The Ohio Valley is littered with fighters in the world’s largest organizations, including the UFC, Bellator, and World Series of Fighting. While we here at BluegrassMMA typically focus on the local scene, we always like to check in with what fighters from the area who have graduated to the next level are up to.
Here’s your big show news roundup for December:
Yinz ready for the Octagon?
If you haven’t heard, the UFC is returning to Pittsburgh in February. UFC Fight Night 82 will be the first time the Octagon heads to the Steel City since 2011, as the event takes place on Feb. 21 at the Consol Energy Center.
Multiple fighters have already thrown their name into the hat to compete on the card, including adopted Pittsburgher and current UFC bantamweight Cody Garbrandt, Pittsburgh native Chris Dempsey, and fighters who haven’t signed with the UFC like Dominic Mazzotta, Mark Cherico, and Mike Wilkins have begun campaigning UFC brass to get on the card.
New Year’s Hot Sauce
After picking up a win in his UFC debut earlier this year, Tennessee native Scott Holtzman is set to return to the Octagon on Jan. 2, as he is set to face Drew Dober at UFC 195 in Las Vegas.
The former XFC lightweight champion tapped Anthony Christodoulou with a rear naked choke at UFC Fight Night Nashville earlier this year, and he’s looking to start of 2016 in the same manner.
Brian “The Submission Predator” Rogers
After moving to light heavyweight, Brian Rogers got a much-needed with with a second round arm triangle submission over Virgil Zwicker at Bellator 147 earlier this month. The Northeast Ohio native had been just 1-4 in his last 5 fights, and it was possible that his spot on the Bellator roster was on the line.
Now living in Denver, Colorado, Rogers will get the opportunity to climb the deep Bellator 205-pound ladder.
You’re Steele the One
Cincinnati native Dom Steele is all of a sudden one of the darlings of the UFC, as his slam knockout win over “Maestro” Dong Hyun Kim at UFC Fight Night 79 last month earned him a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus and a potential place on the podium for Knockout of the Year nominees.
Steele also showed his fun-loving personality in his post-fight interview, and proved that he is there to stay on the UFC roster.