There has been a lot of talk about this show the last few weeks. The main event of Duane Bastress and Tim Williams has set the Pennsylvania MMA scene on its ear. I can’t get through two days without someone talking to me about this fight. But there is a lot of talent on this card from top to bottom. Locked in the Cage matchmaker Fran Evans and his partner Tara Galvin have put together their best show yet with talent all over the amateur preliminary card, and obviously on the pro card.

Amateurs to Watch
Albert Alvarez (amateur debut). Usually I wouldn’t make mention of an amateur debut, but you did catch that last name, no? Al is indeed younger brother of Eddie Alvarez. I saw Al roll a little bit at Bellator’s Philly Tryouts, and he didn’t embarrass himself against pros. Didn’t slow the room down, and hung there no a mat full of some incredibly experienced professionals. He’s hooking up with Pedro Torres (0-1). Fighting out of Philly Fight Factory with his brother and Steven Haight, I know that Al won’t get into the cage unprepared. But this is still an amateur debut, and the kid has a big shadow to fight out from. Let’s not let the hype machine out of the barn on this kid yet. Lets see what he has before we start anointing his forehead with blessed oils.

Right now on the official bout sheet Pat Macke (5-2) is listed with a “TBD” opponent. Macke is definitely a candidate for Amateur of the Year is really just running out of guys to fight in the amateur ranks. Of his two losses, he avenged the Justin Jones loss at the last LITC show, and is waiting for a chance to settle up with Jimbo Hoffman. Jimbo is unavailable as he’ll be fighting for Evolution AMMA in New Jersey on Saturday night.

York ACA is bringing Eric Albright (4-0) with them. Cut out of his teammate Duane Bastress’ mold. He’s a well built wrestler with LITC experience with a win over Justin Roberts. Eric’s still a young buck, but three or four more fights, and I think he’ll make a smooth transition into the professional featherweight division.

The Patishnock Brothers, Rich (4-1) and Joe (2-0) are n the card, as well. Rich is all swolled up and usually has a distinct power advantage on whoever he fights. He’s scheduled to lock up with Romanian Marius Enache (1-1) who makes his Philadelphia debut after splitting a 2 fight series for NBF. Marius comes out of Team Balance‘s home camp in Center City. And sometimes it seems like Phil and Ricky Migliarese take a sick joy in giving their amateurs the hardest possible fights. You look at 5’4″ Jimmy Frodo Cera who can’t seem to find any opponents under 6′ tall for proof of what I might assume is genetic masochism in the Migliarese family.

All told there are 8 amateur fights on the card. But the nut comes with the pro bouts.
Pro Fight #1 – Bantamweights
Rami Ibrahim (0-1) vs Lewis Cassner (0-1)
This is a pretty interesting bout. Rami is a world champion Thai fighter with over 100 pro kickboxing (Muay Thai and American rules). He’s the head trainer at Sitan Gym in Philly, and cornered Fran Evans for his Bellator debut against Lewis Cassner (Fran returns the favor and corners Ibrahim). Cassner lost an amateur bout to Fran, then called him out in time to make the Bellator fight happen. Ibrahim made his MMA debut early this past summer with a loss to another accomplished kick boxer, Lennox Chance. They hooked up on the M-1 tournament, and Chance took the fight to the floor immediately and exposed Rami’s weakness. Since then I know Ibrahim’s put a lot of work into his grappling. I still think Rami will want to keep this fight standing. I’ve only seen Cassner’s Bellator fight, and didn’t see much of what he had. But knowing what I know of Ibrahim, he has a definite advantage because of his striking pedigree.

Pro Fight 2 – Lightweights
Will Martinez (1-2-1) vs Neil Johnson (3-1)
Will Martinez is co-owner of Semper Fi MMA and brother of Jesus Chavo Martinez. I’ve always been a fan of the Semper Fi team. They are some of the toughest dudes in Philly, but are also some of the most respectful. If you have a gym and want to start a fight team, they have the template you want to use. Neil Johnson, I haven’t seen yet, but he’s got a record full of TKO stops. And that sets up what could be a nice little stand-up battle. Johnson’s trying to build off a win, Willie’s coming off a loss to a really under appreciated young kid in Alexandre Popo Bezerra. This is a tough fight to predict, but neither guys sits out decisions, so I’m figuring whatever happens, will happen in the first 10 minutes of the fight. I don’t think we’re going to cards on this one, which ever way it goes.

Pro Fight 3 – Middleweight
Bazooka Joe Stripling (5-3) vs Erik Purcell (1-2)
Joey Stripling comes out of 302 BJJ, which is a Balance affiliate, where he trains with Tim Williams and Gemiyale Adkins. And while Tim and Gemiyale have been getting a lot of press, Joey has put together a three fight win streak and is about ready to announce his presence with authority in the middleweight division. He also has a sweet, sweet beard. A three fight losing streak early in his career hurt his marketability, but two of those losses were decisions to high caliber guys, John Curtis and Ryan Contaldi. He’s hooking up with Purcell who’s coming off a loss to Anton Berzin. Berzin was losing that fight before he caught Purcell in a mistake and slipped a triangle into armbar for the win. His one victory was over Pat Russo, when Russo injured himself. Purcell trains at Ricardo Almeida‘s school in New York which sets up an interesting match-up of Almeida < Renzo Gracie with Purcell and Jim Morrison/Phil Migliarese < Relson Gracie with Joey. MMA fans are more familiar with the Renzo > Almeida lineage, but there aren’t many fighters in Philly who haven’t spent time at Balance’s Sunday pro team session. Unfortunately for Tatame Magazine, I think Joey puts knuckles n Purcell’s face for the first round or so, and then gets a GNP win in the second. As much as I like what Joey’s done, even with the losses, I’m that not impressed with Purcell’s record. Not saying the kid doesn’t have it. Just hasn’t really defeated anyone.

Pro Fight 4 – Middleweights
Brian DeMuro (4-6) vs John Doyle (8-14)
Both these guys are tough guy journeymen. They’re from that old school “anybody, anywhere, anytime” mold of fighter, which just doesn’t exist anymore. And Doyle, I think is a good fighter. He’s still raw horsepower, pure tough guy, and he has the heart of a warrior. But I just don’t think he’s ever been able to put together a proper training camp to prepare for a fight. Either he takes a fight on short notice, or he has to work a day job (and we all know how work can get in the way of training). He’s just never been able to put himself in a position where he can turn a could win fight into a should win fight. DeMuro’s been out of action for 22 months, his last fight was for World Cagefight Alliance. But he’s in the same mold as Doyle. Tough guy who, when he wins, wins on horse power. This fight’s a toss up. I think the sentimental favorite is Doyle, because he’s such a popular guy in the local fight game, and he’s never hung his head. Just keeps going to work and going to war. And you have to respect that about a man.

Main Event – Locked in the Cage & AMMAC Mid-Atlantic Middleweight Title
Tim The South Jersey Strangler Williams © (4-0) vs Duane The Storm Bastress (3-0)
This fight is what this show is all about. Everyone’s looking at this to be a Fight of the Year candidate. Two undefeated fighters, both looking for a step up in competition. Both have ruled the roost in their respective neighborhoods for a while, and now we get to see who is the best middleweight in the state of Pennsylvania. Which is why we’re launching the AMMAC Mid-Atlantic Championship program n this fight. I challenged promoters after Matrix Fights 3 Van ArtsDalen vs Rosario main event to step up and put no fights of that quality more often. Fran Evans and Tara Galvin have answered the call. Williams returns to action to defend his LITC 185Lbs belt and steps into the shark tank against a 2x Division 3 national champion wrestler. Neither guy has been defeated as a mixed martial artist. Tim is lifetime 10-0 (6-0 as an amateur) and Duane is right behind him at 7-0 lifetime. Now, if you call up somebody with a 717 area code, they’ll tell you that Duane’s bringing home belts this weekend. Dial up 215, you hear that Tim keeps his LITC belt and adds the AMMAC to the trophy case at 302. But this fight is a legitimate toss up. Duane’s wrestling ability and affection for the GNP is going to play right in to one of Tim’s strengths, which is submissions off the back. This is fastball pitcher against fastball hitter. And when you’ve got two guys going head to head throwing their best weapons at each other, absolutely anything can happen. Now with both guys’ having fought most of their fights on their back, we’ve never had a chance to see extended standing exchanges from either guy. I know Duane’s only been striking for about two years, and I don’t know how long Tim’s been working on his stand up. And when you get two guys who aren’t the most technically sound strikers, you get more exciting exchanges where both guys lock down in range and just start swinging like they’re in the school yard. And that, again, plays into a 50/50 toss up n this fight. I’m not even going to venture a prediction n this fight. Mostly because its so hard to predict, but also because I know Duane’s trainer Chad Strawbridge and Tim’s trainer Jimmy Morrison both read the site. And both of those guys can tap me out at will…without leaving their house. Jedi Force Choke, like Darth Vader.

I’m telling you, this is a fight you can’t miss. Get tot he National Guard Armory in Northeast Philadelphia or watch the fights online at GoFightLive.