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 in an underground fight club for no money? While practicing and sparring at the gym, becoming better at one’s passion is an inherently worthy pursuit, some artists need to put their physical well-being in jeopardy and test their skills in front of a crowd for a few thrilling minutes.

Since New York is the only state to ban professional mixed-martial arts fights, and refuses to sanction or come up with standards for amateur fights, the only way a New York mixed-martial artist can showcase their talent in New York is to fight in an underground fighting show. Read More….

Unsanctioned Underground Fight Show Erupts During MMA Book Launch 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 pseudo-masterbatory staredown that seemed seconds from erupting into a frenzy of extreme violence.  Maybe the two authors were amped up on adreneline following a couple of spine-busting MMA fights or maybe they were just super pumped up amidst a fucking awesome media event.  Whatever the case may have been, these two large and imposing men, who as mma journalists clearly had something to prove, seemed willing to go to whatever lengths necessary to intimidate one another in the center of the ring.

Matthew Polly (6’11″/302lbs) came into the ring boasting a star-studded training team consisting of Phil Nurse and “New Zealand” John Danaher.  Jim Genia (6’10″/297lbs) was coming in with a decade-old blue belt in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and a large pair of iron clad bauding balls.  Half the crowd wanted to see these two behemoths tear each other limb from limb and the other half seemed to be connected to the venue or publishing companies and were freaking out about liability issues should the two man-monsters end up brawling.  Unfortunately cooler heads prevailed and the fighting was left to the fighters.

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 the old style NHB rules of Brazil Vale Tudo and the early UFCs.  If you get invited and want to fight, you won’t be the first to step out of the crowd and into the ring.  Maybe I’ve said too much already.

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 the New York Underground Combat League in March of 2008.