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By Jim Genia The date: Saturday, October 16th. The place: Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey. The event: Reality Fighting 7 - where local East Coast up-and-comers come to battle it out in North America's only octagon-shaped ring. Four championship titles are on the line this time around, and with an additional ten bouts scheduled it should prove to be an action-packed night for MMA fans. Here's a brief look at some of the fighters: Glen Sandull, Planet Jiu-jitsu Glen Sandull is the reigning undefeated Reality Fighting heavyweight champ - a title he snatched from Carlos Cline at Reality Fighting 4 after three rounds of nonstop punishment. He's stayed at the top since then, utilizing seemingly unstoppable takedowns and a relentless ground assault, but at Reality Fighting 7 the Planet Jiu-jitsu representative faces a new and improved Cline (thanks to Team Renzo Gracie) in a rematch. Does Cline have what it takes to dethrone the dominant wrestler? Or will this be a repeat of their first meeting? "Beating Carlos in our first fight means nothing," says Sandull. "I try not to underestimate anyone and I know Carlos will be better prepared this time." He adds: "This is a new fight with two improved fighters and anything can happen." His prediction for the bout? "I would like to hit a submission on Carlos but a win of any sort would be enough. I know it's not going to be an easy task. I expect a war." Jordan Pergola, Team Renzo/Bellmore Kickboxing Academy He first came onto the scene back in 2001, grounding and pounding to earn a decision over slugger Jose Rodriguez. He resurfaced this past April, crushing an overmatched opponent with strikes in a mere 13 seconds. There's a great deal of buzz surrounding Jordan Pergola. Is it well founded? Or is it just hype? On October 16th, we'll know for sure, as the powerful wrestler-turned-kickboxer takes on veteran brawler Lance Everson in what should be a real test for both men. Laura D'Auguste, Team Tiger Schulmann When these two ladies met at Reality Fighting 5, it ended in a draw after two rounds of back-and-forth action. Now, at Reality Fighting 7, Laura D'Auguste and Amanda Buckner will have three rounds to settle things - and the undefeated D'Auguste will get a chance to avenge the only blemish on an otherwise spotless record. Superior conditioning seemed to give the Team Tiger Schulmann fighter an edge the last time. "I feel great," says a confident D'Auguste on her conditioning now. "I'm in better shape now than I've ever been in before." She adds: "Amanda gassed after two five-minute rounds; I can go all day." Her prediction for this bout? "I wanna win. That's what I hoping for!" Jay Isip, Team Endgame He fights with the kind of intensity that drives the crowd wild, and his matches are always the most exciting of the night. But Team Endgame grappler Jay Isip has lost his last four MMA bouts (three of which were for titles - a testament to his skill) and he needs a win. The only thing standing in his way: Jesse Moreng, wrestler-turned-Team Tiger Schulmann rep. Will Isip's fast and furious grappling enable him to get the ‘W'? Or will Moreng, a veteran of Rage in the Cage, come out on top? Eddie Alvarez, Fight Factory It took a little less than four minutes for former All-American wrestler and Fight Factory exponent Eddie Alvarez to knock Anthony LaDonna out, and right then and there LaDonna's teammate, ‘Crazy' Chris Schlesinger, swore he'd get revenge. At Reality Fighting 7, that score will be settled one way or another, as Alvarez and Schlesinger will square off in what promises to be an exciting and fast-paced bout. "From what I hear he's crazy," Alvarez says of the Matt Serra-trained fighter gunning for him. "He comes out wild… I'm kind of a relaxed fighter, so maybe he'll expend all his energy quick." What does the soft-spoken Alvarez think of the intense Schlesinger? "I don't like the fact that he took it personal. I don't take it personal - it's just a fight - but if he wants to make it personal than we can make it personal. It'll make for a more entertaining bout." His prediction for the match? "I'm gonna try and make it a stand-up bout. I've seen his stand-up and to me it's pretty horrifying. If he stands for more than two minutes with me, I'm gonna knock him out." The card: Welterweight Title Fight Eddie Alvarez (Fight Factory) vs. Chris Schlesinger (Bellmore Kickboxing) Light-heavyweight Title Fight Lance Everson (Boneyard) vs. Jordan Pergola (Bellmore Kickboxing) Heavyweight Title Fight Carlos Cline (Renzo) vs. Glen Sandull (Planet Jiu-Jitsu) Women's Title Fight Amanda Buckner (Academy of MMA) vs. Laura D'Auguste (TSK) Norm Schack (Renzo) vs. Jay Frankovich (Freestyle) Leigh MacNeil (Murphy's Kickboxing) vs. Daniel Coffman (Balance Studios) Bill Scott (Renzo) vs. Dominic Dellagatta (TSK) Charles Vuolo (KOA) vs. Dom Stanco (Bellmore Kickboxing) Dante Rivera (Renzo) vs. Jay Handey (Ground Zero) Anthony D'Angelo (Panza Kickboxing) vs. Anthony McDonald (Jay Lally) Jay Isip (End Game) vs. Jesse Moreng (TSK) Carmello Marrero (SBG) vs. Chris Dippolito (Team KOA) Todd Going (Jersey Shore BJJ) vs. Mike Ciesnolevicz (Miletich) Rich Latta (Renzo) vs. Jay Kotsko (Ground Zero) Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey. Doors open at 7:00 pm, first fight at 8 pm. |
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