Four pro debuts set for Ohio Combat League 24
Live mixed martial arts events have long been a staple component of the annual Arnold Sports Festival, and this year Ohio Combat League 24 will go down at the Hollywood Casino in conjunction with the event in Columbus, Ohio.
OCL 24 is set to showcase some rising stars as four former OCL amateur champions are set to make their respective pro debuts on the card.
In the main event, former heavyweight champion Matt Adams makes his pro debut when he faces unbeaten Cameron Kinzig, who is 1-0 on his pro career.
A former state champion wrestler, Adams posted a 3-2 amateur record that included winning the OCL title with a 48-second stoppage over Mark Gordon almost exactly one year ago. The VO2 Fitness fighter also boasts a 3-0 pro boxing record with all three wins by knockout.
Kinzig trains in Columbus at Immortal Martial Arts and is a former tight end on the Ohio State football team. He posted a 6-1 amateur record that included winning the B2FS title before earning a TKO stoppage over Jacob Heavlin in his pro debut last April.
Former lightweight champion Jaden Mattox will make his pro debut when he faces Nick Mondelli in a 155-pound contest.
The 23-year-old Mattox is a former two-time state champion wrestler in Ohio, and he competed for two years at Ohio State before deciding to make the transition to MMA. He posted a 4-1 amateur record that included a pair of highlight reel knockouts, and the Grove City BJJ product capped off his amateur run with a decision victory over the previously unbeaten Kobe Woodall to claim the 155-pound title at OCL 23 in January.
Mondelli comes in from Indiana looking to play spoiler. He had 14 amateur bouts and made his pro debut with a first round TKO loss earlier in February.
And two former OCL bantamweight champions will square off in their respective pro debuts when Skyler Bray faces Gabe Piria.
Ronin Training Center’s Bray posted a 7-5 amateur record that included winning the OCL bantamweight championship with an arm bar submission over Marquise Moody at OCL 6 in 2020. He then lost back-to-back title fights to close out his amateur career and will compete in MMA for the first time since May 2021. He’s been active in combat sports during that time, though, as he posted a 2-0 pro boxing record with both wins by knockout.
Originally from Colorado, Piria lived and trained in Ohio for much of his amateur career before moving to Florida last year. He now trains at Combat Club Florida. He had a 5-2 amateur record, including earning the bantamweight title over Bray’s teammate Asher Frederick at OCL 19 last June. He also won a title in Florida in August before coming up short in his pro boxing debut in December.
OCL 24 also features a battle for the inaugural super lightweight title, when unbeaten fighters Max Metzgar and Graham Hunter square off at 165 pounds. Metzgar is 6-0 with five of his wins via stoppage, while Hunter is 5-0 with five finishes, including four in the first round.
OCL 24 takes place on March 3 and streams live via iPPV on CombatSportsNow.com.
