GAMMA: The Main Event

[Lt. Lucrativo]

Having recently launched myself back into playing WMMA2, I figured I would take a shot at turning my current GAMMA game into a dynasty and see whether anyone was interested in reading about it. To begin with, here's some background information:

 

I'm playing with a slightly modified default database with the additional fighters and companies from weidt's fresh start mod imported--so some of those characters may pop up if the dynasty lasts that long. I tend toward the long-winded, so my writeups will probably turn out to be fairly long and my fight recaps will be a bit more than just announcing the winner and the finish. My goal in doing the writing will be to bring a bit of character to the fighters and to the promotion and to provide some storylines and generate some interest in the fights presented. To that end, I expect I'll provide a preview post for every event held as well as a sort of "hype" post containing pre-fight "interviews" and the like. I'll also try to post periodically about such issues as fighter signings, camp activities, and news from outside GAMMA. Hopefully, something interesting may emerge from all of this text. And if I get really ambitious, maybe I'll even attempt to incorporate a graphic or two.

 

That said, if anyone's interested I'd be really happy to generate some discussion in this thread. Thoughts, ideas, questions, comments, suggestions and predictions will be very, very welcome. If you're reading, please feel free to post early and post often.

 

So, without further ado . . .

[Lt. Lucrativo]

Preview for GAMMA 42: Revolutions

To be held live from Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, Week 4 January, 1999

 

Main Event:

“The King of Ground and Pound” James Foster (32-4-1) vs. “The Demolition Expert” Raul Hughes (13-1) for the GAMMA Heavyweight Title

 

The GAMMA Heavyweight crown will be on the line in the main event of GAMMA's first event of the new year as the undisputed king of the heavyweight division, James Foster, takes on the slick-striking knockout artist Raul Hughes. Foster—one of the most brutally dominant fighters the sport has ever seen—has been the face of the GAMMA heavyweight division, and indeed of the entire company, seemingly from the organization’s very founding. Hughes has made it known in the lead-up to the fight that he resents the amount of mainstream attention that Foster receives and that he has no intention of continuing to fight in the champion’s enormous shadow. The challenger firmly believes that he has what it takes to not only topple the king but to assume his throne and rule the division for the foreseeable future.

 

The story of this fight looks to be simple: Foster will want to use his elite wrestling ability to take Hughes to the ground and unleash the overwhelming ground and pound tactics that have won him so many fights while the challenger will be looking to use his elite boxing and fearsome punching power to separate the champion’s head from his shoulders. Both men come in to the fight looking to be at the top of their games and are among the most respected and feared heavyweights in the world. But there can be only one face of heavyweight fighting in America. Which man will win the clash of styles and emerge from Revolutions as the king?

 

Semi-Main:

“The Mean Machine” Mac Fuller (29-5) vs. “The Anarchist” Matthew Dean (31-5) in the GAMMA Middleweight division

 

GAMMA 42 will also see a huge clash in the middleweight division as two massively experienced MMA veterans square off with the number one contendership for Neil Napier’s Middleweight title on the line. Fuller has called himself the man at 185-pounds for years and has used his educated fists to back up his words against a wide variety of opponents for the last decade. Now in his mid thirties, the former boxer known as “The Mean Machine” is adamant that he’s still the best middleweight fighter on the face of the planet and he plans on backing his words with actions once again by winning the GAMMA Middleweight title. To do so, however, he’ll have to go through a man seven years his junior, yet equal in terms of professional fighting experience. Matthew Dean began his career as a lethal jiu-jitsu specialist, but has become well known for his brutal regimen of cross-training and likes to refer to himself as the most complete fighter in MMA. He’s confident that his superior all-around fighting abilities will neutralize the strengths of any opponent and that it’s now his time to be the man in the middleweight division. At Revolutions, only one of these men will back up his claims of greatness and earn the opportunity to face the champion and achieve his ultimate goal.

 

Main Card:

Joe “The Hitman” Hinchcliffe (26-6) vs. “Dangerous” David Allen (14-2) in the GAMMA Welterweight division

 

Kickboxing specialist Joe Hinchcliffe is widely considered one of the best welterweight strikers in the world, and he’s used his fists and feet to pick apart many opponents over the years. His opponent, David Allen, is nominally a submission specialist but likes to call himself a complete mixed martial artist. Hinchcliffe has undertaken specialized jiu-jitsu training with world renowned specialist Greg Atteveld and Team Desire coming into this fight, but Allen has stated publicly that he’ll be just as comfortable standing up against his opponent here as he will be on the ground. Each man claims to be comfortable with the other’s fighting style, and each feels he has something to prove about his own all-around fighting skills. The winner here will place himself firmly within the GAMMA Welterweight title discussion.

 

Helio (20-2) vs. Duane “The Weather Man” Weatherly (14-8) in the GAMMA Lightweight division

 

At only 23 years of age, Muay Thai specialist Helio is considered a superstar striker in his native Brazil. He comes to GAMMA with a great deal of hype behind him and is clearly a fighter for whom GAMMA management has high hopes. His debut opponent is respected kickboxing veteran Duane Weatherly. Both competitors like to stand and bang, so this fight is likely to be a slugfest. Can Weatherly spoil the debut of the young star that many feel is a future Lightweight title contender, or will the Brazilian be able to back up his lofty reputation with a convincing victory in his first fight?

 

“No Surrender” Glenn Pimm (29-11) vs. “The Man of Steel” Ken Peters (8-0) in the GAMMA Light Heavyweight division

 

In another matchup pitting a GAMMA veteran against a promising youngster, the well-traveled wrestler Glenn Pimm will face off against the undefeated Strike Force Light Heavyweight Ken Peters. Peters comes to GAMMA with the backing of such well known teammates as Anthony LeToussier and Mike Watson, but Pimm feels that his toughness and his experience will be the deciding factors in this contest.

 

“Cannonball” Bruno Epps (7-3) vs. Dana “Danger Man” Delaney (8-2) in the GAMMA Welterweight division

 

The opening match of the main card will see two youngsters making their GAMMA debuts square off when Bruno Epps meets Dana Delaney. This looks like a classic wrestler versus striker matchup as Epps is a former collegiate grappling star while Delaney comes to MMA after a successful amateur boxing career. Which man will start his GAMMA career on the right foot?

 

Preliminary Card:

“The New Jersey Crusher” Marvin Stevens (21-10) vs. Milton Harvey (32-13) in the GAMMA Heavyweight division

 

This matchup features a clash between two veteran heavyweight grapplers in need of a win to turn around their GAMMA fortunes. Stevens is the much larger man, and he’ll be looking to use his superior strength to his advantage here—but questions about conditioning have plagued him throughout his career, and if he comes into the fight out of shape, Harvey will certainly look to take advantage.

 

“The Hillbilly Hammer” Luke Hilton (7-0) vs. “The Mercenary” Joel Adams (16-13) in the GAMMA Lightweight division

 

In another rookie versus veteran affair, lightweight newcomer Luke Hilton will make his GAMMA debut against Joel Adams. Hilton has a strong background, having success as an amateur in both wrestling and boxing—many observers feel he has the talent to make a mark in the lightweight division. But at only 5 feet, 6 inches tall, he’ll be going up against a much larger opponent in the experienced Joel Adams. The size and toughness of the man known as “The Mercenary” will present a stern test for the rookie fighter. Only time will tell whether he’ll be up to the challenge or whether Adams will spoil his debut and take a step forward in the lightweight division in the process.

 

Osmosis Benn (2-0) vs. Nick “Streets” Detroit (4-0) in the GAMMA Middleweight division

 

The first match of the evening features a collision between two undefeated prospects just starting out their MMA careers. 22-year-old Osmosis Benn comes into GAMMA with a good deal of hype behind him. As a former NCAA wrestling champion, he has a reputation as an elite athlete who possesses outstanding grappling ability. Stepping up to the big leagues with only two professional fights under his belt, Benn is nonetheless a competitor for whom many see a bright future in the sport. The man who calls himself “Streets,” Nick Detroit, is another youngster just starting out in mixed martial arts. The Virginia native comes from a kickboxing background and, although he’s not as talked about a prospect as Benn, he’s also known to be a gifted athlete. Which youngster will take advantage of the incredible opportunity before him and earn his first GAMMA victory?

 

Prediction Key:

James Foster vs. Raul Hughes

Mac Fuller vs. Matthew Dean

Joe Hinchcliffe vs. David Allen

Helio vs. Duane Weatherly

Glenn Pimm vs. Ken Peters

Bruno Epps vs. Dana Delaney

Marvin Stevens vs. Milton Harvey

Luke Hilton vs. Joel Adams

Osmosis Benn vs. Nick Detroit

 

Fight of the Night:

KO of the Night:

Submission of the Night:

[Astyn]

James Foster vs. Raul Hughes

Mac Fuller vs. Matthew Dean

Joe Hinchcliffe vs. David Allen

Helio vs. Duane Weatherly

Glenn Pimm vs. Ken Peters

Bruno Epps vs. Dana Delaney

Marvin Stevens vs. Milton Harvey

Luke Hilton vs. Joel Adams

Osmosis Benn vs. Nick Detroit

[Lt. Lucrativo]

Some selected comments from the marquee fighters in the run-up to GAMMA 42: Revolutions:

 

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Raul Hughes:

 

On James Foster:

He walks around calling himself the king, like he’s better than everyone else. He’s the face of the company, the face of MMA. Everyplace I go, all I see is James Foster and he’s got that stupid smile on his face. I turn on my TV and it’s a James Foster commercial. I walk out my door and it’s a James Foster billboard. I go to train, and it’s a James Foster poster in the damn gym. I’m tired of that ****, man. He thinks he’s some kind of damn hero, that he’s better than everyone. Well, I’ve got some news for him—he ain’t better than me. There’s no way that boy’s better than Raul Hughes. He can’t move like I do. He can’t hit like I do. And he sure as hell don’t want this fight as much as I do. I promise you that. After I’m through with him, he ain’t gonna be the king of nothing but getting his ass beat.

 

On fighting James Foster:

Oh, I’ve got something special in store for him. He wants to come out and wrestle. He wants to come out and take me down. He can go ahead and try. Just try and get in close on me. I’m going to punch his damn head off.

 

 

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James Foster:

 

On Raul Hughes’ pre-fight comments:

He’s pissed off at me? He hates me? That’s fine. I love what I do, and I’m good at it. I’m not going to apologize to anyone for that. If that pisses him off, so be it. But I’m definitely looking forward to the opportunity to shut him up.

 

On being champion:

This is my dream—the GAMMA Heavyweight Championship. It’s unbelievable. I wake up every day with a smile on my face and I can’t wait to get to work in the gym. I’ve been working for this belt all my life, and now that I have it, I’m working twice as hard as I ever have to hold on to it. This is my dream come true, and no one’s going to take it away from me.

 

On fighting Raul Hughes:

He’s dangerous standing up. There’s no doubt about that. He hits like a ton of bricks. But he doesn’t like being on the ground, and that’s my world. I mean, I’m comfortable with my standup. I’ve been working hard on it, and I feel like I can stand and trade with Raul. But I don’t feel like I’ve got anything to prove, and I absolutely know that I can take him down and pound him out. That’s the difference in this fight. I can stand with him if I want to, but he has no chance against me on the ground. So the simple answer is for me to just come out, take him down, and punch him in the face until he goes to sleep or quits—and that’s exactly what I plan on doing.

 

 

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Matthew Dean:

 

On Mac Fuller:

He’s a boxer, pure and simple. That’s all he’s got. I truly believe that I am the most complete fighter in the world. I’ve trained in so many different disciplines and I’ve got so many different ways to win fights—there’s no way that someone as one dimensional as Mac Fuller has anything more than a puncher’s chance against a real mixed martial artist.

 

On the GAMMA Middleweight Title:

My goal has always been to win that belt and prove that I am the best mixed martial artist in the world. I’m ready for the challenge. It’s what I was born to do. Now that I’m this close, nothing is going to stop me. Mac Fuller, you’re in my way—and that means you’ve got to go.

 

 

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Mac Fuller:

On Matthew Dean:

He likes to think of himself as a complete fighter and talk about all the training he’s got. I don’t give a damn about his training—that’s not going to mean jack when we step into the cage. I’m a fighter, first and foremost. He says he’s an artist, but I’m a fighter. That’s all I know, man. We’ll see how he likes being an artist after I punch him in the jaw a few times.

 

On his career:

I’ve been around this business for a lot of years and I’ve been on top for a long time. But I’ve got a few more things I’m planning on doing—first and foremost being taking the Middleweight title. I’ve been training hard with Rick [stanley] over at the Bear Pit for a little while now, and I feel great. I’m in the best shape of my life. I’m as focused as I’ve ever been. And that’s bad news for everyone else out there at 185 pounds. I’m still the man, and that ain’t changing any time soon.

[Lt. Lucrativo]

GAMMA 42: Revolutions

Date: Saturday, Week 4, January 1999

Location: Las Vegas, NV

Attendance: 7,088

PPV: 68,320

 

GAMMA 42 saw the debut of some slightly modified regulations in GAMMA designed to promote more finishes and fewer decisions. New rules include the expansion of rounds from five to ten minutes and a newly legalized ability to strike with both knees to the head and stomps to a downed opponent.

 

 

Preliminary 1

Osmosis Benn (2-0) vs. Nick “Streets” Detroit (4-0)

 

Round 1: After a brief exchange of strikes to start, Benn managed to grab onto a wayward low kick attempt and get an off-balance Detroit to the mat. On the ground, Detroit exhibited a surprisingly good guard and Benn, although he maintained control for several minutes, never looked particularly threatening. After a referee standup, Benn managed another quick takedown late in the round and controlled his opponent on the mat until the bell, but again was unable to inflict any notable damage.

 

Round 2: Round 2 saw more of the same, with Benn inviting Detroit to come forward to start the round and using movement to avoid taking any damage from Detroit’s striking before luring his opponent into another takedown. On the mat, Benn unleashed more ineffectual ground and pound as Detroit’s guard remained strong. After another standup, Benn succeeded with his fourth takedown of the match, and the second round ended in the same fashion as the first, with Benn in control on the ground.

 

Round 3: Despite looking to be ahead on the scorecards, it was Benn who came out swinging to start Round 3, firing off a barrage of wild punches but not connecting with anything significant. This proved to be a poor tactical decision, however, as Detroit, looking comfortable on his feet, easily deflected Benn’s striking and quickly rocked him with a vicious short left on the counter. Seeing his opponent hurt for the first time in the match, Detroit took full advantage, unleashing a violent barrage of punches for which Benn, trapped against the cage, had no answer and giving the referee no choice but to intervene.

 

Result: Nick “Streets” Detroit d. Osmosis Benn via TKO (strikes) at 2:09 of Round 3

 

Impressions: Detroit exhibited better ground defense than expected and was able to hang around for a full two rounds and then take full advantage once he had Benn hurt—a nice debut for the kid. If he learns from the experience and gets to work, he may eventually be heard from in a stacked GAMMA Middleweight division. On the flip side, a disappointing lack of killer instinct really cost Benn in the first two rounds, as he looked content to merely control the fight without ever really hurting his opponent. This result has to be considered something of an upset, and is definitely a setback for Benn's young career. The quick and surprising finish really woke up the fans in attendance and somewhat made up for the lack of action over the first rounds, though.

 

 

Preliminary 2

“The Hillbilly Hammer” Luke Hilton (7-0) vs. “The Mercenary” Joel Adams (16-13)

 

Round 1: The veteran Adams came out on the offensive to start the fight, looking to use his superior size and reach to his advantage, but the smaller Hilton proved to be an elusive target. After a short period of ineffective striking, Adams sought to return to his bread and butter and attempted to move forward and grapple. Hilton had other ideas, however, catching Adams coming forward with a short uppercut and sending him to the mat. Hilton dove in looking for the finish, but Adams recovered quickly and Hilton had to settle for side control. He transitioned quickly to mount and unleashed a barrage of elbows and hammerfists prompting a desperate Adams to roll and give up his back. From behind, Hilton optimistically attempted to secure an arm, but the veteran Adams was ready and took advantage of his off-balance opponent to turtle up and get himself out of an extremely dangerous predicament. The two fighters spent the remainder of the round circling, with Adams, bleeding steadily from a cut above the eye, understandably hesitant to engage and looking happy to have survived to the bell.

 

Round 2: Hilton came out looking confident to start the second round, coming forward with strikes and clearly looking to take his larger opponent out of the fight. With superior striking technique and movement compensating for his reach disadvantage, Hilton peppered Adams with jabs for the first minutes of the round before seeing an opening and striking with a barrage of violent punches to send Adams to the floor for a second time. This time, Adams had no defense as Hilton dove in with punches from the side, hammering away at his helpless opponent until being pulled away by the referee.

 

Result: “The Hillbilly Hammer” Luke Hilton d. “The Mercenary” Joel Adams via TKO (ground strikes) at 3:21 of Round 2

 

Impressions: A strong GAMMA debut for Hilton, who looked clearly to be the better fighter, kept up a good pace throughout the fight, and demonstrated a fan friendly, action-packed style en route to finishing off his experienced opponent in impressive fashion. This kid may have a future in GAMMA—he’s one to keep an eye on in the lightweight division. Adams, on the other hand, at 37 years old and carrying a 16-14 record, may not have many more opportunities to show that he can still bring something to the table.

 

 

Preliminary 3

“The New Jersey Crusher” Marvin Stevens (21-10) vs. Milton Harvey (32-13)

 

Round 1: The first round between these two veteran grapplers looked to be a mismatch as Stevens used his massive size and strength advantage to muscle Harvey around the cage for ten minutes. Harvey clearly wanted to take the fight to the ground, but had no chance against the larger man, having several takedown attempts stuffed and eating several hard shots for his troubles. Early in the round, Stevens was able to counter a Harvey takedown attempt and secure side control, looking like he had Harvey in trouble, but surprisingly just stood up and relinquished the advantage. By the midway point of the round, both men looked to be gassing, and the fight slowed even further in the back half with both fighters looking relieved at the bell.

 

Round 2: Stevens, still looking exhausted, lumbered forward to begin the second round looking to get the fight to the ground. After several minutes of Stevens slowly chasing Harvey around the cage, he finally managed to catch the smaller man against the fence and muscle him to the ground. On the mat, Harvey had no answer for Stevens’ bulk, as the larger man powered through his guard and eventually managed to take his back. Harvey clearly had nothing left in the tank by this point, and Stevens was mercifully able to hook a rear naked choke for the submission finish.

 

Result: “The New Jersey Crusher” Marvin Stevens d. Milton Harvey via Submission (rear naked choke) at 8:21 of Round 2

 

Impressions: Stevens managed to get back on the winning track in GAMMA, but didn’t look terribly impressive in doing so. He relied entirely on size to defeat his overmatched opponent and appeared to be in poor condition once again. The win probably ensures his position with GAMMA for the time being, but he’ll have a lot of work to do to prove that he deserves a shot against upper level competition. Harvey showed nothing of value in the fight, although to be fair it was clearly a terrible matchup for him from the beginning. His 32 professional wins still carry some weight, but he’s now lost two straight fights in the promotion and he can ill afford to drop many more if he hopes to keep his spot.

 

 

PPV 1

“Cannonball” Bruno Epps (7-3) vs. Dana “Danger Man” Delaney (8-2)

 

Round 1: The strategies were clear for both fighters off the bat as Delaney looked to strike while Epps sought to get in close and grapple. Epps won the first battle, as he quickly got inside on Delaney and sucked him down into his guard. From guard, Epps tried several times to catch Delaney in a guillotine before finally hooking him and using the advantage to sweep him over and gain side control. Delaney looked lost on the ground as Epps easily transitioned to mount and then back control. After attempting and failing to isolate an arm, Epps was able to secure a rear naked choke and flatten his opponent out, forcing the quick submission.

 

Result: “Cannonball” Bruno Epps d. Dana “Danger Man” Delaney via Submission (rear naked choke) at 7:37 of Round 1

 

Impressions: Whoever won the clash of styles was going to win this fight, and once Epps got it to the ground the finish was inevitable. A nice debut for Epps, dominating his fellow newcomer and announcing his presence in the GAMMA Welterweight division. Delaney has a reputation as a dangerous striker, but we never got to see it in this fight. He’s a young guy and he’ll probably get another shot, but if he’s not able to perform against competent wrestlers and can’t improve his seemingly nonexistent ground skills, his chances of finding success will be slim.

 

 

PPV 2

“No Surrender” Glenn Pimm (29-11) vs. “The Man of Steel” Ken Peters (8-0)

 

Round 1: This fight was over quickly as Peters shot out from his corner and immediately shot in for the double leg takedown on Pimm. Peters looked dominant on the ground, easily passing Pimm’s guard and then rolling him over to take his back and simply pounding him out.

 

Result: “The Man of Steel” Ken Peters d. “No Surrender” Glenn Pimm via TKO (ground strikes) at 1: 44 of Round 1

 

Impressions: Excellent first showing by Peters, another quality Strike Force LHW fighter, as he simply rolled through his veteran opponent. This guy may be a factor sooner rather than later in the Light Heavyweight division. He’ll certainly be back and will probably be looking to take a step up in quality for his next opponent. Pimm never had a chance. He’ll almost certainly be given the opportunity to turn things around, but he may be another veteran in danger of being pushed aside in favor of the new, younger fighters starting to flood into GAMMA.

 

 

PPV 3

Helio (20-2) vs. Duane “The Weather Man” Weatherly (14-8)

 

Round 1: Both Helio and Weatherly came out looking to throw, but Helio was clearly the better quality striker and the better athlete as he was able to easily slip Weatherly’s punches and pepper him with jabs and body kicks over the opening few minutes. Weatherly, to his credit, continued to come forward and engage, but the result was probably a foregone conclusion as it wasn’t long before Helio found an opening to connect with a power shot directly to Weatherly’s jaw. With his opponent clearly hurt, Helio wasted no time following up with a series of hard shots trapping Weatherly against the cage and forcing the referee to step in and end the fight.

 

Result: Helio d. Duane “The Weather Man” Weatherly via TKO (strikes) in 7:28 of Round 1

 

Impressions: Helio is clearly a kid that GAMMA management is high on, and this fight was tailor-made to make him look good. He didn’t disappoint, backing up his reputation as a dangerous striker with a crisp and strong debut performance and earning his 21st professional victory at just 23 years of age. He probably ought to be considered among the top lightweights in GAMMA after just his first appearance. On the other hand, Weatherly’s time as a top ten GAMMA lightweight has very probably come to an end. He was game, but just not of the same class as his much younger opponent. His heart and his willingness to stand and throw with anyone are still a valuable commodity for a lightweight division that appears to be undergoing something of a youth movement, but a few more losses like this one will likely rob him of any remaining credibility and make it hard to justify his position on the GAMMA roster.

 

 

PPV 4

Joe “The Hitman” Hinchcliffe (26-6) vs. “Dangerous” David Allen (14-2)

 

Round 1: Hinchcliffe came out looking to strike, but he didn’t get very far. Allen avoided his first leg kick and countered with a crunching right hand directly to the jaw. Hinchcliffe was out before he hit the ground and Allen knew it, immediately turning around to celebrate and not even bothering to follow up.

 

Result: “Dangerous” David Allen d. Joe “The Hitman” Hinchcliffe via KO (punch) at 0:24 of Round 1

 

Impressions: Allen, known as a submission fighter, demonstrated a punching power that few people suspected he had with this shocking result. If he’s capable of winning fights on the feet as well as on the ground, he’ll have to be considered a legitimate part of the title picture in the Welterweight division. He may have moved into the top five in the division with this win. It’s tough to evaluate what the loss says about Hinchcliffe, though. He just got caught. But it does mean that he’ll have some rebuilding work to do before he can be considered among the elite in the weight class. He’ll certainly want to erase this result from people’s minds as soon as possible.

 

 

Semi-Main

“The Mean Machine” Mac Fuller (29-5) vs. “The Anarchist” Matthew Dean (31-5)

 

Round 1: Dean shot in immediately looking for the takedown, but Fuller was up to the challenge, stuffing the shot and looking to throw. The two fighters circled and exchanged strikes. Worryingly for Fuller, Dean appeared to land the better shots and got the better of several short striking exchanges. Still not satisfied on the feet, however, Dean pressed ahead looking for another takedown. This time he was successful, trapping Fuller in an awkward position against the cage. From there, it was academic as Dean smoothly forced Fuller all the way to the ground and secured full mount. As Fuller futilely attempted a sweep, Dean was able to take advantage and secure his opponent’s back, quickly transitioning to a rear naked choke and forcing the submission.

 

Result: “The Anarchist” Matthew Dean d. “The Mean Machine” Mac Fuller via Submission (rear naked choke) at 4:52 of Round 1

 

Impressions: Awesome performance by Dean—he made a highly respected opponent look bad. He dominated on the ground and even appeared to be the better standup fighter as well. A convincing winner, Dean has assured himself of a shot at Neil Napier’s Middleweight Title in the coming months. Fuller, on the other hand, will have to re-evaluate his career after this performance. His next fight will be critical if he wants to maintain his reputation as an elite fighter. Another poor performance is likely to engender a few whispers about the possibility that his best days are behind him.

 

 

Main Event

“The King of Ground and Pound” James Foster (32-4-1) © vs. “The Demolition Expert” Raul Hughes (13-1)

 

Round 1: James Foster did just what he said he was going to coming into this fight. He came forward from the start and after a few short, indecisive striking exchanges, shot in for a takedown. Hughes was no match, and quickly ended up on his back pulling guard. Foster fired away with punches from guard with Hughes trying to respond from underneath. After a short period, Foster, displaying his explosiveness on the ground, slipped through Hughes’ guard and attained side control. From there, Hughes had absolutely no answer for Foster’s trademarked ground and pound, getting obliterated by a barrage of punches and elbows before being rescued by the referee.

 

Result: “The King of Ground and Pound” James Foster d. “The Demolition Expert” Raul Hughes via TKO (ground strikes) at 4:17 of Round 1. James Foster retains the GAMMA Heavyweight Title.

 

Impressions: Another routine victory for the King of Ground and Pound, as his dominance over the GAMMA Heavyweight division continues. It’s not clear what’s next for Foster as the Heavyweight division is looking a bit shallow at the moment. Tim Boyer and Rick Stanley are set to face off at GAMMA 44, and the winner of that fight may put himself in position for a shot at Foster down the road. GAMMA has publicly made strengthening its heavyweight roster a priority, so it’s also possible that we’ll see some new names coming in to challenge Foster in the near future. It looks like this might be the end for Hughes as a title contender, however. It’ll be tough to build much interest in a rematch after the comprehensive beating he received. He’s still got the devastating punching power that makes him an extremely dangerous fighter, and it wouldn’t be too surprising to see him consider a drop to light heavyweight where that strength might be even more magnified—but that division appears to be much stronger and deeper than heavyweight at this point so he’d still need to win a few fights before he could realistically be considered a title contender there.

 

 

Final Thoughts

 

1. This was a successful show all around for GAMMA, featuring exciting action throughout. The only letdown in terms of excitement was the Stevens-Harvey match, which was stuck as a preliminary fight precisely because of the probability that it would be a dull affair.

 

2. The new GAMMA rules appeared to have the desired effect, as all nine fights went to a decisive finish.

 

 

Fight of the Night: Luke Hilton vs. Joel Adams

KO of the Night: David Allen

Submission of the Night: Matthew Dean

[Lt. Lucrativo]

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GAMMA News and Notes

Week 1, February 1999

 

Wave of New Competitors Set To Arrive in GAMMA

A revamped GAMMA management under the direction of GAMMA President Matt Tripp and newly installed Vice President of Personnel and Talent Management Mittens Blurcat announced its intention last month to rapidly expand the company's base of competitive talent across all five featured weight divisions. Last week's GAMMA 42 saw the GAMMA debuts of several highly touted fighters, including lightweights Helio and Luke Hilton and Light Heavyweight Ken Peters. This trend of prominently featuring new faces on GAMMA shows is likely to continue for the foreseeable future, as the company today released a listing of fighters with whom it has recently come to terms and who can be expected to debut within the next year. Some of the more noteworthy names are detailed below, listed by division.

 

Heavyweight Division

 

Frank Sheedy (22-7)

The massively experienced "Baby Bull" Frank Sheedy has been fighting throughout the United States for years and has earned a solid reputation as a tough customer. He's known as a grappler who loves to use his massive size and strength to overwhelm opponents but who also possesses the punching power to turn the lights out on anyone who crosses his path. As a teammate of GAMMA Heavyweight Champion James Foster at Halvorsen's Gym, Sheedy also has the benefit of world class training behind him and so has to be considered a legitimate threat against any opponent.

 

Ikuhisa Tamura (20-8)

Tamura is another man who's been around the sport of MMA for years, having fought extensively across Japan throughout the 90s. Legendary in his native land for his iron jaw, Tamura boasts an extensive wrestling background but has become better known for his crisp striking and knockout power. Whether the Japanese star will find solid footing in North America remains to be seen, but he looks like a man with the skills and pedigree to make a mark in the GAMMA Heavyweight division.

 

Light Heavyweight Division

 

Alekos Karabatsos (12-4)

Another fighter coming to GAMMA from another continent, Greek contender "Killer" Karabatsos has made a name for himself in Europe as a dangerous ground and pound specialist. Not a tremendous amount is known about him, but GAMMA management appears to feel that he's a guy who may, in time, develop into a contender in the Light Heavyweight division.

 

GAMMA has also signed two other fighters at light heavyweight who are notable more for their potential than for their accomplishments to this point. Rupert Dreck (4-0) is another teammate of Foster's at Halvorsen's while William Harrison (3-0) trains with current GAMMA stars Matthew Dean and Stuart Strange as part of the American Cage Fighters team. GAMMA management is clearly high on both of these young competitors, and given the quality of their training either or both may be future superstars in the sport.

 

Middleweight

 

Alex Cole (9-0)

An American who fights regularly in the United Kingdom, Alex Cole is a kid who's been touted by many as a future champion. He's a member of Sean Morrison's Animal House team, and Morrison has spoken very highly of his abilities and his desire. Cole appears to be the total package, combining first class wrestling skills with strong jiu-jitsu and striking. He's got all the ingredients to be a future headliner.

 

Sutton Ripley (13-2)

Something of an enigma, not much is known about Canadian fighter Sutton Ripley's background. What he may lack in formal training, however, he makes up for in toughness as he's known to have knocked out more than one respectable opponent. Ripley's signing may be something of an experiment on the part of GAMMA management, and it will be interesting to see whether a guy with the reputation of a pure brawler will be able to survive in the GAMMA Middleweight division.

 

Woody Fierstein (10-2)

American Woody Fierstein comes to MMA as a decorated amateur wrestler, and is known be a superbly conditioned athlete. His GAMMA career will likely hinge on whether or not he's able to develop the skills to complement his wrestling--but it's clear that he has the potential become a highly rated fighter.

 

Welterweight Division

 

Jonathan Huang (0-0)

GAMMA management has expressed a clear desire to tap into the massive Asian MMA market, and the signing of Huang, an enormous star in the jiu-jitsu world at only 23 years of age, may be a step in that direction. A hero in his native Thailand, the man known as "The Locust" has dominated jiu-jitsu tournaments around the globe and is thought of by many as the greatest submission artist alive today. How he'll fare in an MMA environment remains to be seen, as the level of his striking skills is not at all clear. But this kid, along with fellow highly-touted welterweight rookie Josh Aldarisio (1-0), is certainly going to be given every opportunity to become an absolute superstar in GAMMA.

 

Two more experienced international welterweights have also been confirmed as new members of the GAMMA roster in Mills Mullally (14-4), and Procopio Golias (12-4). Mullally brings an extensive boxing background across the Atlantic Ocean from Ireland while Golias is well known for his wrestling skills in his native Brazil.

 

Lightweight Division

 

Jake Keane (10-2)

A British fighter who trains in Turkey alongside Hassan Fezzik with the legendary Mantas Andreyev's team, Jake Keane is already a lightweight champion in Europe's largest promotion. He's known to have deadly submission skills, but anyone who trains with Andreyev is certain to be more than just a one-trick pony. He's never fought in America, but Keane looks like a fighter with the pedigree to become a real threat to Sean Morrison's Lightweight Title.

 

H.M. Menzel (10-3)

Canadian Lightweight H.M. Menzel is currently in training with Tim Boyer at the Slaughterhouse camp, and it's rumored that Boyer had a great deal to do with bringing him to the attention of GAMMA management. Menzel has experience in a variety of fighting disciplines, and can be a threat from any position in the cage. It's clear that Boyer thinks he's a future star, so it will be interesting to see how he fares in a rapidly expanding GAMMA Lightweight division.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Future Main Events Set

 

The main events for GAMMA 43 and 44 have been set. GAMMA 43, scheduled for the third week of February, will see Welterweight champion Julio Regueiro (14-0-1) defend his title against confident veteran Jack Humphreys (25-3) while GAMMA 44, set for March, will feature a Lightweight title fight between champion Sean Morrison (26-3) and top contender Bruce Steven (20-2). The second match for GAMMA 43 has also been confirmed and will see Light Heavyweights John Rivero (14-2) and Anthony LeToussier (13-3) do battle for the right to face off with Light Heavyweight champion Zvonimir Asanovic (15-1). The remainder of these cards will be announced over the coming weeks.

 

GAMMA has also tentatively scheduled the upcoming Middleweight title fight between champion Neil Napier (15-0) and new number one contender Matthew Dean (32-5) for GAMMA 46 in May of this year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Astyn Wins Prediction Challenge

 

GAMMA follower Astyn correctly called the results of seven of the nine fights featured at GAMMA 42 to emerge with the coveted title of Number One GAMMA Predictor for the month of January. Failing only to foresee Bruno Epps' defeat of Dana Delaney and Nick Detroit's upset of Osmosis Benn, Astyn's enviable powers of prognostication were enough to see him through to the victory. The competition was not strong, however, as Astyn was the only entrant in the GAMMA Prediction Challenge for the month.

[Lt. Lucrativo]

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee209/Lucrativo/GAMMA/GAMMA.jpg

 

Full Card Announced for GAMMA 43: Hard Luck

 

The full card for GAMMA 43: Hard Luck, to be held live in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, Week 3 February, has been confirmed. The featured matches are as follows.

 

Main Event:

“Spanish Silk” Julio Regueiro (14-0-1) vs. “The Show Stopper” Jack Humphreys (25-3) for the GAMMA Welterweight Title

 

In the main event of the evening, the unbeaten Spanish submission sensation Julio Regueiro will defend his Welterweight Title against a fighter who is, if not the most well-respected opponent he’s ever faced, certainly the most vocal. The man who calls himself “The Show Stopper” loves to talk, but he’s always prepared to back up his words with his actions in the cage. Humphreys certainly hasn’t held anything back in his pre-fight commentary, making no secret of the fact that he feels himself to be the better man. Regueiro on the other hand, never known as a man to shy away from the spotlight, has been uncharacteristically quiet in the run-up to the fight, allowing many of Humphreys’ taunts to go unanswered and leading some to speculate that Humphreys’ brash attitude may have thrown him off his game.

 

While the war of words in advance of the fight has been one sided, it’s unlikely that the same will be said of the battle in the cage. Both men are superbly skilled fighters who bring massive reputations with them wherever they go. Regueiro has made himself the face of the GAMMA Welterweight division and one of the most well known fighters in the entire world of MMA. His incredibly smooth jiu-jitsu skills have become the stuff of legend—many observers are firmly convinced that there’s not a man alive that he would be unable to submit. Humphreys is best known for his powerful wrestling—using his size, strength and athleticism to dominate his opponents—but he’s also well-trained in submission techniques. He’ll have a significant size advantage over Regueiro and will no doubt be looking to manhandle the champion as he’s done to so many other opponents over the course of his GAMMA career. But will he be able to avoid falling victim to one of Regueiro’s patented lightning-quick submissions long enough to hand the champion his first professional loss? Only time will tell.

 

Semi-Main:

Anthony “Live Wire” LeToussier (13-3) vs. John “The Ripper” Rivero (14-2) in the GAMMA Light Heavyweight division

 

With a future shot at Zvonimir Asanovic’s title on the line, light heavyweight contenders Anthony LeToussier and John Rivero will do battle in the GAMMA 43 semi-main event. Both men are highly respected up and coming fighters, and both feel that they’re future GAMMA champions. LeToussier is well known as the driving force behind the famous Strike Force camp, which boasts many top level fighters—including undefeated middleweight sensation Mike Watson—as members. Rivero, on the other hand, prefers to train in relative obscurity with the far less publicized Camp Rock, feeling that the media attention accompanying LeToussier’s superstar status in Canada would only be a distraction. The fight itself presents a fascinating clash of styles as LeToussier is a devastating striker known for highlight reel head kicks while Rivero is an overpowering wrestler with deadly submission skills. If Rivero is able to get in close to his opponent or get the fight to the ground, he’ll hold a marked advantage. But LeToussier’s lethal counter-striking will certainly make the accomplishment of that feat a dangerous challenge.

 

Main Card:

“Dangerous” Darin Blood (12-2) vs. Alan “Flash” Kendall (12-3) in the GAMMA Welterweight division

 

Two more welterweight contenders will square off at GAMMA 43 when “Dangerous” Darin Blood meets Alan “Flash” Kendall with the winner putting himself firmly within the Welterweight title discussion. The Hawaiian Blood is a supremely talented all-around fighter with a strong background in boxing, jiu-jitsu, and muay thai, but he’s earned a reputation as something of a headcase. He recently began training with the Halvorsen’s team, and he claims that his exposure to the elite training methods of fighters like James Foster has really opened his eyes and given him a glimpse of the heart and dedication required to become a champion. Will Blood be mentally and physically prepared for what has to be considered the biggest fight of his career? If not, Kendall, a teammate of Jack Humphreys at Impact MMA, will certainly be prepared to take advantage. No one has ever questioned the spirit or dedication of the man known as “Flash,” but he also possesses the high level kickboxing skills to pose a legitimate threat against any opponent. One slip in concentration may be all he needs to turn the lights out on Blood.

 

“Jackpot” Jack Cobblepot (38-9-3) vs. Norbert “The Rock” Vinkus (13-7) in the GAMMA Heavyweight division

 

The massively experienced Jack Cobblepot is something of a throwback to the early days of MMA in America, as he amassed many of his 38 professional wins in the days before rule standardization. One of the few men who has to actively cut weight to make the 265 pound heavyweight limit, Cobblepot is well known for using size and strength to overwhelm his opponents in the cage. But he fervently maintains that he brings much more than sheer size to the table, and he expects to prove that he has the skill to compete with any heavyweight in the world by winning the GAMMA Heavyweight Title. In order to accomplish that feat, though, he’ll have to get past another remarkable physical specimen in Norbert Vinkus. The former professional football star has parlayed his gridiron success into a career as a mixed martial artist, and he feels that his superior athleticism will give him a distinct advantage over Cobblepot. Having come to MMA relatively late, Vinkus feels that he has a great deal to prove in the sport—and he’s publicly vowed to show that he’s a true professional fighter by winning the GAMMA Heavyweight Title. A win over Cobblepot at GAMMA 43 would be a huge step in that direction.

 

Christian “The Tiger” Mountfield (12-3) vs. “Hollywood” Ricky Heath (15-2) in the GAMMA Light Heavyweight division

 

Christian Mountfield and Ricky Heath will both be looking to move up the light heavyweight rankings with a win at GAMMA 43. Both men train with prominent camps as Mountfield is a member of the Animal House team while Heath trains with Anthony LeToussier at Strike Force. Mountfield, like his mentor Sean Morrison, is known as a wrestler and a ground and pound specialist while Heath, like LeToussier, loves to gun for the spectacular head kick knockout. Whichever fighter can stick to his own game plan will likely come out on top in this important clash in the Light Heavyweight division.

 

“Ace in the Hole” Alex Cole (9-0) vs. “The Master” Greg Atteveld (37-14) in the GAMMA Middleweight division

 

GAMMA 43 will see also the debut of talked-about middleweight prospect Alex Cole, who’ll face an extremely difficult challenge against the legendary jiu-jitsu “Master” Greg Atteveld. Atteveld is the man credited with bringing Brazilian jiu-jitsu to prominence in the United States and, although he’s well into his 40s, he remains an extremely dangerous submission threat against any opponent. Will Cole be able to overcome his massive experience disadvantage and keep his unblemished record intact or will Atteveld catch the hyped youngster in one of his trademark submissions and spoil his GAMMA debut?

 

Preliminary Card:

Benny “The Jet” Danare (8-0) vs. Laerte “Ranger” Portinare (11-3) in the GAMMA Lightweight division

 

Both Benny Danare and Laerte Portinare will be making their GAMMA lightweight debuts at GAMMA 43. This fight will be a clash of styles as the Canadian Danare is a jiu-jitsu ace while the Brazilian Portinare is a kickboxing specialist. The undefeated Danare is another in a long line of highly esteemed lightweight prospects making their way to GAMMA. He’ll be hoping to make a good first impression, but Portinare is intent on carving out a career for himself in the big leagues and will be looking to use a victory over Danare as a springboard to bigger and better things.

 

Procopio “Porco” Golias (12-4) vs. “The Mercenary” Mills Mullally (14-4) in the GAMMA Welterweight division

 

The welterweight battle between international newcomers Procopio Golias and Mills Mullally will see another clash of styles. The diminutive Golias is a wrestler and his opponent Mullally comes from a boxing background. Both fighters are well respected in their home nations. But who will earn the respect of GAMMA fans with a debut victory?

 

“The Diamondback” Cory Brewer (7-2) vs. “The Sharpshooter” Georges Nouri (9-1) in the GAMMA Lightweight division

Two more lightweight competitors will be making their GAMMA debuts in the first fight of the evening. Cory Brewer is a kickboxer while Georges Nouri is an all-around Greek pankration fighter. Not a great deal is known about either man, but both will be looking to announce their presence in GAMMA with a decisive win.

 

 

Prediction Key:

Julio Regueiro vs. Jack Humphreys

Anthony LeToussier vs. John Rivero

Darin Blood vs. Alan Kendall

Jack Cobblepot vs. Norbert Vinkus

Christian Mountfield vs. Ricky Heath

Alex Cole vs. Greg Atteveld

Benny Danare vs. Laerte Portinare

Procopio Golias vs. Mills Mullally

Cory Brewer vs. Georges Nouri

 

Fight of the Night:

KO of the Night:

Submission of the Night:

[shigakai]

Prediction Key:

Julio Regueiro vs. Jack Humphreys

Anthony LeToussier vs. John Rivero

Darin Blood vs. Alan Kendall

Jack Cobblepot vs. Norbert Vinkus

Christian Mountfield vs. Ricky Heath

Alex Cole vs. Greg Atteveld

Benny Danare vs. Laerte Portinare

Procopio Golias vs. Mills Mullally

Cory Brewer vs. Georges Nouri

 

Fight of the Night: LeToussier vs. Rivero

KO of the Night: Darin Blood

Submission of the Night:Julio Reguiro

[Astyn]

Prediction Key:

Julio Regueiro vs. Jack Humphreys

Anthony LeToussier vs. John Rivero

Darin Blood vs. Alan Kendall

Jack Cobblepot vs. Norbert Vinkus

Christian Mountfield vs. Ricky Heath

Alex Cole vs. Greg Atteveld

Benny Danare vs. Laerte Portinare

Procopio Golias vs. Mills Mullally

Cory Brewer vs. Georges Nouri

[Lt. Lucrativo]

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee209/Lucrativo/GAMMA/th_JackHumphreys.gif

Jack Humphreys

 

On Julio Regueiro:

What is there to say about little Julio? I’m bigger than him. I’m stronger than him. I’m a better athlete than him. I’m a better man than him. In every way. All he has is hype. When I’m done with him, the whole world will see Regueiro for the joke that he is.

 

On himself:

I am the showstopper. I’m a real man. What can I say? I’m everything that Julio’s girlfriend wishes he could be.

 

On the fight:

I’m going to come out, grab him, throw him into the cage, slam him down, punch him in the face. It doesn’t matter. He won’t be able to stop me from doing whatever I want. I’ll probably end up tapping him just to prove a point. He’s supposed to be the jiu-jitsu master, but his subs aren’t on the same level as mine—so when I make him tap out everyone will know that I’m twice the man he is.

 

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee209/Lucrativo/GAMMA/th_JulioRegueiro.gif

Julio Regueiro

 

On Jack Humphreys:

I will submit him. That is all I have to say—he will be tapping out.

 

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee209/Lucrativo/GAMMA/th_AnthonyLeToussier.gif

Anthony LeToussier

 

On the opportunity to face Zvonimir Asanovic:

This fight is a golden opportunity. I know that I can beat Asanovic and win the title, but I know that I have to get past this fight first. It’s not going to be easy, but I will be the champion.

 

On John Rivero:

I’ve got a lot of respect for Rivero—he’s big and he’s strong and he knows how to use his size to control a fight, but he’s never faced a striker like me. He’s going to have to come forward and try to take me down, but I’m well prepared for that. While he’s trying to come forward, I’ll be punching him in the face or kicking him in the head. Plus I’ve been putting in a lot of work on my sprawl, so I’m comfortable that I’ll be able to dictate where the fight is fought. With the new expanded rounds, I might try to test his gas tank a bit. He carries a lot of weight, and I know he can’t match my movement—so once he’s tired I’ll be ready to take him out.

 

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee209/Lucrativo/GAMMA/th_JohnRivero.gif

John Rivero

 

On fighting Anthony LeToussier:

Yeah, he’s a tough guy, but I’ll win because he can’t match my strength and he can’t match my preparation. I’ve been eating, sleeping and breathing this fight since it was made and I know what I have to do to beat him. He’ll be looking for the knockout, and I know what to do to take advantage of that. My hand will be raised on Saturday.

[Jaded]

Julio Regueiro vs. Jack Humphreys

Anthony LeToussier vs. John Rivero

Darin Blood vs. Alan Kendall

Jack Cobblepot vs. Norbert Vinkus

Christian Mountfield vs. Ricky Heath

Alex Cole vs. Greg Atteveld

Benny Danare vs. Laerte Portinare

Procopio Golias vs. Mills Mullally

Cory Brewer vs. Georges Nouri

 

Fight of the Night: Anthony LeToussier vs. John Rivero

KO of the Night: Darin Blood vs. Alan Kendall

Submission of the Night: Julio Regueiro vs. Jack Humphreys

[Lt. Lucrativo]

GAMMA 43: Hard Luck

Date: Saturday Week 3, February 1999

Location: Las Vegas, Nevada

Attendance: 7,137

PPV: 72,050

 

OOC Note: I've been really busy lately and will continue to be for the next couple of weeks, but I figured I'd better get some results posted in the interest maintaining a little bit of momentum. I haven't really proofread this, though, so please excuse the errors and typos it very likely contains. I'll try to improve the quality of the writing in the future when things calm down a bit for me.

 

Preliminary 1

“The Diamondback” Cory Brewer (7-2) vs. “The Sharpshooter” Georges Nouri (9-1)

 

Round 1: Nouri came out in attack mode to begin the match and quickly overwhelmed an outmatched Brewer. He quickly got close enough to grab hold of Brewer, punished him with a few short punches from the clinch, and then manhandled him into the air and violently slammed him to the mat. From there, the finish was academic as Nouri easily passed his opponent’s guard, snatched hold of an arm and extended it fully, forcing the speedy submission.

 

Result: “The Sharpshooter” Georges Nouri d. “The Diamondback” Cory Brewer via Submission (armbar) at 2:00 of Round 1

 

Impressions: The first match of the night got the 7,137 fans in attendance out of their seats early with a dominating performance by Nouri. “The Sharpshooter” easily neutralized his opponent and announced himself as perhaps another new face to keep an eye on in the GAMMA Lightweight division. Brewer, on the other hand, was unable to accomplish so much as throwing even one punch. He’ll certainly need to show a great deal more skill in the future if he hopes to have a GAMMA career of any length.

 

Preliminary 2

Procopio “Porco” Golias (12-4) vs. “Mercenary” Mills Mullally (14-4)

 

Round 1: Golias came out looking to jab his way inside on Mullally, and after a bit of indecisive striking he was able to get close enough to grapple. After muscling the taller Mullally against the cage, Golias spent several minutes attempting to get his opponent to the ground, but Mullally demonstrated outstanding balance and strength in rendering the Brazilian’s attempts futile. Eventually, Mullally managed to reverse position against the cage and break free from Golias’ clutches. A period of relatively indecisive striking ensued for the remainder of the round, with Mullally showing the better quickness and movement and managing to avoid two attempted Golias shots and score with a few solid punches but never really hurting his opponent.

 

Round 2: Mullally came out the aggressor to start the second round, dancing around his smaller, stouter opponent and peppering him with small flurries of jabs and punches. Golias clearly wanted to take the fight to the ground, but was unable to get close enough to his quicker opponent to pose any threat of grounding him. The action picked up at the halfway point of the round, as Mullally scored with a hard combination that sent Golias crashing to the ground. He dove in for the finish, but Golias had the presence of mind to pull him into a tight clinch and prevent him launching a series of match-ending strikes. Having regained his senses, Golias was able to outmaneuver Mullally on the ground and pull guard, avoiding a somewhat sloppy looking submission attempt in the process. From guard, Mullally fired away with ineffectual ground and pound for the remainder of the round.

 

Round 3: Golias came out swinging to start the final round but was unable to catch the quicker Mullally, who fired back with a few stinging counterpunches. By this point, Golias appeared to be gassing quickly, but he was still coming forward and he managed to get his hands on Mullally and initiate a grapple. Mullally proved too good for his exhausted opponent, however, easily taking control and punishing Golias with a few short punches before breaking away and looking to continue boxing. Golias continued to come forward, however, initiating another grapple from which he attempted to lift Mullally for a slam. The “Mercenary,” however, had other ideas, smoothly slipping away and taking advantage of his off-balance opponent to execute a takedown of his own and achieve back control. Mullally pounded away from behind as the referee watched closely but before the fight was halted he switched tactics and attempted to secure a choke. Golias was up to the task, however, avoiding the submission and using the opportunity to turtle up. He was eventually able to get back to his feet, but ate several hard punches before doing so. With time winding down, Golias continued to come forward swinging wildly and firing in for a final futile takedown attempt. Time expired as Mullally sprawled and forced Golias to the ground once again.

 

Result: “Mercenary” Mills Mullally d. Procopio “Porco” Golias via UD (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) in 10:00 of Round 3

 

Impressions: This wasn’t the greatest fight GAMMA has ever seen, but there was some solid action throughout. Mullally’s boxing and takedown defense both looked solid as he outstruck his opponent comprehensively and looked to have him in real trouble in both the second and third rounds. But his inability to finish may spell trouble against elite opponents—it’ll be interested to monitor as his GAMMA career goes forward. Golias showed good heart, but he was clearly frustrated by his inability to get the fight to the ground. Being outwrestled on several occasions by the boxer Mullally did not bode well for Golias’ prospects of competing against GAMMA-level competition. How will he hope to contend with fighters having extensive wrestling experience if he can’t outwrestle a boxing specialist?

 

Preliminary 3

Benny “The Jet” Danare (8-0) vs. Laerte “Ranger” Portinare (11-3)

 

Round 1: Portinare rushed forward at the bell, but he didn’t get very far. His first attempt at a low kick was foiled by Danare, who easily took his off-balance opponent to the ground and landed in guard. Once on the ground, Portinare had no answers as Danare simply manhandled him, eventually passing guard to side control. From there, Danare launched a series of crunching elbows to Portinare’s face that forced the referee to jump in and halt the fight.

 

Result: Benny “The Jet” Danare d. Laerte “Ranger” Portinare via TKO (ground strikes) in 2:38 of Round 1

 

Impressions: A strong debut from Danare as he got the crowd on his side by showing a strong killer instinct. He takes his place on the long list of talented youngsters with strong potential for upward mobility in the GAMMA lightweight division. Portinare was clearly outmatched on the ground and never got much of a chance to show his striking skills. He’ll need to perform much better in the future to survive in GAMMA.

 

PPV 1

“Ace in the Hole” Alex Cole (9-0) vs. “The Master” Greg Atteveld (37-14)

 

Round 1: Cole shot out from his corner and immediately scored with a double leg on his veteran opponent, settling into Atteveld’s guard on the ground. He was quickly able to get one leg free from guard and looked to beat the submission expert at his own game. A lengthy battle of submission attempts ensued with Cole unable to secure an arm triangle choke or pass Atteveld’s half guard and Atteveld unable secure his opponent’s arm from below. Feeling that a stalemate had developed, the referee restarted the fight just past the halfway point of the round, but Cole was once again able to secure an immediate takedown. Atteveld’s guard was both strong and active once again, as he refused to allow Cole to extricate himself and attempted to threaten with submissions from underneath. Cole continued to look comfortable defending and never appeared to be in any danger, but he was unable to pose much of an attacking threat. The referee restarted the fight once again, but with time running down neither fighter pressed forward for the remainder of the round.

 

Round 2: Both men remained hesitant at the start of the second round, circling one another warily. Finally, Cole sensed an opening and shot in for yet another successful double leg. This time, however, Atteveld had little defense to offer as Cole quickly passed his guard and achieved side control. From there, Cole crisply secured the veteran’s back and began to work for the rear naked choke. After a brief period of struggle, he was able to cinch the choke in deeply, leaving Atteveld no choice but to tap out.

 

Result: “Ace in the Hole” Alex Cole d. “The Master” Greg Atteveld via Submission (rear naked choke) in 4:51 of Round 2

 

Impressions: An interesting fight for jiu-jitsu aficionados that saw plenty of submission attempts from two men well schooled in ground fighting. Cole was able to outlast his legendary opponent to achieve a successful GAMMA debut. The Middleweight division looks crowded, but his wrestling and submissions appear to be strong enough to threaten even high-level opponents—and he claims to be improving everyday. Cole is certainly a name to remember. Atteveld, on the other hand, is clearly approaching the end of his professional fighting days. He’s made it clear that he continues to compete only for the love of the sport and that he doesn’t feel that he has anything left to prove—and that the bulk of his energy from this point will be put into training a new wave of fighters at his Team Desire camp. Still, he enjoys a great deal of respect and will probably be welcome in GAMMA until he makes the decision to retire from fighting.

 

PPV 2

Christian “The Tiger” Mountfield (12-3) vs. “Hollywood” Ricky Heath (15-2)

 

Round 1: The fight started with both men striking but neither connected with anything damaging to his opponent. After a few short exchanges, the fighters fell into a clinch in the center of the cage. Mountfield took advantage of the close quarters, using his grappling skills to his advantage by wrestling Heath to the ground. On the mat, Heath’s guard looked strong initially, but when he unwisely attempted to initiate a scramble from underneath Mountfield was able to outmaneuver him by coming over the top to gain side control. After firing away with a few punches, Mountfield smoothly transitioned to full mount. From there, Heath had no answers. Mountfield simply hammered away with punches until the referee, seeing that Heath had no way to extricate himself, was forced to jump in.

 

Result: Christian “The Tiger” Mountfield d. “Hollywood” Ricky Heath via TKO (ground strikes) in 4:26 of Round 1

 

Impressions: Mountfield’s ground and pound was simply too much for Heath to handle. This was a strong win for “The Tiger,” and one that will propel him into the top 10 light heavyweights in the company. A few more performances like this will see him listed among the elite in his weight class. Heath, however, will need to go back to the drawing board. His skills on the ground are developing, but this fight showed that they are a long way from where he’ll need them to be before he can be considered a serious contender. He’s still an extremely dangerous striker and more than capable of knocking out any opponent, but he’ll have to learn to survive on the ground or develop much better takedown defense if he ever hopes to climb into the title discussion.

 

PPV 3

“Jackpot” Jack Cobblepot (38-9-3) vs. Norbert “The Rock” Vinkus

 

Round 1: This fight was shockingly over as soon as it began. Both heavyweights came out throwing bombs but it was Cobblepot who connected, stunning Vinkus immediately with a huge shot to the jaw that sent the former footballer stumbling backwards into the cage. Cobblepot was quick to follow up, scoring with several more violent punches until the referee leapt in to intervene—feeling that Vinkus was unable to effectively defend himself.

 

Result: “Jackpot” Jack Cobblepot d. Norbert “The Rock” Vinkus via TKO (strikes) at 0:23 of Round 1

 

Impressions: This was a surprising result for Cobblepot, a man who had become known for grinding out wins with his size, strength and wrestling ability. He promised coming into the fight that he was far from being finished as a force in the GAMMA Heavyweight division, and this victory may announce his return as a legitimate contender. In a somewhat lackluster division, he may be one or two wins impressive wins away from a title shot. His opponent, however, will take a step back with the loss. Vinkus was unhappy with the referee’s decision, but from an objective perspective it looked like the right call—he was being annihilated. Both of these fighters are advancing in age and were looking to make one final push to the top of the division, so whoever lost was going to find himself in a difficult position with his momentum stalled and a rapidly closing window of time in which to regain it. Vinkus is still a well-known name and will therefore continue to receive consideration for important fights in the future, but if he can’t get back on the winning track very quickly he’ll almost certainly have to start considering whether it’s worth it to him to continue fighting at all.

 

PPV 4

“Dangerous” Darin Blood (12-2) vs. Alan “Flash” Kendall (12-3)

 

Round 1: Blood immediately shot in for a takedown against Kendall, who was helpless to resist and only managed to catch Blood in half guard. He tried repeatedly to pass as Kendall desperately clung to his leg, but it was to no avail. After several minutes of ineffectual struggle, the referee returned the fighters to the center of the cage and restarted the fight. From there, Kendall moved in looking to strike, only to be caught with a stiff jab on the counter. Blood, not wanting to remain in Kendall’s comfort zone, took the opportunity to shoot in for another successful double leg, ending up in Kendall’s guard. Blood again struggled to pass, but this time he managed after a short battle to free one leg and then transition to full mount. From there, the finish was inevitable. In his desperate attempts to prevent Blood from firing off a series of match ending strikes, Kendall made the mistake of exposing an arm, which Blood quickly seized and extended into a textbook armbar to force the submission.

 

Result: “Dangerous” Darin Blood d. Alan “Flash” Kendall via Submission (armbar) at 5:44 of Round 1

 

Impressions: This was a solid performance by Blood. He controlled the fight from start to finish, and there were no lapses in his concentration for Kendall to seize upon. He obviously possesses outstanding talent and if, as he claims, his time at Halvorsen’s has taught him to maximize that talent, Blood has to be considered a legitimate threat to the Welterweight title. Despite the loss, Kendall is a solid fighter and he’s continuing to improve. But this result reinforces the view that he’s a step below the elite of the welterweight division. He’ll certainly be back, but whether he’ll ever rise above the level of gatekeeper remains very much in doubt.

 

Semi-Main

Anthony “Live Wire” LeToussier (13-3) vs. John “The Ripper” Rivero (14-2)

 

Round 1: Rivero came out the aggressor to start the fight, swinging away to force LeToussier to cover up and then shooting in for a takedown. Having immediately taken his opponent out of his comfort zone, Rivero went to work quickly on the ground. He powered his way through LeToussier’s guard to gain side control and then smoothly turned the Canadian over and took his back. LeToussier, maintaining his calm, was able to cover up and avoid taking much damage as Rivero first tried pounding away with punches and then attempted to secure an arm. But as LeToussier struggled to get out of danger, Rivero was able to snake an arm around his neck and cinch in a tight choke from which there was no escape.

 

Result: John “The Ripper” Rivero d. Anthony “Live Wire” LeToussier via Submission (rear naked choke) in 3:20 of Round 1

 

Impressions: A great performance by “The Ripper”—he secured his shot at the Light Heavyweight Title in style by overwhelming his highly regarded opponent. He clearly wanted to fight on the ground, had no problem getting there, and was able to finish quickly once he did. One of the biggest light heavyweights around and a man who could easily fight at heavyweight, Rivero will have a definitive size and strength advantage over just about anyone he faces at 205 pounds. In this, the biggest fight of his career, he showed that he knows how to take advantage of his physical gifts to dominate a high caliber opponent. He looks like a legitimate threat to Asanovic. LeToussier, on the other hand, will be very disappointed in his performance here. Despite all his work on takedown defense, he was no match for Rivero’s strength—and once the fight went to the ground he had no answers. He’ll have to go back to the drawing board and prove that he can contend with high quality wrestlers before he’ll be able to work his way back up the rankings and into contention in a tough GAMMA Light Heavyweight division.

 

Main Event

“Spanish Silk” Julio Regueiro © (14-0-1) vs. “The Show Stopper” Jack Humphreys (25-3)

 

Round 1: Regueiro came out looking focused and determined at the bell. Humphreys clearly wanted to get inside and wrestle, but Regueiro wanted none of it, keeping him at bay with a series of quick, sharp punches before seeing an opportunity and shooting in for a lightning-quick takedown. With the fight on the ground near the center of the cage, Regueiro managed to get one leg free from Humphreys’ guard and proceeded to begin working for submissions, looking to fulfill his pre-fight guarantee of a submission victory. Humphreys, however, was up to the challenge—fighting off what looked to be several attempts at an arm triangle and then neutralizing Regueiro’s efforts to isolate an arm. After several minutes, the referee decided that a stalemate had developed and returned the fighters to their feet. The standup didn’t last long, however, as Regueiro immediately scored with another impressive takedown to return the fight to the mat, once again finding himself in Humphreys’ guard. This time, after an extended battle, he was able to pass and secure side control—putting Humphreys in an extremely dangerous predicament. Humphreys was able to fight off another attempt to isolate an arm but he was unable to prevent Regueiro from turning him and taking his back. Fortunately for Humphreys, however, time had run down and he was saved by the bell before Regueiro could attempt to take advantage of his dominant position.

 

Round 2: Humphreys was still looking to grapple at the start of the second round, but this time he was able to get his hands on the elusive Regueiro and use his superior size and strength to muscle him back up against the cage. He was unable to take advantage of the position, however, as Regueiro immediately slipped on a crafty standing guillotine and pulled him down to the mat, looking again for the submission victory. Humphreys was once again too strong, though, and was able to pull free before the hold was applied tightly enough to put him in serious danger. He broke free of Regueiro’s guard and stood over his opponent looking for an opening, but Regueiro was able to use the threat of an up-kick to create enough space to scramble back to his feet as well. Humphreys didn’t give him a chance to relax, though, pressing forward into another grapple and once again forcing Regueiro back against the cage. He tried to connect with some short strikes against the cage, but Regueiro used the opportunity to smoothly reverse position and then take Humphreys to the ground for a fourth time. In half guard, Regueiro looked to pound away a bit, but Humphreys defended well and was in no danger. Regueiro remained on top in half guard looking to use ground and pound while Humphreys was content to defend and periodically attempt to catch his opponent in guillotines from below until time expired in the second round.

 

Round 3: Round 3 saw Regueiro once again shoot in looking for a quick takedown, but this time Humphreys was prepared, using his sprawl to avoid being taken to the mat and once again muscling his smaller opponent backward into the cage. After a short period of grappling which saw both fighters beginning to breathe heavily, Humphreys fell victim to a second standing guillotine and was again pulled down to the ground. Again he was able to power out before the choke was fully applied, but Regueiro went immediately back to the guillotine well and was this time able to use the position to sweep his opponent over and gain side control. The battle of ground position continued, as Humphreys prevented Regueiro from gaining the mount but eventually fell victim to a quick roll and gave up his back. There was no bell to save Humphreys in Round 3, and from back control Regueiro quickly snaked an arm around his neck and flattened the exhausted Humphreys out on the ground to fulfill his promise and earn the submission victory.

 

Result: “Spanish Silk” Julio Regueiro d. “The Show Stopper” Jack Humphreys via Sumbission (rear naked choke) in 6:00 of Round 3. Julio Regueiro retains the GAMMA Welterweight Title.

 

Impressions: The fight didn’t contain much striking action, but as a battle between two highly skilled ground artists, each capable of forcing a submission in the blink of an eye, it kept the fans in attendance on the edges of their seats for a full twenty-six minutes. Regueiro looked to be a step ahead of his opponent throughout the majority of the fight but he understandably found it extremely difficult to finish the veteran Humphreys. This was a very solid title defense for him. It looks like the gap between Regueiro and the rest of the Welterweight division—at least in terms of reputation—is a fairly significant one at this point, so it’ll be interesting to see what challengers emerge in the future. GAMMA will no doubt be hoping that some of the younger fighters on the roster step up and prove themselves worthy of a shot at the Spaniard in the fairly near future. Humphreys, for his part, hung with a man considered by many to be the most dangerous submission artist alive for over twenty-five minutes—no small feat. But he appeared to be on the defensive, looking only to hold on and survive, for the vast majority of that time. Even after the defeat, Humphreys is probably still the number 2 welterweight in the company and if he puts together another good win streak in the future he’ll have a legitimate argument for getting another title shot. But with new fighters pouring into the promotion, he’ll also have to be wary of challenges from below in the coming months.

 

Fight of the Night: Anthony LeToussier vs. John Rivero

KO of the Night: None

Submission of the Night: Julio Regueiro

[Lt. Lucrativo]

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GAMMA News and Notes

Week 4 February, 1999

 

GAMMA Strikes International Television Deal

 

Earlier this month, GAMMA management announced that it had come to terms on a deal with The Pop! Network that will see GAMMA produce and promote a series of fight cards exclusively for broadcast on the network under the title GAMMA Cage Wars. A minimum of four events, to be scheduled at a later date, have been guaranteed under the deal. Each televised broadcast will feature either four or five fights in their entirety and, time permitting, may also feature highlights from other fights taking place as part of the same original card. The fights will not be broadcast live but will be aired on the same night that the event takes place. The first edition of GAMMA Cage Wars may be held as early as April of this year.

 

The deal represents a major step forward in GAMMA's effort to grow its brand and cement its status as the premier promoter of mixed martial arts in North America. The company's partnership with The Pop! Network has the potential to raise its profile significantly by exposing its brand and its product to new consumers in two countries. The Pop! Network broadcasts into homes across the United States and Canada. This is also exciting news for North Americans who are already fans of mixed martial arts. For the first time, major competitive fights will be available on broadcast television free of charge.

 

 

 

 

Future Events Confirmed

 

Several big fights have been confirmed for the upcoming months as GAMMA continues to promote an aggressive schedule of cards. Two more contests have been officially announced for GAMMA 44, scheduled for next month and headlined by the Lightweight Title contest between Sean Morrison and Bruce Steven. A long-rumored match between heavyweights Tim Boyer and Rick Stanley will be the semi-main event and will be a number one contender match for the GAMMA Heavyweight Title. Also featured on the card will be a clash between undefeated light heavyweight sensation Mike Watson and legendary ground and pound specialist Mark Cohen.

 

GAMMA 45, scheduled for April, will see top middleweight contenders JJ Reid and Maarten De Vries square off in the main event with veteran light heavyweights Linfield Ballard and Lawrence Herringbone meeting up in the semi-main.

 

Additionally, the previously announced Middleweight Title bout between Neil Napier and Matthew Dean has been confirmed for GAMMA 46 in May.

 

 

 

 

GAMMA Prediction Challenge Heats Up

 

Returning champion Astyn sought to earn an unprecedented second straight Number One GAMMA Predictor title in February, but this time he faced some stiff competition from Challenge newcomers shigakai and Jaded. While Astyn successfully foresaw the outcomes of six of the nine fights at GAMMA 43, he was outdone by the stellar debut performances of shigakai and Jaded, both of whom correctly predicted seven fights on the night. Additionally, both newcomers demonstrated preternatural predicting prowess by correctly calling LeToussier versus Rivero as Fight of the Night and Julio Regueiro's victory over Jack Humphreys as Submission of the Night. Thus it fell to a secondary tiebreaker to determine the victor between these two evenly matched contenders. By virtue of having correctly predicted the outcome of the semi-main event between LeToussier and Rivero, shigakai emerged as the Number One GAMMA Predictor for the month of February.

 

Standings for the year-long GAMMA Prediction Challenge are as follows:

 

shigakai: .778 (7/9)

Jaded: .778 (7/9)

Astyn: .733 (13/18)

 

Astyn continues to lead in total number of correct predictions with thirteen.