Photo by Angelo Carchesio
Ring of Combat 76: Rodrigues vs Gunnison live results
Ring of Combat 76 Rodrigues vs Gunnison is set to take place tonight, May 20th at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino Resort in Atlantic City, NJ.
Louis Neglia Jr and Dead Serious Promotions continue to provide the forum for many talented mixed martial artists to showcase their skills and for fans to have a great night of competition to enjoy. ROC 76 looks to be right on course as the fight card has many young, promising fighters scheduled.
The fight card did take a few hits as three fighters scheduled originally, were granted their release to perform on Dana White’s The Contender Series this season which just happens frequently with Ring of Combat who have had over 130 alumni go on to fight for the UFC. The co-main event was also scratched after John Ramirez missed weight by 8 lbs and left Sergio DiBari with no opponent. But the show must go on and there are still 9 quality matchups on tap including five young men making their professional debut.
Below are some highlights and full results from The Showroom upstairs at the Trop including the main event which features Cedric Gunnison (3-1) out of Gracie Tampa vs Nick Rodrigues (5-1) out of Gym O battling for the vacant ROC lightweight championship. A couple other fights I’m looking forward to is the rematch between Armando Gjetja and Christian Lopez who had an all-out war on the last ROC card which Gjetja believed he had won and honestly, so did I. Gjetja says he’s looking for the finish and AT McCowin, who after a couple of years off has been very busy and won three in a row impressively to move to 4-2 welcomes Ryan Laflare trained Kareem Kline.
The entire fight card will be streamed on www.deadseriousmma.com with Jay Regalbuto and “Raging” Al Iaquinta calling the action starting at 8:30 EST.
Ring of Combat 76 results below:
135 lbs
Austin “the Assassin” Coleman (0-1) (The Next Element Academy) vs Steve “the Manager” Lee (Serra/Longo) (pro debut)
Round 1
Lee has Matt Serra, Ray Longo and Aljamain Sterling in his corner as we begin the fight card.
Lee with a nice duck under of a right hand and secures the takedown. Coleman reverses after about 30 seconds and now has the back looking for the neck. Lee reverses back and is in the guard of Coleman. Good ground strikes scoring for Lee. Coleman smoothly slithers out and is again on the back of Lee. Lee again escapes and is on top briefly and looking for a knee bar fails, and he winds up in the guard of Coleman and is looking for an armbar as the bell ends round 1
10-9 Lee MyMMANews scoring
Round 2
Coleman gets the early takedown, but Lee is very active in guard. Coleman again on the neck, but gets reversed and Lee is on top looking to posture up. Lee again gives up his back but Coleman once again can’t sustain and Lee gets on top and another reverse from Coleman. Lots of transitions and escapes from both fighters. Round ends with Coleman on top. back and forth close round
10-9 Coleman MyMMANews scoring
Round 3
Lee early on the single leg and now gives it up and Coleman has the back. Coleman with lots of important control time. Lee is going to need to make a move w 2 minutes left. Lee gets back to the feet and is landing Lee does a good job of avoiding the takedown as the fight ends
10-9 Coleman MyMMANews scoring
Official score: 29-28 28-30 30-28 Austin Coleman winner split decision
155 lbs
Christopher “Big Nog” Guariglia (pro debut) (LIMMA) vs Brett Pastore (pro debut) (Animals MMA)
Round 1
Guariglia looked solid that first round and did most of the chasing. No heavy damage on either side
10-9 Guariglia MyMMANews scoring
Round 2
These two are content with a kickboxing match right now and both are active and scoring. Pastore is finding some success with his left hand and now in the clench he lands a nice knee to the body. Dirty boxing going on as they remain clinched. Knee and foot stomp from Pastore and now he gets a takedown but right back to the feet immediately is Guariglia. Pastore the more active striker thus far.
10-9 Pastore MyMMANews scoring
Round 3
Guariglia pressing the action, but Pastore scores a left cross to the nose as they stand toe to toe in the center of the cage. Left head kick from Pastore lands, Guariglia bloodied up now as the left has continually found the target’ Guariglia continues pushing forward, but Pastore is countering beautifully and looks in control.
10-9 Pastore MyMMANews scoring
Official score: Brett Pastore wins via unanimous decision
135 lbs
Kelvin Sterling (pro debut) (LAW MMA) vs “Marvelous” Michael Fitzroy (1-0) (LIMMA)
Sterling is the younger brother of UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling. Fitzroy was very impressive in his debut. This looks like a great fight.
Round 1
Fitzroy comes out looking to throw heavy punches and then looks for a double leg that is well defended. Few nice knees to the body from Fitzroy and we have an unintentional eye poke and Sterling is trying to recover. Doctor continues with Sterling as we are a few minutes into the stoppage. Sterling is unable to continue and that is the end of the fight. Sterling looks upset at thew decision and seems to want to continue to no avail
Official score: No contest 1:45
135 lbs
Calogero Torretta (pro debut) (Nick Catone MMA) vs Ricardo Jiminez (0-1) (Animals MMA)
Round 1
Jiminez the southpaw. Torretta has found a home for a couple of big right hands and now they are clenched. Jiminez scores the takedown. Jiminez doing a good job of scoring from top position. Now Jiminez is on the back with a bodylock. Torretta doing a good job of fighting the hands. Good toughness to fight off the choke.
10-9 Jiminez MyMMANews scoring
Round 2
Torretta with a couple kicks that land. Jiminez is game and throwing back but there is a lot of sweat on the canvas and it looks slippery. Jiminez has blood coming from his right temple as Torretta shas landed some nice rightn hands. Front kick from Torretta staggers Jiminez, Torretta doing a nice job of keeping space and picking spots. To the clench as Jiminez looks for a takedown.
10-9 Torretta MyMMANews scoring
Round 3
Torretta counters and lands a solid right hand. Nice level changes from Torretta as he pinishes the body. Jiminez nice leg kick. Jiminez gets the takedown and Torretta gets back to his feet in the clench. Jiminez just holding on. Would love to see the ref separate. And he does. Both guys miss on haymakers and both land kicks. Jiminez still bloody. Torretta lands a flurry of punches and they are clenched and then separate and throw a couple punches as the bell rings. A great fight.
10-9 Torretta MyMMANews scoring
Official score: 29-28 28-29 28-28 a draw
145 lbs
Anthony Dilemme (pro debut) (Serra/Longo) vs John Caldone (1-0) (LIMMA)
Round 1
Dilemme has a huge contingent of fans in the building as the fight starts. Dilemme pushing the action early and gets the brief takedown. Dilemme still on top. Back to the feet and Dilemme lands a headkick. A good sprawl from Caldone and we are in the center of the cage. Left leg kick followed by a left hook from Dilemme scores. Nice level change execution from Dilemme with a combo into a takedown. Caldone gets right up however. Dilemme with 2 nice landing right crosses.
10-9 Dilemme MyMMANews scoring
Round 2
Caldone with a heavy leg kick and as he retreats, Dilemme keeps moving forward and Dilemme lands a huge right hand and knocks him out on his feet. If there was a knockout of the night, that would be hard to beat.
Official score: Anthony Dilemme winner via knockout :36 seconds
185 lbs
Kareem Kline (1-1) (LIMMA/No Limits Kickboxing) vs AT McCowin (4-2) (302 BJJ)
Round 1
McCowin lands a big right that Kline eats. Both fighters throwing heavy with bad intentions. McCowin has a vicious right hand but Kline gets the takedown. McCowin doesn’t stay down long and we are in the clinvch game. Separated and back in the center of the cage. McCowin throwing hands, but kline landing some kicks. Kline with a nice jab, but McCowin with a right and is now on top with the takedown.
10-9 McCowin MyMMANews scoring
Round 2
McCowin ducks a big right and counters with an overhand right and we are briefly on the ground. Back to standing and striking as both fighters score. Brief clench, McCowin with a nice jab. Kline lands a nice left hook. McCowin staggers Kline with a jab and just misses on the follow up right. Nice double leg is successful from Kline. No damage done as McCowin gets the fight back to the feet. Ajab lands from McCowin and a counter left hook from Kline. This is a banger
10-9 McCowin MyMMANews scoring
Round 3
McCowin with an early takedown. Kline doing a good job defensively as the pace has slown down. Valuable position control from McCowin as he remains in top control in half guard. McCowin scoring with ground and pound as he continues to dominate cage control. This round has been on the ground and McCowin was in control the entire time
10-9 McCowin MyMMANews score
Official score: AT McCowin winner via unanimous decision 30-27 on all scorecards
155 lbs
Armando Gjetja (2-3) (Team Renzo Gracie) vs Christian Lopez (7-5) (Team Anes)
Round 1
Their first battle went the distance and was a standup brawl for the full 15 minutes. Gjetja the aggressor early on as Lopez looks to counter, Not much scoring but Gjetja does land a nice leg kick, Good inside leg kick from Lopez but Gjetja lands a nice little uppercut and now Gjetja scores a takedown and is standing over Lopez now landing kicks. Lopez stands up and Gjetja continues being the aggressor
10-9 Gjetja MyMMANews scoring
Round 2
Gjetja again moving forward. Lopez lands a couple leg kicks but Gjetja bulls through and lands a nice flurry. Lopez again with a heavy kick to the thigh and an inside leg kick. Lopez has some swelling over his right eye. Gjetja doing a nice job of faking the takedown and then lands a left and hops on top and is winning the cage control battle convincingly. Lopez does manage to standup. Gjetja nicely checks a kick and lands a left to the jaw and we have a scramble as the round ends.
10-9 Gjetja MyMMANews scoring
Round 3
Gjetja looks confident and crisp but Lopez has a huge heart. Nice body work from Gjetjamas Lopez shakes it off and continues to battle. Gjetja in on a single leg but good defense from Lopez. Both guys going toe to toe and exchanging. These two are both leaving it all in there. Lopez now pushing the action as Gjetja counters nicely, A couple nice right hooks from Lopez right before the bell. Razor close round
10-9 Lopez MyMMANews scoring
Official score: Armando Gjetja winner via unanimous decision
170 lbs Co-Main Event
Kasheem “the Dream” Peterson (5-2-1) (Webb MMA) vs Jimmy Drago (1-1) (Animals MMA)
Round 1
Drago is very popular with the fans as we head to the opening bell. Peterson looks for the early takedown but Drago with a beautiful inside leg kick he uses to get inside and gets the takedown, himself. Back to the feet and the clench before Peterson gets his takedown, but Drago has slithered out and Peterson is looking for the guillotine. Drago out and as Peterson shoots in on a double leg, Dragomis attempting the guillotine. Peterson now in the full guard of Drago. Drago reverses and is in the mount and hammering fists viciously and the ref has no choice but to stop the fight
Official score Jimmy Drago winner via TKO due to strikes 4:38
Main Event 155 lb championship (vacant)
Cedric “the Gunman” Gunnison (3-1) (Gracie Tampa) vs Nick “Scrappy” Rodrigues (5-1) (Gym O)
Round 1
Wrestler vs striker match-up as Rodriguez has bullied most of his last opponents. Gunnison has no fear and is coming forward and his hands look good. Rodrigues throwing but not connecting. Gunnison looks comfortable. Couple heavy leg kicks from Rodriguez and Gunnison looks for the back but Rodriguez powers out. Gunnison nice head kick. Nice left followed by a short elbow from Rodriguez. Close round
10-9 Gunnison MyMMANews scoring
Round 2
Rodrigues lands a right hand and Gunnison lands a head kick. Rodriguez keeps moving forward and eats a knee. Gunnison on the back but Rodriguez too powerful. Nice leg kick from Gunnison and he defends the single leg and lands a knee. Leg kick from Gunning in as Rodriguez is bloody. Gunning pushing the action. Leg kicks effective for Gunnison.
10-9 Gunnison MyMMANews scoring
Round 3
Gunnison isn putting on a boxing clinic. Rodriguez has had no success getting his wrestling working. Body shot rocks Rodriguez. Gunnison flying knee and is in control landing knees and punches, These knees are brutal. the ref stops the fight saving Rodriguez any more punishment.
Official score Cedric Gunnison winner via TKO referee stoppage due to strikes 2:22
