undefeated streak in a near sell out at Ring of Combat Saturday night.
It was a night filled with stars. Hollywood A lister’s attending the event included Michael Jai White, and
Robert DeNiro. Celebrities and Joe Schmo alike, excited over the matchups scheduled that night.
The First Long Island MMA fighter to step into the cage was Chris Wade. In what was easily the fight of
the night, Chris Wade and Mike Medrano squared off in highly explosive bout where the momentum
shifts kept that packed house on the edge of their seats. Chris Wade decisively won the first round, and
was able to deliver more damage to the game Mike Medrano in the second. After a furious start by
Medrano in the third round he was able to sink a very deep arm- in guillotine on Wade. After managing
to defend the attack, an exhausted Medrano weakened his grips on Wade’s neck allowing him to pop
his head out and regain control of the fight. Wade would finish the fight strong dominating the finishing
moments of the fight, landing vicious knees to the face and body of Medrano and cementing the
unanimous decision win.
In the main event of the evening Ryan LaFlare made his much awaited return to the cage after a 2 and
half year layoff against a game Andrew Osbourne. This fight saw a Ryan LaFlare who was just too much
for Osbourne. LaFlare barraged Osbourne with slams showcasing superior wrestling technique and then
dominantly ending the fight via arm bar in the third round of the championship fight.
LaFlare easily had the most support of the many fighters at the ROC. A staple in the MMA and wresting
communities of Lindenhurst in Long Island, LaFlare tends to draw large crowds for his bouts and has
many of his fans wondering when they can expect to see him in action again.
As for Chris Wade’s return to the cage- “as soon as I have a fight lined up I’m ready to go”.
Suffolk County’s Long Island MMA continues to churn out some of the top fighters in mixed martial arts.
Dennis Bermudez will be looking to add to his win streak in the UFC. And Bellator’s Marcos Loro Galvao
will look to dethrone current champion Eduardo Dantas in a highly anticipated title fight between the
two Brazilians. Bermudez and Galvao two of the Long Island MMA standouts also having success in the
professional ranks. Jiu Jitsu black belt Gregg DePasquale says the success of the Academy in pro fighting
is due to “serious commitment from all of our students and fighters”.
