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.

Location of Show – World Class Boxing Gym – South Bronx, NYC.

Date of Show – September 27, 2015.

Featured Result: Chris Corr def. Desmond Nelson via Submission due to Strikes.

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….

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 10 Year Anniversary show was highlighted by Radical MMA standout Chad Hernandez choking out his opponent to win the UCL Lightweight Belt.  Undefeated UCL Posterboy Jerome Mickle won the fate tourniment by overwhelming Dawadah David with a takedown and some very hard ground-and-pound. Part 2 of the UCL’s 10 Year celebration coming up in April.

Quick Results:

Mike Brown def. Rashad Clarke – Verbal submission due to dislocated shoulder (Round 1)

Desmond Nelson def. Adriano Nunez (Kickboxing) – TKO

Chad Hernandez def. P. Rambrose – Tapout from Rear Naked Choke (Round 1)

Jerome Mickle def. Dawadah David – Tapout from strikes (Round 1)

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 at one point but frustrated by the clinch, he launched a few headbutts to the face of Rodriguez halfway through the first round.

After a minute of discussion (prompted by confusion caused by Rodriguez’s cornerman forgetting to tell him that this was a NHB rules fight where headbuts are allowed), the fight resumed with Rodriguez turning the tables and hammering Storm with a barrage of brutal headbutts of his own.  The round ended in a scramble with Storm cranking a deep heelhook and Rodriguez seemingly being saved by the bell.  Storm asked if he had won and an amped up Rodriguez stood over him and let him know in no uncertain terms that he had not. (The next day Rodriguez reported on facebook that his ankle was the size of a baseball)

This match was fueled by bad blood and in the second round, a battered Storm was on the receiving end of too many nasty headbutts and eventually was TKO’d by a particularly gnarly one followed up by a short flurry of ground and pound.  If this was the NFL, Rodriguez’s corner would have been flagged for excessive celebration but cool heads eventually prevailed and Jonathan left the building with a very hard fought and well deserved victory – the Fate of Eight 185 lb champion.

Quick Results courtesy of mmajournalist.blogspot.com & Underground Combat League’s Facebook:

Jerome Mickle def. Jairo Israel via tko, Round 1

Daniel Ramos def. Justin Brown via rear naked choke, Round 1

Desmond Nelson def. Will Cavali via decision (kickboxing only)

David Dawadah def. Ruben Brazzelero via verbal submission, Round 1

Nico Augusto def. Matt Ward via rear naked choke, Round 2

Jonathan Rodriguez def. Peter Storm via TKO (headbutts and G&P), Round 2

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.

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.

Raw Combat by Jim Genia - A Must-Read MMA Book

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 promotion (I was originally tipped off to its existance by Genia himself), I can say without hesitation that Jim Genia has masterfully illustrated the smokey and hard hitting nuances surrounding the gritty unforgiving world of Underground Mixed Martial Arts in New York City.

Genia takes you through the emotional and brain bruising journeys of some of the East Coast’s most and least promising MMA athletes, including Frankie Edgar, current LW Champion of the UFC who had his first fight in Peter Storm’s Underground Show.  Quick witted and deadly accutate this quintessential story of northeast MMA is a must-read for any fan of MMA and/or Human Cockfighting.

Order Raw Combat on Amazon – CLICK HERE

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.

In the Far Reaches of NYC, Bruisers are Sharpening their Skills in Underground Combat

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 events, here you can headbutt, knee a downed opponent, and break fingers if you please.  Although nobody actually attacks fingers because that’s some pussy shit.

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.

This Man is Undefeated in the UCL

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 and checked in with his boss.  He was needed back at the office, pronto.