The rescheduled Caged Madness 37 card is just over a week away, and promotion officials today confirmed a 16-bout amateur lineup for the event that will be headlined by an EFP welterweight title tilt pitting veterans Izzy William (6-2) and Darryl Booker (3-1) in a 170-pound matchup.
The event, which takes place on July 25th at the Tadmor Shrine in Akron, will also feature welterweights Travis Soto (8-3) vs. Sean Felton (4-2), and the return of heavyweight knockout artist Branko Busick (3-1) to the cage against Tyree Johnson (4-7).
Evolve MMA’s William has had a solid amateur career, earning all six of his victories via stoppage with his only losses coming to top opponents Fadi Shuman and Nick Browne. He has had a tough time finding opponents willing to step in with him, however, as his last fight took place in April 2014 when he submitted Chris Minor in the first round.
The 6’2″ Booker will have a massive height and reach advantage over the 5’8″ William, and he’ll also be coming in looking to extend a three fight winning streak that he started after dropping his first bout. Most recently, he earned a split decision over Alphonso Allen in April.
Soto has had an interesting career for a fighter who hasn’t had an official bout since 2012, as his last two fights technically didn’t happen. In April he was schedule to face Jeremiah Leviege but had to pull out of the bout at the last moment. Prior that that, his fight with Chico Bays was ruled a no contest after an accidental knee to the head in August 2012. Still, all eight of his wins have come via stoppage, including six submissions and two knockouts.
Felton is a New York native who made his EFP debut with a win over Mike Seibert at Caged Madness 36 in May. He has two TKO wins and is riding a three-fight winning streak.
Busick is another fighter with an interesting story. The son of former WWE superstar Nick “Big Bully” Busick, Branko earned a scholarship to play football at West Virginia University after he was the AP Ohio Co-Defensive Player of the Year in his senior year of high school. After being dismissed from the Mountaineer program in 2011 due to an assault where he eventually plead guilty, he turned to MMA in 2012 and immediately became a star on the Ohio amateur circuit.
He earned knockouts of 12, 12, and 39 seconds in his first three fights, but then dropped a decision to Curt Lemmon (currently 4-1 as a pro) in his fourth bout. He then took a break from MMA as he received an opportunity to play football at the California University of Pennsylvania in 2012. The linebacker recorded 68 tacks and 10 tackles for a loss during the 2014 season, and he now makes his return to MMA next weekend.
The 24-year-old Busick is set to face Johnson, who is in the middle of a career turnaround with victories in his last two fights. Johnson started 2-2 but then lost five straight fights. Now he’s won two in a row, with victories over Josh Farley and Daniel Haubiel in the last year.
Other notable bouts on the card feature unbeaten Sam Daviduk (3-0) vs. Joe Riley (1-1) and Alex Quinn (2-0) vs. Evolve MMA’s Tywan Claxton (0-0). Chaka Worthy (0-0), the younger brother of notable professional fighter Khama Worthy, will also make his debut against Victor Christian (1-0).
Official Caged Madness 37 card
Darryl Booker vs. Izzy William – for welterweight title
Travis Soto vs. Sean Felton
Tyree Johnson vs. Branko Busick
Sam Daviduk vs. Joe Riley
Alex Quinn vs. Tywan Claxton
Jerome Black vs. Dornes Butler
Chaka Worthy vs. Victor Christian
Cameron Caldwell vs. Justin Clevenger
Dominic Bolasky vs. Christopher Smith
Shayne Britton vs. Charles Woods
Zachary Hall vs. J’Mar Moore
Brian Lawver vs. Christopher Roe
Chris Harvey vs. Brandon White
Jesse Terwilliger vs. Morgan Cavanagh
Roger Rice vs. Jon Hudson
Bryan Allen vs. Robert Johnston