Promoter and three-time World Kickboxing Champion Louis Neglia put together another loaded card with 14 matches featuring some of the best fighters on the east coast at the 26th installment of the East Coast’s longest running Professional MMA Promotion, The Ring of Combat.
During some explosive bouts during the evening’s card, held at the Tropicana Resort and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Victor O’Donnell defended his ROC Middleweight Title against feared Serra Longo striker and top contender Constantino Phillipou, who edged out the victory and the ROC Middleweight title during the see-saw battle.
East Coast gatekeeper Chris Ligouri also defended his ROC Lightweight title against the dangerous Dwayne Shelton. This one did not disappoint as Ligouri was poised in the defense of his title against Shelton but Ligouri was too much to handle as he kept his belt and the top spot at 155 pounds.
Lightweight stud on a four fight win streak John Salgado faced his toughest test to date in the Armory’s Ed Guedes for number one contender status. Guedes’ ground game was too much for Salgado as he controlled every round with his takedowns, and ground and pound.
Gian Villante provided the knockout of the night in a countrified match with a round house kick to the head of Rob Wince. Two hits and Wince was doing a faceplant.
Top Light Heavyweight/Heavyweight Ricardo Romero took on newcomer Rich Lictawa, who was angling for the title shot with just a 2-0 pro record. Romero once again proved why he is the top dog at 205 pounds on the East Coast with his quick submission win over the ROC newbie.
Neglia, an Eighth Degree Black Belt, runs the Louis Neglia Martial Arts Academy at 365 Avenue U in the Gravesend section of Brooklyn. To learn more, call 718-372-9089.
