As Cage Titans 20th show rapidly approaches, were taking a look, not towards the future milestone show, but at the roots of the organization. Operating as a launching pad of elite MMA in Eastern Massachusetts, many revered fighters have walked into their cage and found success on the merit of their performance under the Cage Titans banner. Here is one such story: * * * * * July 30th, 2010 saw the birth of a fledgling promotion in Massachusetts; the state now open to sanctioning the sport and giving life to the dreams of hungry up-and-comers from the region. Cage Titans opened their doors to fans for the first time at Lombardos in Randolph on a sweltering summer night. The brutal conditions of the weekend made the task at hand all the more difficult for the fighters, having to battle the elements themselves as they rehydrated and prepared for their bouts. It was a strong card from top to bottom, but the best story would reveal itself within the marquee match on that night. The main event for the evening highlighted a budding talent in the region, as Anthony Kaponis looked to continue a dominant run. A wrestler by trade, Kaponis had made his stand on those mats with a blend of finesse and brute strength, and took to MMA like a fish to water. Having bulldozed four opponents in one round with hardly a scratch, he seemed poised to decimate any man who found themselves standing across from him in the cage. His opponent that night, entering to a chorus of boos to await the pleasure of the undefeated kingpin, was as unassuming as a fighter can be. A lanky gentleman, he was devoid of the bulging muscles covering the hulking fighters of the welterweight division; no outlandish tattoos or wild hairstyles to set him apart in a crowd. He had a face youd see a hundred times in a day and the word fighter would never cross your mind. The average person doesnt have the perceptions to pick up on the simmering fury of a quiet warrior. They cant see the set of their jaw, ready to crack open with a primal yell that would curl a mans toes. The steel behind their eyes is no more visible than their thoughts. To the audience, he was food to sate the unstoppable beast; victory a foregone conclusion. Chuck ONeil was a dead man. He stood quietly as the crowd swelled in cheers, the herald of his destruction coming out as Hatebreed abused the buildings PA system. A fighter with a body honed for combat, he stood like a statue brought to life, the momentum of four victories carrying him forward with all the insurmountable pressure of a tidal wave. Kaponis had the swagger of someone utterly fearless as he climbed into the cage; simply attending to a duty that would be finished in short order. The bell rang, gloves were touched, and the fight was on, though not the way many thought. ONeils opening salvo was a blistering low kick that stole the partisan crowds cheers like a wind snuffing out a candle, the sound of shin on thigh echoing off the walls. The undefeated adversary wouldnt buckle from one blow, no matter how surgical and ferocious, firing back a hellstorm of a punch. Kaponis left hand impacted ONeil and sent the man skating across the cage with the force of the strike, deflecting off the fence and back to standing. ONeil had taken the best shot Kaponis could muster and wasnt phased in the slightest. ONeil moved like a white shadow, dancing out of his opponents limited reach and launching a multi-level offense. Jabs and straights forcing his foes head back and kept him from setting up the takedowns that had crumbled his previous opponents. All the while, that same nightmarish leg kick pounded Kaponis leg like a sledge hammer on a concrete post; the stability dissolving under the relentless bashing. His leg swollen and unresponsive within minutes, Kaponis fired winging punches as his foe, but ONeil faded away and returned with two punch combinations that couldnt miss. Sensing the end near, ONeil closed the pocket of air between them that Kaponis couldnt breach and filled it with a flurry of fists, landing four power shots that dropped his foe in a heap. The undefeated fighter struggled to escape, but his will was broken as ONeil punished him with a cascade of fists. Forcing Kaponis to roll, ONeil sank a choke that set his adversaries hand to tapping for the first time in his career. The main event of Cage Titans wasnt just a spectacular display of cerebral fighting from an underdog with a vicious bite, but proved to be the last step for ONeil towards sports fame. Months later, Chuck ONeil strolled onto our television screens on the cast of TUF 13 and remains a stalwart competitor on the national circuit, as well as Cage Titans first world-renowned competitor. Not only does he continue to fight the hardiest combatants in the sport, but works towards training the next generation of stars, that might one day follow his path into Cage Titans and write their own history. * * * * * Come out and celebrate a milestone in Massachusetts MMA at Cage Titans 20. The event takes place August 23rd at the Plymouth Memorial Hall in Plymouth, Mass. Visit cagetitansfc for the full fight card and ticket information. Cage Titans FC Michael Polvere Brandie Light Loco Lobo Chuck ONeil
Posted on: Tue, 05 Aug 2014 23:00:38 +0000
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