“The Quiet Man” Dylan Mantello set for main event at ROC 78
Interview with Dylan Mantello above
Louis Neglia Jr and Dead Serious MMA will be hosting their final Ring of Combat show of 2022 on Friday evening, November 18th. The Tropicana Hotel and Casino Resort will set up the cage for ROC 78 upstairs in the Showroom. Some of the best young MMA talent on the east coast will be on display which has become the norm for Neglia and his team.
Main Event
The main event features a rematch between John “the Honduras Assassin” Ramirez and “the Quiet Man” Dylan Mantello. These two warriors fought for the lightweight title at ROC 74 in October of last year. Ramirez took home the unanimous decision victory and the strap. Mantello will be looking for redemption and Ramirez will be looking to protect what is his.
Co-main event
This welterweight match-up could be the fight of the night. Regis Farias (2-0), the Brazilian, returns to the cage after nearly a five-year layoff. He has recently competed in several grappling events, but live cage action is on his menu as he will meet Jimmy Drago (2-1). Drago was 6-0 as an amateur. He did lose his pro debut but has rebounded with two straight first round finishes.
MyMMANews checked in with Mantello about the rematch and title fight. We asked him about some of his mental and emotional preparation. He tells us…
“The good thing about our gym is that there are so many guys who are good in different ways. Aljo is the world champion. Mentally, he’s the top of the food chain. He’s had to battle back from some stuff. As far as big picture stuff, Ray Longo is the guy. He’s an all-time great in this sport. I think he’s a legend. He’s going to be in the hall of fame when it’s said and done. He’s produced so many champions and guys competing at the top. We have a very good relationship. I’m a pupil of his and I look up to him a lot as a mentor. Besides my father, he’s the guy I would go to. I see him more than my parents.”
I will be cageside for ROC 78 along with UFC veteran Al Iaquinta, and BJJ mastermind, Jay Regalbuto handling commentary and some post fight interviews as well as opening the broadcast with ROC President Louis Neglia Jr.
