Rumble Time: Collier vs Butterfield - Event Preview

While some things change others stay the same.

Rumble Time MMA returns to the Ameristar Casino for an evening of Friday night fights and Jim Jenkins has once again put together a stellar card.

The five-pro, eight amateur card gets underway at 7:30 p.m. with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $35.00 and are available thru the fighters, the Ameristar Casino Gift Shop, or by calling 314-267-2204.

In the main event, Jake Collier will get one of the toughest tests of his young career when he faces Cully Butterfield. Knuckle Junkies talked with both fighters, who will battle at a catch-weight of 190-pounds.

This will mark the toughest test to date for Collier, and could provide serious momentum moving forward should he get past the tough Butterfield. Butterfield is riding a 8-fight win streak and trains with world class athletes at Roufusport in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

In the co-main event, Alp Ozkilic of St. Charles MMA/Team Vaghi will face Ray Grindstaff from CMMA. The two were originally slated to face each other in the Titan FC card that got cancelled in September. KJ interviewed both fighters for that show. Ozkilic is confident and ready for anything. Grindstaff who is on a 4-fight win streak is prepared for a war.

Destruction MMA's Alex White will put his undefeated record on the line against Charon Spain. Spain, who hails from Washington, will be making his third appearance under the Rumble Time banner but is still searching for his first win on Missouri soil. It was been an unbelievably busy year for Spain, Friday will be his eighth fight of 2012 and 10th in a 12-month span. White, one of Missouri's top 145-pounders, is coming off an impressive win over Javon Wright, whom he choked out in the second round in August. Spain fought White's teammate Eric Irvin in July. White has recently been selected as a recipient for a Muay Thai scholarship in Phuket, Thailand for 2013.

Carson Gainey is another out-of-towner who is returning to fight for Rumble Time. Gainey lost to Josh Sampo, considered one of the top 125ers in the world, back in July. This time around, Dan O'Conner of Berger MMA, will face the talented grappler. We caught up with O'Conner to talk about the fight. Both fighters have terrific ground games, Gainey will look to use wrestling to get the advantage, while O'Conner brings a strong jiu-jitsu game to the fight.

Leading off the pro card will be Jeff Escobar against Jake Trtanj from Watson Martial Arts. Escobar is a very durable fighter and this will mark his second trip to the cage as a professional, coming off a win over Thomas Haney in August. Trtanj who trains under the watchful eye of Kyle Watson will surely have a few tricks up his sleeves should the fight go to the ground.

On the amateur side, former SIU football player Kyle Walker will take on TJ Casey. Casey has looked impressive in his last couple of fights, and is a big fighter for his weight class. Walker is very athletic, and has been in the cage with some of the very best in the area.

Jason Powell faces Anthony Edwards. Scott Ettling, who reached the Gateway to the Top tournament finals, will meet Jeardon Brown. Fireworks are almost guaranteed when Bo Kunz meets up with Jordan Dowdy. Both fighters are heavy hitters who aren't afraid to show it.

Gabe Stein, out of St. Charles MMA/Team Vaghi, returns to the cage after a long layoff. Waiting for him will be Brian Klenc of Modern Combat Systems. Stein is much better than his 1-2 record would indicate, and has some of the best training partners in the area.

Rounding out the amateur card, in a battle of polar opposites, short and powerful Drew Ingrande will face long and lean Keelan Moore while Jon Rosener takes on Trey Crawford.

Starting things off on the night will be Ben Chesser and Gary Becker. Becker has his own battles outside the cage as he suffers from juvenile diabetes. This illness has caused his weight to decline forcing him to fight at almost every weight class from middleweight down to his current weight at 125.

Rumble Time Promotions Presents: Collier vs Butterfield
Friday - October 26th
Doors @ 6:30 - Fights @ 7:30

Full Fightcard:
Cully Butterfield vs Jake Collier
Ray Grindstaff vs Alptekin Ozkilic
Charon Spain vs Alex White
Carson Gainey vs Dan O'Connor
Jeff Escobar vs Jake Trtanj
TJ Casey vs Kyle Walker
Anthony Edwards vs Jason Powell
Scott Ettling vs Jeradon Brown
Jordan Dowdy vs Bo Kunz
Brian Klenc vs Gabriel Stein
Keelan Moore vs Drew Ingrande
Tre Crawford vs Jon Rosener
Ben Chesser vs Gary Becker