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AXC 3 "DEMOLITION" 
May 30, 2009 Fight 1: Team Havocs Nick Collins vs Clairadays Ray Woods. Fight went to the ground right at the beginning of the first round, but both fighters get back to their feet exchanging punches with Collins going to the ground after a punch from Woods rotated to only give Collins the opportunity to start raining punches down. The round ended with both fighters on their feet. Round 2 starts off with exchanges of kicks but going back to the ground with Woods on top but Collins quickly gains top mount raining down punches ending the fight by ref. stoppage. Winner- Nick Collins- ref stoppage due to strikes. Fight 2: Westin Stanley vs. Steven Crager Round 1 both fighters up swinging at the beginning with Crager trying to take down Staley but ending up in Stanleys choke, but no real action at the end of round 1. Round 2 went to the ground early and after being in a choke hold most of the first round, Crager wins by rear naked choke. Fight 3: Elite Warrior’s Brad Watson vs. Cody Huckabee Round 1 starts out with a kick by Watson but winds up in a clinch, neither fighter showing a lot of action until both fighters go to the ground with Huckabee on top slinging leather for a short time and attempting a choke. The choke was successful and Cody Huckabee wins by rear naked choke in the first round. Fight 4: Featured Team Havoc’s Cody Tolbert vs. Team Champaho’s Landen Aaron In round 1 both fighters were exchanging kicks, but Landen taking down Tolbert with Landen on top mount position. Ultimately both fighters getting back on their feet with Landen possibly stunning Tolbert making Tolbert turn his back and Landen attempting a choke from behind. taking the fight to the ground, Landen Aaron wins by rear naked choke. Fight 5: Elite Warrior’s Jordan Madison vs. Team Havoc’s Keith Smith Round 1 Madison connects with a punch and picks Smith up slamming him to the ground. Smith quickly tries to get up but Madison sinks in the choke getting the win. Winner Jordan Madison by choke Fight 6: Street fighter Cody Cooper vs. Fear None’s Jack Whitfield Round 1 Cooper takes down Whitfield with Cooper throwing some punches but not really hurting Whitfield. Whitfield finally gets up, both fighters on their feet with round one ending. Round 2 both fighters exchange punches. Jack takes Cody down with the under hook, taking top mount and bringing down the thunder causing the ref to stop the fight. Winner 2nd round Jack Whitfield ref stoppage due to strikes Fight 7: Fear None’s Benji Barbee vs Independent fighter Josh Slate Round 1 both fighters going to the ground with Slate on top. Barbee took a lot of punches on bottom, some how gets back to his feet, but goes back to the ground with Slate trying everything to submit Barbee, No Success. After no action the ref stands both fighters up but Slate very slow to get up, not continuing the fight. Winner due to ref stoppage is Benji Barbee Fight 8: The KTFO Fight of the night was Team Hybrids Eric Knytych vs. No Jokes Corey Poss. Round 1 Eric connects with a right, knocking out Corey Poss in the early first round. Fight 9: Team Kudzu’s Tyler Murphy vs. Elite Warrior’s Wes Richardson Round 1 Richardson comes out swinging taking Murphy down gaining side control but no real action. Both fighters back on their feet. Richardson connecting with upper cuts and knees and both fighters go to the ground. Round 2 Murphy takes down Richardson but both fighters get back on their feet and Richardson on the receiving end of punches and knees but taking down Murphy And getting top mount and getting the tap out in round 2. Winner is Wes Richardson in round 2 by tap out (arm bar/choke) Fight 10 Aaron Parrish taking on Matthew Martin Round 1 Parrish tees off on Martin, causing Martin to go down with Parrish taking top mount Punishing Martin but soon Martin defends well and both fighters return to their feet. Martin takes Parrish down getting side control but Parrish flips him over taking top mount gibing Martin knees Punches causing Martin to give up his back. Parrish sinks in the choke causing Martin to tap. Winner Round 1 tap out due to rear naked choke: Hybrids Aaron Parrish Co Main Event For the Barton weight belt was Clairaday’s Wesley Dunlap vs. Elite Warrior’s Andy Fike Round 1 Fike attempts the takedown and Dunlap gets the top but quickly back to their feet. Fike goes down into the guard of Dunlap, Fike reverses attempting the choke but is unsuccessful. Dunlap gets back to his feet and knees Fike while they are in the standing clinch. Both fighters Go back to the ground and Fike attempting a arm bar and succeeds. Dunlap taps out making Andy Fike the champ. Winner in first round due to arm bar Andy Fike Main Event For the Welter Weight title Bobby Baker vs. Chad Milstead Round 1 both fighters exchanging punches back and forth, but Baker catches Milstead against the Fence then knocking him down causing the ref to stop the fight. Winner round 1 Bobby Baker Besides Baker winning the Welterweight title and Fike walking away with the bantamweight belt, Dusty Rhodes was awarded the middleweight title and Jeremy Knytch the featherweight title. Rhodes and Knytch both won the titles at previous events and will defend their titles on August 22.
joshsmith@blackeyemma.com
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KNOCK OUT CANCER EVENT
PRESENTED BY VINEMONT SCHOOL AND SOUTHERN MMA MAY 1
Fight 1 Andy Fike vs. Russell Coleman Fike takes early take down and top mount in round one causing ref stoppage due to strikes in first round. Fike representing elite brotherhood MMA out of Jasper, AL. Fight 2 Lucien Hornbuckle vs. Kevin Primeau Round one both fighters stand up with Primeau lying Into Hornbuckle with kicks causing Hornbuckle to do a Standing clinch on Primeau and trying to land knees but really no response to Primeau aggressive kicks. The only take down attempted and successful was at the end of the round by Primeau. Round two had Primeau still landing kicks, but Hornbuckle connects with a pooch knocking Primeau down and Hornbuckle getting mount. Hornbuckle tried to find some way to finish the fight, but was unsuccessful. Primeau takes to top mount after giving up his back ending the round with both on their feet. Round three Hornbuckle scores the take down, with a failed triangle choke attempted ends up with both on their feet with no real action the rest of the round. Winner Kevin Primeau by decision. Primeau represents hybrid MMA in Arab, AL and Lucian Hornbuckle represents American Fight Club out of Birmingham, AL. Fight 3 Josh Glover vs. Harlie Moon Round one Glover aggressively tracks down Moon connecting with some punches forcing Moon to put Glover in a standing clinch and trying to connect with knees. Harlie Moon does get the take down in round one but eventually both fighters stand up. Glover takes down Moon but Moon gets top mount advantage but no real action at the end of round one. Round two Moon comes out and rocks Glover with a punch, but Moon dominates did not take advantage. Moon did take Glover and Moon did land some punches in top mount but no response. Moon dominates round one. Round three Moon landing several punches in the beginning hurting Glover and Moon taking him sown gaining top mount position. Ref stoppage giving Harlie Moon the victory due to punches. Big Harlie Moon represents Triad Martial Arts in Cullman, AL. Fight 4 Jake Flannigan Vs Tony Johnson Round one both fighters exchanging punches and kicks and Johnson with an accidental low blow. Round two spent most of the time both fighters were tied up Johnson did hit another accidental low blow but afterwards did take down Flannigan but no real action ending Johnson’s mount with a knee to the dead of Glover causing the fighters to both be stood up and start over after Flannigan was ok to continue. Round two ended with Flannigan taking down Johnson. Round three started out with Johnson taking down Flannigan but no real action happening but at a stand still. After fighters were up Flannigan was swinging for the fences trying for a one punch knockout. Johnson ending the round with a lot of combinations. Fight 5 Cory Lay Vs Billy Joe Larmon Round one both fighters trying to feel each other out. Lay attempted take down and succeeds taking down Larmon. Larmon gives up his back giving Lay the win by tap out. Winner Lay by tap out by rear naked choke. Fight 6 Ryan Nixon Vs Doug Trotter Round one Nixon takes down Trotter gaining top mount raining down punches causing ref to stop the fight. Ryan Nixon represents Elite Brother Hood MMA out of Jasper, AL. Fight 7 David McAfee Vs Wesley Richardson Round one both fighters went to the ground early but no real action and it was the same the other two rounds. Elite Brother Hood MMA Wesley Richardson wins by decision over Cordova’s David McAfee. Fight 8 Justin Thomas Vs Randy Dawson Round one Dawson secures tap out victory in the first round. Southern Style MMA’s Randy Dawson winner over Elite Brotherhood’s Justin Thomas. Fight 9 Kenneth Batson Vs Zack Boldin Round one Batson attacking Boldin with several punches and taking him down. Batson getting top mount throwing punches down causing the ref to stop the fight in the first round. Winner Walker County Fight Clubs Kenneth Batson over Clairaday’s Zack Boldin. MAIN EVENT Fight 10 Freddy Logie Vs Kent Waters Round one both fighter feeling each other out Kent connects with a kick to Logies head which lead to Waters taking him down with side control giving Logie body shots at the end of round one. Round two starts the same as the first one but Waters taking Logie down giving Waters top mount working elbows down. Logie gave his back, Waters took advantage stretching him out getting the rear naked choke causing Logie to tap out in the second round. Winner by rear naked choke Triad’s Kent Waters in the second round.
Thanks to Southeastern MMA and Vinemont School for hosting a great Event and to Brando for helping cover the fights. By Josh Smith at blackeyemma.com
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Saturday March 28th By Josh Smith Alabama Extreme Cage Fighting and Bad Boy Boxing Results
Match 1: The little big men fought with Kelso taking on Echols. In round two Little Razor won by strikes with the referee stopping the fight. Match 2: In Junior division MMA action Chase Laney fought Cody Collins with Laney winning by decision in the 3rd round. Match 3: JJ Mears VS Zac Boldin in heavy weight action. Big JJ was no match for Zac with him winning by TKO in the first round. Match 4: Big Bad “Mr Jack” won easily by knock out in the early (real early) first part of round one. Match 5: Woods wins by tap out easily in round one. Match 6: In Boxing, Fuke lost to Stephen Wilhite by a three round decision. Wilhite gave Triad Martial Arts the only win of the night. Match 7: Aaron Allen defeated Heath Griffin by referee stoppage in the first round. Match 8: Carson Chargoloff was a winner in round one over Timothy Clark. Clark gave everyone the scare of the night with him having to be carted off by a stretcher. Thankfully he returned later in the night with only a broken nose. Match 9: BATTLE OF THE TYLERS; Tyler Walker took on Tyler Shockey in the battle and Shockey winning by ref. stoppage in round two. Match 10: In boxing the most anticipated fight of the night was Triads Kent Waters VS Fear Nones Ray Echols. Ray Echols won by decision in 3 rounds by scoring more points by his combination punching and shots to the mid section of Waters. I’m crossing my fingers to in hopes to see them fight against each other in MMA action. Match 11: Russell Coleman fought Jon Holt with Holt pulling out the win by ref. stoppage. Match 12: Michael Duke VS Jonathan Abade was an exciting fight with Abade taking top mount bringing the thunder forcing the ref. to stop the fight in the first round. Match 13: Jeffrey Swafford won in the first round be ref. stoppage. Match14: The only boxing knockout of the night came from long laying out Grand in the first round. Match 15: Jack Smiths night ends earlier than expected when Justin Letson caught him with a rear naked choke in the first round. Match 16: Bobby Baker defeated Kevin Primo in boxing by a three round decision. Match 17: Nathan Schafield was defeated by Anthony Moore by TKO (strikes) Match 18: Aaron Parrish won by strikes over David Armstrong in the 1st round. Match 19: Aaron Allen won by ref stoppage In the 3rd round over Zac Winfield. Match 20: Triads Harley Moon lost in boxing to Ray Echols. In the co-main event of the night, Wesley Dunlap took on Wesley “No Joke” Fokes. In the second round Folkes caught Dunlap with a right hook, knocking him down and Folkes winning by choke. The Main Event featured big Liam Jefferson VS Jim Rice. Surprizingly Liam had the strength and wind to last three rounds with the BJJ fight out of Huntsville. After Liam escapes several submission attempts. At the middle of round three Rice some how got top mount on Liam, leaving the ref to stop the fight. Rice wins by strikes over Jefferson.
 (do you have an upcoming event you would like us to advertise?) E-mail me @ joshsmith@blackeyemma.com.
Also, I would love to hear from you guys and have your feedback. Thanks
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In Her Second MMA Fight, Four Time Female Boxing Champion Chevelle Hallback Keeps Her Eye on Carano and Cyborg- Scott Pinsker
After Decimating Former EliteXC Fighter Melissa Vasquez in Just 41 Seconds in December, Chevelle "Fist of Steel" Hallback Returns to the Cage at XFC 7 "SChool of Hard Knox" on Friday February 20 in Knoxville, Tennessee

 Knoxville, TN: When you’re a four-time female world boxing champion, having captured titles with the IBA, IFBA, WIBA and WBAN, you’re going to be held to an extremely high standard. When you’ve won fights on FOX Sports, ESPN and Pay-Per-View, the audience will expect to witness blazing hand-speed and thunderous punches whenever you compete. And when you’re so dominant in prize fighting that EA Sports has even featured you as a playable character in its “Knockout Kings” video game franchise, fans will expect you to deliver a dominating performance from the moment the first bell chimes. Even when you’re trying to master a brand new sport. And when – in your Mixed Martial Arts debut – you utterly decimate former EliteXC fighter Melissa Vasquez, stopping her after a barrage of punches in just 41 seconds, the expectations of fans and industry experts changes once again. Now, it’s not just a question of whether or not Chevelle “Fists of Steel” Hallback will eventually battle the likes of Gina Carano or Cyborg Santos. It’s a question of when. And also, whether or not she’s already the best female fighter in MMA. “I try not to get caught up in the expectations game,” said Chevelle Hallback from her training camp in Tampa, Florida. “I’ve learned that the only expectations I can fully control are my own – and my personal expectations aren’t influenced by outside opinions. All I’ve got to say is, I’m working nonstop to learn all the nuances of MMA, and when those big fights happen, believe me – I’ll be ready.” Before stepping into the cage against Carano or Santos, Hallback will face Sarah Wilson, a Muay Thai expert from Waterloo, Iowa. Wilson brings an amateur record of 7-0 and a professional record of 1-0 to her fight against Hallback on the undercard of XFC 7: “School of Hard Knox,” the first-ever professional MMA fight card in Tennessee state history. The event takes place on Friday, February 20 at the 21 thousand-capacity Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tennessee. Since signing with Xtreme Fighting Championships (XFC) in November of 2008, Hallback has trained full-time with XFC trainer Mike Yanez, a Popovitch black belt in BJJ. Yanez’s fighters have won 80% of their professional and amateur bouts, and Hallback credits Yanez for her accelerated MMA development. “Mike knows the game, but more importantly he knows how to teach,” said Hallback. “He’s so well-versed in MMA’s intricacies, every minute I’m learning something new. The submissions, the counter-holds, the ground game – I’ve learned that just a subtle change in body position can literally be the difference between winning and losing. And I don’t plan on losing.” According to Hallback, MMA training is significantly more challenging than the training she undertook for boxing. “Boxing is primarily preoccupied with footwork and hands,” Hallback explained. “MMA is about the total body – from head to toe. And the flexibility training is completely new to me! Retraining my body for MMA was difficult at first, but my body eventually acclimated itself to the sport. And now, rolling on the ground is as automatic as firing a three-punch combination.” Speaking of punches, did Yanez try to tweak Hallback’s boxing technique? “No, he left that pretty much alone,” she laughed. “My fists are a proven commodity. And I don’t want to sound arrogant, but any girl who wants to trade punches with me is absolutely crazy. And if she does want to trade, she won’t be trading very long, I promise you.” And does Hallback think she’s now ready to fire those punches at Gina Carano or Cyborg Santos? “Yeah, I’m ready now,” she immediately replied, “but I’ll be more ready one month from now. And even more ready one month after that. I’m still improving, and within six months, I don’t think anyone will be able to talk about the top female fighters in MMA without mentioning my name. I respect the world out of girls like Gina and Cyborg. They’ve already done so much in the sport – and I’m still learning. They’ve earned their right to be at the front of the line. I’ve gotta wait, just like everyone else.” Hallback then flashed a wide grin and added: “That means that Sarah Wilson and all the other girls waiting in line with me should be on the lookout. ‘Cause I plan on shortening this line, one fight at a time.” XFC 7: “School of Hard Knox,” the first-ever pro MMA fight card in Tennessee state history, takes place on February 20 at Knoxville’s Thompson-Boling Arena. Undefeated heavyweights collide in the main event when Scott “The Bear” Barrett battles Chad Corvin in a showdown between two of the fastest-rising prospects in the sport. Tickets are now available at the Thompson-Boling Arena box office and Tickets Unlimited outlets, including Cat's Music, Disc Exchange, and Fye Music. For interview requests with Chevelle Hallback, please contact Scott Pinsker at 727.871.3204, or spinsker@fwv-us.com ### About Xtreme Fighting Championships (XFC): Xtreme Fighting Championships – better known to MMA fight fans worldwide as XFC – is the Southeast’s leading independent MMA promotion, and stages the largest live shows in the entire sport this side of UFC. Dedicated to launching the careers of the next generation of MMA superstars, XFC’s next mega-event, XFC 7: “School of Hard Knox” will take place on February 20, 2008 in Knoxville, Tennessee. XFC 7 will make history as the first-ever pro MMA event in Tennessee state history. For more information about XFC, please visit www.mmaxfc.com. Tell a Friend Mailing List The time is: 12:27:25 PM on February 19, 2009 TOP Copyright All rights reserved, MIXED MARTIAL ARTS XTREME FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIPS Website Development by Matrix Website Design TICKETS Events XFC Fighters Fight Cards Fight Results LIVE Streaming Training / Franchise Tapped Out XFC Store Posters MORE XFC XFC Home Press Releases and Articles DATE: 02/29/09 CONTACT: Scott Pinsker, 727.871.3204 or spinsker@mmaxfc.com In Her Second MMA Fight, Four-Time Female World Boxing Champion Chevelle Hallback Keeps Her Eye on Carano and Cyborg - Scott Pinsker After Decimating Former EliteXC Fighter Melissa Vasquez in Just 41 Seconds in December, Chevelle “Fists of Steel” Hallback Returns to the Cage at XFC 7: “School of Hard Knox” on Friday, February 20 in Knoxville, Tennessee
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Knoxville's Shane Machette Finally Finds an Opponent
After Breaking the Bones of His Last Two Opponents, the 26 Year-Old Former High School Wrestling Standout Vows to also Break Into the MMA Picture

By Scott Pinsker
 
Knoxville, TN: Shane Matchette’s last five opponents mysteriously dropped out at the last minute, and the 26-year-old ex-high school wrestling phenom has a theory why. “I’ve developed a reputation for snapping arm bones,” explained the highly-touted MMA prospect. “And once an opponent hears what happened in my last couple of fights, he always seems to come up with some excuse for dropping out at the last minute. Maybe he got injured during training camp, or maybe his grandmother is sick, or maybe his cat ran away. It’s very frustrating ‘cause I love to fight and want to stay active.” But that’s the price a young fighter pays for locking his last two opponents in arm-bars – and before they could submit, breaking their arms in half. Matchette will finally be able to fight again, this time in front of thousands of his hometown fans, at XFC 7: “School of Hard Knox,” the first-ever professional MMA fight card legally permitted in the state of Tennessee, on February 20 at the Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville. And to prevent history from repeating itself, Matchette’s opponent, Gerardo Julio Gallegos of Lexington, Kentucky, might want to practice arm-bar defenses in his training camp – or be prepared to tap-out quickly, lest his arm also be fitted in an oversized cast. A graduate of Heritage High School in Maryville, Tennessee – where he founded the school’s wrestling team and finished 40-2 his senior year (2002) – Shane Matchette credits his newfound penchant for breaking arm bones with his trainers’ visit to the lumberyard. “Earlier in my career I lacked a killer instinct,” Matchette recalled with a grin. “I’d lock someone in a hold and then ease up a bit. To shake me out of that habit, my trainers showed up at the gym one day with a big pile of two-by-fours. They said, ‘Shane, I want you to grab every last piece of wood from the truck, lock each one into an arm-bar, and don’t stop squeezing ‘til every single one snaps in half.’ And that’s exactly what I did: one after another – crack, crack, crack! All afternoon I was cracking through two-by-fours, pretending they were arms. It sort of numbed away the squeamishness.” Prior to cracking arm bones and lumber, Matchette was a multi-sport star at Heritage High School, where he competed on the varsity football, wrestling, soccer, track, and swim teams. His wrestling and football prowess netted 17 full-scholarship offers and countless partial-scholarship offers from some of the leading colleges, including the University of Tennessee. But Matchette turned them all down, opting to enter the workforce right out of high school. “Not going to college is one of the biggest regrets of my life,” said the young fighter, who recently relocated to Knoxville. “But I wasn’t ready at the time. I saw so many of my friends go off to college and party ‘til they puke. I mean, I know myself pretty well, and that just wouldn’t have been the right environment to put myself in at the time. Plus, my family ran a construction company and I wanted to help them out. I came close to signing with the University of Tennessee, but they had a wrestling club, not a wrestling team, so I rationalized not going there. My parents finally talked me into attending the Maryville College summer football camp, and I lasted two-weeks before walking away. I just wasn’t ready.” While working long hours at the construction site during the day, Matchette began training to be a Mixed Martial Arts champion at night. And the same athletic talent that was once coveted by the nation’s top colleges was soon commanding the attention of MMA promoters throughout the industry. “He’s a rare, blue-chip athlete; more than anything, it’s his athletic ability that just jumps off the tape when you review his fight footage,” said XFC president John Prisco. XFC is the largest independent MMA promotion in the Southeast, with fight cards airing nationwide on HDNet and regional cable stations. “But it’s much more than just his athletic ability. Matchette is absolutely fearless – the kid will fight anyone. You’re talking about someone who weighed maybe 200 pounds – and kept repeatedly climbing into the cage to battle super-heavyweights, sacrificing 50-plus pounds at a time. He once tapped out Shane Howard in the first round – and Howard was 6-foot-5, 280! In fact, one of his few amateur losses was to undefeated heavyweight Chad Corvin, a 250-pound monster who’ll be fighting in the main event of XFC 7. Believe me, even the biggest heavyweights are terrified of Chad Corvin because of Chad’s punching power. But Matchette didn’t just stand toe-to-toe with Corvin – he even challenged him to a rematch! With his athletic ability and innate fearlessness, Matchette has a real opportunity to be someone special in this sport.” Asked about his 2007 fight against Chad Corvin of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, Matchette shakes his head and sighs. “The promoter couldn’t find anyone to fight Corvin, so I volunteered. And I had him in the guillotine choke, too – I think he was maybe three seconds from submitting in the first round. But I let up just a tad and he escaped. ‘Course, that was before I started snapping two-by-fours in half. Oh, I’d love to fight Corvin again one time! I know I can take him.” As for his current opponent, Gerardo Julio Gallegos, Matchette was purely complimentary: “He’s a stand-up brawler and a real tough guy. He’s definitely not someone who’ll run from you – and neither am I. We both dream of becoming world champions, and we’re ready to prove it in Knoxville. Basically, on February 20 you’ll see an irresistible object meet an immovable force – and something’s gonna have to give.” And what happens if Matchette catches Gallegos in an arm-bar? The young fighter shrugged his shoulders. “Then what’ll end up giving is his arm bone,” Matchette replied. “So for his sake, I hope he taps out quickly.” XFC 7: “School of Hard Knox,” the first-ever pro MMA fight card in Tennessee state history, takes place on February 20 at Knoxville’s Thompson-Boling Arena. Undefeated heavyweights collide in the main event when Scott “The Bear” Barrett battles Chad Corvin in a showdown between two of the fastest-rising prospects in the sport. Tickets are now available at the Thompson-Boling Arena box office and Tickets Unlimited outlets, including Cat's Music, Disc Exchange, and Fye Music. For interview requests with XFC president John Prisco, Shane Matchette or Gerardo Julio Gallegos, please contact Scott Pinsker at 727.871.3204, or spinsker@fwv-us.com. ### About Xtreme Fighting Championships (XFC): Xtreme Fighting Championships – better known to MMA fight fans worldwide as XFC – is the Southeast’s leading independent MMA promotion, and stages the largest live shows in the entire sport this side of UFC. Dedicated to launching the careers of the next generation of MMA superstars, XFC’s next mega-event, XFC 7: “School of Hard Knox” will take place on February 20, 2008 in Knoxville, Tennessee. XFC 7 will make history as the first-ever pro MMA event in Tennessee state history. For more information about XFC, please visit www.mmaxfc.com. Tell a Friend Mailing List The time is: 11:50:35 AM on February 19, 2009 TOP Copyright All rights reserved, MIXED MARTIAL ARTS XTREME FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIPS Website Development by Matrix Website Design TICKETS Events XFC Fighters Fight Cards Fight Results LIVE Streaming Training / Franchise Tapped Out XFC Store Posters MORE XFC XFC Home Press Releases and Articles DATE: 02/03/09 CONTACT: Scott Pinsker, 727.871.3204 or spinsker@mmaxfc.com
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UFT VIII Rocks 1500 at Marriott

By Brett Vick brettvick@blackeyemma.com 

UFT VIII lived up to the hype as Flatline Productions rocked over 1500 fans at the Shoals Marriott Conference Center Saturday night. Fans were lining up before the doors opened in anticipation for what would be one of the best overall events north Alabama has experienced. Flatline ramped up their production by adding local announcer Adam Gibbs, two large video screens, and a solid video crew. The fight card was no disappointment either, as fans were entertained by non-stop mma action. The Marriott proved to be a superior venue, providing great seating along with incredible service via their cash bar and waiting staff. Local mma productions can’t get much better than Saturday night.  DVDs from this promotion are available. For more information email Flatline Productions at flatlineproductionsllc@hotmail.com or dial 256-394-2004.

WT 145 lbs  Raulo Estrada def Mike Jacobson  1^st round via submission by punches    

The first fight of the night started out fast as Estrada came out with a flurry of kicks followed by a quick takedown attempt. Estrada dominated the fight, ending it with a devastating knee to the midsection followed by right hands as the round expired. Jacobson was unable to continue the fight.

WT 170 lbs  Ururahy Rodriguez def Ben Litrell  1^st round via Achilles lock

NAGA champion Ururahy Rodrigues made his UFT debut Saturday night with an impressive win over Ben Litrell. Rodrigues looked very comfortable in the octagon, exhibiting good patience before seizing an opportunity to take his opponent to the mat. It looked as if Litrell would survive the ground attack of Rodrigues, but as the fighter made an attempt to get to his feet Rodrigues took advantage of an exposed leg and sunk in a deep Achilles lock. Litrell was forced to tap quickly. Keep an eye on Rodrigues as he looks to climb the ranks of local mma competition.

WT  200 lbs  J B Matthews def Chad Powell   1^st round via arm bar

Just seconds into the match, Matthews was able to gain leverage on Powell, slamming him to the mat and bringing the crowd of 1500 to their feet. Matthews maintained control on the ground as Powell made several attempts to change his positioning. It was during one of these attempts that Powell left an arm exposed, giving Matthews the opportunity needed to finish the fight. Matthews locked in an arm bar, forcing Powell to tap out in the first round.  

WT 145 lbs  Tam Ha def James Hensley      1^st round via triangle choke

Tam Ha made his UFT debut with hard kicks and impressive submission skills. Ha controlled the fight from the opening bell, dishing out several hard kicks to the body of his opponent. Hensley briefly held off the onslaught of Ha, before being pulled to the mat. Ha worked his guard before locking in a triangle choke for the win.

WT 135 lbs  Glenn Siegel def Dylan McCreless   1^st round via rear naked choke

Siegel wasted no time getting down to business as landed a huge right hand to the head of McCreless seconds into the fight. McCreless quickly went to the mat where he never recovered. Siegel forced McCreless to give up his back before sinking in a deep rear naked choke, forcing his opponent to tap. 

WT 185 lbs  Tom Benard def Dustin “Deuce” Rhodes   via split decision

This fight was an exciting three rounds of mma action. Benard was well aware of Rhodes striking ability and kept the multiple title holder close for most of the fight. Benard showed good balance as he used the clinch to take down Rhodes early on in the first round. Most of the first round was fought on the ground as Benard used his leverage to jostle for position and keep the heavy hitting Rhodes at bay. Rhodes displayed nice guard skills keeping Benard from inflicting further damage on the mat.

As round two began, Benard showed signs of wear from his mat work in the previous round. Rhodes tried to take advantage of his conditioning, opening up on Benard with multiple strikes to the head and mid section. Benard wanted no part of an exchange with Rhodes and quickly closed in, forcing a clinch. Once again, Benard’s strength and balance came into effect as he swept Rhodes to the ground maneuvering into side guard.  Referee Skip Hall stood the fighters up after little action on the mat. Rhodes soon scored his own takedown and finished the round with elbows to the head followed by shots to the mid section.

Rhodes began round three aggressively as he felt the pressure to avoid sending the fight to the judges. Benard had maintained good position for most of the fight, but was visually worn toward the end of the fight. Rhodes quickly took down Benard where he landed a flurry of knees and punches. Once again, the fighters where stood up by referee Skip Hall and Rhodes wasted no time landing a hard shot to the head of Benard. As he did most of the fight, Benard closed positon on Rhodes and managed one last takedown in the final round. Benard maintained position for the rest of the round, sealing a split decision win and maintaining his undefeated record.   

WT 170 lbs  Tim Kelly def Robert Smith  1^st round via arm bar

This fight started out with a hot exchange followed by a quick takedown by Smith. Kelly quickly locked in a guillotine before Smith broke away and moved into half guard. Smith was no match for Kelly’s ground game as he quickly changed momentum of the fight by working an arm bar from his guard. Kelly forced Smith into submission as he rolled under, deepening the hold.

WT 185  Brian Burse def Josh Seikbell  via unanimous decision

Many fans in attendance viewed this fight closer than the unanimous decision handed out by the judges. Burse wasted no time scoring a single leg takedown just seconds into round one. Seikbell fought his way up with a series of right hands, but quickly found himself back on the mat as Burse scored another takedown wrapping up round one.

Round two began with excitement as Burse led off the round with a superman punch attempt which Seikbell avoided and turned into a deep Guillotine. Burse escaped the guillotine, moving to side guard where he unleashed devastating knees to the side of Seikbell. Round two ended with Seikbell reversing position after several attempts.

Seikbell began round three needing a knockout for any hope of victory. Burse continued to dominate leverage as he scored a double leg takedown early in round three. Seikbell retaliated with shots to the head and a desperation arm bar attempt. Burse broke the hold and moved to side guard where he was able to inflict more damage with knees to the side. Seikbell made one last attempt at a knockout, but was unsuccessful as Burse stayed on his feet to secure victory by unanimous decision.

WT 160 lbs  Matt Vaughn def Brian Murphy   3^rd round via ref stoppage

This fight was an instant candidate for comeback of the year. Round one began with a nice trade out of the gate, where Murphy landed a solid right hand forcing Vaughn to the mat. Vaughn retaliated with a guillotine attempt followed by a triangle attempt. Murphy worked into side guard where he finished the round.

Round two began with a takedown by Murphy. Vaughn showed good ground defense, weathering several attacks before working Murphy’s back at the end of round two.

Vaughn began round three looking for a knockout as he came out with knees. Murphy countered with an electrifying front kick knocking Vaughn to the mat. However, Vaughn managed to take control on the mat, delivering deep elbows reminiscent of the American Dream and causing a deep cut under the eye of Murphy. Murphy gave up his back where Vaughn continued to reign punches until referee Skip Hall stepped in to stop the fight. 

WT 170 lbs  Ian Funk def Tyler Barber   1^st round via arm bar

Ian Funk improves to 2-0 with an impressive display of submission skills against Champs MMA’s Tyler Barber. Early in round one Funk showed good takedown defense avoiding a quick shoot by Barber and countering with a takedown into side control. Barber showed good ground skills, reversing the mount and gaining dominant position. Funk attempted an arm bar, but couldn’t get his legs into position to apply pressure. Barber countered the arm bar with a big slam putting him into the mount once again. However, the resilient Funk managed another attempt at an arm bar, this time getting his legs locked and rolling Barber into submission. MMA fans should keep an eye on Funk as he continues to improve with each contest.

155 lb Title Fight   Cleony Fuque def Chris Craft  2^nd round via ref stoppage

The first of the UFT triple main event showcased a good exchange of standup and ground work by both fighters. Round one was back and forth as both fighters landed early blows during standup exchange. Fuque forced a clinch and managed to work a standing guillotine lock only to be countered by a huge slam from Craft. Craft moved into side control, but Fuque showed good ground defense as he managed to roll Craft over and reverse position. Both fighters stayed busy on the mat working for position. Craft managed to slip in a deep ankle lock, but Fuque refused to tap and worked his way out of the hold.

Round two was dominated by Fuque as he come out with a straight left and a takedown. Fuque took control on the mat landing several solid punches before unleashing a storm of hammer fists and elbows that forced referee Skip Hall to step in and stop the contest. Congratulations to Cleony Fuque on winning the 155 lb championship.

185 lb Title Fight  Coleman Jones vs Jason Sanderson    NO CONTEST

The highly anticipated rematch from UFT VII started out hot, but cooled off quickly as the match was ruled a NO CONTEST in round two. Boos filled the arena as for the second time in a row this much hyped title fight would not be settled.

The rematch looked promising as both fighters came out aggressive after the opening bell. Both fighters mixed hard leg kicks and punches before Jones attempted a takedown on Sanderson. Sanderson showed good strength by holding off Jones and working a guillotine attempt. As the fight went to the mat, neither fighter worked aggressively and Skip Hall put the fight back on its feet. Controversy arose early as Sanderson was the apparent recipient of an inadvertent low knee by Jones as the fighters were working the clinch.  As the fight resumed, another round of solid exchanges took place before Jones took Sanderson to the mat to end round one.

Tension and anticipation filled the room as round two of the title fight began. Another solid exchange took place as both fighters let fans know that they had power in their legs as well as their hands. Sanderson managed the first score of round two as he took down Jones out of the clinch and established side control. Again, both fighters were stood up by referee Skip Hall as action slowed on the mat. Action resumed with both fighters sticking in and mixing it up with kicks and punches, but controversy was not far away. After a tie up in the clinch, Jones delivered two knees that sent Sanderson to the ground. Sanderson buckled up after another apparent inadvertent low blow by Jones. As the Jones fans and team No Joke pleaded their case (that neither knee reached the groin area), Sanderson was attended to by the medical staff on hand. Sanderson’s camp deemed he could not continue and much to the dismay of the fans, the fight was once again ruled a NO CONTEST.  When asked about the still vacant 185 lb championship, Flatline Productions stated that all video will be reviewed before a decision is handed down.

205 lbs Title Fight  Kevin Griggs def Scottie Rich  1^st round via rear naked choke

Defending champion Kevin Griggs showed 1500 fans at the Shoals Marriott Conference Center why he sits atop the UFT 205 ladder.  The fight began as anticipated with Scottie Rich looking to come in aggressive and try to end the fight early. After solid punches by both fighters, Rich went for the KO with a huge haymaker that failed to find the mark. Griggs immediately seized the opportunity with a quick shoot and takedown.  Griggs used hammer fists to soften up Rich and move into side control where he continued his ground assault. Griggs showed very solid ground work as he moved from side control into full mount where he unloads another assault of punches and deep elbows. After being cut with an elbow from Griggs, Rich gave up his back to the defending champion. Griggs continued his assault softening up Rich for a rear naked choke and a successful title defense. 

Griggs looked very polished in his first title defense. I’m sure UFT fans can’t wait to see him in action again. 

FIGHTERS TO WATCH

Urarahy Rodrigues  -  NAGA CHAMPION  Good Jiu Jitsu skills    Good ring presence

Brian Burse -              Good takedown skills    Solid ground attack  

Ian Funk-                    Resilient     Good submission skills      Good ring presence

Tom Benard-              Great Balance   Durable fighter    Well rounded

Kevin Griggs              Good overall skill set     Great submission skills   Good Standup

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Ururahy Rodrigues wins MMA debut 

The Marriott Convention Center in Florence Alabama was packed with standing room only Saturday night as fight fans witnessed Ultimate Fighting Throwdown 8 presented by Flatline. There were fourteen action packed fights on the card.. The second fight of the night debuted NAGA Champion Ururahy Rodrigues against Ben Littrell. The Brazilian Rodrigues took this fight to the ground seconds in the first round and displayed championship Jiu Jitsu. Rodrigues finished the fight with a Achilles lock in which puts excessive pain on the Achilles tendon. Littrell was slow to get up off the mat while Rorigues turned an impressive back flip before exiting the ring.      
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Ultimate Fighting Throwdown 8 DVD's
A limited number of DVD's are available for $20 each. For ordering information please email flatlineproductionsllc@hotmail.com or call (256) 394-2004. 
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Flatline’s 185lb Controversy

Flatline MMA hosted over one thousand fans Saturday night at the riverside Marriott Shoals Convention Center. The entire production was spectacular with fourteen fights not to mention the lights, sound and two big screens on each end of the arena. The fight that many fans came to view was the re-match between Jason Sanderson and Coleman Jones for the Flatline 185 pound title. This fight ended in controversy last November when both fighters suffered cuts to the shin after leg kicks collided in the first round. In a title fight the rules state that the fight must make it past the third round before a decision can be rendered. This rematch began with both fighters trading shots and Sanderson may have got the best of Jones on the ground. The fight was stopped the first time in the second round as Sanderson received a low blow and took the five minutes given by referee Skip Hall to recover. Shortly after the recovery Sanderson received his second low blow from Jones and was unable to recover from it. The fight was once again declared a no contest and fans from both fighters were displeased. Sanderson was unable to speak with the announcer but Jones said “I guess we’ll do it again”. Many have questioned the sincerity of this fight and only time will tell who the next 185 division Champion will be.    
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Ultimate Fighting Throwdown VIII

Presented By Flatline Productions

by Brett Vick 

Hard work and determination finally pays off as Flatline Productions brings its first show of 2009 to the  locally renowned Shoals Marriott Conference Center on Saturday, February 7. After months of negotiation along with a resume of successful shows, Ultimate Fighting Throwdown VIII will be the first MMA/competitive fighting event to be held at the upscale Marriott location. Doors will open at 6:00 and the first punch will be thrown at 7:00.

            Not only is the location for the event spectacular, but the fight card is loaded and the Flatline Chicks are in rare form. UFT VIII will present fifteen fights including three highly anticipated title bouts, an appearance by fight of the year participant Ian Funk, and a non title bout between Deuce Rhodes and undefeated Tom Benard of Champs Boxing. At the present time, Flatline Productions is still working on the matchup including FOTY participant Ian Funk. No matter who the opponent may be, Funk’s “never say die” approach will make for an exciting fight. Now on to the triple main event. The first of three title bouts will pit Chris Craft (6-0) from Huntsville’s Team Sturgis against Shoals MMA’s Cleony Fuque (8-2) for the 155 pound championship. Both fighters are experienced in the cage. Standup is important, but this fight may very well be won on the mat. The second part of Flatline’s triple main event will be a highly anticipated rematch between Team Sturgis’s Jason Sanderson (5-5-1) and No Joke’s Coleman Jones (2-0-1). The first meeting between these two barely got underway before being declared a no contest (see Ultimate Fighting Throwdown VII).  Both fighters carry heavy hands and are always on the lookout for an opportunity to put their opponent on the mat. Dodging bombs and having a solid ground game will be key for both of these competitors. The third and final part of Flatline’s triple main event will match reigning and undefeated 205 pound champ Scottie Rich (3-0) against challenger Kevin Griggs (2-1) from Nutrition First. Champion Scottie Rich is known for his heavy hands while challenger Kevin Griggs is considered to be a balanced fighter. While Rich won the title in the later rounds of his first title match, Grigg’s balance of skills will be favored as the fight stretches on. The difference in fighting styles should make for a great matchup.

            UFT VIII is slated to be one of the best local MMA events the Shoals Area has seen. Ringside tables are sold out for this event.  There are still tickets available for front row seating and general admission. Tickets can be purchased at Gold’s Gym or at the Friday Night Weigh Ins taking place at Sideline’s Sports Grill. Tickets will also be available at the Shoals Marriott Conference Center the day of the fight. For ticket information, directions, or other event information contact Blackeye MMA or Flatline Productions.

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Triad Martial Arts attended the Southeastern MMA show January 16, 2009 at the Cullman Civic Center, supported by a large group of students and fans.

John O’Brien from Triad Martial Arts Academy made his debut fighting E J Graff from Louisiana.  The match started with punches being traded by the two until Graff decided to utilize his wrestling ability and take the fight to the ground.  O’Brien showed great takedown defense and maintained good position and kept the fight standing.  O’Brien then unleashed a barrage of knees and elbows against the cage to end the fight in the 1st round by KO. 

Stephen Wilhite from Triad Martial Arts Academy had a rematch with Matt Vaughn from Decatur Alabama who fights out of Fear None and Clairday’s Martial Arts.  The match started with good display of standup fighting between the two, but Wilhite pressed the fight and took an uppercut before taking the fight to the ground.  Wilhite finished the first round with excellent ground and pound.  The second round started with Wilhite immediately getting another takedown, taking the mount position and finishing Vaughn with vicious elbows. 

Kent Waters from Triad Martial Arts Academy defeated Fred Weaver making him 2-0 in the light heavyweight division.  The match started with Weaver catching a leg kick and taking Waters to the ground.  After some heavy ground and pound from Weaver, Waters managed to get back to his feet. With Weaver’s back against the cage, Waters landed 3 unanswered elbow strikes followed by an uppercut at the bell to win by 1st round KO.
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blackeyemma's Dakota Aaron interviews Fred Weaver

Cullman City Cage Wars IV
"Fight Card Overload"
Article by blackeyemma staff


As December draws to an end and a new year approaches us we have much to be thankful for and now look forward to! Southeastern MMA released the fight card for Cullman City Cage Wars IV around the first of December and we thought that it couldn't get any better. Boy were we wrong, as they have now added another dynamite fight! This is the best fight card that I have ever seen! I would recommend buying your tickets in advance because the last show in August actually sold out. I don't think that the Cullman Civic Center would hold the fans of the fights listed below alone. Southeastern should have held this fight at the Birmingham Jefferson Civic Center.  I am so anxious about this fight that I may need a cage until then, and how can I get a VIP table because I want to close!  
Ray Echols -vs- Levar Anderson
Both of these fighters have excellent KO power and like to stand so I predict that one of these power houses will get knocked out!
 We have witnessed Ray KO and submit fighters everywhere that he has fought. The former Golden Glove Champion KO artist now has a great ground game as we have seen him submit several of his last opponents. 
I have only seen Levar Anderson fight one time and that was last August. This guy is an athlete from the word go. When he entered the ring he jumped up and down a few times and could have cleared a stop sign. He kept the fight standing and delivered a punch that knocked out his opponent and kept him asleep for a few minutes. This brought controversy from Tennessee's team KO but from where I was sitting it looked like it hurt, but was clean.
Stephen Wilhite -vs- Matt Vaughn
This fight will be a rematch that Wilhite was victorious in over a year ago. Both of these guys have skills to end a fight either standing or on the ground. In Wilhite's last main event fight against Cory Lay he ended the fight mounted and delivering punches that resembled a jack hammer on an old sidewalk. This first round victory was over before the first minute could tick away. In the other corner Matt Vaughn may have lost the first fight, but is not the same fighter that he was a year ago. Vaughn can be found adding wins to his record at most of Clairday's fights. Vaughn usually whips up his opponents and ends his fights early in the first round. However, he did test himself in the fight last month against Brandon Lovett and was found the victor of the match by a jury of two to one. He looked very impressive in that fight and I think that this rematch could go either way.   
Kent Waters -vs- Fred Weaver
Probably two of the  most well liked guys in MMA. With Waters entering the ring for only the second time and with a perfect record I might add, this will be his toughest opponent to date. Kent has been training with Triad for many years and is a high level BJJ fighter. In his last fight he took Tony Crook to the ground and finished him with a first round arm bar. This arm bar also won most photogenic of the night as it was perfect. Now on to Fred Weaver. This guy is a monster in the ring and has tons of experience. Fred will has won so many fights by KO and referee stoppage. I think that this fight will probably be won by either Kent on the ground or Fred standing up. 
Sasuke Zapata -vs- John O'Brien
I can't believe this fight is actually taking place? This fight has been in the making for several months since blackeyemma did an article on Zapata stating that we did not know who could beat him as he was at the top of the charts. We recieved many emails saying that a fighter named John O'Brien was the man, and could beat Zapata! There was a lot of controversy on the forum regarding this topic. 
Sasuke Zapata is one of the most recognized names in MMA in this region. He has a record that is near unblemished at 16 wins and 1 loss. This guy could fight for days straight and is considered by many as the cardio machine. Zapata can end a fight in any position as he never frustrates but patiently waits for the kill. Zapata has so much experience and this will likely be his last amateur bout as he will go pro. I have said many times in other fights that experience is a huge and in most cases the deciding factor as nothing can prepare you for the cage like the cage itself! 
John O'Brien will enter this fight with a perfect record as well with 0 wins and 0 losses. Although this will be his debut fight, he is no newcomer to the sport. O'Brien is another top level BJJ student at Triad with an exceptional ground game. Many of his colleagues say that he is a force to reckon with and not only has the skills to tap you but also has KO power. I can only hope that he is as good as they have built him up to be.
For more info go to www.southeasternmma.com
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   blackeyemma's "Top Dawg Rankings"
Effective January 1st 2009 we will introduce our ranking system to the Southeastern MMA world. When this site was created in September 2008 we intended on ranking fighters in Alabama. We now have a large base of fighters in surrounding states. We will rank amateur men and women fighters in all weight classes. There are several criteria that will determine a fighters rank such as a fighters record, fight difficulty of opponent on record, fight card of promotions fought in, ect. This system will also rank fight promotions based on fight cards, caliber of fighters, crowd attendance, venues and reputation held among fighters. As you know the top promotions draw the top fighters and the top promotions recruit much of their fighters through fight videos. Therefore, we will require fighters to send us fight videos that will be accessible on our site to promoters, competition and fight fans. Our rankings will be unbiased and the criteria will apply to all. We encourage you to take part as this is the only ranking system of it's type in this region. This will take some time to compile and perfect but we have received much information to date. So send us your information!
Sponsored in part by OMEGA  ATTIRE
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-Attention Fans and Fighters-
Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia,
Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina
We want to know who puts on the best show that you attend. Who are the best promoters in your state based on organization, caliber of fighters, crowd attendance, the total production and did you get your money's worth? Please notify us and let us know. We need your responses to complete our new ranking system. 
   email  gibbsfight@charter.net
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A Loss in the MMA Community.

Monday, Dec 08, 2008

Joe Everett Ferguson III, 23, passed away in a car accident Sunday, Dec. 7, 2008.   He was a  local fighter from Jasper and fought in shows like SouthEastern MMA, Clairday's, Battle at Byram in Miss.,  Gadsden, Auburn,  and many other  events.   Joey was also a veteran, he was in the U.S. Army for three years, where he served time in Iraq.  He trained with people from all over North and Central Alabama.  His  most recent place to have trained was Frontline Fighting Systems in Jasper, AL.  His amateur record was 13-5, and he was looking forward to turning  Pro. in the very near future.   Having known Joey on a personal note, he lived with Luke and I for about a month.  He was an amazing person and  had a great heart.  He was constantly making us laugh and was always having a great time, no matter what he was doing.  As a writer I hate writing articles such as this, but I would like everyone to know what kind of person Joey was and what kind of impact he had on this sport and in many peoples lives. He will be terribly missed. 
Lindsey Day @ blackeyemma, lsquaredmarketing@yahoo.com

FIGHT OF THE YEAR!
For those of you that were fortunate enough to be in Florence Alabama for Flatline's Ultimate fighting Throwdown VII witnessed perhaps the best fight of the year. It was the second fight of the afternoon between between Jamie Hughes and Ian Funk. This was Funk's fighting debut and only the second fight for Jamie Hughes but both looked like UFC veterans as they forgot they were amateurs. Closely matched, both fighters really surprised me and kept me wondering what would happen next. Hughes landed several hard punches that would have turned the lights out on most fighters but Funk managed to hang on and pull out a win by submission in the second round. This fight contained the one thing that most fights I have seen here lately lack , the will to win by both Jamie and Ian.  Both of these guys put everything they had into this fight and it could have ended with either hand raised. I will not miss these two guys in their future fights if I can help it. Steve Hester with blackeyemma said that "this was the best fight that I have ever seen in person". I have also been to a bunch of fights and I agree that this was the best fight that I have ever seen in person. I hope Jamie and Ian will keep us at blackeyemma posted on your next fights and wish you the best of luck.  Flatline was impressive. AG
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Omega Attire joins team blackeye
We are so excited to announce that blackeyemma has teamed up with Omega Attire. Omega Attire is a new clothing line based out of Gainesville Georgia. They specialize in many different types of clothing such as extreme sports apparel, cutting edge casual wear, even musician and band stage concert wear. Omega sponsors everything from bands to athletes. Omega Attire even has a custom design team that will create something just for you. With the ability to embroider and print on any style of clothing they also have the best price around. And oh my gosh! You have got to see the Omega Girls! I had the opportunity to speak with the Director of Operations for Omega Attire, Mr. David Guinn, and he is one of the nicest guys that I have talked to yet. It's no wonder that his company has done so well. Omega Attire has a new store that will open in the latter part of November so when in the Gainesville area stop by and visit them. www.omegaattire.com
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The danger zone is an arms length away with Stephen Wilhite!
We got a chance to catch up with Alabamas Stephen Wilhite from team Danger Zone earlier this month. Wilhite is a five foot seven, one hundred fifty five pound show stopper with a dominating record of 13 and 2. Wilhite began his MMA career in August of 2007 after attending a local fight with a friend. He decided that he would train and enter the next fight and the rest is history. When we asked him what the future holds for him said that he would like to make a career out of fighting, " I know that one day I will be somewhere". And those of us at blackeyemma agree with him. In his last fight at Southeastern MMA's Cullman City Cage Wars we witnessed him record an eye blinking, first round victory over Cory Lay. The twenty four year young Wilhite is the father of two girls, one seven year old and a one year old. Wilhite graduated from West Point High School where he was and outstanding Warrior running back and linebacker.  Wilhite was also an Alabama state champion weight lifter in the 160 pound division. Wilhite will be fighting Matt Vaughn in January 2009. This fight will be a rematch in which  Wilhite was victorious in the first fight over a year ago. He said " I know that he has gotten better" I will be training hard for this fight. Wilhite explained that his intense training is why he competes so well as he  trains for every opponents style and size.  Stephen Wilhite said that he would like to thank his team mates Bobby Wilhite, Ray Mathain and Kent Waters. He said that without them believing in him that he may not be where he is today. He also thanked TRIAD MMA and most of all his GOD. Thanks a bunch Stephen for the information and we can't wait until you enter the ring again in January. AG
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Rush MMA's Tyra Parker, the Georgia Knockout!

Many of you are familiar with the five foot five, one hundred and fifteen pound knockout Tyra Parker from Forsyth Georgia. Tyra has been training for nine months with the famous Rush MMA in Macon Georgia. Rush MMA houses some of the best fighters such as Bubby Mitchell, Ben Pierce, David Matthews and the Ultimate Fighter reality star Cole Miller, enough said.  Tyra has a strong amateur record of 3-0 and professional record of 0-2. Many of you may have seen Tyra on the HDNet televised StrikeForce Payback event October 3rd 2008 live from Denver Colorado. Tyra fought the famous "Karate Hottie" Michelle Waterson from Jackson's camp in Albuquerque New Mexico. She was defeated by Waterson but displayed heavy hands that might have ended the fight on a different note if she had kept the fight standing. When asked what her biggest win was she said "I wish that I would have won the Waterson Fight" and blackeyemma wishes the same for her. Tyra said that she got a little nervous due to the lights and cameras and " I have an issue with crowds". We are sure that time will fix that. Besides, she has now been where most fighters wish they could be, on live TV. With no fights set in stone as of now she will be competing in grappling tournaments and maybe some boxing to work on her stand up. Tyra has a rematch with Tammy Schneider in the future but a date has not been set. Tyra explained that with more training she would like to be considered one of the top five in her division and fight the top girls. Her favorite fighter is Gina Carano, and that is one thing both she and I have in common. Ms. Parker is sponsored by the clothing line FightChix. Tyra currently attends Macon State College and studies Biology. Tyra thanked her dad Ty Parker for his support. We wish the nineteen year old the best of luck in the future. This Georgia knockout is a blackeye favorite. AG
Photos property of Sherdog 
  

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