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The busy fall schedule for MMA in the Ohio Valley keeps rolling, with another four events this weekend. On tap are a pair of shows in Ohio, as well as one Kentucky show and an event in Indiana.
All four events take place on Saturday this weekend, with RFO: Big Guns 14 going down in Mansfield, Ohio, Bluegrass Brawl 14 in Lexington, Kentucky, Yankee Lake Brawlroom 41 in Campbell, Ohio, and IFC: The Rapture in Connelton, Indiana. Both the RFO and Bluegrass Brawl events will be pro/ams.
As always, be sure to come back to BluegrassMMA.com early next week for results from all of this weekend’s action.[/tps_header]
[tps_title]RFO: Big Guns 14[/tps_title]
October 18th – Mansfield, OH
One of Ohio’s most consistent and well-run organizations returnhs to its home base in Mansfield, where a 14-bout pro/am lineup is on tap, including four pro fights. In the main event, Marc Salser (0-0, 16-1 boxing) will continue an interesting local trend of pro boxers dipping their toes in MMA waters, and he faces veteran Mike Williams (1-2) in his first bout with the little gloves. What’s interesting is that he makes his MMA debut on the heels of his first loss as a boxer, and he hasn’t stepped inside any combat sports arena in 14 months. Salser is a huge fan favorite in Mansfield, but “Karate Mike” is also the hometown guy, so it should be interesting to see where the support of the fans lies in this one. Williams is looking to bounce back from a loss to Mike Cardona in August, and both of his defeats as a pro have come via strikes.
The night’s co-main event will feature the highly anticipated pro debut of another hometown favorite, as Josh Longood (0-0, 8-1 am) makes the transition to getting paid. “The Honeybadger” will continue his run in his new weight class at bantamweight, and his opponent will be the ultra-tough Lloyd Thornton (2-1). Raymond Yanez (3-4) – also a Mansfield native – will face Pennsylvania’s Charlie Gathers (5-6), and the pro portion of the card will be rounded out by what could be the most anticipated bout of the night, as Darnell Pettis (0-0, 1 NC) takes on Cody Gabelman (1-0) at 125 pounds. These two are easily the two best prospects in the area at flyweight, and both could legitimately wind up in the UFC at some point. It’ll be a treat for fans to witness this fight with both fighters so young in their careers.
The amateur card is littered with top prospects and interesting matchups, including a bantamweight title tilt featuring Aaron Neighbors (9-6) taking on Jeff Mack (10-2). Neighbors has won two in a row after a three-fight skid, and Mack is on the same two-fight winning binge after dropping a pair himself. Also on the card will be IT Fight Series promoter/matchmaker and BluegrassMMA Live regular Aaron Garrett (5-5), as he drops back down to heavyweight to take on Mesmeran Sunseray (2-1).
Check out the full card here.