By Larry Snyder

Johnstown, Pa – The future of Mixed Martial Arts is coming to 1st Summit Arena At Cambria County War Memorial Saturday, May 14, as Ryan Middleton and his 247 Fighting Championships promotion present their Flood City Fight Night 2 card.

Followers of combats sports have eight compelling amateur bouts to enjoy from matchmakers Jim Mooney, Helen Locura, and Danny Palm. These 16 warriors are hungry and prepared to take the next step to contend one day for a championship.

Middleton talked about the event on the promotion’s website, “We loved coming to Johnstown. The venue is legendary, and the people were the highlight of the event. We love Johnstown, and we are exploring returning on a regular basis.”

Hunter Homistek, general manager of the 247 Fighting Championships, feels everyone should watch the four heavyweights, Julian Flenory, Sheldon Neighoff, Dan Albright, and Justin Pippens. He commented, “Those fights will tell a lot about the heavyweight title future of 247 FC.”

Flenory won all three of his encounters by strikes resulting in a technical knockout. His last two meetings did get out of the first round. Neighoff last claimed victory in October 2020 when he collected a TKO at 1:15 of the third against Christopher Stancil (2-3-0) in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Who will drop the hammer first?

Pippens could be looking for a bit of revenge in his matchup. Albright defeated Pippens’ Mat Factory Wrestling Club stablemate, Cody Gamble, in October 2021 at the 247 FC Brawl in the Burgh 9. According to Tapology.com, Pippens also is the fourth-ranked of active Pennsylvania amateur heavyweights.

The War Memorial spotlight is on Johnstown’s Joe LaRocca as he makes his amateur bantamweight debut in the cage against Vandergrift newcomer Elijah Davis. He is a graduate of Forest Hills High School in Cambria County. Some fans already wonder if he could eventually follow in the FHHS footsteps of current Bellator featherweight Cody Law (6-0-0).

From 247 Fighting Championships YouTube Channel – Flood City Fight Night 2 Is Coming, Johnstown…

Flood City II Amateur Lineup (Three Rounds/Three Minutes Each):

Main Event – Heavyweight – Sheldon Neighoff (4-5-0) Altoona, PA Vs. Julian Flenory (3-0-0) Lower Burrell, PA

Bantamweight – Edwin Vera (4-2-0) Lower Burrell, PA Vs. Cameron Sandoval (5-2-0) High Point, North Carolina

Welterweight – Josh Visokey (3-2-0) Pittsburgh, PA Vs. Dez Ford (5-6-0) Richmond, Indiana

Catchweight 150 lbs. – Ferdaws Nayimi (3-0-0) Lower Burrell, PA Vs. Anthoney Morris (2-2-0) Cleveland, Ohio

Heavyweight – Dan Albright (2-3-0) Altoona, PA Vs. Justin Pippens (2-0-1) Lower Burrell, PA

Flood City II Amateur Lineup (Three Rounds/Two Minutes Each):

Bantamweight – Aaron Harper (0-3-0) Pittsburgh, PA Vs. Shaqueal Terry (1-0-0) Beecher Michigan

Bantamweight – Joe LaRocca (Debut) Johnston, PA Vs. Elijah Davis (Debut) Vandergrift, PA

Lightweight – Mario Texidor (0-1-0) Pueblo, Colorado Vs. Ian Smith (Debut) Clayton, New Jersey

LOCAL CONNECTION: Altoona’s Gorilla House Gym is where Neighoff and Albright tailor their skills. Flenory, Vera, Pippins, Davis, and Nayimi hone their abilities at the Mat Factory Wrestling Club in Lower Burrell.

Harper gets ready for competition at Total Martial Training Center LLC in Shirleysburg, PA, while LaRocca trains at Elite Combative Systems in Indiana, PA. Visokey comes to the cage from Stout Training at the Zelienople/North location.

EVENT NOTES: The doors at 1st Summit Arena At Cambria County War Memorial swing open at 5:30 p.m., with the first bell tolling at 7:00 p.m. You can locate a seat online. The 247 crew has this link for pay-per-view streaming with the duo of Ryan Cavanaugh and Cole Macek. The Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission approves the competitions, and the opponents in any bout are subject to change.