Cage Titans United: Preview
From: Olde School

We all know by now that promoter Mike Polvere and his Cage Titans crew are descending upon Plymouth, Ma this Saturday, September 10. Plymouth Memorial Hall will play host for the evening, which promises nothing short of what we’ve come to expect from these folks. Cage Titans is just a year old, but this event will move the promotion to the top of the heap. In a time of challenging economic turmoil, Polvere is raising the MMA bar and setting Cage Titans above the competition.

In the Main Event we will see Cage Titans Champ Billy Jones putting his 145 lb Title on the line against CFX Champ Frank Sforza. Jonesi, currently ranked fourth regionally, has been in wars with some of the area’s best, both at and above his natural weight class. Bill got his start in the MMA game a bit later in life than most, and he kind of crawled in through the back MMA window instead of walking through front door! In time, he has hammered out a real tough reputation in a very tough game. Jonesi has never backed down from an opponent in his life and welcomes the challenge. “I’m ready to go all five rounds and really test this guy’s cardio and heart,” Billy told me.
Frank came to the MMA game in a much more traditional fashion. He brings a life long wrestling pedigree and a combined 7-0 MMA (Ammy and Pro) record to Plymouth. He was multiple-time State and New England Wrestling Champ at Rockland High as well as two time All-American. “I still coach wrestling at Rockland,” says Frank. As for his cardio, hr tell us “I’ve been five rounds twice already. I’m a gym rat…cardio is not going to be an issue!” Frank is a six year Military Veteran who has served four tours. A win here puts him in the top ten ranked 145ers. Two tough dudes from two different backgrounds are heading in the same direction…Plymouth! Expect fireworks!

In the Co-Main event we will see highly regarded Joe DeChaves flying up from Florida to take the local guy Jimmy Davidson. DeChaves has been out of the cage for nearly a year, but when we last saw him he won a split-decision against top ten Luis “RockStar” Felix. Joe will be fighting in memory of his close friend Derek Vassal, who died tragically in a car accident.
Jimmy Davidson is a former Sandwich, MA (Cape Cod) High School wrestling star now training at Sityodtong. He is fighting back near his old stomping grounds and he is undefeated in both his Amateur and Pro MMA careers. His wrestling background and Syt stand up game make him a future star of the sport, and a win here could vault him into the rankings of the super-tough 155 lb division.

When Barrington “Rude Boy” Douse and Johnny “Cupcakes” Campbell take center cage there really is no way of predicting the outcome! If we’re going with baddest nicknames alone, Douse wins this one easily! (But we’re not.) On paper Barrington seems to be the favorite as well, but we don’t fight on paper, we fight in a cage. Seriously, this fight has Fight of the Year potential, but don’t blink, because it also has K.O. of the Night written all over it! You could put two bob cats and one mouse in a cage and have less action than these two will bring!
Barrington is ranked eighth at 135 lbs, but most of his fights have been at heavier weights. He is huge for the division. He fights hard and often, more often than most fighters change shorts! I hardly ever see Barrington as a spectator at the fights because he’s almost always on the card. A powerful striker who is a veteran of nearly twenty fights, Barrington should have the edge in striking.
Johnny Cupcakes is going to be giving away some size in this one. He brings a better-than-average striking game as well as a SSSF ground attack. He has a combined 8-1 MMA record, and is coming off a recent win against Dominic Warr, where he was also giving up considerable size. Mike Polvere says that Johnny has wanted this fight for a long time! I say don’t look down even just long enough to put mustard on that tube steak!

In another Pro 135 lb bout, Plymouth fighter and Lauzon trained Robbie Slade (1-0) will take on Andre Soukhamthath (0-0) of Team United. Both are former top of the pile Amateurs who will certainly make inroads into the rankings in their pro careers. Robbie hasn’t fought in nearly a year and a half. Andre is dropping down from 145 to for this fight. I haven’t seen Andre in the cage since his Ammy decision loss to Rob Font back in April, but he looked good doing it. Andre’s entrance music is typically so cool that you may want to bring a sweater. If this fight took place two years from now it could be for a belt, but these warriors are putting it on the line early in their Pro careers. This promises to be another well matched fight put together by Polvere!

The pre-fight pick for K.O. of the night comes in the 185 lb clash between strikers “Sloppy” Joe Lamoureux and Josh Mellen. Both fighters love to stand and strike. If this fight goes the distance it promises to be a very entertaining battle.
The last fight of the Pro card will be the coming out party for either Fernando Perez (CCFA, 2-5) or Keegan Hornstra (Team Kaos, 0-0). Both fighters have taken some tough fights (Keegan as an Ammy), so don’t be fooled by the records. Each fighter wants to keep this on standing. I think Perez wins the smooth technical fight while Hornstra takes this one if it turns into a brawl.

When Frank Sforza left the Amateur ranks, he also left behind a belt, and we’re gonna see Corey Pickering (3-0, SSSF) and “Crazy” Eddie Lee (3-0, Sityodtong) battle it out for that vacant title. Once again we’re seeing two highly skilled fighters from top camps. The winner not only takes home the strap but also solidifies himself as a top 145er!

Two other top of the pile 145ers, Brandon Flemming (4-0, SSSF) and Joe Pingitore (7-3, Team Rockstar) will lock MMAntlers is a battle that also has championship quality. Joe Ping is dropping down from 155, where he holds the # 3 ranking. Waiting to welcome him to the new neighborhood will be # 8 ranked 145er Brandon. Once again we will see two high quality guys in the cage at the same time!

For tickets and more information, visit www.cagetitansfc.com.
Let’s get out there this weekend and support the sport…
Olde School

Cage Titans Full fight card:
Amateur Bouts
145 lb- Rusty Ryan (1-0 The Pound) vs Derek Shorey (0-3 Team KAOS)
185 lb- Jesse Merit (1-0 Team Anubis) vs Adam Gordon (0-0 Recluse)
155lb – Jeff Perez (1-0, Nexus MMA) vs. Jordan Thurston (0-0, Gillette MMA)
150lb – Rob Smith (0-0, SSSF) vs. Michael Robertson (0-0, Independent)
170 lb – Eduardo Fonesca (1-0 The Factory) vs Paul Nischo (1-2 Tri Force)
155lb – Dan Lopez (3-2, Sport Specific Fitness) vs. Achelas Ankers (0-0, Recluse)
150lb – Connor Matthews (1-0, Lakeville) vs. Shannon Soares (1-1, Gillette MMA)
140lb – Matt Tullos (2-0, Connors MMA) vs. Robert Rios (1-2, Nitsuj)
145lb – Brandon Flemming (4-0, SSSF) vs. Joe Pingitore (7-3, Team Rockstar)
150lb – Sam Nadeau (6-4-1 AFT/Gladiator BJJ) vs. Stephen Langlais (1-3, Team BKJA)
145lb TITLE- Cory Pickering (3-0, SSSF) vs. Eddie Lee (3-0, Sityodtong)
Pro Bouts
155lb – Fernando Perez (2-5, CCFA) vs. Keegan Hornstra (0-0, Recluse/KAOS)
185 lb- Joe Lamoreaux (1-1 SSSF) vs. Josh Mellen (2-3 Bancroft Boxing & MMA)
135lb – Robby Slade (1-0, Lauzon) vs. Andre Soukhamthath (0-0, Team United)
135lb – Johnny Campbell (3-1, SSSF) vs. Barrington Douse (8-11, AFT/Gladiator BJJ)
155lb – Joe DeChaves (4-3, The Jungle) vs. Jimmy Davidson (2-0, Sityodtong)
145lb TITLE- Frank Sforza (2-0 SSSF) vs. Champion Bill Jones (9-4 Team KAOS)