d'AUGUSTE AND GABERT RETAIN TITLES ON "RING OF COMBAT 8"

To all the fans that braved the cold and windy atmosphere of the old summer resort area of Asbury Park on New Jersey's shore, the end justified the means. On March 19, 2005, they came to the Asbury Park Convention Hall to see a top notch MMA event and they left content. The Main Event of USKBA ACTION SPORTS Promoter World Champion Louis Neglia's (Louis Neglia Martial Arts) "RING OF COMBAT 8" featured LAURA d'AUGUSTE defending her Ring of Combat/USKBA MMA Welterweight Championship Title. The Featured Bout, saw JAMES GABERT defending his Ring of Combat/USKBA MMA Cruiserweight Championship Title. The undercard featured quality MMA bouts with displays of technique and power.

In the Main Event, scheduled for three 5 minute rounds, Ring of Combat/USKBA MMA Welterweight Champion LAURA d'AUGUSTE went against ROXANNE MODAFFERI. Modafferi was coming off an impressive win. d'Auguste was coming off a successful title defense. On paper, Modafferi seemed to be d'Auguste's toughest opponent to date. This provided to be true as this bout went the distance. At the end of three 5 minute rounds, the unanimous decision went to Laura d'Auguste, who retains her Ring of Combat/USKBA MMA Welterweight Championship Title.

In the Featured Bout, scheduled for three 5 minute rounds, Ring of Combat/USKBA MMA Cruiserweight Champion JAMES GABERT squared off against DAVID PORTER. It had been some time since Gabert's last title defense. Gabert is one of the toughest fighters in his weight division. Porter, with an undefeated amateur record, came into the fight confident that he could hang with Gabert and possibly take the title from him. Gabert proved to be too much for Porter. This bout was over at 3:25 of Round 1 as Gabert applied armbar and kept the pressure on forcing Porter to tapout. Gabert retains his Ring of Combat/USKBA MMA Cruiserweight Championship Title.

In other action:

Super Middleweights
ELVIS GARCIA def Jojo Guarin by unanimous decision.
Heavyweights
CARLOS RODRIGUEZ def Anthony Vetro by submission (armbar) at 1:59 of Round 1.
Middleweights
JOE ANDUJAR def Joseph Spataro by unanimous decision.
Super Cruiserweights
MIKE IANNONE def Peter Storm by submission (armbar) at 3:55 of Round 1.
Super Welterweights
ROB GUARINO def Anthony Spataro by submission at 4:16 of Round 1.

USKBA ACTION SPORTS Promoter World Champion Louis Neglia had his hands full with this event. A last minute venue change added to the suspense of having this event go on. As they say, "The show must go on"… and go on it did. Promoter Lou Neglia pulled everything together and the fans in attendance were treated to a superb MMA event. The event was held under the auspices of the New Jersey Athletic Control Board, Larry Hazzard, Commissioner, and sanctioned by USKBA ACTION SPORTS. Special thanks to referees Kevin Mulhull and Dan Miragliotta. Participating studios included; Teak TSK, New England Submission Fighting, Team Renzo Gracie, East End Martial Arts, Dragon Gate Martial Arts, Pitt's Penn, Team Serra-Longo, Combined Martial Arts, Eternal Martial Arts, Inazuma Te Ryu and Team Ground Control.

Louis Neglia's next Ring of Combat MMA event will be in Atlantic City in August of 2005. Check Upcoming Events for more info.