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Robbie Ring looking to stay undefeated as a professional MMA fighter

There’s only a few days left until “Razor” Robbie Ring will make his way to Knoxville, TN for his 4th professional MMA fight.  He will be fighting for Aries Fight Series, on Friday, March 4th, at the world famous Cotton Eyed Joe.   His opponent, Dusty Little is also undefeated as a pro and is coming off of a one-minute knockout in his last fight.  Little accepted the fight with Ring after his original opponent, Edward Massey pulled out in mid-January. 

Ring has had a difficult time with opponents pulling out of fights leading up to fights, which causes a fighter to  have to readjust their training and game plans accordingly to adapt to a different fighter.  Ring is totally confident in his training at Ring-Combat Sports in Wytheville.  He stated “Ring-Combat Sports is where I put in all of my training for all these fights.  I’ve learned and I’m still learning under my parents who have been teaching me since I was a little kid, along with all the others they have taught throughout the years.  I still learn new things nearly every week and my training has never failed me”.

Ring also has a stable of fighters and teammates at Ring-Combat sports that push him and challenge him to be his best leading up to fights.  Ring said “My fight camps are tough.  We have what we call pro-day on Wednesday and its super challenging.  I have some beasts for training partners.  Our gym has lots of talented fighters in it and my dad designs pro days that push me to my limits”. 

Robbie also works part-time at Anytime Fitness in Wytheville which is also where he gets in a lot of his cardio training for his fights.  Ring continued “Between my strength and cardio training, having a bunch of Killers for training partners and the fact that our gym has produced numerous champions, I feel more prepared than I have ever felt going into this fight.  People probably don’t realize that they have one of the most active MMA fighting gyms in the Southeastern Region right here in their own back yard.  We have had well over 300 cage fights over the years”.

When not training himself you will find Robbie teaching classes at the family gym that he hopes to take over in the coming years.  Robbie said “We start them young at Ring-Combat Sports.  At 4 years old our Tiny Titans start learning our Combat Jiu-Jitsu system, as well as start learning the basics of MMA.  Of course at these younger ages there is a huge focus on student safety, but that does not stop the youngest of kids from getting a leg up on the competition at a very young age. Many of our young students get the chance to compete inside the cage with modified rules that allow only mild contact and no contact at all to the face and head.  The kids love it and if they decide as they get older that they want to pursue MMA competition, they end up way ahead of the game, like I did”.

The last time Ring fought in Knoxville he remembers a lot of screaming fans many of them from Wythe County who made their way to Knoxville to support him.  Ring stated, “It means the world to me for people to come out to the shows and support me as I try to reach my goals in this sport that I love.  This has been my goal since I was a little boy coming up in the gym and it has never changed.  I know God has blessed me with a work ethic and the right people around me and by his grace I will keep giving it all I have to try to reach the top in this sport”.

Ring said, “I really couldn’t do this without all of my great sponsors and I have created a banner (see photo) that includes all of them on it”.

Robbie wanted everyone to know that they can still get tickets to his upcoming fight by going to www.robbiering.com or dropping by Ring-Combat Sports, 2190 W. Ridge Rd in Wytheville any evening during the week.

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Sat. March 14th WYTHEVILLE MEETING CENTER TO HOST STATES TOP MMA FIGHTERS

Wytheville fighter Robbie Ring hopes to win MMA state championship in his hometown

Titans of the Cage #29 will be held at the Wytheville meeting center on March 14th and will boast a fight card that will showcase twenty (20) fights inside the cage with ten (10) of those fights being title fights. Three local fighters from Ring-Combat Sports in Wytheville will headline one of the best fight cards this area has ever seen.  The event is overseen by the Virginia DPOR and sanctioned by United Combat Arts.

Wytheville’s own, Robbie Ring will attempt to bring home his third championship belt.  The 19 year old Ring, who trains out of Ring-Combat sports in Wytheville, is currently ranked as the #2 fighter in both Virginia and Tennessee with an official record of 6-0.  He will face a top notch competitor in Randall Austin Jr. out of Team Ox in Johnson City, TN in the main event of the evening.  In addition to being an outstanding MMA competitor, Austin has excelled in K-1 kickboxing contests throughout the state of TN.  This fight will be for the United Combat Arts featherweight VA State Championship belt.

In the co-main event of the evening, Ring’s teammate Tyler “Ace” Cardwell will put his TOC light heavyweight belt on the line against Lee Poke of Cleveland, TN.  Cardwell is currently ranked as the #3 light heavyweight in VA. 

TOC cruiserweight champ, C.J. Burleson who also trains out of Ring-Combat Sports in Wytheville will put his belt on the line against the heavy handed Nicholas Fisher out of Roanoke.  Burleson is currently ranked as the #4 fighter in VA in his weight division and this will be his third defense of his title.

Other notable title fights include; Josh Cook of Halifax who will challenge current TOC featherweight champ, Dylan Smith of Elite grappling in Lebanon.  Evan Lineberry of Hillsville will face Adrian Guijoza of Greensboro for the vacant TOC bantamweight belt.  Dylan Williams, of Hickory, North Carolina will take on interim flyweight champ Will Spann III of Myrtle Beach.  The TOC welterweight title will be up for grabs when Austin Cox of Elite grappling in Lebanon does battle with Brandon Williams of Team Phoenix in Greensboro.  Both Williams and Cox are former champions in this division. 

Two dynamic fighters will clash for the vacant lightweight title when Ferdinand Goke of Greensboro, NC faces Josh Lilley of Beaufort, SC.  Current TOC Middleweight Champ, Zion Tomlinson of Team Legion in Roanoke will defend his title against Jordan Heath of Beaufort MMA in South Carolina. And finally, the 195 pound TOC kickboxing title will be on the line when challenger Andre Williams of Beckley, WV faces current champ, Antwon Curtis of Roanoke.

Other exciting bouts scheduled for the undercard are as follows; Manuel Thurman of Cleveland, TN will face Matt Porter of Ring-Combat Sports in Wytheville in heavyweight action.  In flyweight action it will be Zach Bobbitt of Chase City taking on Logan Hurley of Ring-Combat Sports in Wytheville and Ryan Arnold of Ring-Combat Sports in Wytheville takes on Devon Shewey of Bland in lightweight action.

Still other bouts include; 140 lbs. women’s kickboxing bout Allison Hibbard (Fort Mill, SC) vs. Hailey Harkey (Vale, NC), 145 lbs. Tyler Gilger (Beckley, WV) vs. Clay Bucci (Greensboro, NC), 215 lbs. Curtis Elser (Graysville, TN) vs. Chris Hamlett (Radford), 155 lbs, Kenny Gatlin (Greensboro, NC) vs. Tango Rogers (Princeton, WV) and 155 lbs. Logan Atkins (Myrtle Beach, SC) vs. Brandon Holloway (Greensboro, NC).

Two special youth grappling bouts will feature Tayden Taylor, son of Kyle and Amy Taylor taking on Bryton Viars, son of Chris and Kayla Viars.  Both Tayden and Bryton are students at Ring-Combat Sports in Wytheville.  Four year olds will show off their grappling skills when Avery Reeves, granddaughter of Ron and Jen Reeves takes on Mason Holston, son of Chad and Amanda Holston.

The Wytheville meeting center will provide great comfort for all spectators as all seats will be padded banquet room chairs.  There will also be two large projection screens so fans will always have a clear view of the action inside the cage.   Doors open at the Meeting Center, 333 Community Blvd, Wytheville, VA at 5:00 PM and fights start promptly at 6:00 PM.  Tickets are available online at www.titansofthecage.com , at Ring-Combat Sports (213 W. Main St. in Wytheville) or at the door. 

Please follow Titans of the Cage on Facebook or visit the website to keep up with all the latest MMA action.

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Titans of the Cage #7 (12.14.13)

cageimggreen

Titans of the Cage #7 held at Hillsville VFW Post
By: TOC Staff writer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

On Saturday, December 14th, Titans of the Cage was held at the VFW Post in Hillsville, VA. Despite the foggy conditions and iced over Fancy Gap mountain, local fans filled the VFW post for an evening of hard hitting, fast paced mixed martial arts action. The events special guest ring announcer was Rick Caruso of Mountaineer MMA in Princeton, WV. Lindsey Smith (wife of Dee Smith of Absoloute Jiu-Jitsu) got the evening underway with the singing of the national anthem.

First up, on the undercard was James Settle (Absolute) defeating Shayne Hayden (Decimation) by TKO/Ref stoppage, after he landed a big punch early in round one. Next it was Jeff “Slim Jim” Wright (SWMA) picking up his first win inside the cage as he defeated Josh “the spider” Cox (Reaper MMA) by way of a round one triangle choke. The following fight saw heavyweight Tyler Cardwell (SWMA) stop Robert Spence (Reaper MMA) late in the first round by referee stoppage due to strikes.

The next bout saw Troy “the big bad” Wolfe (Absolute) earn his first win inside the cage, defeating Gary Brown in a light weight match-up, ending the fight in the first round by guillotine choke. Next up was a featherweight match-up between Sam “bam bam” Baker (Mountaineer MMA) and Randy Ferrill (Team Jorge Gurgel), with Ferrill scoring the win by way of rear naked choke late in round one. This was followed by a 175 lb. catch weight bout that saw Johnse “kryptonite” Hatfield (SWMA) earn his second win over James Loftis of Abingdon, winning by a first round guillotine choke and pushing his record to 2-0.

Next it was a female bantam weight match featuring Tiffani “farm-all” Underwood (SWMA) who defeated Lisa Blevins in a dominant performance, softening her opponent up with ground and pound, then applying an arm bar mid-way through the 1st round to earn herself another win inside the cage and run her current fight record to 3-0.
Next up it was bantam weights, as Brandon “conflicted affair” Creed (Tiger Phoenix) defeated Coy “Country Boy” Morrision in a back and forth, crowd pleasing fight that didn’t end until the 3rd round when Creed was able to secure back mount on Morrison and applied a deep rear naked choke. The two men earned the TOC “fight of the night” runner-up award for their efforts. In the evenings next bout it was light heavy weights, as Dakota McGinn (SWMA) stopped Scott Collins (Team Psycho) in round one, by referee stoppage, due to strikes.

In the first of three title bouts, it was TOC feather weight champion, Jesse “the sponge” Hamm (PRO-HEALTH) facing challenger Gil Goncalves (Team Brutal) with the belt on the line. The first round seen both fighters exchange kicks and punches in a very technical feeling out process, with both fighters showing very good fighting skills. It was in round two when the champion Hamm was able to land a big standing knee to the head of the challenger that spelled the difference in the fight and Jesse Hamm retained his feather weight title against a very strong challenge from Gil Goncalves. Next was a 160 lb. catchweight bout with Logan Griffin (Absolute) defeating the always tough Ayron “the hurricane” Davis (Decimation) late in round one when he applied a beautiful kimura, which earned Griffin the TOC “submission of the night” award.

Next it was a 165 lb. catch weigh bout that saw TOC lightweight champion, Micah “the original” Sheffey (SWMA) stop Randy “Rambo” Gibson (Mercenary) after landing a huge knee to Gibson’s head in the evenings quickest finish at 0:15 seconds of round one. Then in the evenings co-main event it was TOC women’s bantam weight champion, Charity Walker (PRO-Health), putting her title on the line against Lutts, TN fighter, Danielle Alexander (Team last man standing). This was a crowd pleasing fight that saw each fighter land significant punches and kicks on each other. At the end of round two, Walker landed a big punch that put Alexander down (maybe out) as the horn sounded to end the second round. Alexander, like a true warrior was able to come off the stool for round #3 and continued to fight hard, pressing forward against the champion for the biggest part of the fight. In the end, after five grueling rounds, it was Walker retaining her title by way of judges split decision, in a fight that earned the TOC “fight of the night” award.

In the second half of the main event, it was big Gage Stanley (Absolute) facing off with Roanoke based fighter Brian Maxwell (Team fight to live) for the vacant light heavy weight championship belt. As the match got underway each fighter exchanged then clinched. From the standing clinch Maxwell landed a couple short punches to the forehead of Stanley, but Stanley then exerted himself and completed a takedown on Maxwell and soon thereafter he worked his way to the mounted position. From there, Stanley began to rain down hard punches. In an attempt to avoid taking the punches directly in the face, Maxwell turned his head at the same time Stanley was throwing punches, causing him self to absorb the punches on the back of the head. After a couple of times of this happening, Maxwell again turned his head simultaneous to Stanley’s incoming punches, causing the referee to call an official time-out to issue a formal warning about strikes to the back of the head. Due to the strikes being unintentional, the referee did not deduct a point, but because of fighter safety standards, the referee felt the need to break the fighters and issue a formal warning. Once the referee called the official time out, Maxwell held the back of his head and seemed disoriented, prompting the ringside doctor to step in to evaluate his ability to continue. After the standard 5 minute time allotment following an accidental foul, the ringside doctor called a halt to the bout because Maxwell had indicated that his vision was blurred and the bout was declared a no contest.

It was an unfortunate ending to the much anticipated title bout, but both men indicated afterwards that they would be willing to rematch and settle the matter at TOC #8 in April. Gage Stanley remains undefeated with a record of 7-0, while Maxwell is the current title holder in another promotion within the Danville area.

The event benefited the local VFW Post in Hillsville, VA, along with the Wounded Warrior project, a non-profit organization. Ring card girls for the event were Jessica Lynn Sexton, Melynda Lester and Rayanne Harl.