The Wytheville meeting center played host to the Titans of the Cage #31 event this past Saturday. The event featured a preliminary fight card earlier in the day that showcased several local youth competitors as well as some teens and novice adult MMA bouts. The main card followed in the evening, with the ballroom full of excited MMA fans, there to support their favorite local and regional competitors.
Several states were represented with fighters not only from Virginia, but also, West VA, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Maryland and their fans followed them to Wytheville to support their respective teams. This event was sanctioned by United Combat Arts licensed by the state of VA, DPOR.
The main event of the evening, which was also for the vacant 170 lb. belt, went the distance, with Lewis Glover of Georgia winning the five-round decision over a game Dee Lopez of Fayetteville, NC to become the new welterweight champion.
The ladies brought the house down and took home the fight of the night award when April Cline of Advantage martial arts in Princeton, WV slugged it out with Lesley Steiner of Atlantic MMA in Hickory, NC in a high paced, crowd pleasing kickboxing bout that saw Cline come away with the unanimous decision victory.
Luke Kincer of Ring-Combat Sports in Wytheville brought the hometown fans to their feet when he dropped Clay Bucci of High Point, NC with a thunderous uppercut that sent Bucci sprawling to the floor, earning himself the knockout of the night award. Other local fighters on the main card who picked up wins were Bobby Collins of Ring-Combat Sports who defeated a very tough Cory Brewster of Tazewell by second round knock out, Chris “Eye Candy” Spencer of Ring-Combat sports submitted Trevor Quackenbush of Vinton by kimura. Pedro “El Toro Loco” Jiminez of Ring-Combat Sports took only 49 seconds to submit James Bowman of Saltville by way of guillotine choke.
Other winners on the main fight card were as follows; Darren Williams def. Shawn Ciafardini by rear naked choke, Dimitri Mebane def. Joseph Geilman by TKO due to strikes, Isaiah Martin def. Kyle Frankenfield by rear naked choke, Cody Prior def. Jon Dalton by rear naked choke, Upright Odoemena def. Manuel Furtado by unanimous decision, Brandon Webb won by default when his opponent CW Ferguson no showed, Patrick Schaffer def. Gavin Thomas by rear naked choke, Diontay Isaac def. Austin Ronsick by decision, Addison Hendry def. Sheldon Capdepon by triangle choke, Wendy Anundson def. Jonna Wood by TKO, Josh Lilley def. Ryker Powell by rear naked choke and Daniel Wilkins def. Mac Shumate by arm bar.
The following youth competitors from Ring-Combat sports of Wytheville all competed in expo bouts on the preliminary event; AJ Dunford, William Chrisley, Gabe Faircloth, Hayden Reed, Bentley Ratcliffe, Ranger Rasmussen, Michael Faircloth, Joey Larkin, Jeffrey Reilley, Braylon Ratcliffe, Cayden Booth, Ageo Perez, Parker Morgan, Sierra Llewellyn, Hattie Meek, Chalsey Webb and Cody Meek. Other youth competitors were Willow Liles of Charlotte, NC, Cameron Battle of Charlotte, NC and Cooper Pyles of WV.
Other local fighters testing their skill was Vanessa Manns, Hunter Lynn, Joseph Wagner, Justice Cizl and Hunter Anderson all of Ring-Combat sports. And in the main event of of the preliminary card it was Alijah Webb of Ring-Combat Sports stopping former Fort Chiswell H.S wrestler, Curtis Davis of Team Elevate.
UFC fighter Bryan “Pooh Bear” Battle was on hand signing autographs and visiting with TOC fans throughout the evening. Titans of the Cage plans to return later this year in November. Keep up with all the latest fight news by visiting the Titans of the Cage facebook page.
