New York MMA Photography Focusing on Organized Violence since 2001
Underground Combat League – UCL
UCL Invite Only Event – For The Love Of MMA
Promotion – Underground Combat League (UCL) Rules – Full Unified Rules of MMA or UFC 1 “Vale Tudo” Rules, depending on agreement of fighters. Three 3-Minute Rounds. Status – Amateur MMA Competition. Sanctioned by Organization Approved by NY Statute – No. Sanctioning Body – Unsanctioned (legal). Location of Show – World Class Boxing Gym – […]
UCL – The Realest MMA Competition in the USA
Promotion – Underground Combat League (UCL) Rules – Full Unified Rules of MMA or UFC 1 “Vale Tudo” Rules, depending on agreement of fighters. 3-Minute Rounds. Status – Amateur MMA Competition. Sanctioned by Organization Approved by NY Statute – No. Sanctioning Body – Unsanctioned (legal). Location of Show – World Class Boxing Gym – South […]
Ryan LaFlare’s Underground MMA Fighting Debut
Promotion – Underground Combat League (UCL) Rules – UFC 1 Rules “Vale Tudo” (this was October, 2007). Status – Amateur MMA Competition. Sanctioned by Organization Approved by NY Statute – No. Sanctioning Body – Unsanctioned (legal). Location of Show – Undisclosed Martial Arts Gym – Queens, NYC. Date of Show – October, 2007. Featured Result: […]
UCL Suicide Kings Ends In A Heated Confrontation
Undefeated NYC fighter Jerome Mickle (9-0) refused to defend his belt and fight promoter Peter Storm in their scheduled 185 pound title fight citing Storm’s weight as the reason. Storm reputedly weighed in at 186 lbs roughly 3 hours before the fights began, then gained 6 pounds of water and banana weight. Mickle arrived after […]
Another Night of Finishes at the UCL
Promotion – Underground Combat League (UCL) Rules – Full Unified Rules of MMA or UFC 1 “Vale Tudo” Rules, depending on agreement of fighters. 3-Minute Rounds. Status – Amateur MMA Competition. Sanctioned by Organization Approved by NY Statute – No. Sanctioning Body – Unsanctioned (legal). Location of Show – Bronx, NYC. Why would somebody fight […]
UCL 10-Year Show Part 2 – Two Champions Crowned
Promotion – Underground Combat League (UCL) Rules – Full Unified Rules of MMA or UFC 1 “Vale Tudo” Rules, depending on agreement of fighters. 3-Minute Rounds. Status – Amateur MMA Competition. Sanctioned by Organization Approved by NY Statute – No. Sanctioning Body – Unsanctioned (legal). Location of Show – Bronx, NYC. Quick Results: Will Cavali […]
Underground Combat League – 10 Year Anniversary
Promotion – Underground Combat League (UCL) Rules – Full Unified Rules of MMA or UFC 1 “Vale Tudo” Rules, depending on agreement of fighters. 3-Minute Rounds. Status – Amateur MMA Competition. Sanctioned by Organization Approved by NY Statute – No. Sanctioning Body – Unsanctioned (legal). Location of Show – Bronx, NYC. The Underground Combat League’s […]
UCL Fate of Eight – Clash of the Heads
In the final matchup of the Fate of Eight tournament, Peter Storm, UCL legend and promoter, faced off with rising MMA star Jonathan Rodriguez. Rodriguez used Storm’s Judo coat to his advantage and maintained a tight clinch throughout most of the two rounds, firing off knees at close range. Storm connected with a good right […]
A Night of Submissions – UCL September 2012
Redacted photos from the elusive NYC MMA club – the Underground Combat League – Quick Results — Danny Estrella def. Owen Thomas by Guillotine Choke — Desmond Nelson def. Ty Navarrio by Guillotine Choke — Peter Storm def. Adam Nadler by Kimura Shoulder Lock — Chad Hernandez def. Pedro Villa by Tapout due to Strikes
Local NYC MMA Stars Showcase Their Skills
Quick MMA Results from the Show: Irish Todd def. Thiago Chavez – Guillotine Choke. Israel Martinez def. Kevin Wall – Front Kick KO. Jonathan Rodriguez def. Nico Agusto – Rear Naked Choke. Mark Agnew def. Desmond Nelson – Rear Naked Choke.
America’s Only NHB Show Strikes Again in NYC
In another action-packed unsanctioned MMA event, Peter Storm hosted the Underground Combat League – New York’s only NHB show. This time out we saw the return of hard-hitting Kenny Rivera who stormed back onto the scene and took Chad Hernandez into deep waters earning the split decision victory and becoming the UCL’s only reigning champion. […]
Underground Fights Pop Off During MMA Media Event
Unsanctioned MMA fights in a cage in downtown Manhattan were the focal point of a book launch event this past Saturday hosted by authors Jim Genia (Raw Combat) and Matthew Polly (Tapped Out). It nearly came to blows in the ring as Genia and Polly faced off, each clutching copies of their book in a […]
Raw Combat – A Book About Real Underground MMA
Decades from now, long after MMA has been sanctioned and “legalized” in New York State, the tales and history of the mysterious and hidden world of Underground MMA would have long been forgotten … but for this book right here. Having personally attended and photographed just about every NYUCL show since the beginning of the […]
Local NYC Fighters Hungry For Experience
Local New York City fighters ride the subway to undisclosed locations every month or two to test their fighting skills in reality scenarios. Style vs. Style vs. Crosstraining – the NYUCL is the original proving ground for the up-and-coming hard-hitting young breed of combatants, forced to fight off the radar until the Athletic Commission sanctions […]
Closed Door Vale Tudo Invitational Fights in NYC
Hiding in plain sight, Peter Storm’s Underground Combat League showcases unsanctioned Vale Tudo MMA fights in NYC. By invitation only, both spectators and fighters attend the city’s only long-running legitimate MMA show. Operating just outside of the reaches of the NY Athletic Commission, this event is a throwback to the early days of MMA, using […]
Hard Hitting Sluggers Go To War In NYC
If you want to fight in NYC, you need an invitation to compete at the City’s only MMA club, the Underground Combat League. There is no publicity and no purse. These are not prize fighters, they are hard hitting warriors who fight for honor and experience. Tossing aside the usual rules that govern sanctioned MMA […]
Underground Legend Iron Will Blasts his Opponent
Teacup Kung Fu was the style claimed by “Iron Will” back in September of 2004 when he faced NYC Boxer “Lump” Rasheen. The party didn’t last long though. After landing a few glancing blows to the much larger boxer, UCL legend “Iron Will” got blasted off his feet, pounced on, and throat choked into submission. […]
And Not a Single Cat Challenged Her That Day
With the grace and swagger of a seasoned prizefighter, the gym cat took center ring shortly before the first fight was set to begin. In those few moments she gave fair warning to those who followed her: own the canvas, be at peace, never lose focus. Her lessons were lost on most that day.
White Collars & Underground Fights in NYC
His entourage wore suits and ties. They could buy the room if they cared to. Between high-stakes deals, they took a train from Wall Street and watched as their friend and coworker demolished his opponent with a series of viscious punches and kicks. After his fight, the anonymous fighter changed back into his business attire […]
Human Enigma Marches To His Destiny
Usually when the bell rings or in this case, the ref steps in, the fight is over. Not the case this time around. Emotionally charged underground fighter, tattooed from belly to cranium and identifying himself as “Sekau Mau Mau,” needed to be contained in his corner by promoter Peter Storm following his beatdown loss at […]