’s Pura Vida BJJ & MMA has been wrestling since he was three years old, continued that career into high school, and now works with other high school and Division III collegiate wrestlers in his region to improve their own wrestling game.
“I’ve wrestled my whole life,” Simmons said. “I’m a student of the sport.
“I’d say my strongest point is taking you down. I think I’m hard to take down, and I’m hard to get out of position. I hand fight well too.”
It was only when Jake Schilling got laid off that he was really able to get work.
Schilling, who will fight on Saturday’s Brawl in the Burg 3 professional card at a 150-pound catch weight, has a day job in construction. He works in masonry, and he works outdoors. So, when November rolled around, weather worsened, and work slowed, Schilling was let go. And so, Schilling (1-0) turned right around and made preparing for his fight against Shawn Tarlton (0-0) his full time obsession.
“I’m just staying in the gym. Just staying busy in the gym…Just paying my bills., living modest. I think just being a martial artist, this lifestyle is a really modest lifestyle…When you first start out, you’re not making a lot of money, so this is just for the love of the game—for the love of the sport.”
There used to be a voice inside of Jeromy Mitchell’s head that held him back.
That voice would crop up in the middle of an MMA fight, and sow doubt in Mitchell’s mind. The voice, Mitchell said, talked him out of a lot of wins that he felt he should have otherwise had. And, it was a voice that the 145-pound Mitchell couldn’t help but hear during a 2017 amateur fight in Tennessee, when his nose was broken by his opponent’s punches in the first round. Blood was pouring out of Mitchell’s nose for much of the rest of that fight. And, after taking the loss by unanimous decision, Mitchell would require reconstructive surgery for a deviated septum.
But, that loss was also about the time that Mitchell decided to stop listening to the voice as well.