WXC 86 | Wednesday | US

Featherweight: Collin Anglin (6-1)

Collin Anglin is a confident fighter who keeps his hands low but relies on his movement. Anglin switches stances often and stays busy throwing combinations from a lot of angles. He throws mainly in bursts and throws well mixing in kicks to his arsenal. Anglin also has some good head movement and exceptional cardio getting better as the fight goes on. Not fully sold on him yet as he needs to fight better competition. He fights Will Frost (1-1).

UAE Warriors 10 | Friday | Abu Dhabi

Lightweight: Josh Togo (7-3)

A few years ago, Togo was on a three-fight skid. Now he’s won his last three fights (also a NC) and is the current Eternal MMA lightweight champ. Togo doesn’t have a lot of power but has the technical ability on the outside to work opponents. He will pick his foes apart with lead leg kicks, lead uppercuts, and jabs mixing it up. He fights Ali Dyusenov (3-2).

UCC 48 | Friday | Panama

Strawweight: Pierangela Rodriguez Giunta (4-0)

Pierangela Rodriguez Giunta is an all-action type fighter who is a fun one to watch. She badly needs to work on her takedown defense as that is by far her weakest area. Rodriguez loves to just throw her hands. In her constant rapid attack, she does hit hard and is pretty accurate. Her aggressive style is one of the reasons she has a 100% finish rate. She fights her biggest challenge to date in Kayla Hracho (1-0).

ONE Championship | Friday | Philippines

Flyweight: Lito Adiwang (10-2)

Fighting out of the Philippines, Lito Adiwang is on a roll winning his last six fights. On the feet, Adiwang is very explosive and has a lot of power in his hands. On the mat, he is good on top and has solid ground and pound. He can be a bit flat-footed but makes up for it with his blitzes and power. Adiwang has that one-punch stopping power. He fights Pongsiri Mitsatit (10-4) who is his biggest challenge to date.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwtZzEDWVvw

LFA 81 | Friday | US

Featherweight: Jamall Emmers (16-4)

Jamall Emmers is a very technical striker that always throws one-two’s as the power isn’t there but the combinations and aggressiveness shine. The wrestling is solid where his shots are perfectly-timed and solid execution is done very well. With his upcoming fight with Rafael Barbosa, himself a very good prospect, there is a lot of promise for the winner.

Emmers has some good wins but he has huge wins against UFC contenders Alexander Hernandez and Cory Sandhagen. In 2018 he had a chance at a UFC contract on the Contender Series but lost to Julian Erosa. Since then, Emmers is on a three-fight win streak. He fights a tough prospect in Rafael Barbosa (12-2).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=METD7qU-KB0

CFFC 81 | Saturday | US

Middleweigh: Kyle Daukaus (8-0)

On the feet, Kyle Daukaus is not great but throws a lot of volume and is very good using his length. He’s much more versed on the mat and his wrestling to get in there is good. Daukaus has a good submission base with seven wins by submission with his D’Arce choke being a prime choice. He’s active with his submission attempts and his ground and pound as well. He fights Nolan Norwood (12-5).

Bantamweight: Alexander Keshtov (9-0)

Alexander Keshtov is an undefeated fighter out of the amazing camp K-Dojo Warrior Tribe training with some UFC fighters and other top prospects. Keshtov is an excellent prospect as he is super diverse, throwing many different attacks both with his striking and kicks and he puts them all together perfectly. While his wrestling hasn’t been on display much, he owns solid takedown defense. He definitely looks like a future UFC fighter. He fights Herbeth Sousa (14-1).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BOSDmsyVSg

Bantamweight: Herbeth Sousa (14-1)

With only one loss, Herbeth Sousa is currently on a three-fight win streak. “Indio” is an aggressive grappler who has ten submissions all coming in the first round. His wrestling is solid but obviously, it’s the grappling that’s key. His transitions are smooth and his finishing ability on the submissions is dangerous as he is a black belt in BJJ. He still needs some work on the feet but only 25-years-old, not even in his prime in MMA terms. He fights Alexander Keshtov (9-0).

Featherweight: Pat Sabatini (11-2)

Pat Sabatini has only two losses in his career to top prospects in Jose Mariscal and Robert Watley. Sabatini does have a background in grappling, competing in several competitions, and has a background in combat sambo. Sabatini is clearly dangerous on the mat with nine finishes all coming by submission. He is very improved with solid trip takedowns, good ground-and-pound, improved stand up and excellent cardio. He fights James Gonzalez (5-3).

The post Weekly MMA Prospect Report: CFFC 81 Takes Center Stage appeared first on Cageside Press.

WXC 85: Warrior Wednesday 10 was live from Crystal Gardens in Southgate, Michigan on Wednesday, December 18, 2019. The event was broadcast live on UFC Fight Pass.

In the main event, WXC flyweight champion Juancamilo Ronderos attempted to make the first defense of his title, when he took on UFC veteran Eric Shelton.

Ronderos (3-0), had won all of his professional contests under the WXC banner on Warrior Wednesday events. After winning his professional debut in February, Ronderos won the flyweight title five months later, defeating fellow prospect Matthew Elliott via submission in the second round at WXC 80: Warrior Wednesday 5.

Ronderos’ victory over Elliott went viral, as the Xtreme Couture prospect hit a rare submission (named the ‘Sneaky Pete’) to get the win and to secure the flyweight title.

Shelton (13-6) made his second appearance in the WXC banner, after a successful debut victory. The UFC veteran defeated Jesse Bazzi via unanimous decision in October at WXC 83: Warrior Wednesday 8. Shelton is a veteran of The Ultimate Fighter 24, where he lost to season winner, Tim Elliott. Shelton’s UFC stint didn’t go to plan, finishing his two-year UFC run with a 2-4 UFC record, with three of his losses coming via split decision. However, the 28-year-old hoped a title victory over Ronderos would get him closer to earning his spot back on the UFC roster.

Additionally on the cardwelterweight prospects were set to collide as Floyd Jones (2-1) took on Perry Stargel (1-0), and heavyweight prospect Dylan Potter (8-4) was in action.

WXC 85: Warrior Wednesday 10 Results:

• Juancamilo Ronderos (C) def. Eric Shelton via Split Decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47) – for the WXC flyweight championship.
• Dylan Potter def. Charles Brown via Technical Knockout (Head Kicks), Round 1, 2:20
• Darryol Humphrey def. Daniel Winston via Knockout (Punch), Round 1, 1:53
• Floyd Jones def. Perry Stargel via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Isaiah Gathings Jr def. Will Frost via Submission (Armbar), Round 1, 4:17
• Marcus Maulding def. Trever Alden via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke), Round 1, 3:35

The post WXC 85: Warrior Wednesday 10 Live Results appeared first on Cageside Press.

Warrior Xtreme Cagefighting returned on Wednesday night for WXC 81: Warrior Wednesday 6. The event was live from the Crystal Gardens in Southgate, Michigan and was broadcast live on UFC Fight Pass.

In the main event, Pipe Vargas (7-1) faces Jose Johnson (9-5) for the WXC bantamweight title. Vargas is a former Combate and Titan FC competitor who trains out of American Top Team. The 25-year-old made his WXC debut in February, when he knocked out Saidyokub Kakharamonov with a flying knee. Johnson is a MMA veteran at just age 24, having had 37 amateur contests and 14 professional contests within the last six years. Since making his WXC debut last year, Johnson has gone 3-0 in WXC, with all of his wins coming via first-round knockout. He has finished six of his nine professional victories, four via knockout and two via submission.

In the co-main event, flyweight veterans collide as Jesse Bazzi (10-6) faces Josh Smith (8-5). Bazzi last competed in Bellator back in May when he defeated Joey Diehl. Bazzi is a former WXC flyweight title challenger and last competed in WXC in November of 2017, when he lost to Eric Ramirez via Guillotine Choke. Smith will be making his third Warrior Wednesday appearance, and will be looking for his third straight finish. The American Top Team member most recently finished Shawn Mack via first-round TKO at WXC 78: Warrior Wednesday 3.

Also on the card, Michigan prospect Taylor Moore (9-4) is back in action after eleven months away, when he faces 24-fight veteran Josh Robinson (12-12).

WXC 81: Warrior Wednesday 6 Results:

Main Card:

• Jose Johnson def. Pipe Vargas via Knockout (Knees and Punches), Round 1, 3:39 – for the WXC bantamweight title. 
• Jesse Bazzi def. Josh Smith via Submission (Guillotine Choke), Round 2, 0:34
• Taylor Moore def. Josh Robinson via Submission (Triangle Choke), Round 3, 3:03
• Joshua Shaw def. Andrew Karsten via Submission (D’Arce Choke), Round 1, 2:18
• Daniel Anglemyer def. Eric Shellenbarger via Submission (Armbar), Round 1, 4:43

Amateur Prelims:

• Matt Rodgers def. Dylan Lacroix via Unanimous Decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
• Rodney Miracle def. Blayk Stoops via Technical Knockout, Round 1, 2:12

The post WXC 81: Warrior Wednesday 6 Live Results appeared first on Cageside Press.

WXC 80: Warrior Wednesday 5 was live from the Crystal Gardens in Southgate, Michigan. The show was broadcast live on UFC Fight Pass.

In the main event, undefeated flyweights faced off for the vacant flyweight title as Matthew Elliott (4-0) faced Juancamilo Ronderos (2-0).

Elliot (4-0) entered the contest with all his victories via first-round submission, three of which were inside 61 seconds. The 23-year-old was 1-0 with the promotion, defeating Mike Johnson back in February of 2018.

Ronderos (2-0) entered the contest with a perfect record as a professional and as an amateur. Ronderos was a former Tuff-N-Uff flyweight champion – a belt he defended three times before going professional. Since making his professional debut earlier this year, Ronderos has won back-to-back contests in the promotion. Most recently, the Xtreme Couture prospect submitted Eric Ramirez in the second round at WXC 78.

Also on the card, Michigan-based prospects Kenny Cross and Floyd Jones fought in separate bouts on the undercard.

Check out the results for WXC 80: Warrior Wednesday 5 below, which will be updated throughout the night.

WXC 80: Warrior Wednesday 5 Results

Professional Bouts:

• Juancamilo Ronderos def. Matthew Elliott via Technical Submission (Sneaky Pete), Round 2, 2:39 – for vacant flyweight championship. 
• Ermal Hadribaej def. Ryan Mclntosh Submission (Strike – Body Kick), Round 1, 3:12
• Francisco Muniz def. Elijah Cavender via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke), Round 1, 4:10
• Paul Schommer def. Floyd Jones via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke), Round 3, 2:58
• Kenny Cross def. Luke Hnseva via Submission (Strikes), Round 1, 2:08 – 175-pound catchweight bout.

Amateur Contests:

• Brandon Janes def. Latavious Harris via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke), Round 1, 1:37 – for amateur bantamweight championship. 
• Jeff Baughman def. Juwan Smith via Split Decision (29-28 x2, 28-29)

The post WXC 80: Warrior Wednesday 5 Live Results appeared first on Cageside Press.

Willis Black is a welterweight prospect from Detroit, Michigan, with an impressive 7-2 record. Black is coming off a huge win over former UFC fighter Justin Edwards, putting him away in only 47 seconds.

https://twitter.com/ImShannonTho/status/1146601438841311232

Black got started in MMA when he started wrestling in high school. A friend of his invited him to an MMA gym, so he went and the rest is history. Since 2017, MMA has been his full-time job but he is and always will be a Youth Mentor.

“I was an active program coordinator at the Boys and Girls Club. I had been with the Boys and Girls Club since high school and now I’m a volunteer. I’m also the volunteer assistant wrestling coach at Romulus HS,” says Black.

Black trains out of a small camp in Ypsilanti, Michigan called Bushido Mixed Martial Arts. It’s small but a family group among all the men and women. “My main sparring partners include head coach Chris Simpson, Coach Travis Spivey, and Pro MMA fighter Brandon Noble.”

Black started his amateur career in 2013 and went 7-2. He has an identical pro record and has had many highlights in his career.

“I was formerly the amateur WXC Welterweight and Middleweight Champion. Also holding a KO of the Year in 2013 which was also featured in the Dirty Dozen. I now currently hold the WXC Pro Welterweight Championship along with 2018 KO of the Year, 2018 Submission of the Year, and 2018 Fighter of the Year. I am a top-ranked true welterweight in Michigan.”

But it hasn’t all been success for Black, but he’s climbed back successfully.

“The low of my career was taking four losses straight in 2017, including two pro MMA bouts and two pro boxing bouts just after the birth of my firstborn son. The high of my career is what those losses did to me and to come back in 2018 and go undefeated for the year winning by KO, sub, getting fighter of the year and a world title following a devastating time in my career.”

Reaching low points can be great motivation to be as great as you can be going forward, as Michael Chiesa explained after his win last night at UFC 239. Black expressed a similar sentiment about his struggles.

“Those losses made me reevaluate what it was that I was in this sport for. I couldn’t wait to have a brand new baby boy to throw my career away. I realized that I can do this but if I was going to, I’d have to make myself better. Those losses made me who I am today because I work so much harder so that I know that I did everything I could to be ready. That’s all I want is to reflect and say there was nothing else in my power, I can live with whatever results after.”

Black was 3-0 professionally before suffering his first loss and then lost his very next fight dropping two in a row. Despite two consecutive losses, “Silverback” is a much better fighter and now on a four-fight win streak. Now 7-2 with a perfect finish rate, the UFC could very well be next. Black kept it simple when sending a message to the UFC president: “Dana White, talk to me when you’re ready.”

Dana White’s Contender Series is now taking over the summer and some spots are still open toward the end of the season. Black has the style that Dana loves and when I asked Black about the opportunity he said it would be something him and his manager would discuss with one another.

Black is still young at only 25-years-old, so if the UFC doesn’t come calling yet, it isn’t necessarily a bad thing. There are still good fights out there and the promotion WXC has done a great job finding suitable opponents for “Silverback.”

“It’s not a callout, it’s a respect thing, some tough guys would be Devin Smyth, who earned a spot on the Contender Series and Bobby Nash who is a UFC veteran,” says Black on fights that interest him.

With 13 career finishes as an amateur and pro, a KO of the Year in 2013 over Troy Wilson was Black’s favorite finish among all his highlight-reel finishes. You can check out the full fight here.

https://youtu.be/D3Yc9ORQ9yk?t=484

When asking fighters why they fight you get answers like for the fame, the money, the competition, and more. Black is different though.

“I have so many reasons to fight for. I’ll give you a top three. I fight for glory, a legacy, and a better life to change the lives around me. Who I fight for is my wife and children, especially my son.”

Give Willis Black a follow on social media.
Facebook
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The post WXC’s Willis Black: “Dana White, Talk to Me When You’re Ready” appeared first on Cageside Press.

Michigan-based promotion Warrior Xtreme Cagefighting returned for their 78th event on Wednesday as WXC 78 displayed the third edition of Warrior Wednesday, live from the Crystal Gardens in Southgate, Michigan.

In the main event, UFC veteran Bobby Nash makes his return to the WXC cage after competing three times inside the premier MMA organization, the UFC. The 29-year-old Michigan native went 0-3 inside the Octagon, losing to Englishman Danny Roberts and China’s Li Jingliang and Song Kenan. Under the WXC banner, Nash is 1-1, winning his professional debut back at WXC 52 in Michigan, and with his only regional loss coming six months later for the same promotion. Nash, faces 26-fight veteran Mark Stoddard, who’s a two-time Bellator competitor. Stoddard has won his last six bouts, with all wins coming via finish in the first or second round.

In the co-main event, Xtreme Couture’s Justin Jaynes faces short-notice replacement and 37-fight veteran James Warfield-Lane. Jaynes, 29, has won three straight, including two wins inside the WXC cage. The one-time Bellator competitor, Jaynes, has won eight of his last nine contests, with the only loss coming to fellow prospect Tommy Aaron. Meanwhile, 41-year-old Warfield-Lane looks to bounce back after suffering a first-round submission loss to Dakota Cochrane at Road to M-1 USA 2 last April. Warfield-Lane replaces Austin Tweedy after Tweedy was forced to withdraw due to injury. Warfield-Lane has faced tough competition throughout his career with Joe Ellenberger, Luis Palomino, Seth Baczynski and Yves Edwards being among them.

Also on the card, undefeated flyweight prospect, Juancamilo Ronderos looks to build on recent momentum in the WXC cage.

The event is broadcast live and exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.

WXC 78: Warrior Wednesday 3 Results:

• Bobby Nash def. Mark Stoddard by TKO (Left Hook and Ground and Pound), Round 1, 1:03
• Justin Jaynes def. James Warfield-Lane by TKO (Ground and Pound), Round 1, 2:05
• Josh Smith def. Shawn Mack by TKO, Round 1, 4:33
• Brandon Noble def. Antoine Blassingame by Unanimous Decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
• Juancamilo Ronderos def. Eric Ramirez by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke), Round 2, 1:42
• Latavious Harris def. Juwan Smith by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke), Round 2, 2:24 – amateur
• Sherman Lovely def. Rigels Ceri by TKO (Ground and Pound), Round 1, 2:08 – amateur

The post WXC 78: Warrior Wednesday 3 Live Results appeared first on Cageside Press.

Warrior Xtreme Cagefighting (WXC) returned for their 77th event on April 24, 2019. The show will be the second edition of Warrior Wednesday.

In the main event, UFC veteran Daron Cruickshank was back in Michigan following a loss to Damien Brown at RIZIN 14. Cruickshank faced Jackson Wink prospect Chris Brown in a lightweight contest. Cruickshank is a pioneer for MMA in Michigan with his gym, Michigan Top Team, which is producing stars on the local scene. Plus the success he has sustained throughout his lengthy MMA career, earning the moniker “Detroit Superstar.” Meanwhile, Brown was looking to bounce back from a narrow split decision defeat to newly-signed UFC fighter Thomas Gifford in his last appearance.

In the co-main event, Michigan’s own Jason Fischer returned to Warrior Xtreme Fighting after a losing effort at ACB (now re-branded ACA) 85 last April. Bellator veteran Fischer was taking on 24-year-old Josh Wick, who has competed in Bellator (against Johnny Nunez at Bellator 205) and was looking to get consecutive wins in consecutive months – following a submission victory against Alex Trinidad at SCL: Combat Series 1.

Also on the card, Michigan’s Darius Estell faced off against Hawaii’s Edward Thommes. Estrell most recently fought previously undefeated prospect Zach DiSabatino at Cage Titans 42, with Estrell coming away with a split decision win. Estrell was looking to avenge his last performance in the Warrior Xtreme Cagefighting cage, as he suffered his only professional loss to Drew Morais last August. Meanwhile, Thommes wanted to avenge his last performance also, as he lost via third-round TKO to Toby Misech at Bellator 212. Thommes’ other losses have came to Jackson Wink product Stephen Cervantes and ex-UFC competitor Tyler Diamond.

*Tidbit* – The Main event between Daron Cruickshank and Chris Brown is off according to Chris Brown. Brown weighed in at 157 pounds yesterday, and Cruickshank said he had to be 160 pounds by 5pm for him to take the fight. Brown made the 160 pound limit, but Cruickshank had a change of heart and chose not to take the bout. Read Brown’s full statement here.

Cruickshank then entered the cage himself, and said that his opponent Brown was unprofessional and his management told him it was not worth taking the fight. Cruickshank also apologised to the local fans and thanked them for coming out. He did say he will be fighting in Japan for RIZIN FF in July however. 

The card streamed live, exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.

WXC 77: Warrior Wednesday 2 Results:

• Daron Cruickshank vs. Chris Brown – cancelled.
• Jason Fischer def. Josh Wick via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).
• Edward Thommes def. Darius Estell by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
• Mickey Marsack def. Travis Karppinen  by submission (rear-naked choke), round 1, 3:12

The post WXC 77: Warrior Wednesday 2 Live Results appeared first on Cageside Press.