247 Combat Sports Podcast

Ep. 136 Trenton Zdarko, 247 Fighting Championships, Brawl in the Burgh 2

247 Fighting Championships latest event, Brawl in the Burgh 2, features nearly a dozen Western PA fighters on the November 16th card. Trenton Zdarko, who trains at The Mat Factory, is one of them. MMA FanCast's Jim and Luke talked with Zdarko about his upcoming battle, where he will be entering the cage as a professional for the 2nd time. Zdarko finished his amateur career with a record of 5-2 and won his pro debut, as well. All but one of his wins have come by way of stoppage in the 1st round. It's part of his game plan to get the finish and, by most accounts, it appears to be working out well for the wrestler-turned-mma athlete. He's well aware that anything can happen inside the cage, but Zdarko says he stays focused on the plan to get the desired results. He has a plan for his next fight, too. Listen in to hear what it is.

Ep. 135 Yuri Villefort, 247 Fighting Championships, Brawl in the Burgh 2

November 16th marks the third event for 247 Fighting Championships when Brawl in the Burgh 2 takes place at Printscape Arena in Canonsburg, PA. A dozen fighters from the Western Pennsylvania area will be on the card, supported by plenty of friends and family. Much of that support is from the mma community, where fighters will tell you the bond they develop with training partners, coaches and team mates is as strong as a family bond. One of the fighters making the trip in, from Florida, for his bout is Yuri Villefort, But MMA FanCast's Jim and Luke would caution you to call him an outsider. Villefort, who trains at Fight Sports Miami, will be fighting in the co-main event. He has strong ties to Pittsburgh, having been here several times to visit family and friends and to teach and train at Indio Dojo, an mma school in the Pittsburgh area owned and run by his brother, Danillo Villefort. He understands what drives Pittsburghers and his blue collar, gritty and grinding fight style is a perfect match for what they want to see. He'll have plenty of friends and family in the crowd to see him in action and wants to make the most of his time with them. Though Villefort says he's not overlooking his opponent, he has a plan to get on with the night and his family. Click the link to hear what it is.

Ep. 134 Ethan Goss, 247 Fighting Championships Title Bout

It's that time of the year again. The hustle and bustle of the holiday seasons, spending time with family and friends and eating way too much. For Ethan Goss, the hustle and bustle never ends. Punch the time clock in and out, head to the gym and hone the skills. Repeat 5 to 6 times a week and you get the life of a regional circuit mma fighter. MMA FanCast's Jim and Luke headed down the tracks to Altoona to catch up with Goss, who fights for 247 Fighting Championships Brawl in the Burgh 2 on November 16th. For The Wolverine, it will be his 1st time headlining a card, as he fights for the inaugural 247 FC Featherweight Title. He'll be supported by plenty of family & friends making the trip, as well as the Pittsburgh crowd, who have taken to his blue-collar, nose-to-the-grindstone fighting style, where he's long been a fan favorite. As for the eating part, Goss says he's planning to eat a meal fit for a king after he's crowned the featherweight champ and strapped with belt. It all sounds like a good time to the crew at MMA FanCast. Listen in now to see why.

Ep. 133 The Green Corner and Miles Lee

Train, train, train. There's The Green Corner train that travels all over to cart MMA FanCast's Jim and Luke to each podcast destination. And then there's what Miles Lee does .... the constant training, honing skills, building up cardio and teammates. The CFFC Amateur Middleweight Champ didn't just happen into the belt. Sweat, discipline, patience and persistence with his training did. And then some. The MMA FanCast team met up with Miles in Philadelphia to talk about his most recent bout and the road he took to get the title shot. Plenty of evidence is on display for what that kind of dedication can get you. The #2 ranking in PA and the #6 ranking in the Northeast for all middleweights is a good start. Lee has plenty more to put on display for you to see. Click the download and hit play to listen in on what he has to say.

Ep. 132 The Green Corner and Adrian Garcia

Road trips. We all take them. Some are short, some long, for some it's the journey .... and for others, it's the destination. MMA FanCast's Jim and Luke are always in it for both. Their most recent road trip on The Green Corner train, out of Pittsburgh, ended up in Miami ..... to meet up with Adrian Garcia, who fights in Pittsburgh on October 12th. Yeah, they could have waited, but we did tell you it's about the journey and the destination for these guys. Garcia is on a journey of his own, having recently signed a deal with First Round Management this summer shortly after winning his pro mma debut. He's fought 10 times in less than 3 years, and has been on both the losing and winning side of title fights in that span. Garcia welcomes the bumps along his journey, because arriving at his destination, a contract and more with a big time promotion, is what keeps him focused. Download, hit play and listen in on your next road trip, no matter the distance, to get the rest of Adrian Garcia's story.

Ep. 131 The Green Corner and William Tucker

There's a 1st time for everything. Everyone knows that. But some firsts really stand out. Such as the 1st American flag ... sewn by Betsy Ross in 1777. That one's kind of a biggie. Another big one, told to us by our mothers ..... the 1st Mother's Day held in 1920. What took so long with that one!?!? The 1st hospital, 1751. The 1st 4th of July celebration, 1777. The 1st Museum, 1805. The 1st Zoo, 1874 ....... and on and on and on. You get the picture. All of these firsts occurred in The City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Pretty good stuff. Philly's not done yet with her 1st's as she's about to set loose William Tucker to the pro ranks of mma. Tucker will be making his pro debut at CFFC 79 on November 16th. MMA FanCast's Jim and Luke rode The Green Corner Series train into Philly to talk with Tucker about his road to the pros and some other firsts in his life. You'll be hearing plenty of it soon enough, so remember his name. It won't be the last time you hear it. Listen in for the full story!

Ep.130 Dana White's Contender Series, Red vs Blue and Tony Gravely

"I'm not telling you it's going to be easy. I'm simply saying it'll be worth it." Almost anything good and worthwhile will take time and effort. It's the former that most people don't want to deal with. The latter isn't far behind either. Tony Gravely is about to come into something good. He has put in both the time and the effort and he understands it's not a given, but you better be a world-beater to stop him ...... and even then ........ MMA FanCast's Jim and Luke, along with Gravely, took another ride on the big Red vs Blue Corner Series train and talked about the huge opportunity that will unfold on Tuesday for Week 8 of Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series. It's the result of so many things and so many people all mixed together for the Tech MMA & Fitness Academy fighter. We've talked before about what the UFC and Dana White are looking for in the octagon. Gravely most definitely has what it takes and there's a huge community of support waiting to see him on the big stage. Tuesday night isn't the first step for Tony, but rather the path leading to one of many stops on the way to the top. Hear for yourself why you should get on board with Jim and Luke and follow this Gravely Train headed to Vegas. The download button is waiting.

Ep.129 Contender In Waiting, Hugh Pulley

"It is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of high maturity, to rise to the level of self-criticism." -- Martin Luther King, Jr.  There is no one harder on critique than yourself, but it's what you do with that evaluation that matters. Hugh Pulley has learned the values of examining himself and his fight game. Winning 2 of his last 3 bouts and signed to a 3-fight deal with Legacy Fighting Alliance, the payoff is evident but his goal is not complete. MMA FanCast's Jim and Luke spoke with the Gracie Tampa South fighter about his most recent fight, the new contract and where it all should lead to. LFA is a feeder, of sorts, for the UFC and Pulley, as well as his management team, Synergy Fighter Management, have set their sights on Dana White and turning his head towards "The Predator". It seems to be just a matter of time at this point before he gets the call. Hugh Pulley has a plan. Listen in to this episode to hear it.

Ep.128 Brawl In The Burgh and Khama Worthy

Almost all fighters are gunning for the one at the top, all eyes on the prize. But when you're at the top, for most, the view is different, as all eyes are now on you. You've become the prize, the trophy strapped to your waist. It can change a fighters prep or even their fight performance. For "The Deathstar" Khama Worthy, not so much. He says it's still just another fight. The stakes may be higher, a bigger crowd, more media attention, but in the end ..... it's still the same hours in the gym, sacrificing family time and still just another fight. MMA FanCast's Jim and Luke spoke with the champ and Pittsburgh native about his upcoming fight, which will be his first title defense, occurring on July 27th in the main event of Brawl In The Burgh for the rapidly ascending promotion 247 Fighting Championships. The promotion, itself, has quickly built a large fan following, thanks in no small part to Worthy, who favors the 'fighter first, middle and last' attitude coming from the entire 247FC staff. Worthy owns and trains at The Academy: Pittsburgh MMA & Fitness, where his students get to see the product of hard work, perseverance and commitment he puts in every day. He's the 155 lb. champ but, to Khama, nothing has changed. At the end of the day, if you signed the contract to fight, he'll fight you. "It doesn't matter who you are", he says. "Anyone, even someone's grandmother." Over the river and through the woods is not necessary, though, this time. Instead, you can listen in right here to get the whole story! 

Ep.127 The Green Corner and Cheyenne Hall

Bad medicine ...... Nobody wants it or ever really asks for it. So what's a person to do when it's right there in front of you? If you ask Cheyenne Hall, she's going to make sure that, if you're standing across the cage from her, you'll receive the right amount, plus a little more. The train keeps rolling from town to town and The Green Corner Series made a timely stop in Morgantown, West Virginia. MMA FanCast's Jim and Luke sat down with Cheyenne, who trains out of Ground Zero Fighting Systems in Morgantown, to talk about her upcoming fight on the July 27th card, Brawl In The Burgh, put on by 247 Fighting Championships. With the women's MMA game rapidly progressing, Hall says she's hitting her stride at the right time and will put it on display for all to see at Printscape Arena. And with an amateur record of 1-1, she'll tell you she's got some time before turning pro to fine tune and perfect her bad medicine. Will there be a doctor in the house on July 27th? ......... asking for a friend. Listen in to this episode to find out!