Event Preview: SFL and Rumble Time - May

The Sport Fighting League and Rumble Time Promotions return to the Ameristar Casino on Saturday for a stellar, 10-fight card.

Making this event extra special is the fact it will be taped for replay on Fox Sports Network. Rumble Time Promotions has enlisted Ground and Pound Pictures to record and produce the show before handing it over to FSN for national distribution. The show will include back stories, backstage interviews, and and of course, all of the fights.

"Basically, we're going to be producing our own show and then giving it to them, and they'll be airing it as much as they like," Jenkins said. "This is for sure. Rumble Time has had a Fox Sports show before. This is just a matter of us producing it and giving it to them."

For Jenkins this is about building stars and giving them the opportunity to shine on the national level.

"Its important to get people to know who the fighters are," Jenkins said. "It seems you can't be a star if you're not on television. This is about helping them further their career."

To kick off the series, Jenkins has assembled what looks to be a tremendous card featuring five of the best un-signed local pros, and a collection of some of the area's top amateurs as well.

Chris "Stump" Heatherly will be making his professional debut after running through all of the local amateur middleweights. Heatherly will be dropping to 170-pounds and will face Corey Barreiro out of Combined Martial Arts in Marion, IL.

Damien Jeffro and Yohance Flager are set to battle. Both fighters are no stranger to the big stage each having having fought in front of the enormous crowds at the Family Arena for Fight Me.

The very underrated Eric Irvin from Destruction MMA will be taking on Strikeforce and King of the Cage veteran Charon Spain.

Aaron Derrow, a submission specialist known as "Daddy Long Legs," will be taking on St. Charles MMA's Zach Freeman. Freeman (4-0) is considered one of the best prospects in the Midwest and is fresh off a 26 second submissions at the April 7th Fight Me. Derrow is 11-3 including a submission victory over UFC vet, Rich Clementi.

In the main event, Josh Sampo hopes to continue his climb up the flyweight rankings as he faces his toughest test to date; Will Campuzano. Ranked in the top 20 in the world for 125, Campuzano has fought multiple times in the UFC and WEC.

Also on the card is the finals of the Gateway to the Top Tournament. The winner of the 4-man lightweight tournament will receive a professional contract with SFL and Rumble Time, and establish the winner as a top regional prospect. Jason Slattery defeated Gary Roades via submission to advance, while Adam Osmoe defeated Aaron Brown by decision. The finals will be a contrast between an excellent wrestler and a strong jiu-jitsu practitioner.

Main Card:
Josh Sampo vs Will Campuzano
Zach Freeman vs Aaron Derrow
Eric Irvin vs Charon Spain
Yohance Flager vs Damien Jeffro
Chris Heatherly vs Corey Barreiro

Gateway to the Top final:
Jason Salttery vs Adam Osmoe

Amateur Fights:
Adam Meredith vs Jeff Escobar
Malcolm Smith vs Wesley Powers
Mark Mclean vs Elijah Neese
Jake Roberts vs Atonio Atkins