Card set for Pinnacle FC 14 debut on FloCombat with Mazzotta, Cherico, Smith, and more
Pinnacle FC 14
PITTSBURGH – Two of Pittsburgh’s most popular fighters will compete on the same card to kick of Labor Day weekend in the Steel City, as Dominic Mazzotta (10-1 / fighting out of Lower Burrell, PA) and Mark Cherico (9-1 / fighting out of Bloomfield, PA) are set to throw down in the biggest Pinnacle FC mixed martial arts event ever.
Known as “The Honey Badger,” Mazzotta is inching toward a UFC contract, and hopes to secure his spot with a win on Friday. He’ll have his stiffest test to date, as he takes on Bellator MMA veteran Keith “Rockstar” Richardson (15-7 / fighting out of Rock Hill, SC) in the first defense of his bantamweight title. Also the Pinnacle FC featherweight champion, Mazzotta last competed in March, when he topped Rob Hanna via submission in the third round in the main event at Pinnacle FC 13. The win was the seventh in a row for Mazzotta, including six in a row via stoppage. He holds a perfect 4-0 record in Pinnacle FC action.
Richardson, a Marine veteran, has faced and defeated some of the best regional prospects in the sport. He recently reeled off five wins in a row, which earned him a Bellator MMA contract. He won’t be an easy out, as he’s earned 11 of his wins via stoppage, including 9 submissions.
“The Pride of Bloomfield” returns from a short-lived retirement to “make MMA great again,” as the popular fighter is set to take on D’Juan “Dirty South” Owens (14-10-1 / fighting out of Richmond, VA) in a lightweight bout. Cherico has posted a 6-1 record under the Pinnacle FC banner, headlining 7 of the first 10 events. He’s now the owner of Mark Cherico’s Martial Arts & Fitness Academy and returns to action for the first time since stopping top featherweight prospect Nathan Landwehr via submission last October.
Another Marine veteran, Owens comes in with an upset on his mind, recently saying that “after I beat [Cherico] I’ll be leaving PA with some new fans.” The MMA Institute product is as well rounded as they coming, with 5 wins via (T)KO and 5 via submission.
Pinnacle FC 14 takes place at the Syria Shrine Center in Cheswick, PA. The entire fight card is set to stream live via FloCombat.com beginning at 7pm ET on Friday, Sept. 2. Tickets are available at www.cagetix.com.
Other bouts scheduled include:
-Rising professional lightweights Devonte “Johnny Kage” Smith (3-0 / fighting out of Cleveland, OH) and Xavier “Sparticus” Nash (2-1 / fighting out of Welland, ON, CN) square off in a battle of proven finishers.
-19-year old Anthony “The Genius” Romero (5-1 / fighting out of Welland, ON, CN) and 18-year-old Mike “The Beast” Walters (6-2 / fighting out of New Kensington, PA) square off for the Pinnacle FC amateur lightweight title
-Devastating puncher Gregg “The Lumberjack” Rudolph (1-0 / fighting out of Pittsburgh, PA) takes on Shadi Garfeh (1-4 / fighting out of Columbus, OH) in a middleweight bout
–Ryan Blankenship (1-2 / fighting out of Oceana, WV) takes on 18-year-old Cherico’s Academy product Ross Holub (0-0 / fighting out of Pittsburgh, PA)
-Renzo Gracie Stout Training Academy product Meghan Williams (0-0 / fighting out of Pittsburgh, PA) makes her MMA debut against Lindsey Stevens (0-0)
–Tylor Gregg (1-0) looks to remain unbeaten against Dakota Lemaster (0-0) in a heavyweight bout
For more information, visit www.pinnaclefcmma.com or www.standthemup.org.
Pinnacle FC 14 card
Pro Bouts:
Dominic Mazzotta (c) vs. Keith Richardson – Bantamweight Title
Mark Cherico vs. D’Juan Owens – Lightweight
Devonte Smith vs. Xavier Nash – Lightweight
Amateur Bouts:
Anthony Romero vs. Mike Walters – Lightweight Title
Gregg Rudolph vs. Shadi Garfeh – Middleweight
Ryan Blankenship vs. Ross Holub – Lightweight
Meghan Williams vs. Lindsey Stevens – Strawweight
Dakota Lemaster vs. Tylor Gregg – Heavyweight
John Antanitis vs. TBD – Middleweight
