A Win for Long Island in UFC!

A Win for Long Island in UFC!

This past weekend at UFC 194 we witnessed the upsetting loss of the UFC Middleweight Champion,
Chris Weidman, to the former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion, Luke Rockhold.  Despite Chris’s
efforts to defend his title, Rockhold finished him with a 4th round TKO to become the new UFC Middleweight Champion.  This may have been an upsetting for many of Weidman’s hometown fans
from Long Island, NY, but luckily Chris wasn’t the only Long Island boy fighting this past weekend!
Ryan LaFlare, fighting out of his gym in Farmingdale, NY, took his 12th professional win against Mike Pierce on Friday at The Ultimate Fighter Finale.  LaFlare has won 5 of his 6 UFC fights, and intends on adding more to that list!  This fight against Mike Pierce was really important because LaFlare was coming off his first and only career loss, and he came back better than ever.  Ryan LaFlare dominated Mike Pierce for 3 rounds ending in a unanimous decision.  LaFlare had made some improvements in his striking game and out-struck Pierce with clean counters and devastating body kicks.  Pierce was forced to attempt his takedowns on LaFlare, but all his attempts failed as LaFlare was able to stuff them, create the space he needed, and continue dominating on the feet.  The excitement increased at the end of the 3rd when both fighters bit down on their mouth piece and finished with a barrage of punches until the bell rang.  Sometimes we lose, and sometimes we win.  It’s important to learn from the losses we encounter and

celebrate all the wins along the way!

Long Islands Ryan LaFlare vs. Mike Pierce: December 11th 2015 | Long Island MMA

Long Islands Ryan LaFlare vs. Mike Pierce: December 11th 2015

Ryan LaFlare, fighting out of his gym Long Island MMA in Farmingdale New York, will be taking on Mike Pierce at The Ultimate Fighter Finale, scheduled for December 11th 2015.  This UFC card is very promising, also holding bouts with Frankie Edgar vs Chad Mendes and Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Tony Ferguson.  Both LaFlare and Pierce are coming off of a loss, but LaFlare has been a lot more active than Pierce.  Mike Pierce had suffered a sprained MCL and a torn ankle ligament due to his last opponent, Rousimar Palhares, neglecting to let go of a heel hook even after Pierce tapped out and the referee stepped in.  Palhares was then cut from the UFC the next day for his actions.  That fight took place on October 9th of 2013, more than two years before his upcoming bout with LaFlare.  Ryan LaFlare has had 4 fights in that time and has looked very good in all of them.  With wins over Santiago Ponzinibbio, Court McGee, and John Howard, and a 5-round decision loss to Demian Maia, Ryan Laflare is showing that he can go the distance and hang with the best of them.  Damian Maia is LaFlare’s first and only loss, and he plans to come back stronger and better than ever before.  The internet polls have Ryan LaFlare as the favorite and we are all excited to see him go out and represent the high-quality of fighters that comes out of Long Island New York!

CM Punk to the UFC WTF?

          At UFC 181 pay-per-view on Saturday night December 6^th, former WWE champion "CM Punk" reviled that he had signed a multiple fight deal with the UFC. CM Punk’s real name is Phil Brooks and Phil Brooks has zero combat experience outside of his WWE roots.
          CM Punk can be seen as far back at 2012 training with Rener Gracie in some YouTube clips. In those clips he is wearing a white belt indicating to us who have participated and competed in Jiu Jiu that he is a beginner. In 2 years of training it’s unlikely that his blue belt level of Jiu Jitsu will be enough to help him win a professional fight in the biggest organization on the planet. Phil “CM Punk” Brooks is 36 whereas many UFC greats have been competing into their late 30’s some even 40’s, those men have extensive combat backgrounds that Phil does not.
          At Long Island MMA we have seen multiple fighters make it to the UFC we have witnessed fighters like Chris Wade put it all on the line and quit his job to pursue fighting full time. The signing of CM Punk bothers me because the UFC purposely didn’t hire fighters who are legitimately the best in the world like Ben Askrin and chose instead to pick out fighter like Punk who has only the ability to draw eyes to the UFC. Now I understand the UFC is trying to make up for the ratings drop off that happened when Brock Lesner left but Brock was a legitimate combat athlete.
          Sorry Punk but we have no faith in you at Long Island MMA and fully expect this to blow up in your face.

The Rise Of The Coat Hanger | Long Island MMA

     The team of amateur fighters competing out of Long Island Mixed Martial Arts is without a doubt a force to be reckoned with; consisting of fighters such as Mike “The Caveman” Kuhn, “The Saint” Joseph Ninomiya, and Daren “The Bat” Feliciano. All of these young athletes are talented; however, one specifically stands out. That fighter is Robert “The Coat Hanger” Diggle. Robert is an extremely talented grappler and brings quite an unorthodox method to the cage when he fights. Although Robert is a well-rounded fighter possessing striking ability as well as a wrestling background, it is his skill on the ground that makes him truly lethal.

     Robert’s main inspiration for his unorthodox style of fighting comes from Japanese MMA fighter Masakazu Imanari. When he first saw one of Imanari’s fights he was fascinated by the intricacy and the precision with which he was able to secure and finish his leg locks. Robert decided that he too would become skilled in this respect, and he has absolutely done so. As portrayed by his new highlight video, his leg locks are dangerous and judging by the looks of pain on the faces of his opponents they seem to agree.

       Over the years Robert has secured several first place victories in Jiu Jitsu tournaments, both in the gi and without. He currently competes as a purple belt. In regards to MMA, Robert has fought for the New York Fight Exchange and the MMA Platinum Gloves and holds a record of 2-1-0. The MMA talent being produced in the state of New York is becoming more and more recognized and it is safe to say that one day “The Coat Hanger” will too make himself known to the greater MMA world.

Ryan LaFlare Vs Rick Story | A fight for the fans

The world’s highest profile Mixed Martial Arts organization, the UFC, showcases the best fighters from around the world. The organization is full of fighters that have dominated their respected regional level shows and have had the privilege of having all their hard work, dedication and sacrifices validated when invited to compete on the big stage. One of the most talent filled weight divisions is the UFC’s welterweight division, once controlled by George St. Pierre, is the home of some of the best fighters on the planet.

Recently there has been a lot of movement in the official UFC rankings especially in the 170lb class

because of a combination of fighters winning, losing and injuries. One fighter that has ended up in the UFC



top 15 ranking is Rick “The Horror” Story (18-8) of The MMA Lab. Rick jumped to  the 12^th spot after his split decision win over the highly respected Iceland native Gunner Nelson at UFC Fight Night on October 4^th. Story is a tough fight for anyone; he entered the octagon the underdog and escaped with a victory. Story used his wrestling and punches to solidify the win and his spot inside the UFC “Top 15” rankings. Prior to Story and Nelson stepping in the cage, Nelson was scheduled to fight fellow undefeated UFC welterweight Ryan LaFlare. LaFlare for several years prior to the UFC destroyed the northeast in the New Jersey based promotion, Ring of Combat, going 7-0 with all stoppages while capturing and defending the ROC Welterweight title before the call up. Once in the UFC LaFlare racked up 4 unanswered wins in his first year including wins over Court McGee and John Howard. Unfortunately, due to a knee injury LaFlare was sidelined and the battle of the unbeaten welterweights never took place.  

Now with Story coming off his victory and LaFlare appearing to be getting prepared for his return to the cage I believe a match up with these two would make sense for both men.  A win for Story would show he belongs in the top 15 and that the “peaks and valleys” of his career are past him and he has turned a corner in his career. If LaFlare’s hand is raised I believe it means much more. The Long Island MMA fighter, LaFlare, would show the world that this injury is just a bump in the road on his journey to the top. LaFlare was one of the biggest prospects in mma throughout the country even during 2010-2013 time frame when working through injuries and launching one of New York’s best mma gym, Long Island MMA in Farmingdale, New York mixed martial arts insiders still spoke of him in the highest regard.

I believe if the fight takes place, it will be a great fight and a true test for both athletes but ultimately LaFlare’s hand will be raised and he will stay undefeated. In the Nelson Fight a key to Story’s victory was stuffing his takedowns. I do not believe he will be able to stuff LaFlare’s shot and underrated Jiu Jitsu. I believe LaFlare will be able to take down his opponent the same way he has throughout his UFC career thus far. As for the striking department Story can pack a stiff punch but LaFlare is great at avoiding taken damage as well as using his longer frame and extending his reach. This fight will hopefully  happen and I believe  it will be the fight that launches LaFlare into the mainstream!

Long Island MMA's Chris Wade gets the call from the UFC!

            

   Its official Long Island mma’s long time lightweight prospect Chris Wade will be making his UFC debut on August 30^th on the undercard of Dillashaw vs barao 2. He will be the first fight to kick off the event in Sacramento, California. This will be Chris’s first fight on the UFC stage and he will be taking on fellow newcomer Cain Carrizosa (6-0) who is also making his debut on the big stage.

                Anyone who knows Chris Wade knows how much heart and work ethic he has and that this was a long time coming for the long islander. Chris started as a well credential wrestler but has made the full transition into a talented young MMA fighter , picking up skills in Jiu-jitsu  and striking. Chris has finished multiple fights by submission that was started by his advanced wrestling and striking techniques.

                Chris’s opponent Cain Carrizosa is a undefeated prospect also looking to make a leap into the big show on the UFC stage. Cain, with two ko’s, two submissions, and two decisions so far in his professional career proves that he is a well rounded fighter and can possibly get it done anywhere. The lightweight prospect will have the advantage of fighting in his home state of California but surely we all know Wade is mentally tough and this should have very little effect on Chris.

                This might be Chris’s debut on the big stage but this is not Chris’s first time training for a big fight. Chris held the lightweight title and has successfully defended his title in the Ring of Combat promotion in Atlantic City. Ring of Combat is a major talent pool for fighters on the east coast and has catapulted many fighters and big names into the UFC such as guys like Chris Weidman,  Matt Serra, Franky Edgar, fellow teammate and Long Island mixed martial arts co-owner Ryan LaFlare, and many others. This will play into Chris Wade’s favor as he not a stranger to being in the spotlight or competing under pressure.

                Chris has been working for this opportunity for a very long time and is training very hard to make his dreams a reality. With the help of an elite team here and the Long Island Mixed Martial Arts and Fitness Center and Wade’s determination, it would be nearly impossible for Chris to not walk away with his first win in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and get the recognition he deserves. Chris trains with elite level guys such as Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt  and head instructor here at LIMMA Greg Depasquale, featherweight rising talent Dennis ‘the Menace’ Bermudez , UFC welterweight Ryan LaFlare, and many other talents here at the gym in Farmingdale, New York.

Long Island MMA Best MMA gym on Long Island Ny

Long Island MMA Training Center is quickly becoming the premier mma gym on Long Island to train all aspects of mixed martial arts. With its state of the art facility and top notch coaching it would be difficult for members to not improve as a martial artist, become better athletes, get in top shape, all while having fun in the process. With notable MMA fighters such as the UFC's Ryan LaFlare and Dennis "The Menace" Bermudez, professional fighters like Chris Wade and Marcos "Loro" Galvao, Long Island MMA creates an environment suitable for all your training needs. The gym offers the best MMA classes on Long Island virtually all day long.  These martial arts classes include all aspects of striking (Muay Thai, Boxing and Kickboxing) to the grappling game (Wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu).

                  

What sets this gym apart from other gyms is the hands on training you receive, the humbling lessons you walk out of the gym with, and the relationships you develop with your teammates and coaches.  Whether you are aspiring to be a fighter, looking to learn self defense, lose weight, or just looking for a great environment to train at, you need to check out the best MMA gym on Long Island, Long Island MMA Training Center in Farmingdale NY. Schedule your FREE private 1 on 1 lesson today and become a member of our team here at LIMMA!  All are welcome!

Numbers Don't Lie, Long Island MMA Destroys The Competition

Are you looking for a safe bet?  Long Island MMA fighters have been stacking up wins one after another, and it doesn't look like they plan on losing momentum any time soon.  

Blasting their way onto the MMA scene since they opened their doors less than three years ago with fighters such as the UFC's Ryan LaFlare and Dennis Bermudez, Long Island MMA has amassed an unprecedented 90% winning rate on amateur and professional Mixed Martial Arts fights.  This unbelievable success rate didn't happen at some third rate event in someones backyard either, the vast majority of the wins LIMMA earned were at top tier shows including Ring Of Combat, Bellator, and the UFC.

The secret to their success? "There is no secret" says Long Island MMA coach Gregg DePasquale. "Hard work, an open mind to accept evolving technique, and a never quit attitude that has become synonymous with Long Island MMA fighters is what gets us on top.  MMA insiders know if they are fighting a Long Island MMA guy it is going to be a long night."

With what one fan calls "The breakout MMA team of the year" Long Island MMA has found the recipe for success, and with one of the highest winning percentages in the MMA world, has proven they can hang with the best

Long Island MMA's Dennis Bermudez at UFC 160

                 At UFC 160 there was a highly anticipated matchup between raising featherweights Dennis Bermudez (11-3) and Max Halloway (7-2).Both fighters are fan favorites with their aggressive style and endless conditioning. Entering their bout both fighters were coming off impressive wins and riding respectable win streaks.  Max Halloway trains out of Gracie Technics in Waianae, Hawaii and Dennis Bermudez trains and teaches at the premier mixed martial arts gym in New York, Long Island MMA in Farmingdale, NY.  This fight could push one of these fighters into the UFC’s top 10 of the stacked 145lb division.

The first round was a display of impressive striking for Halloway, while forcing Bermudez to keep the fight standing he landed several big kicks. Throughout the opening round there were several exchanges that had the fans on their feet expecting an early night for the fighters but they continued to throw hard shots always moving forward.

                In the second round Bermudez came out and displayed his always evolving striking, landing big punch combinations and effective kicks to the lower body of his opponent.  “The Menace” used great foot work and head movement to get inside of his opponent’s longer reach while landing crisp clean shots that appeared to hurt Halloway several times. The round ended with Bermudez securing a single leg, taking Halloway down and landing a couple big elbows

               The final round began with both fighters coming into the center of the cage and exchanging strikes before the Long Island MMA fighter shot in with another single leg putting Halloway on his back. Bermudez landed several strikes before Halloway was able to escape and get the fight back on their feet where he was more comfortable.  The two featherweights continued to stand in the center trading kicks and punches. Halloway shot in on Bermudez, showing his superior grappling, Bermudez shook off the attempt with ease. Just after the 2 minute mark, Bermudez clinched with his opponent, sweeping him on to the canvas.  Bermudez created space between him and Halloway and began to rain down big elbows. In the closing moments of the third round Bermudez was able to advance his position to half guard and utilize his dominant grappling landing punches and elbows to a bloodied Halloway at the end of the fight.

              This close fight went to the judges’ scorecards and “The Menace” Dennis Bermudez was awarded the win in a split decision by the scores of 29-28, 29-28, 28-29. Halloway had his three fight win streak come to an end and felt his second defeat since signing with the UFC. Dennis is now on a four fight win streak, was a part of a potential fight of the year with Matt Grice at UFC157 and has been making a huge impact in the featherweight division.