This weekend’s Caged Madness 27 card may be a 3-for-1 deal for you, if you’re a fan of Jerrell Hodge (9-1), Darnell Pettis (6-3), or Ronnie Wilson (1-0), that is.
The three fighters and friends will fight on the same card for the first time, and each is in a different part of his career heading into the event.
Hodge will serve as the main event of the night at the Tadmor Shrine in Akron, as he’ll be facing Pennsylvania native Ehan Goss (4-2) for the vacant Explosive Fight Promotions featherweight title. He has mentioned that going pro is on his mind, and he may just be on that track after a rumored bout against Rich Cantolina for the PFC featherweight title at Pittsburgh Challenge Series 6 in March.
Pettis will be the night’s co-main event attraction, as he’ll face Colt Gross (3-1) for the interim EFP bantamweight title.
And Wilson looks to remain unbeaten when he takes on Darell Alford (0-0) in a featherweight bout.
Hodge mentioned that while the three fighters all train in separate locations, they still get together for open sparring from time to time at Evolve MMA in Medina on Friday nights. The mats are often filled with fighters from all over, as the gym opens up with no mat fees to give fighters a look at some new opponents from an outside gym.
While Hodge has had the most success thus far, it was Pettis who was the busiest in 2013, competing in six fights and earning wins over the likes of Chris McKinney and Jordan Schembri. The win over Schembri earned him the UVC bantamweight title, and his split decision win over Jake Hedrick at RFO: Big Guns 12 was nominated for amateur fight of the year.
Wilson – who is Hodge’s cousin – is the newest in his career, although he showed impressive wrestling in his debut victory over Blake Bitticker at UVC 26 in November.
“I’m pumped not only for me but for our fans that come out and support us every fight,” Hodge said. “It’s like they’re getting their mone’s worth having not one fighter they know but three or four fighters they might know.”
“I would like to thank God for giving me the talent I have today. If it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be here. Also my fans for all the support, my girl Alex she’s the best. John Cook, Steve, and everyone at Evolve. Then all my sponsors for believing in me, and Scott [Corbin] for getting my fight shorts done. Can’t wait to try them boys on.”
Caged Madness 27 takes place this Saturday at the Tadmor Shrine in Akron, Ohio.