Travis Lizotte "Full Contact Writer"
What better way to celebrate the monumental 50th show in Cage Titans FC history than to have two different fightcards...on the same day? That's just what Michael Polvere and company have planned Saturday in Plymouth, Massachusetts when Cage Titans premiers a, first of its kind, day-night doubleheader from Plymouth Memorial Hall. Billed as two separate events; the daytime event kicks off at noon, Saturday, November 6th with a predominately amateur card featuring both MMA and Muay Thai bouts. Culminating with an Amateur Welterweight Title fight between Challengers Jack Congdon (3-0) and Steve Foley (1-1) before Professional Lightweights Zach "The Ripper" DiSabatino (7-2) and Chance Beck (5-1) meet in the afternoon's Main Event.
For the nightcap; Cage Titans welcomes fans back to Plymouth Memorial Hall again at 7:30 pm with a predominately professional card featuring your favorite Cage Titans cast of characters. "Slippery" Pete Barrett, Joe "The Party" Penafiel, "Shameless" Don Shainis, Connor "The Controller" Matthews, Jeff Joy, "Killa" Kam Arnold and of course; "Cornflakes" Rob Fuller all lead up to a Welterweight Main Event Title fight for the ages as Marty Navis and Billy Goff meet with the vacant Cage Titans Welterweight crown on the line. Fans who plan on attending both events must hold tickets to both events, for those of you who cannot attend a Pay Per View will be available at CageTitansFC.com or you can always follow along with our live coverage at NewEnglandMMA.org, below is a look at both ends of this epic Cage Titans 50 doubleheader.
Day Game:12 pm first pitch
Tyler Wolf (0-0, Broadway BJJ) vs Serge Perasunko (0-0, Loco Lobo)
Amateur Catchweight (165 lbs.)
Jake Caskey (0-1, Team Dexter) vs Philip LoCigno (0-0, Sityodtong)
Amateur Featherweight
Lucas Remsen (0-0, Marandola Martial Arts) vs Matt Callahan (0-0, Fightzone)
Amateur Muay Thai (155 lbs.)
Danny Jefferson (0-0, Broadway BJJ) vs Christos Papadelos (0-1, Enigma BJJ)
Amateur Featherweight
Jake Dillon (0-1, USMMA) vs Neil Mazumdar (1-0-1, Sityodtong)
Amateur Catchweight (130 lbs.)
Nik Mavrommatis (0-0, Red Seal) vs Zach Converse (0-0, Fightzone)
Amateur Muay Thai (150 lbs.)
Ashwath Rao (0-0, Broadway BJJ) vs Miguel Sevasin (1-2, Lakeville MMA)
Amateur Lightweight
Marcel Romero (2-0 Team Link Springfield) vs. Dan Walsh (1-0 Lauzon)
Amateur Featherweight
Andy Kurzontkowski (0-0 Soulless) vs. Adam Russell (0-0 SSSF)
Amateur Muay Thai (175 lbs.)
Randy Francis (5-8 Dexter) and Andrew Valdina (2-1 Lauzon MMA)
Amateur Featherweight
Jack Congdon (3-0 Lakeville) vs Steve Foley (1-1 Citadel Martial Arts)
Amateur Welterweight Title
The vacant Cage Titans Amateur Welterweight belt will be awarded to the winner of this Championship bout between the Undefeated Phenom from Lakeville MMA (Jack Congdon) and Citadel Martial Arts Submission Specialist (Steve Foley).
Chance Beck (5-1) vs. Zach DiSabatino (7-2)
Lightweight Main Event
Age: 35
Fighting out of: Louisville, Kentucky
Affiliation: Team One
Record: 5-1 (2 Knockouts, 3 Submissions)
Last fight: Fifth Round TKO (Strikes) loss to Adam Assenza at B2 Fighting Series 127. (07/23/21)
Age: 28
Fighting out of: Marshfield, Massachusetts
Affiliation: South Shore Sportfighting
Record: 7-2 (4 Knockouts, 2 Submissions)
Last fight: Unanimous Decision victory over Anthony Facchini at Cage Titans 48. (07/10/21)
Breakdown: We have a banger of a Main Event here to close out the afternoon portion of this doubleheader; Cage Titans fan favorite Zach “The Ripper” DiSabatino would fight on every Cage Titans fight card of the year if he had it his way. He will have to settle for headlining just one of Saturday’s events, when he looks for a signature win to add to his resume at the expense of Kentucky’s Chance Beck. Stylistically this should be a wild display of grappling, DiSabatino, known for his powerful slams and imposing top pressure, against a slick submission specialist and crafty grappling veteran in Chance Beck. Neither fighter can afford to have holes in their game when the pin drops on this one, one mistake and it’s snap or nap when these two finishers collide. I’ll be looking for DiSab to dictate the pace here and put Beck on his back, the only question is, will Zach be able to finish Beck, before Beck finds compromise in the submission defense of DiSab? It’s going to be an interesting fight to watch play out as these two promising Lightweights meet in the Game 1 Headliner!
Night Game: 7:30 pm first pitch
Austin Schalla (2-10, Dexter MMA) vs Duncan Smith (6-4, Evolution Athletix)
Amateur Welterweight
Do not let the record of Dexter MMA's Austin Schalla fool you, the 24 year old Schalla is as tough as they come. Schalla is your classic Dexter MMA representative; someone who refuses to take easy fights, and that will be no different here, when he takes on multi promotional Amateur Welterweight Champion; Evolution Athletix' Duncan "The Highlander" Smith. This one should be a barn burner at 170 pounds.
Mo Al Kinani (8-1 Evolution Athletix) vs Nuri Abrar (3-1 Boston BJJ)
Amateur Lightweight Title
This is about as high level an amateur fight as you could put together throughout the region, Mo Al Kinani is the consensus number one Amateur Lightweight in the region. If Al Kinani can scathe off AMMO Amateur Lightweight Champion Nuri Abrar for the vacant Cage Titans Amateur Lightweight strap, he could solidify himself as the top amateur prospect, in any weight class, throughout New England.
Rob Fuller (1-12 Team Fuller) vs Kam Arnold (0-0 Recon)
Catchweight (140 lbs.)
Age: 41
Fighting out of: Lakewood, Colorado
Affiliation: Team Fuller
Record: 1-12 (1 Knockouts)
Last fight: First Round Knockout loss to Ryan Kuse at Titan FC 72. (09/17/21)
Age: 28
Fighting out of: Portland, Maine
Affiliation: Recon MMA
Record: Debut (6-1 as an Amateur)
Last fight: Second Round Knockout of Walt Shea at NEF 41. (11/09/19)
Breakdown: Holy schnikes! What a way to kick off the professional portion of this card, two of the rowdiest dudes to ever enter Plymouth Memorial Hall will now meet in the middle of it. Last time Kam Arnold was in the building he suffered the only loss of his MMA career, a second round Rear Naked Choke loss to then Cage Titans Bantamweight Amateur Champion Jeff Joy at Cage Titans 45. However, the electricity in the building during that fight; combined with the high level nature of the matchup between two of the regions best Amateur prospects, Arnold vs. Joy would go down as an “instant classic'' in the Cage Titans vault, and would stamp Kam Arnold's name in the “must see” category of the Cage Titans roster.
Standing across from Arnold Saturday night; the most polarizing figure in the promotion’s history; “Razor” Rob “Cornflakes” Fuller a.k.a. Minnie White Kimbo Slice a.k.a. Frank Dux. For Fuller; it’s another weekend, another high level New England prospect and another skull to bounce his fists off of...Kam Arnold told our Steve Domenico in The Room Podcast that he expects to show progression in this fight and display himself as a well rounded martial artist. That is not going to be an easy to do with Rob Fuller’s constant forward movement...and impending haymakers! Fuller forces most of his opponents into brawls, forcing guys to throw technique out the window and fight for their lives. If you’re a young New England pro and not sure what you’re made of...Rob Fuller will be glad to find out for you, as he is always down for a fist fight! Did I mention this matchup excites me?
Jeff Joy (1-0) vs Jason Rine (1-7)
Bantamweight
Age: 31
Fighting out of: Bourne, Massachusetts
Affiliation: Loco Lobo
Record: 1-0 (1 Submission)
Last fight: First Round Submission (Rear Naked Choke) of Rob Fuller at Cage Titans 48. (07/10/21)
Age: 34
Fighting out of: Mount Vernon, Ohio
Affiliation: Lashley Training Center
Record: 1-7 (1 Submission)
Last fight: Unanimous Decision loss to Dru Shottenheimer at Honor FC 10. (08/24/19)
Breakdown: Here we go with the other side of that epic Cage Titans 45 Amateur Bantamweight Championship fight we just talked about; the Champion, now 1-0 pro, Jeff Joy. Jeff picked up his first professional victory at Cage Titans 48, against the aforementioned Rob Fuller, by executing his game plan and sinking in his patented Rear Naked Choke for a first round tap. Although Jeff picked up the victory at Cage Titans 48, he was not satisfied with his performance and was hoping to make a quick turn around before year's end. He will get that chance Saturday night when he tangles with eight fight veteran; Ohio’s Jason “Renegade” Rine.
Jason Rine has been a staple on the New England MMA scene over the last several years, and Saturday night he will make his Cage Titans debut when he adds Jeff Joy to the list of New England Prospects he has tested himself against over the years. A list which includes Cage Titans veterans; Kris Moutinho, John Douma and Ali Zebian (Twice). The task doesn’t get any easier for Rine at Cage Titans 50 when he finds himself standing across from an “all business” Jeff Joy.
Lionel Young (9-17) vs. Andres Rodriguez (4-1)
Bantamweight
Age: 37
Fighting out of: Brockton, Massachusetts
Affiliation: Citadel Martial Arts
Record: 9-17 (2 Knockouts, 7 Submissions)
Last fight: First Round Knockout of Pat Gilbride at Cage Titans 49. (08/28/21)
Age: 28
Fighting out of: Boston, Massachusetts
Affiliation: Sityodtong Boston
Record: 4-1 (2 Knockouts, 1 Submission)
Last fight: Third Round Knockout loss to Ashiek Ajim at CES 60. (01/24/20)
Breakdown: New England MMA 12 year pro; Lionel “Boogz” Young told our Steve Domenico that there is a problem with the new wave of New England MMA talent, they aren’t willing to test themselves...and “Boogz” is offering his services; willing to test any of these young prospects. “Let’s be more fair to the sport. Let’s be more honest to the sport...be fair to the game..if you love it show it respect. Stop finding the easy way to get where you need to go…” Young made good on his promise to test top prospects at Cage Titans 49 when he hung an “L” on Pat Gilbride by first round Ground and Pound.
“Boogz” continues the path through regional contenders Saturday night when he meets the man they call; “Cooley.” Rob Font understudy; Andres "Cooley" Rodriguez was making a push to crack the New England MMA top ten Bantamweight Rankings before suffering his first career loss to fellow up-and-coming slugger; Ashiek Ajim at CES 60, by third round Knockout. Cooley makes his first cage appearance post-Covid Saturday night and he had better be willing to earn it, when he matches wits with New England MMA veteran; Lionel “Boogz” Young.
“Let’s be more fair to the sport. Let’s be more honest to the sport...be fair to the game..if you love it show it respect. Stop finding the easy way to get where you need to go…” - Lionel "Boogz" Young on The Room Podcast
Connor Matthews (4-0) vs Kody Murray (1-0)
Featherweight
Age: 29
Fighting out of: Brockton, Massachusetts
Affiliation: Lauzon MMA
Record: 4-0 (1 Knockout, 3 Submissions)
Last fight: First Round Submission (Rear Naked Choke) of Jay Ellis at Cage Titans 48. (07/10/21)
Age: 28
Fighting out of: Middlebury, Vermont
Affiliation: Black Rose
Record: 1-0 (1 Submission)
Last fight: First Round Submission (Rear Naked Choke) of Miguel Cuevas at CES 63. (08/06/21)
Breakdown: It’s hard not to imagine where Connor Matthews would be if it wasn’t for a string of bad luck, now, Covid hit everyone hard, but for Matthews career trajectory, it could not have come at a worse time...We were talking about Matthews being on the cusp of the big leagues before the pandemic put the kibosh on his main event slot with Kris Berberich at Cage Titans: Combat Night 3 in April of 2020. Matthews returned with the promotion 15 months later at Cage Titans 48, in what was initially a re-slating of his bout with Berberich, who was scratched leading up to fight day. “The Controller” would end up dispatching last minute replacement Jay Ellis by first round Rear Naked Choke and furthering his undefeated record to 4-0 with four finishes.
Matthews is set to square off with Vermont Wrestler; Kody “The Black Rose” Murray who looked excellent in an August upset of Miguel Cuevas at CES 63. Murray then competed in Premier FC’s one night Lightweight tournament, where he was met in the first round by the tournament’s eventual winner; Ali Zebian. As we get closer to fight day this matchup still seems somewhat touch and go...as signs on social media point to this fight still being up in the air...This would be devastating news for the Matthews camp, who hope to continue “rolling with the punches” Saturday night at Cage Titans historic 50th event.
Don Shainis (7-3) vs Quinten Wyland (3-3)
Lightweight
Age: 31
Fighting out of: St. Louis, Missouri by way of Easton, Massachusetts
Affiliation: Glory MMA
Record: 7-3 (4 Knockouts, 3 Submissions)
Last fight: Unanimous Decision loss to Nate Williams at Cage Titans 48. (07/10/21)
Age: 27
Fighting out of: Oregon City, Oregon
Affiliation: American Top Team Portland
Record: 3-3 (3 Submissions)
Last fight: Unanimous Decision loss to Darrell Flores at Front Street Fights 21. (01/10/21)
Breakdown: “Shameless” Don Shainis faced an interesting scenario in July, when a late camp injury forced his opponent; Darius Estell, out of their Featherweight Title tilt, due to headline Cage Titans 48. Shainis could have packed his bags and headed back to Glory MMA in St. Louis and trained for his next opportunity...or he could enjoy the trip home, to Massachusetts, and put on a show for his fans, against whomever Michael Polvere put in front of him. Those who know Don Shainis know he isn’t going to turn his back on an opportunity to trade leather, Shainis would end up going three rounds, with what ended up being a step up in competition from the previously billed Estell, losing a grueling five round decision to Georgia’s “Nasty” Nate Williams.
Shainis gets right back in the saddle Saturday at Cage Titans 50 when he takes on highly touted Portland, Oregon Featherweight prospect Quinten Wyland in this bout at Lightweight. Coming to the East Coast from American Top Team Portland, Wyland has drawn high praise for his submission grappling, a technique which has led to all three of his professional wins coming by submission. At just 27 years of age and training out of one of the best camps in the Pacific Northwest, Wyland has aspirations of coming into hostile territory and making his name off the hometown favorite Don Shainis. That will be easier said than done, as something Wyland can count on, is a fire fight from a hungry Don Shainis, and an unwelcome chorus from “Shameless Nation” upon entry.
Peter Barrett (11-6) vs. Spencer Higa (7-12)
Lightweight
Age: 35
Fighting out of: Plymouth, Massachusetts
Affiliation: Lauzon MMA
Record: 11-6 (2 Knockouts, 3 Submissions)
Last fight: Split-Decision loss to Ali Zebian at Cage Titans 48. (07/10/21)
Age: 34
Fighting out of: Honolulu, Hawaii
Affiliation:
Record: 7-12 (4 Knockouts, 2 Submissions)
Last fight: Unanimous Decision loss to Kai Kamaka at Bellator 236. (12/21/19)
Breakdown: Cage Titans 48 marked the return of MMA in New England following the pandemic, and perhaps no single fighter’s return was more anticipated than that of “Slippery” Peter Barrett. Barrett, fresh off a stint in the UFC, was certain that a couple more dominant wins on the New England scene and he would be right back in the fold with the UFC. Only problem for Barrett; he ran into a red-hot top prospect in Ali Zebian, who used his powerful wrestling to stifle the offense of Barrett and get the nod on the judges scorecards, albeit by Split-Decision.
Nonetheless, Peter Barrett never got anywhere by giving up, he begins the rebuilding process all over again at Cage Titans 50 Saturday, against Hawaiian MMA veteran and former Bellator combatant; Spencer “Masaru” Higa. Old School Cage Titans fans will remember Higa’s name for his battle with, then undefeated, Frank Sforza at Cage Titans 33, some four and a half years ago, which ended up with Higa on the short end of a judge’s decision. Higa gets another chance to silence the Cage Titans crowd Saturday night when he meets one of the biggest stars in promotional history; the infamous “Slippery” Pete Barrett.
Joe Penafiel (7-3) vs. Bruno Dias (19-11)
Bantamweight Co-Feature
Age: 35
Fighting out of: Orlando, Florida
Affiliation: Fusion Xcel
Record: 7-3 (1 Knockout, 1 Submission)
Last fight: First Round Knockout of Richie Santiago at Cage Titans 49. (08/28/21)
Age: 35
Fighting out of: Woburn, Massachusetts
Affiliation: Junkio
Record: 19-11 (4 Knockouts, 14 Submissions)
Last fight: Second Round Knockout loss to Johnny Campbell at Cage Titans 46. (11/02/19)
Breakdown: I’ll admit it, I buy “The Party” gimmick; hook, line and sinker, if for no other reason than the fact that when the cage door closes; Joe Penafiel backs up every word he says! Truth is, Penafiel is great for New England MMA, a charismatic villain with the skills to do some serious damage to the upper echelon of New England MMA Bantamweight contenders. Penafiel has set a personal goal to pick off New England Bantamweights one by one, Pat Gilbride; no match, Richie Santiago; first round stoppage...now Penafiel has his cross-hairs set on New England MMA veteran Bruno Dias at Cage Titans 50.
A mainstay atop New England’s 135 pound division since his arrival stateside, Bruno “Jacare” Dias has yet to find his footing inside the New England MMA cages, suffering stoppage losses to both Pedro Gonzalez and Johnny Campbell in his first two appearances within the region. What remains a constant concern for Bruno’s opponents is that high level black belt, with 14 submissions on his resume, Dias remains a threat until the final bell sounds. I see Penafiel dictating the pace again in this one, putting pressure on from the word “GO” and not falling into a submission chess match with Bruno. Penafiel dropped into The Room Podcast in the weeks leading up to the fight to discuss what we should expect when “The Party” shows up in Plymouth once again, ready to “Throw Bones” as he calls it, with Jacare in the Co-Main event at Saturday’s Cage Titans 50.
Billy Goff (4-2) vs Marty Navis (5-0)
Welterweight Title (Vacant)
Age: 23
Fighting out of: Groton, Connecticut
Affiliation: Dexter MMA
Record: 4-2 (2 Knockouts)
Last fight: Unanimous Decision Victory over Sean Lally at Cage Titans 48. (07/10/21)
Age: 28
Fighting out of: Middleboro, Massachusetts
Affiliation: Lauzon MMA
Record: 5-0 (4 Knockouts, 1 Submission)
Last fight: Second Round Knockout of Roberto Yong at Cage Titans 49. (08/28/21)
Breakdown: There isn’t really a lot you can say here that isn’t already implied; there is a reason Michael Polvere chose this fight to headline his Historic 50th Cage Titans fightcard, simply put there is no way this fight will not be entertaining. Lauzon MMA’s Navis is one of the scariest dudes in New England MMA, an absolute powerhouse grappler who aims to put his opponents through the canvas with thunderous slams and vicious ground and pound. In Navis’ five fights as a pro, he is perfect, 5-0 with five stoppages, none of those fights making it out of the second round. The one knock on Navis would have to be his level of competition, Marty’s first five opponents combined for a 6-28 record, and proved not to be much of a test for “The Beast.”
If a test is what you wanted for Navis, a test is exactly what you’re gunna get here as Navis locks horns with 23 year old Dexter MMA standout; Billy Goff! Goff has taken a much different road to get to this point in his career, taking some of the toughest matchups the Welterweight division has to offer. In Goff’s six pro fights his opponents have combined for a 21-8 record. Amongst them; New England top Welterweight contenders Kemran Lachinov and Sean Lally have both slugged it out with the youngster from Groton. In fact, Goff’s Decision victory over Lally at Cage Titans 48 may have put the entire New England Welterweight division on notice. Toss one of those shiny new Cage Titans Professional Championship straps in the pot and you have the recipe for a Main Event fight worthy of capping off a historic day within the confines of Plymouth Memorial Hall!
